Group Ride Essentials - The Saddle Bag

Since a number of folks (and many novices) just joined the GW Cycling team, we wanted to go through a few essential items you should bring on our group rides. Consider this a friendly public service announcement from the fellow riders in your group: in one way or another, these items prevent you from becoming a liability.

(If you're reading this via link from GamJams.net, forgive us for pandering to the masses. This information is general enough that it is useful for most new roadies.)

- BRAIN BUCKET. Skid lid. Cranium container. Call it what you will, but the GW Cycling requires riders to wear helmets. No discussion. For vanity's sake, leave your visors at home if we're riding on the road.

- HYDRATION. You always need at least one full water bottle - or two for our longer weekend rides. Heck, there's no reason not to bring TWO bottles to every ride just in case. You'll figure out what you like, but I recommend one bottle with water and one with sports drink. If you're bike doesn't have bottle cages yet, you can get them for a few bucks at any bike shop. After every ride, wash (or at least rinse) your bottles so they don't become petri dishes.

- FOOD. While you're at it, bring an on-the-bike snack, too. Clif Bars are neat, cheap-o granola bars suffice too. Bring some calories so you don't bonk. I bring at least one snack for every hour I am riding, but I always bring at least two or three things: Clif Bloks, Clif mini or kid's bar, and a gel.

- SPARE TUBE. Bring a spare tube, or you're buying the post-ride lunch for whichever teammate gives you theirs. That's the unnofficial rule I'm starting right now. Everyone should have at least one tube with them. For most standard road bikes, you'll want a 700x19-25 or similar tube because your tires, whether your know it or not, are probably 700x23 or in size (diameter x width - check the tire's sidewall). If you want to get even more technical, make sure the tube's valve length is long enough for your wheel's rim depth. I recommend at least 40mm for ease of use with most pumps.

- INFLATION. All the spare tubes in the world will not help you ride if you can't fill them up with air. I recommend bringing at least one CO2 cartridge in combination with an Air Chuck for group rides because they are a very easy, quick fix. They'll get the group riding again within minutes. If you ride alone often, you should also have a mini-pump and either an extra tube or tube patches, too.

- PRESSURE. While we're on the topic of air, you should check your tire pressure before EVERY ride. (The explanation for most pot-hole-induced pinch-flats is best expressed by David Bowie & Queen.) It takes less than a minute to fill a pair of tires and is a great way to prevent flats aside from having tires made of anything besides silk. Depending on your tires and how much you weigh, you probably want to run 100-115 psi. Heed Freddie Mercury's unspoken advice, fill 'em up before every ride.

- TOOLS. At a minimum, you should have a pair of tire levers and a 5 mm allen (hex) wrench. In the long run, you'll want a small multi-tool that includes a chain-breaker. The levers help you change a tube quickly; the 5mm key allows you to adjust countless components on your bicycle at any moment. The chain-breaker allows you to temporarily fix a broken chain. I also ride with a spare SRAM Power Link in my saddle bag; it's tiny, costs $5, and makes chain repairs much easier - and permanent.

- EYE PROTECTION. Glasses while riding aren't just to protect your eyes from the sun. There's a lot of crap in the air (bugs, splashing water, and road grit, etc.), especially when you're bombing down a hill at 40 miles per hour in group of cyclists on a wet hill. If you ride in the evenings, interchangeable lenses are convenient, though sometimes cost-prohibitive. Go to a hardware store and get some cheap safety glasses for pennies. They aren't Oakleys, but they'll keep the bugs out of your eyes.

- CA$H MONEY. You never know when you'll need a few bucks, whether it's cash or credit. Maybe we're stopping for snacks and a bottle re-fill, maybe we're having lunch after the ride, or maybe you're paying your teammate for that tube you forgot. Bring some green. I also ride with my metro SmartTrip card in case the worst happens and I need to use public transit to get home.

- PHONE. C'mon, they're small enough to fit in a jersey pocket - just don't text while riding, mmmkay? You might as well bring it for emergencies or finding out where everyone went after you dropped the group and missed the next turn. Two notes: Unless you really want your teammates to hear your Lady Gaga ringtone, minimize the noise polution and keep the phone quiet. And, unless you're tragically antisocial with a spider-sense for cars approaching from behnid, you probably shouldn't ride with headphones/earbuds in a group.

- IDENTITY. Bring some form of identification **just in case.** You've probably seen their commercials while watching the Tour de France on TV - check out RoadID.

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So, now you know why cycling jerseys have three pockets on the back. If you have any questions, though, ask any of the veterans on the team. GW Cycling team sponsor Bicycle Pro Shop is on M Street in Georgetown, across from Key Bridge. They'll surely be good advisors for the contents of your saddle bag. Hint hint, they're open 'til 7 p.m. on weekdays.

If you have your own quick-fix for rides, whether you're a daily commuter or budding Cat 5, you're welcome to leave additional advice or questions below.