What to pack for a road ride?

What should you pack for a road ride? Can you even tailor your gear to the length of the ride?

Road rides and road cycling as such differ from MTB in one fundamental aspect – it embraces minimalism. While it's not a strict rule, you'll rarely see a road cyclist with a backpack. In this article, we'll discuss what, how, and where to pack. In addition to the "classic" tips, I'll also share a few of my own "life hacks" that I've adopted over the years.

Essential gear for every ride

Whether you're going for a quick 20 km spin or are gradually venturing out on 100-kilometer rides, some pieces of equipment remain the same:

• Lights/safety lights – perhaps an often-repeated topic, but proper lighting is one of the basic elements of safe riding and should definitely be part of your essential gear. Even more so if you're riding in spring or autumn when days are shorter, making lighting even more crucial.

• Helmet – We only have one life, so protect it to the fullest and wear a helmet on every ride.
• Pump/CO2 cartridge – The choice depends on how eco-conscious you are, how much of a hurry you're in, and how much of a weight-weenie you are. I've long been loyal to a classic mini-pump, and on the road, I currently carry the Lezyne Pocket Drive Pro model. Pumps offer the advantage of repeated use, while CO2 cartridges provide faster inflation and, in most cases, a more favorable weight.
  
  However, it must be said that even inflating a tire with a cartridge is only a temporary solution. Since CO2 escapes through the pores of the inner tube (tire) faster than air, a CO2 cartridge should only be considered a "get-you-home" solution.

• Patch kit/plugs – depends on whether you ride with inner tubes or tubeless. From time to time, a puncture might be beyond the sealant's capabilities, and in such a situation, only a plug will help. Puncture repair kits for inner tubes, on the other hand, are small, light, and compact, and you can fix a flat with them very quickly. But if you don't want to waste time, there's still…

• Spare inner tube – a faster alternative to patching. And if you want to save weight, lighter TPU inner tubes can be a good backup. However, whether you decide to patch a tube or simply inspect the tire's interior and install a new one, you'll definitely need…
• Tire levers – one of the fundamental keys to successful flat repair. Before replacing or patching the inner tube, you first need to remove the tire. And if you have stiff tires, they can significantly help put it back on.
• Multi-tool – a loose screw is a minor technical issue, but it's certainly not worth ignoring. And even a cheaper multi-tool can save your skin in such a situation.
• Quick link – although a broken chain on the road is a truly rare occurrence, a quick link takes up so little space that it's definitely worth carrying.

• Tissues and rubber gloves – perhaps a somewhat unusual tip, but believe me, if your chain falls off, you'll really appreciate those gloves. 🙂 The same applies when installing an inner tube into a tire that's dirty with sealant.
• Cash – I've also made it a habit to carry cash, as you might not always be able to pay by card for an espresso, a pastry, or other vital items for a road cyclist.
• ID, ICE card, and charged phone – just in case something happens…

Life hack: You can carry small items on your keychain, such as a socket hex key for wheel axles or a valve core tightening tool.

What else to consider?

Other things I usually take with me depend on the length of the ride and also on the weather. Discussing nutrition would be a whole separate article. I personally adhere to Imro's motto: "The longer the ride, the more normal the food." So, when I'm heading out for a shorter, fast spin, one or two energy bars, or maybe a banana, are usually enough. Conversely, on longer rides, I usually pack a sandwich.

Life hack: If you're as "into" isotonic drinks as I am and have a long route ahead, I recommend transferring some from a large tub into an effervescent tablet container. And suddenly you have enough for "two extra bottles."

A saddle bag is the key to success

Perhaps the most aesthetic solution to this whole problem is a saddle bag. They come in various sizes, so everyone can choose the one that not only looks good but also fits everything they need. However, you need to be careful when choosing a specific model – not all saddle bags are compatible with all saddle rails.

As an example, on my first road bike, I used a PRO MAXI QR saddle bag, which attached to the saddle via a plastic adapter. That, of course, didn't fit under the saddle of my Superior. However, nowadays, there are many saddle bags available that attach to the rails with Velcro straps, which significantly increases their versatility.


And what to pack where? This strongly depends on the dimensions of your gear. Personally, I always chose my pump first and then selected a saddle bag size to accommodate it – I didn't like it sticking out of my jersey pocket. An alternative can be attaching the pump next to the bottle cage. As for the rest, a clever and aesthetic solution can also be a tool bottle, which is becoming increasingly popular.
However, it's more suited for shorter rides, as you automatically sacrifice one water bottle.

I currently carry the following setup:

• Saddle bag – pump, tissues, gloves, other small items. I don't carry plugs with me, as I use tire inserts, and in an emergency, they would be sufficient to get me home.
• Jersey – phone, wallet, keys. And also all food and spare clothing.

And what about you and your road setup? Do you carry anything special?