Hey Big Sis! What should I have in my seat bag?
– Wanna B. Prepared
Dear Ms. Prepared: We asked a dozen experienced Venus riders what they carried in their seat bags (a couple people keep some of this stuff in their top tube or handlebar bag). Our survey revealed the following items, which we have categorized by necessity:
Required: At a bare minimum, you will need:
- Flat repair items: inner tube, tire levers, and a way to inflate — either CO2 or a pump. Some people also carry a patch kit and fix-a-flat instructions.
- Medical supplies: If you use an inhaler or EpiPen, then you’d better carry those too.
Recommended:
- Back-up snack and electrolyte drink mix
- Sunscreen & lip balm
- First-aid items like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and bandages (or even a pocket-sized kit)
- Photocopies driver’s license and AAA card (or have on your phone)
- $20 cash
- Multi-tool
- Portable charger for electronics
Useful if you have space:
- Personal care items like tissues or bandana; chamois butter; hair ties, feminine hygiene products, and wet-wipes/hand sanitizer
- Duct tape (wrap some around a short pencil — also a handy item)
- Thin disposable gloves to keep hands clean when fixing a chain or flat
- Plastic bag to either sit on or put your bike seat on if the environment where you have to fix a flat is gross
- Cable lock
- Cleat covers
- Ziploc baggie for cell phone in case of rain
- Drawstring bag to carry extra stuff
- Lucky/safety charm
The weirdest thing — A flattened fork. Its owner explained: “I met it a long time ago when it stabbed my tire along the side of the road giving me a flat. While waiting for help it occurred to me that Yogi Berra was probably right: ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it.’ So I did.”
Fork on!
~ Big Sis
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