Bike Commuting 101: What’s in the Bag?
(clearning throat)
Good Day class, and Welcome to your first lesson on Bike Commuting. Today, we will be discussing one of the most important things in bike-commuting: THE BAG AND THE TOOLS.
What gives me the creditability to discuss such a topic you ask? It could be argued that I have none, but I have been a very avid bike commuter for 8-or-so years in Boulder, Colorado (which happens to be one of the most bike-friendly cities in America, second only to Portland, Oregon). Currently, I ride approximately 20 to 26 miles a day (depending on my path), 4 days per week; which is about 80-100 miles-per-week that I need to be well prepared for any issue or disaster. So, without further adeau, let’s get started.
First things first: You need a bag to carry all of your SWAG needed for the day AND tools to help you out of a jam (literal or otherwise). That means it needs to be large enough for things like your clothes, lunch, bike tools, maybe even a laptop? I have always opted for “backpacks” instead of “bike-rack-bags”. This is a personal and subjective preference, but I feel more comfortable and balanced with a bag on my back.
Over the years, I have tried many bags and have found that packs made for commuting are more comfortable with straps cut to fit your body as it sits on your back. The straps are generally super thick and padded for extra comfort, and also have some space between your back and the bag, itself, for breathability…because you are pedaling hard and probably sweating. This way, the sweat can evaporate keeping you cool and comfortable (or keeping you from freezing if it’s a cold ride).
I would choose a bag that is 100% waterproof and brightly colored. (so you can be seen, as visibility in the road is key to not getting run over by the maniac drivers of the world). Another important feature is that the pack should have somewhere to hang lights. Lots of commuter bags are super slick and streamlined, but chances are very high that you will be riding to work in less-than-daylight conditions or riding home in low-light… so a bright bag is ABSOLUTELY the way to go. Let’s take a quick moment to review the features that I find important in a Bike Commuting Bag: Large enough for the day’s gear; Made for bike-commuting; Waterproof; Brightly colored; Comfortable fit. Got it?
A few great places to look for these types bags are REI and Chrome. Both of these companies have options to fit any biking hipster’s style. With bike bags, you definitely get what you pay for. If you plan to ride a lot, get a nicer bag…it WILL BE WORTH IT! Trust me on this. If you don’t plan to ride that often, then you can probably get away with something less-expensive. Okay, moving on…
There are several items you will more than likely need to ALWAYS keep in your bag. Case-in-point, clothing items. I find that a cycling cap that can be worn under your helmet is essential (if you want to live you should ALWAYS wear a helmet, because you WILL crash or be hit by a car, no question about it). It will keep the sun, rain, snow and sweat out of your eyes. Vision becomes very important on a bike and taking the small step of carrying a cap that doesn’t weigh anything is a no brainer. Also, a light “skull cap” (think a wind-proof, thin, beanie type of hat), for those chilly mornings or evening rides after a late night at work (or at the bar).
Your hands will need a solid pair of bike gloves. They can be either full-length or half-length depending on the conditions, but having one of each is not a bad idea. Even a pair of warmer over-gloves can be nice on those cold riding mornings to the office. Just make sure that the gloves fit your hand, because they are not all made equally. You may want to test out a few different styles to see what is best for you. If you shop at REI, you can always try and return them if you are not satisfied!
Another essential item is a good bike lock (a great bike lock if you live in a high theft area). You will need to lock your bike up at the bar on your way home, or perhaps at your office, or even bus station. If you will be storing your bike outside for 8 or 9 hours each day, I would suggest a bike cover. UV rays tend to destroy everything and proper storage will prolong the life of your bike and all of it’s components exponentially.
A headlamp is another EXCELLENT piece of gear to carry with you. I will discuss lights in another post, but a headlamp is great for seeing and being seen in the dark. A small, lightweight LED headlamp will hardly ever need new batteries, and can make your life much happier. A strobe option is great for major breakdowns, and so friends/family can find you in the dark when you call for a lift.
