Every ride you've ever cut short because you weren't prepared for what happened 2k from the cafe. This episode is the fix. Anthony runs through exactly what's in his handlebar bag — the stuff that's actually saved him, not the stuff that looks good in a flat lay.
Key Takeaways
The two things most cyclists leave out: a power link and insulating tape. A power link means if your chain breaks on a wet climb, you're not faffing around with a chain tool trying to remove links. You clip it in and you ride home. Insulating tape has fixed a broken shoe clamp, secured a loose cable to a frame, and held handlebar tape together. Twenty grams. Takes up nothing. The number of times Anthony has used it versus the number of times he's used a fancy multi-tool is not close.
The other thing worth taking seriously is the raincoat point. Anthony's used a Rapha packable jacket for years and rates it above everything else in his cycling wardrobe, Castelli, Assos, Velocio included. Not because it's the best technical piece, but because it's the one that gets used on every single ride. Top of a descent, coffee stop, someone punctures and you're standing around for ten minutes. It goes on. If you haven't got one of those boil-in-the-bag jackets yet, that's the first thing to buy before anything else.
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If you want more of the community ride and real-world cycling chat, the episode on why you need to do less is worth your time. The gravel episode is a good one too if you've been thinking about mixing up your riding.