Florida_bound (FB) described the zipper pouch attached to the strut of her trike and all the things she carried. She commented on how handy it was and how much stuff it could hold. My thanks to her for the comments. It gave me the idea to start another discussion since it's an important consideration when riding a trike.
If you're riding where you can easily call for help/rescue then carrying a lot of stuff is not as necessary; however, some things like FB described are necessary such as ID, insurance cards, meds, sunglasses, and so on. Everyone's needs are different. Zipper pouches come in all different sizes and flavors. Let's explore the topic for the benefit of new riders.
There is a zipper pouch underneath the seat of my Catrike (It's a Catrike thing) where I keep a multitool and a baggy with business sized "meet and greet" cards I created in MS Publisher. When I meet and chat with other trikers I give them a card that has my name and email address. I'm not a Chatty Cathy but I do get into some interesting conversations on occasion. People are interesting and I like to hear about their adventures. I like to see what trikes they're riding and how they have outfitted them.
Since I go on longer rides, out on the trails among the cacti and venomous critters, I carry a lot of stuff in my trunk bag. Most important is repair stuff: 20" and 26" tubes for my Dumont, a patch kit, a CO2 inflator, spare CO2 carts, a chain tool, spare chain links, pliers, screwdriver, and vinyl gloves. If you're away from home/vehicle (for me maybe tens of miles) and you have a puncture or a broken chain you need to be able to do repairs. You can easily walk a bicycle, but not a trike. With my Type 2 Diabetes walking a long distance is very painful.
I also carry extra water, snack bars for myself (but I can share). As a former first responder I carry some basic first aid materials: glucose liquid, aspirin, ACE bandage, pressure bandage, band aids, antibiotic cream, adhesive tape, tweezers, scissors, small razor blade cutter, a cigarette lighter, and a foil type emergency blanket (keeps someone from going into shock), etc. You never know what you might run into on the trail. I want to help others (including those fast moving, obnoxious cyclists who may crash into a Cholla cactus) if I can. It's part of my nature.
I also carry a couple of spare battery packs for my cell phone, some stretchy velcro straps, a neck gaiter (can serve as an evaporative cooler and sun shield), extra riding gloves (full finger if it gets too cold), a rain poncho (tiny and disposable), a length of small nylon cord, and extra clothing as necessary to fit the weather.
Not looking at my trike and going by memory I may have overlooked some things, but it's a good start.
What are some things that come to your mind? Please add and share your comments.
Comments
I am considering adding a charger for the cell phone and a first aid kit. I also have an instant link to 911 on my Apple watch. It will work well as long as the phone does not land more than 300 feet away from me!
cell phone
water as needed
Goo energy packs
$50
drivers license
This is typical for rides out to 50 miles and on paved trails without the various thorns. In the past three years I've haven't needed the cell phone or money or drivers license. I do good tires, correct pressures and maintain the chain and drive system periodically.
Also, I ride on a large trail system with a LOT of bikes, bike clubs, racing clubs and seldom see a breakdown other then a occasional flat. My wife rides her Trek appx. 1000 mile annually and has not had a breakdown in five years doing rides up to 75 mile.
I am not attempting to influence anyone into following my path.
TCEd, neither am I. My post was informational. An experienced cyclist probably knows and understands the need to be prepared for contingencies. The switch from a bicycle to a trike is substantial. The thought of pushing a disabled trike should give one pause to think and that's what I was pointing out. Lock my trike to a tree, walk home, come back later and hope my trike is still there and in one piece. I don't even like that idea. That trike is my baby.
Twice in one year I've assisted riders. One, fifteen miles from home, had a puncture. I gave him my spare tube. He installed the tube. He offered me cash which I refused. The second was a snapped chain on a man's wife's bike. He repaired it. I met them returning later all smiles and waving. I chose to help, and that's just me. When I see what doesn't look quite right I'll say, "Everything OK?" When I hear, "I'm fine, thanks for asking." It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Mechanical problems do happen along the trails and I'll offer to help. If it's refused I'll ride on. If it's a medical issue, and I haven't encountered one yet, I'll do what's appropriate. Such is life.