The last essential (and really it is several “essentials”) is a set of bike tools. It is guaranteed that if you ride for any extensive amount of time, you WILL have minor or major breakdowns. (A cell phone to call a friend or family member is the best tool for major breakdowns, but its best to be prepared and try to fix issues yourself if you can). I store all of my tools in one bag. Things can be a little messy inside a cycling bag, and tools are small and easy to lose. If you have a waterproof bag, a simple mesh bag (found at any outdoor store) works great. If you don’t have a waterproof bag, then 1. shame on you and 2. a gallon-sized ziplock bag works just fine. (note: if you don’t use a waterproof bag, you should get a dry bag to keep inside your bag because IT WILL RAIN and when it does, you and everything you own will be soaked). So now that you have a bag to store your tools, what type of tools do you actually need? (we’re not talking hacksaws and hammers here!)
Flat tires will be the most common ailment on the bike. If you don’t know how to fix a flat, take a mini-course at your local bike shop or REI store. These classes are generally free or super inexpensive, and well worth it. There are four things that are fantastic for fixing flat tires, and those include a patch kit, tire tool, innertubes and air pump/CO2 cartridges. I always carry ‘2’ extra bike innertubes, because you may get more than one flat per session (to and from the office, for example). Also you may have issues on both tires, which means you need something extra. I generally patch a tire 3 times before I buy a new one. They are light and cost almost nothing, so carry 2 will ya?
You will also need a tire tool to remove your tire(s), so you can replace the tube(s). These are also cheap and I carry 2 because I break them from time-to-time. My motto is to always have a backup just in case, so 2 of everything is not a bad idea (at least of the small, light and inexpensive stuff…maybe not two bike frames, as that can be tricky to carry)
How about fillin’ up those tires? For years, I carried a manual air-pump as my primary source for filling my tires. But even a low PSI mountain bike tire can take over 10 minutes to pump. So a road tire at 110 PSI may be near impossible to pump manually (you might be able to get it to about 70PSI if you are tough enough, which will get you where you need to go at the very least). I have used CO2 pumps with great success, and highly recommend that you carry a couple of these with you. They will get you where you need to be in about 1 second, with ZERO effort (not bad eh?). A single cartridge will last a long time, but they tend to leak if you’re not careful. So always carry 2. You can buy packs of 5-to-10 cartridges for very little money and a single pack can last for years. Might as well use technology we have: CO2 pumps are light-weight, easy to use and can save you in a pinch. The manual bike pump is great as a spare, so keep one of those around too if you can.
The last of the essential tools you should have is a quality mutli-tool, made specifically for bicycle repair. This looks a lot like a swiss army knife, but instead of knives, it will have every tool you could possibility need for your bike, in every size. With this, you can carry out just about any repair on your bike.
If you want bonus points, you can always carry extra items other than those I’ve mentioned already. Perhaps spare links for your chain, bike manual, a watch, extra lights for the bike, extra batteries, rain gear, etc. Its not necessary, but it can’t hurt to carry a few extra things here and there. This list can go on and on, but my point is that you can always do a little bit more to be prepared. Check the weather before you ride to make sure you are ready if a rain storm suddenly drenches you to the bone. Make sure your brakes are working before you leave, and check your bike tires before every ride…simple stuff.
So, lets review, shall we?
What You Need:
- Biking bag (fitted)
- Lights (for bike and bag – at least 3)
- Headlamp
- Bike Hat
- Skull Cap or Light Beanie
- Bike Gloves
- Bike Lock
- Bike Cover (if storing outside for long periods)
- 1 Patch Kit
- 2 Innertubes
- 2 Tire Tools
- 2 CO2 Cartridges
- Manual Air Pump
- Multi-Tool
- Mesh Bag To Store Tools
- Cell Phone (for emergencies)
So, I know this sounds like quite a lot. But honestly, the total weight is less than 6 lbs with this amount of gear. It’s all very small and lightweight stuff. You will likely not even notice the weight once it’s on your back. And honestly, its worth it to have (at the very least) the items listed above. My motto has always been SELF-RESCUE. Why make other people suffer for my own lack of planning (for anything)?
Well, I hope bike commuting 101 was inspiring and educational. If you have any questions, please send us a message or leave a comment and we will get back to you! Ideas and thoughts are always welcome. Stay tuned as I will have more detailed posts on other relevant topics like clothing, the bike (rig), and other helpful tips and tricks to making your bike commuting experience enjoyable! Remember, you will get crazy-fit; save hundreds of dollars (on gas and car issues) and be a general bad-ass by riding to work. Plus, it’s a great way to start and end the workday. So now it’s time to get out there and pedal!!!
-Jake
