New cyclist

Having no mudguards to me seems crazy - I think we need to look at the types of bikes used in cycling countries like netherlands and denmark to see what is practical when it comes to using a bike for transport (as opposed to sport)

By far the most likely thing to go wrong with your bike on a ride is a puncture. So unless you're riding in an urban area where you can easily get a bus/taxi home and come back for the bike later (and to be honest, even then) I'd definitely recommend that you carry a spare inner tube, some tyre levers and a pump, and that you know how to use them. If you do that you'll be equipped to deal with 90% of the things that go wrong. Maybe add a pair of latex gloves or a small pack of wet wipes as changing a tyre can be a messy business, especially a rear tyre where you have to touch the chain to take the wheel off.


It really isn't difficult to fix a puncture, especially if you have quick release wheels (as all but the very cheapest bikes do these days). You can find plenty of instructions and videos online, and it's worth practising changing a an inner tube at home if you haven't done it before.


Inner tube, pump and levers (plus a multi-tool which I've hardly ever used) is pretty much all I carry in terms of repair equipment. Inner tubes these days are cheap enough that I don't bother with the "classic" patch and glue puncture repair kit - I just change the tube if I get a puncture. And maybe I'm not trying hard enough, but I've never had a chain snap in 20+ years of regular cycling so I don't bother with a chain tool or spare links. I keep those few bits and bobs in a small under-saddle bag which lives on the bike so that they never get forgotten.


As for other bags, well this is a slightly controversial view but if you have a small rucksack (eg 10L size) there's nothing wrong with using it to carry an extra top/waterproof and some sandwiches - there's no need for specialist bike bags like panniers or handlebar bags. Obviously if you're carrying much more than that you won't want the weight on your back - but you don't really need a lot for a half-day ride. Some people don't like a rucksack as it makes their back sweaty but other people find that it doesn't bother them - give it a try before you splash out on panniers or similar.



Mudguards? If you only cycle in good weather then you won't need them at all, but at this time of year there'll often be water on the roads even if it isn't actually raining. If you're riding in a group it's generally considered good manners to have them in the wet - it means that you're not spraying too much water in the face of whoever is behind you. If you're on your own it's more of a personal thing - some people are happy just to get a bit messy and shower when they get home.

bouicca21 wrote: »

So what to people recommend for a leisure cyclist (not going to commute) on a hybrid. Lights were a must so I have got them. Mudguards? Some kind of bag - but what sort? I've seen handlebar bags, bags that go under the saddle and bags that sit on racks. What do I actually need to carry? Money/phone obviously but what else? Do I really need to carry a pump and an inner tube? Tool set - even though I wouldn't know how to repair a flat tyre?

I'm retired and a leisure cyclist.

The best investment I made was to fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture resistant tyres as that means I don't have to carry puncture repair kits, pumps or spare tubes etc.

Other brands of puncture resistant tyres are available. Some people say the rolling resistance is higher than normal tyres. I don't notice that and, in any case, as I cycle for fitness and weight control as well as pleasure I don't care about using extra calories.

I have a very small pouch that fits to the crossbar that has room for a mobile phone, house keys, credit card and a few banknotes. That is all the extra weight I need to carry.

If you are going on a long ride you may want to fit a water bottle holder.

Enjoy your cycling. :beer:

Belenus wrote: »

The best investment I made was to fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture resistant tyres as that means I don't have to carry puncture repair kits, pumps or spare tubes etc.

Other brands of puncture resistant tyres are available. Some people say the rolling resistance is higher than normal tyres. I don't notice that and, in any case, as I cycle for fitness and weight control as well as pleasure I don't care about using extra calories.

I have those on my "less sporty" bike. They're very good indeed, but keep in mind that they're puncture resistant, not puncture-proof. I have managed to puncture them a couple of times - I vividly remember removing a blackthorn spike which seemed long enough to slay a small dragon with. So I still carry a tube and a pump.

That said they've saved me a lot of time standing by the side of the road in the cold and the wet cursing my numb fingers as I fiddle with the tyre levers, so they were a great buy. They do mean a little extra resistance, but it's not really noticeable unless you're pushing yourself hard and/or obsessively monitoring your times on Strava (guilty as charged, m'lud ).

Random lurky interjection in response to the many references to remotely repairing tyres: What do people think of aerosol tyre repairs?

I've carried them in a small saddle bag (along with a multifunction tool) for years, and have used them twice - Pull the thorn out, reinflate the tyre with latex foam stuff, off you go again in seconds. Reinflate to proper pressure when you get home.

I can only strongly recommend them based on my experiences.

I can also recommend belt drive bikes. Although more expensive, the maintenance cost & effort (and needless to say, things you need to carry) drops radically.


Context of all the above: Longish distance commuting.