What should be in my Bike Emergency Kit?

Whether you take short bike trips down to the corner store and back or longer trips down country lanes or over hillsides, it’s very important to have an emergency kit along for the ride. The kit you bring along with you doesn’t have to be cumbersome or heavy to provide a useful amount of protection. Most bike emergency kits are small enough to easily fit under the seat of your bike or fasten along the frame.

The kit you bring along should not only have tools and equipment for handling general bike repairs, but should also have basic first aid items as well. Many bikers like to take along a Swiss army knife or other multi-tool, even if they’re just going for a short ride. Combination wrenches (specific to your brand and make of bike) are always excellent choices for kits as are spare inner tubes and a dependable and easy-to-use hand pump. This will help to ensure that you’re not walking home after a flat tire. Believe me - it happens more often than you think.

Emergency kits can be kept in under-seat bags bought specifically for this purpose at your local bike shop or department store. You can get creative and simply make your own kit from a zippered makeup or small travel bag. Just fill it with the items you think you’ll need to handle as many small emergencies as you can think of. Mountain bikers will generally lean towards having more first aid supplies in their kits due to the extreme nature of the cycling they do. Bringing along extra water is always a good idea too, especially if you know you’ll be in remote areas that may not have access to clean water.

Puncture repair kits and tire levers are very small but also very important to take along to ensure you’re not going to be walking home because of a flat tire. An essential numbers card may be a good idea to have in your kit in the event that you’re hurt and unconscious. This way, anyone finding you will have a short list of phone numbers to call (mother, father, or spouse). Your kit could also have a small amount of cash (including coins and paper money) hidden away inside so you can make phone calls or buy a snack or water.

The first aid kit you bring along should have gauze bandages as well as first aid tape to hold gauze in place. Band-Aids of varying sizes and alcohol wipe swabs are always easy to take along because they’re so self-contained and flat. Using alcohol wipes greatly cuts the risk of your injuries getting infected. Tweezers are an essential part of any first aid kit and are perfect for getting slivers out and for removing bits of gravel from scrapes before treating. Wearing a bandanna around your head or loosely around the neck, will allow you to create a usable tourniquet should the need arise while you’re out biking. This is one of the best ways to get a wound to stop bleeding quickly. Icy Hot packs will help to keep swelling down should you get injured and they’re very easy to have in a kit.

But it’s also important to make sure you know how to use these first aid supplies by taking a short first aid course. These courses are offered at many health centers (for free) or any branch of the Red Cross and can greatly enhance your chances of getting through a first aid emergency safely. Remember to always see your doctor once you get back, especially if you have any sort of head injury. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.