I'm going on my first organised bike ride - realistically what do I need to take?

[Katymac]

I have food & drink covered - I'm good at that

Waterproof jacket and trousers, comfy shoes (can't wear trainers)

My fully charged phone (this is a necessity)

But they suggest tools! I couldn't use them if I had them! So I buy that Tyre stuff Woosh suggested or should I buy actual tools? TBH if I break down or have a puncture I'll ring my mum, lock the bik up and go and have a cup of tea - my hubby (who is coming too reluctantly) will finish the ride off go and get the car, collect the bike and meet me at my mums for a roast dinner

But if I have to buy tools I will - what do you think?

And anything I've forgotten?

 

[soundwave]

well if you cant fix it or use the tools it is pointless taking any lol.

 

[vfr400]

If it's an organised ride, the others always have tools and stuff, so save yourself the weight.

 

[Katymac]

Cool - I assumed it was poinless

Thanks (I'll tell you if I survive the weekend!)

 

[Nealh]

Maybe in case take a spare tube and puncture kit to show willing on your part.

 

[Katymac]

I think I'll get some of this https://www.jejamescycles.com/slime-237ml-bottle-tube-sealant-10033189.html

 

[Nealh]

I tried gunky stuff in a tube once and it failed miserably, it makes one hell of a mess to clean up and goes every where and failed to seal the tube. On that occasion I had a spare tube as patching as trying to patch a gunked tube was awful.

Now I either go the old way tube and patch or on one of my bikes have gone the tubeless route with Effetto caffelatex.

 

[soundwave]

Holts Tyreweld Puncture Repair

Emergency puncture repair. No tools or jack needed. No damage to tyre. Safe non-toxic formula. Washes out of tyres after use.

www.toolstation.com

it will fook the inner tube tho

 

[EddiePJ]

If it's an organised ride, the others always have tools and stuff, so save yourself the weight.

Not if they have the same attitude, and leave them behind assuming that someone else will have "tools and stuff"

Katymac, how many miles long is the ride?

 

[Katymac]

25 miles which is right on the edge of my ability/battery range

I think if I expected anyone to 'stop and help' or to be 'rescued' by the organisers then not taking tools would be extremely selfish

But as I have my own 'get out of jail' arrangements (and a phone number to ring to say I dropped out) I think it's probably OK

When I take the bike into a shop to get a puncture repaired do they replace the inner tube? I assumed so? Therefore the sticky stuff makes no difference (if it works)

I am long past bent spoons, bowls of washing up water and little bits of sticky rubber - although they are a fond memory of hot sunny afternoons in the 70s

 

[RobF]

A puncture is the overwhelmingly most likely cause of a breakdown, so you should at least take a spare tube.

It is acceptable to say to the group: "I've got a tube, but don't really know how to fit it."

Someone will fit it for you.

It is less acceptable to say: "I have no spare tube."

Someone will probably tell you to bring one next time.

You may not care what the others think or you may not care about fitting in with the group.

That's fine, but it rather begs the question why go on a group ride?

 

[Katymac]

Because I never have
Because it's my birthday
Because I thought it might be fun
Because the bike clubs round here do 'social rides' where the slowest speed/shortest route is faster and further than I could ever ride - this seems to have a 4.5 mile family ride that I could do if I was having a bad day and gives me up to 8 hours to travel the 25 miles

I have paid my fee and will find out how to donate to the charity they are raising money for

I saw a charity ride advertised to raise money for a child in a village I used to live in (I have since moved away) and although that one isn't happening I saw this one advertised

It might be fun, I might hate it, if having tools is the 'be all and end all' I'll buy some - but I'll never be able to mend a puncture, with my arthritis I can barely do up my zip and put my gloves on and my darling busband although having fantasic skills in other areas can just about alter the height of a seat/handlebars and takes his bike into the shop for everything else

Now if my dad were alive or my brother in the UK I would have my own engineering team to follow me round (& actually build me the bike I want while all the time swearing about how ridiculous it will look and how pathetic I am!!)


and if I enjoy I'll look for more - no one rides as slow as me 7.5 miles an hour(ish) & I get lost really easily - my satnav keeps recalculating

 

[BertYardbrush]

you are doing 25 miles. 7.5 mph is about 31/2 hours.
Do you know if there is a cafe stop?
The temptation is to take everything and overpack.
Do take a water bottle, basic repair kit and tools, in case you puncture, and a waterproof.
Don't worry about actually doing any repair, on group rides there will be people fighting to demonstrate their bike maintenance skills.
You will need somewhere to put the clothes you take off, saddlebag or similar. Many riders just stuff their jersey back pockets.
The SatNav. Go into the menu settings and turn off 'recalculate route'.

Norfolk is beautiful cycling country and with your power assist, you should have a great ride.

 

[Katymac]

I have a puncture repair kit, a spare tyre for DH's bike & they put some green powder in my tyres - he (nice bike man) said he replaced my tyres last year with ones that should puncture less

We need spanners 15mm (DH) & 18 mm (mine) for taking our wheels off but he said he probably wouldn't bother with mine

I thought to ride my battery down to nothing then charge it tomorrow

I have apnniers for my bottles of pepsi and sweeties and sandwiches and there are lots of cafes plus family and friends on the route so loo breaks shouldn't be a problem

Great suggestion for the satnav (I didn't know I could do that)

Ooo & I went on a test ride this morning.......not massivley impressed!

 

[flecc]

But if I have to buy tools I will - what do you think?

There's usually some sucker like me who'll fix it for you, I've long lost count of the number of times I've done that.

My two most notable:

Came across three lycra clad club type riders forlornly at the side of the road, one with a flat tyre. They had puncture outfits, they'd fixed the puncture, but none of the three had a pump!

Came across a ten year old out cycling with his mum, his small wheel front tyre flat. Fixed it, used my CO2 pump to instantaneously inflate his tyre, just as instantly making me a superhero in his eyes. His admiring face was a picture!
.

 

[Katymac]

Lycra men - hmm all that kit and no pump

Super hero - absolutely!!

 

[Katymac]

Not a sucker in my case - I'll probably have homemade cake or fudge with me for rescuers

 

[Andy McNish]

25 miles which is right on the edge of my ability/battery range

Isn't Norfolk really flat?
Most 400 or 500W/hr systems should easily be able to give 100%+ assist on the flat for 25 miles. The Bosch range calculator on Tour setting with 40 cadence, some inclines, poor road surface using a Performance CX and a 400W/hr battery on a MTB with MTB tyres and light winds (which I suspect is far worse than the actual condtions/set-up you will face) says that you should get 35 miles @20kph.

As for punctures - what tyres do you have? My advice on any hybrid or touring bike would just be to get a couple of Marathon Pluses (about £25 each) and never worry about punctures again.

I mean I have large panniers and so do carry a pump, digital tyre pressure gauge, spare presta and schrader valve inners for 700C tyres, slime, toolkit, puncture repair kit etc. but I don't ever intend to use them for me...my bike insurance also covers a taxi home if I get a puncture or suffer other mechanical breakdown.

What I really should look into is some kit to repair a broken chain as that is a much higher risk for me than a flat.

 

[Katymac]

My battery is 2 years old and when I asked Woosh the lady said it might well need replacing

Norfolk is very flat - that part of it almost completely flay - however I still use my battery

I have lovely big tyres that the man in the shop said wouldn't get punctures easily - after a run in with a thorn bush last year


I will be fine! I hope

 

[Katymac]

Oh dear - that looks a bit odd! I've broken the internet now haven't I?