SPORTIVE GEAR

You’ve sorted your bike, now it’s time to complete your sportive setup for a more enjoyable ride…

Everything you need to ensure you kit yourself out properly for your big day.

MULTI-TOOL A multi-tool is ideal to make tweaks if a brake misaligns, a bottle cage wobbles free or your saddle slips. Pick one with a selection of hex keys and a Phillips screwdriver in case your derailleurs need adjusting. SPARE TUBE Carry at least one spare tube. In the case of a puncture, whip the old tube out, check for foreign objects in the tyre, put a fresh tube in and inflate the tyre. Buy a tube with a long enough valve for the wheels you’re using as deep rims need an extended valve. TYRE LEVERS To swap your tube, you need to ease the bead of the tyre off the wheel rim using tyre levers. Two usually suffice, but three would be ideal. Choose plastic ones, which are less likely to damage your rims. PUNCTURE PATCHES Avoid the hassle of carrying around a full old-fashioned puncture kit by investing in some good patches. Simply peel them off their backing paper and press onto the tube over the puncture. SADDLE BAG You will need to carry all you need on your bike, and a saddle bag is a better idea than weighing down your jersey pockets. If you’re swapping between multiple bikes, those with Velcro or clips are a good bet. Others come with plastic mounts, letting you easily secure and remove the bag. MINI PUMP A good mini pump is a musthave on any ride. You need to find one that will, with a bit of hard work, allow you to reach a decent pressure to avoid further pinch punctures.