Bike Mag Editors Share Their Everyday Ride Kits

Have you ever been out without the tools you needed? We all have run into a predicament where we don't have the technology to comfortably limp home. A well-planned “Every Ride Carry” is almost essential these days unless you like to live on the edge and tempt luck.

The range of options available to create a kit of essentials is almost overwhelming at this point. From enduro to push bikes, downtube storage is a common feature, and there are more tire-plugging products and multi-tools than we can keep track of. So, what goes with us on rides? Lets find out. First up, we've got Deven McCoy.

Deven McCoy

As Michael Scott once told Dwight, "K.I.S.S. Keep it simple, stupid." That is my approach with my ride kit, and it fluctuates daily. I know I need plugs, Co2, a multitool, and maybe a tire lever for the daily rides. I keep the carrying methods simple, too, and pretty much all of my kit is strapped or nestled into my bike, leaving my pockets free to carry snacks and my phone.

EDC

My on-the-bike tool kit for quicker rides. Left: Co2, Pump, Dynaplug, and Tire Lever. Right: Oneup EDC V2

I don't love wearing a backpack or hip pack unless it is absolutely necessary to bring along extra bits and bobs, and honestly, you can get away with a lot in the Specialized SWAT Bibs. If I am forced to rock a pack, I usually reach for my USWE Vertical 4L or Patagonia Dirt Roamer .

Bags

I don't always want a bag on my body, but if I have to pick one... Left: USWE Vertical 4l Right: Patagonia Dirt Roamer

Everyday rides :

• Dynaplug - Carbon Racer
• PDW Ninja Pump/Co2
• Muc-off tire lever
• OneUp EDC V2

This paired-down kit has everything I need for a quicker spin in the hills and will get me home if something doesn’t go my way. The Dynaplug is a no-brainer for me; I have used it plenty of times without fail. If there's sealant in my tires, there's a Dynaplug close at hand.

The PDW Ninja Pump is mainly used for the Co2 head; it does work as a pump in a pinch; it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. The tire lever is so much more than what the name suggests. It doubles as a bottle opener, valve core remover, small pry bar, pad spreader, and so much more. The OneUp EDC is one of the most important additions I have made to my kit in the last few years, and I will likely carry this over to every bike I end up owning. With almost every tool I would need to make a quick fix on the trail, the EDC V2 has become the guardian angel that I often forget is present. The threadless carrier kit also makes swapping forks around a breeze since it does away with the need for a star nut.

Longer Days :

• Dynaplug Racer Pro (and extra plugs)
• First Aid Stuff
• Portland Bee Balm
• Soft-flask
• Canon EOS-M or GoPro
• Lezyne HP Flex pump
• Wolftooth Masterlink Combo Pliers
• Extra Co2
• A tube from the Dark Ages if CushCore lets me down
• Pocket knife
• Knog Blinder lights

These are the accouterments for bigger days on the bike that require extra space with the help of one of two bags that I keep in rotation. I don’t love riding with a bag; it throws me off balance and adds one more thing to consider throughout the ride. However, I admit the importance of bringing more when the rides are more prolonged.

To strike the perfect balance, I find the USWE Vertical 4L or Patagonia Dirt Roamer has been getting my vote. The Dynaplug is a no-brainer for all rides, and for the big days, a Racer Pro is the choice with its double-ended plugs. I bring a first aid kit  for bigger rides and it generally consists of a few alcohol wipes, some painkillers, and some superglue for more minor lacerations. I’m a thirsty boy, and along with a large bottle, there is usually a soft flask nestled somewhere in the pack if I don't bring a bladder - usually, this soft flask will be full of some drink mix or sweet beverage to keep the carbs flowing.

I always aim to document rides if they are new and exciting or if I feel the spark of inspiration, and the EOS-M is a little powerhouse that is small enough to fit in pockets or a small bag but cheap enough to replace if it takes a knock. If I have the foresight to remember a battery and SD card; the GoPro Max 360 documents some great POV and, with the correct mounts, some unique 3rd person footage .

Flats happen, and the Lezyne HP Flex pump has been a trusted friend that quickly gets things up and rolling after a gaseous burp or slow leak. This pump must be going on 5 years of service without missing a pump. Hats off to the affordable workhorses. Another tool in the bag with tenure is the Wolftooth combo pliers; although they don’t see action frequently, they are small enough to come along just in case. Sometimes things start early or run a little longer than expected, and light is scarce. I really appreciate the Knog Blinder lights this season. The 1300-lumen Blinder in the front offers no shortage of mounting options for my helmet or bars, and the rear is no slouch when it comes to runtime when commuting to and from the trailhead.

Honorable mentions go out to my MUSA Uncle Henry pocket knife, which has sliced many apples, bailing twine, and who knows what else. Also, the butyl tube, which has been tagging along in my pack for years without being called into active duty.