The fact that you've never had a problem over an extended period of time does not mean something will not happen in the future. To be aware is to be prepared. You indicated that you are prepared and do preventive maintenance so as to lessen the chances of a problem. That's wise. You've done what myself and others have done. Thank you for endorsing the ideas that I put forth in beginning this thread.
Thanks for adding to the conversation
Thanks for the note on the "not good" patch kit. It's something to think about for sure. I'm going to examine my patch kit and see if it's really up to the task. Thanks for the valuable advice. It also makes me wonder about the shelf life of things that I carry. Hmmm....
Those extra power cells are wonderful. I found one that has the charge equivalent of three phone batteries and it has a built in LED flashlight. I periodically put it on a charge to make sure it's ready.
Also, my trunk bag is a Blackburn. It has side pockets which have an inner zipper that allows the inner part to hang down and become a pannier. I can use it for additional storage if I need it or roll it up if I don't.
I found a couple of double S-ring clippy thingies (rated for up to 75 lbs) at Lowes that I use to attach additional things (small bag with windbreaker, locking cable, etc) to the carrying handle of my trunk bag.
Thanks for sharing. When you start riding you begin to figure out what works and what else you can do.
I agree with you and everyone and what they carry.
I would have had to chisel a message on a rock and bury it for some archaeologist to find years later!
I used to ride long distances when I was younger but always in urban areas. If I had a problem, there was always someone who would stop and help. That was a much different time!
I used to ride long distances when I was a kid in Tucson and I think it was the "You be home by supper time!" that helped me find my way home.
And how did we live without cell phones, PCs and Google? It surely was a different time.
I got to go outside to turn the antenna which was held in place by a pair of vise grips. Through the window I would hear, "A little more. Oops, too much..." Not fun when there was snow on the ground.
On an isolated farm in NW Arkansas seven miles from a town of 1,100. We had no telephone either. My only social contacts were going to high school or when we went into town for groceries on Saturday. It was me, dad and mom on the farm. I hated it and I think dad did it to get me out of the city (Tucson) at the outset of the sixties. I had no choice. TV and the library (read a bazillion books) were my window to the world. Those four years were not fun. College saved me. I never went back to a farm.
Ex-Wife raised on a ranch in southwestern South Dakota. 5 miles to the mailbox. Town was 26 miles. Pine Ridge was closer. First time I went there I thought I was on the moon. One TV channel from Rapid City if everything was right.
I was so jealous of my cousins who lived in the city and could ride their bikes to the ball fields or playgrounds. There was only one person near my age on the street. Through the years, they built subdivisions around us and everyone who bought extra lots sold them. The 12 homes on this dead end street doubled and the street went though. So my parents bought property near a lake in SE Missouri. We built a house there and had electricity, power, and a well and direct access to the lake. It was awesome!
I would say I enjoy the country much more than the city. The area I live in now has a small town feel. However, they are building homes on every vacant lot available. I'm afraid it will get very crowded very soon. But, I've already decided I'm not moving again so I will just enjoy it. I went kayaking with my son and daughter-in-law yesterday only a few blocks from my house. You can't do that on 30 Sep in most parts of the country. I'll let you all know how nice it is on Thanksgiving when many of you are buried in snow!
These folks didn't have any concept of Mexican food, no tortillas, no taco shells, nothing except greasy wax wrapped tamales in a can. NW Arkansas was primitive in the early sixties. There was only one Mexican restaurant in Little Rock when I was in college during the late sixties. (As a freshman in HS I wasn't into cooking
Now with many thousands of Hispanic immigrants there doing the jobs in the poultry industry that locals won't do, there are restaurants, bakeries and markets. When my language students threw a potluck it was Guacamole Heaven!
Speaking of ethic food, the DC area is loaded with people from all countries of the world. They are there for politics and education. Everywhere you turned, there was another college. I went to a wings restaurant and the food was being cooked by Middle Easterners. Chinese might be cooked by Hispanics and Mexican by Americans. It was usually tasty but such a strange phenomenon.
Just wait. It will happen. The problem is we are all immigrants.