Being Prepared on the Road
by Tony Gehl
Cyclists all carry different things
in their seat packs. Most of us carry a spare tube and a tire lever or two.
Usually there are a few hex wrenches and a spoke wrench. Some cyclists, perhaps
a bit more concerned about the aerodynamics and additional grams of a seat
pack, don't even bother to carry one; maybe they carry a tube under a seat rail
or in a jersey pocket, maybe not. Obviously we can't carry everything in the
toolbox with us on the road, although some people do come close! I’ve
found that the content of my seat pack seems to be growing with experience.
After breaking the chain on an early morning commute and then walking my bike
to work, I now carry a chain tool and spare pin. After struggling with a frame
pump too many times to count, I now carry a CO2 inflation tool with a couple of
cartridges (and the frame pump too if riding solo). Long ago I started carrying
a spoke wrench after having a spoke break that left my rear wheel badly warped.
And of course I learned very early on that you can't fix two flats in one ride
with one spare tube - I now carry a patchkit. My seat
pack now contains a spare tube, a tire lever, a patch kit, a set of hex
wrenches, a spoke wrench, a chain tool, small screwdriver, a
CO2 inflator with two cartridges, a presta adapter,
phone call change, $5, and maybe the most important thing: an identification
card.
I know that few people
carry any identification when they ride but everyone really should. Although we
don't want to think about it, we all know that accidents do happen. Having
identification is important to those who come to your aid in accidents. It
helps them to quickly contact your family and your doctor, and can provide
warnings about any health conditions you might have (i.e. allergies to certain
medications). I used to carry my driver's license but found that I would often forget to remove it from the seat pack. The next day I
would be driving around without a license. So I made my own ID. I typed it up
on the computer, printed it, and had it laminated at Kinko's for about a buck.
It is the size of a credit card and contains my name, address, emergency
contacts, insurance info, doctor info, health conditions, etc. Take a few
minutes to make one and carry it with you on the next ride. We all hope we
won't need anything in our seat packs but it's good to be prepared. 