A basic tie-down strap £3.95 yourlocalhardwareshop »

Let’s see what we’ve got… disposable gloves, earphones, earplugs, a cap, lipsalve, tyre pressure gauge, refillable water bottle, co-codamol, a 5mm allen key and… what’s this… a 2.5 metre tie down strap kept tidy with a rubber band cut from an old inner tube. Should the need arise I can secure almost any inadvertently acquired item to the bike’s passenger seat or, and you can’t be too careful with classic bikes or trail rides, it doubles as a tow-rope. I have used it.