Phone, wallet, keys... the usual pocket check when I leave my home. But what about when I'm going for a ride? Phone, bike wallet, tire lever, multi-tool, pump, etc... I'll break down what I bring with me on every ride. I've dialed in my setup over the years after lots of trial and error. What works for me won't necessarily work for everyone, but maybe you'll realize you've been needing something after all this time.

Ride Wallet:

Drifter Zip Wallet: At some point, I stopped carrying my normal wallet with me on bike rides. I got this in 2017 from Worn Path. It has two separate compartments, and an external pocket that I tuck my house key into. I made my own zipper pulls because the original metal ones would make noise and I'm sensitive to that kind of stuff. During a ride, this lives in my jersey or cargo bibs back pocket. It's not exactly waterproof and can get fairly soggy after a wet or sweaty ride. I should probably wash it. 

Credit card, cash - Apple Pay is accepted almost everywhere, but if not, I've got the card as a backup. And if they don't take credit card, I've got a $20 bill to cover whatever. Also doubles as an emergency tire boot.

1. Pedro's Tire Lever - There are more expensive levers, but there is no tire lever that is better than a Pedro's. There is a reason that every mechanic in the shop has one on their bench. I chopped off the end that is for meant for clipping onto a spoke (lots of people don't even know about this feature). It's for difficult tires, and I try not to run those. So I get to save some space and weight in my wallet because of it. 

2. Dynaplug Carbon Racer - Lighter and more compact than the Racer Pro and fits great in my wallet. It holds two of the standard soft tip plugs. If the sealant doesn't do the job, I can quickly bust this out and stop a leak.

3. Topeak Nano 9 Multi-Tool - Over the years, I've gone more basic with my multi-tool of choice. I remember the first one I got had 19 tools. Much like saddle bags, I've gone through the wringer of options and found that I don't need a chain breaker, spoke wrench, or a Phillips head. I used to toy with the idea of customizing my own multi-tool but that required a lot of effort and parts scrounging. The Topeak Nano is small and simple, yet has everything I need, including a nifty 8mm for tightening a loose pedal or SRAM crank bolt. 

4. Park Tool Pre-Glued Patch Kit + Lezyne Tire Boot - If I'm busting this out, it's been a rough day out. But I've also handed them out to strangers in need of assistance. Works on TPU and butyl tubes.

5. Valve extenders + extra core + core removal tool - It is not advised to use any electric pump on plastic TPU valve. The extra valves and extenders are for when I put in a tube that maybe is too short to stick out of a slightly deeper rim.