What to Carry On Your Bike

*THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.*

Obviously there may be other things you need (say, your insulin or house keys) and you should bring those too. I mean it. Think about this. Don't count on me to remember stuff. I can't even remember my OWN house keys.

That said:

• Wear a helmet. Not doing so is just plain stupid, and makes it very likely that you will be even stupider soon when you get that unnecessary head injury.
  
• Tire-changing supplies and at least a vague idea of what to do with them.
  
• If you plan to ride more than 90 minutes or live in a universe where something might possibly go amiss with your plan to ride less that 90 minutes: calories.
  
• Water.
  
• ID, contact and medical information.
  
• A little money in case you're stranded out there on the tundra and need to buy some Gatorade before you keel over, or there's an ice cream truck, or Tom Selleck comes by and offers to give you a really good neck massage for a dollar. It's all about being prepared.
  
• A cell phone, if you have one.
  
• A map, if you are unfamiliar with the area.