First bike ride - what are the essentials? - Page 2

In article <b8mooj$bfsm6$1@ID-130844.news.dfncis.de>, bbauerAtitude@freeshell.org says...
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 12:11:40 -0500, Anthony Sloan wrote:
>
> > 37 cents
>
> ...in case you have an emergency need to mail something?
>
>

Pay phone

~Travis
--
travis57 at megalink dot net

travis5765.homelinux.net, Primary Administrator TF Custom Electronics, Owner/Founder/Developer
(current project: Automotive exhaust flame-thrower)

D T W .../\\... wrote:
> "John G" <ClydesdaleMTB@netscape.net> wrote in message news:3EAEB90A.3020709@netscape.net...
>
>>
>>determined wrote:
>>
>>>I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about 15 miles.
>>
>>15 miles for first ride..... I'd suggest a cell phone and a credit card

> What no beer?

There is a beer-cache hidden at the top of Hall Mt.

In article <vatu533f6su43f@corp.supernews.com>, pennydeletes@invalidcet.com says...
> Spider wrote:
> > I layer my clothes, so that if it gets suddenly cold or warm, I can adjust the clothing level to
> > suit. Eye protection.
>
> IFnothing else, safety glasses (clear) from t hardware store. they mkae a real fashion statement
> and protect you from sticks and bugs.

Or for a real fashion statement, try Biology goggles ;-)

> >
> > A snack? Only if yer gonna be out for a while. 4 or more hours? I see it mostly as excuse to
> > take a break. Most of us are quite drought and famine resistant, and could stand to go the whole
> > damn day without eating. Those with blood-sugar issues might disagree. Banana and a small square
> > of chocolate.
>
> Hmm... I always have food. Even if it's just an 1.5 hour quick loop, there's always at least an
> emergency cliff bar from last season in the bottom of the bag.

I don't know what's scarier, the fact that you have a cliff bar from last season, or that fact that
it lasts that long.

Chocolate i know can lasts for quite a while (the unsweetened dark variety), but don't cliff bars
have things that go bad, or is there just lots of preservatives?

~Travis
--
travis57 at megalink dot net

travis5765.homelinux.net, Primary Administrator TF Custom Electronics, Owner/Founder/Developer
(current project: Automotive exhaust flame-thrower)

Technician wrote:
> I don't know what's scarier, the fact that you have a cliff bar from last season, or that fact
> that it lasts that long.
>
> Chocolate i know can lasts for quite a while (the unsweetened dark variety), but don't cliff bars
> have things that go bad, or is there just lots of preservatives?
>

Oh, I have fresh ones too... but the emergency bar is just buried in there for an emergency. They
just get kind of hard and chewy.

shut up guys.

penny
> ~Travis

"bomba" <myarse247@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:b8mj5r$bfdma$1@ID-147573.news.dfncis.de...
> determined wrote:
> > I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about 15 miles.
>
> Depending on the terrain you ride, 15 miles is not really a 'low-key ride' - especially for your
> first time out. Even if you're fit, you're going to be using different muscles. The one thing you
> don't want to end up doing is getting very tired or in pain when you're still a long way from
> home. You want to leave yourself keen for more.
>
> > What are the essentials? Water I'm guessing is #1...
>
> Water's always a good idea. After you've really started getting in to it, check out
> www.camelbak.com
>
> For that
> > matter, what type of gear/accessories do I need to go along with the
bike?
> > What do I need in a repair kit? Is it neccessary to buy the funky bike shoes? Padded bicycle
> > shorts? All I bought is the bike, a rack for my
car,
> > and a helmet.
>
> Right the essentials (IMO)... Kit: You want gloves - they help keep your hands soft, and will
> offer protection should you have a hand / ground interaction. Full-fingered is good. Glasses - a
> pair of clear wrap-around glasses are a great investment as they keep bugs, branches and bits
> chucked up from the wheels from going in your eyes. No need to go Oakley or the like, just
> something cheap'll do - some people here even use industrial goggles. Shorts - Not really worth
> skimping here as you'll pay for it in pain.
>
> In the backpack: Bike tool - your LBS should be able to advise you Spare tube and puncture repair
> kit Small medi kit (including any medication) Food - there's another thread around at the moment
> on this subject. Bananas are a bad idea - they don't like being chucked around a backpack with
> tools, etc. Mobile - I believe you folks across the pond call it a 'cell phone'. For those of us
> in Europe, coverage is complete, so it's worthwhile, but obviously pointless if you don't have
> coverage where you are. NB - only to be used in an emergency. Like ordering pizza.

I don't get complete coverage but i always take it with me. You'd be surprised sometimes where you
can get some little pockets of coverage even in the remotest areas. And should i have some tragic,
unrepairable fault or damage to myself, limping to the nearest point of coverage is usually much
closer than limping to the nearest point of civilisation. Last time I did that was when I had a
major sidewall tear (the bike, not me) and everything that I tried fixing it with failed. The g/f
found me happily sitting by the roadside munching a Mars bar while I was waiting. I also live with
the optimistic hope that should I be lying unconcious lost at the foot of a ravine that the search
party, knowing that I always carry a mobile, would have some high tech piece of equipment capable of
finding a rogue cellphone signal amongst the wilderness....

