ARTICLE – Spring is officially here, and in NY we’ve had a few days start to feel warm – which means it’s time to get the bike out of storage and ready for a new riding year. I’ve picked up some new tools and gear over the past year, and wanted to share some staples that are always on my bike or in my saddle bag for every ride.  Out of scope for this list but with me every ride is my helmet – please be safe when riding and follow all local laws. I hope you enjoy this article and read the rest of this series when you’re done.

Front and center on my handlebars is the Lezyne Mega XL GPS bike computer.  I like this computer as it offers a lot of the features I actually care about, and integrates well with Komoot – my ride planning app of choice.  Bluetooth integration to my phone makes transferring ride data to and from the computer simple, and having text messages pop up on the display is also a plus.

Most of my rides require some segments in traffic to get to the trails, so lights are really important to me for safety.  The Smart Connect system from Lezyne makes everything ‘just work’ together – turning on the Mega XL GPS automatically connects and turns on the 1000XL and KTV rear lights.  Changing the flash pattern for both lights is as easy as pressing a button on the front light.

I’m always adding and subtracting gear here, but I’ve settled on these being my necessities.  I try to think about what could fail on my bike that would prevent me from getting home, and prepare from there.  Versatility is a factor here, as I tend to ride with others who may have an entirely different tire setup than I do (tubes vs tubeless, presta vs schrader valves).  Being equipped to help if things go wrong for anyone in my group is important to me.

The majority of my kit is to look after my tires, as they’re the most likely component to have an issue on a ride.

All of my mechanical gear, with the exception of the bike pump, fits perfectly in a saddle bag.  I like the Silca Mattone Grande as it holds everything securely, and uses a boa strap to quickly tighten everything down on the seat rails.

If you enjoyed this article, then you definitely will want to read the rest of this series to see the gear that the other Gadgeteers use on a daily basis.

Hi Greg – this is awesome, thank you. What do you recommend to keep your phone on your bike? I don’t have a good solution for mine – right now, I have a Bontrager canoe-style holder on my top tube, but it’s not big enough and not very stable. I’m a road biker.

Hey Clifford – that’s an important question! I tend to ride for distance rather than speed, so my loadout can be wildly different between a morning ride, an all day there and back trip, or fully loaded camp out. Most of the time I use a top tube bag for my phone, and don’t have any trouble getting my S22 Ultra in the Revelate Designs Mag-Tank. If it’s not in my top tube bag, then its either in a Mountain Feed Bag or Egress Pocket, both also made by Revelate Designs.

I’ve done it in a pinch, but I don’t love using a jersey or jacket pocket – if I crash, I worry my phone will break when I need it the most. I’ve also heard cautionary tales of phone bar mounts causing issues with phone cameras due to the vibrations from the road.

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