> Cash - never know when you'll need to buy food, drink or pay for a taxi when you're stuck in the
> mountains with hypothermia <ahem>... If there's a chance of rain, pack a mac. PCs and Solaris
> boxes don't work so well. Arf arf...
>
> Planning on attending some classes on the basics like
> > shifting properly, making repairs, etc soon.
>
> Bike maintenance is very important and fortunately, it's not rocket science. People here will be
> able to guide you, as will your LBS.
>
> Don't forget to have fun and then come back on Monday and write a RR (ride report).

I'll second the ride report! Let us know how it went! I'll add that water (bottles in a cage or pack
is fine), a patch kit, plastic tyre levers and a spare tube (and knowing how to use them), and
padded shorts would be on my list of very basic essentials. Oh, and if alone be sure to tell someone
where you are going and roughly how long you'll be.
--
Westie

"Westie" <Westie@invalid.address.null> wrote in message news:b8n3rk$ca8$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
>
> "bomba" <myarse247@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:b8mj5r$bfdma$1@ID-147573.news.dfncis.de...
> > determined wrote:
> > > I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about
15
> > > miles.
> >
> > Depending on the terrain you ride, 15 miles is not really a 'low-key ride' - especially for your
> > first time out. Even if you're fit, you're going to be using different muscles. The one thing
> > you don't want to end up doing is getting very tired or in pain when you're still a long way
> > from home. You want to leave yourself keen for more.
> >
> > > What are the essentials? Water I'm guessing is #1...
> >
> > Water's always a good idea. After you've really started getting in to it, check out
> > www.camelbak.com
> >
> > For that
> > > matter, what type of gear/accessories do I need to go along with the
> bike?
> > > What do I need in a repair kit? Is it neccessary to buy the funky
bike
> > > shoes? Padded bicycle shorts? All I bought is the bike, a rack for
my
> car,
> > > and a helmet.
> >
> > Right the essentials (IMO)... Kit: You want gloves - they help keep your hands soft, and will
> > offer protection should you have a hand / ground interaction. Full-fingered is good. Glasses - a
> > pair of clear wrap-around glasses are a great investment as they keep bugs, branches and bits
> > chucked up from the wheels from going in your eyes. No need to go Oakley or the like, just
> > something cheap'll do - some people here even use industrial goggles. Shorts - Not really worth
> > skimping here as you'll pay for it in pain.
> >
> > In the backpack: Bike tool - your LBS should be able to advise you Spare tube and puncture
> > repair kit Small medi kit (including any medication) Food - there's another thread around at the
> > moment on this subject. Bananas are a bad idea - they don't like being chucked around a backpack
> > with tools, etc. Mobile - I believe you folks across the pond call it a 'cell phone'. For those
> > of us in Europe, coverage is complete, so it's worthwhile, but obviously pointless if you don't
> > have coverage where you are. NB - only to be used in an emergency. Like ordering pizza.
>
>
> I don't get complete coverage but i always take it with me. You'd be surprised sometimes where you
> can get some little pockets of coverage even in the remotest areas. And should i have some tragic,
> unrepairable fault
or
> damage to myself, limping to the nearest point of coverage is usually much closer than limping to
> the nearest point of civilisation. Last time I did that was when I had a major sidewall tear (the
> bike, not me) and
everything
> that I tried fixing it with failed. The g/f found me happily sitting by
the
> roadside munching a Mars bar while I was waiting. I also live with the optimistic hope that should
> I be lying unconcious
lost
> at the foot of a ravine that the search party, knowing that I always carry
a
> mobile, would have some high tech piece of equipment capable of finding a rogue cellphone signal
> amongst the wilderness....
>
>
> > Cash - never know when you'll need to buy food, drink or pay for a taxi when you're stuck in the
> > mountains with hypothermia <ahem>... If there's a chance of rain, pack a mac. PCs and Solaris
> > boxes don't work so well. Arf arf...
> >
> > Planning on attending some classes on the basics like
> > > shifting properly, making repairs, etc soon.
> >
> > Bike maintenance is very important and fortunately, it's not rocket science. People here will be
> > able to guide you, as will your LBS.
> >
> > Don't forget to have fun and then come back on Monday and write a RR (ride report).
>
> I'll second the ride report! Let us know how it went! I'll add that water (bottles in a cage or
> pack is fine), a patch kit, plastic tyre levers and a spare tube (and knowing how to use them),
> and padded shorts would be on my list of very basic essentials. Oh, and if alone be sure to tell
> someone where you are going and roughly
how
> long you'll be.
> --
> Westie
>

Oh yeah, nearly forgot <blush>, a bloody bike pump. They handy, they are!
--
Westie

On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 18:38:14 -0400, Technician wrote:
> In article <b8mooj$bfsm6$1@ID-130844.news.dfncis.de>, bbauerAtitude@freeshell.org says...
>> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 12:11:40 -0500, Anthony Sloan wrote:
>>
>> > 37 cents
>>
>> ...in case you have an emergency need to mail something?
>
> Pay phone

A. A pay phone on the trail???
B. Then, why 37?

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 15:55:25 -0700, Penny S. wrote:

> Oh, I have fresh ones too... but the emergency bar is just buried in there for an emergency. They
> just get kind of hard and chewy.

I had a Powerbar in the glove box of my truck "for emergencies" for about 5 years before I really
needed it. Funny, it didn't taste any different than a "fresh" one (which is why I quite buying
Powerbars".

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Pete Jones <peteajones@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:<ccltavkl7qc2a089omrj4ffcd2pqg0mit0@4ax.com>...
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 16:17:50 GMT, "determined" <btsylynn@yahoohoo.com> blathered:
>
> >I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about 15 miles. What are the
> >essentials?
>
> http://www.imba.com/resources/soft_cycling/index.html
> http://www.bikemag.com/columns/mouth..._breed_faster/

Add this as well: http://www.imba.com/about/trail_rules.html

Also, STAY ON THE TRAIL.

JD

In article <b8n45e$bh786$2@ID-130844.news.dfncis.de>, bbauerAtitude@freeshell.org says...
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 18:38:14 -0400, Technician wrote:
> > In article <b8mooj$bfsm6$1@ID-130844.news.dfncis.de>, bbauerAtitude@freeshell.org says...
> >> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 12:11:40 -0500, Anthony Sloan wrote:
> >>
> >> > 37 cents
> >>
> >> ...in case you have an emergency need to mail something?
> >
> > Pay phone
>
> A. A pay phone on the trail???

good point

> B. Then, why 37?

Some phones are a little screwy. one near where i live costs $.25 to initiate the call, then after a
minute, it asks for $.04 for each additional minute (but it wont take pennies, go figure).

~Travis
--
travis57 at megalink dot net

travis5765.homelinux.net, Primary Administrator TF Custom Electronics, Owner/Founder/Developer
(current project: Automotive exhaust flame-thrower)

Technician wrote:
> In article <b8n45e$bh786$2@ID-130844.news.dfncis.de>, bbauerAtitude@freeshell.org says...
>
>>On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 18:38:14 -0400, Technician wrote:
>>
>>>In article <b8mooj$bfsm6$1@ID-130844.news.dfncis.de>, bbauerAtitude@freeshell.org says...
>>>
>>>>On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 12:11:40 -0500, Anthony Sloan wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>37 cents
>>>>
>>>>...in case you have an emergency need to mail something?
>>>
>>>Pay phone
>>
>>A. A pay phone on the trail???
>
>
> good point
>
>
>>B. Then, why 37?
>
>
> Some phones are a little screwy. one near where i live costs $.25 to initiate the call, then after
> a minute, it asks for $.04 for each additional minute (but it wont take pennies, go figure).
>
> ~Travis

You are all wrong.

It is a random amount of change generated from the cash sale of several different pre ride pastries.

But if I ever need to buy a stamp, you bishes are OWNED!

;*)

A
--
My hands are full of thorns but I can't quit groping for the rose.

BB wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 15:55:25 -0700, Penny S. wrote:
>
>
>>Oh, I have fresh ones too... but the emergency bar is just buried in there for an emergency. They
>>just get kind of hard and chewy.
>
>
> I had a Powerbar in the glove box of my truck "for emergencies" for about 5 years before I really
> needed it. Funny, it didn't taste any different than a "fresh" one (which is why I quite buying
> Powerbars".
>

'Core climbers keep a ration of Purina Monkey Chow in their kit. It is perfectly
serviceable emergency food that successfully resists any temptation of snacking on it when
one is merely peckish.

A
--
My hands are full of thorns but I can't quit groping for the rose.

Sorni <sorni@biteme.san.rr.com> wrote in message
news:S6yra.14499$Ye6.1221790@twister.socal.rr.com...

> As for clothing, you don't need bike shoes (yet but you REALLY should
buy
> some padded shorts! Your butt will still hurt like hell at first, but(t) nothing like it will if
> you go unpadded. Also buy some gloves.
>
> I'm sure I've forgotten something, but this should at least get you
started
>
>

Cable ties. Bunch of 'em. Long, and strong ones. Trust me.

Shaun aRe

Pete Jones wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 16:17:50 GMT, "determined" <btsylynn@yahoohoo.com> blathered:
>
>
>>I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about 15 miles. What are the
>>essentials?
>
>
> http://www.imba.com/resources/soft_cycling/index.html
> http://www.bikemag.com/columns/mouth..._breed_faster/
>
>
> Pete
> ----
> http://www.btinternet.com/~peteajones/

Pete is wise.

Juan Spanos

"determined" <btsylynn@yahoohoo.com> wrote in message news:OAxra.670531$F1.88260@sccrnsc04...
> I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about 15 miles. What are the
> essentials? Water I'm guessing is #1... For that matter, what type of gear/accessories do I need
> to go along with the bike? What do I need in a repair kit? Is it neccessary to buy the funky bike
> shoes? Padded bicycle shorts? All I bought is the bike, a rack for my
car,
> and a helmet. Planning on attending some classes on the basics like shifting properly, making
> repairs, etc soon.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> determined

I think the best thing to take with you is a friend.