Prepared for the unpredictable - bicycle survival kit

Bicycle trips are not only about pleasure and the joy of covering more kilometres but often also an unpleasant surprise with a vehicle breakdown or another incident. Fixing damages requires having special devices and tools, hence we suggest equipping yourself with at least a few items from the list below.

You are not able to take an entire workshop with you, that is clear. After all, you would have to carry it on your own back. However, it makes sense to pack into your backpack or pannier tools that combine several functions in one handy package. What can be useful? Certainly, wrenches for wheels and screwdrivers for adjusting equipment, from brakes to the phone holder. Additionally, sets often include pliers or combination pliers, which facilitate handling sharp or difficult to hold with bare hands parts of the bicycle. It is also important to have a knife, just in case. The most recommendable are all-in-one sets or bicycle multitools, which contain all the tools needed for a field repair of the vehicle. They are usually made of lightweight but durable materials, so they will not be too much of a burden while riding.

Such a kit includes plastic spoons for removing the tyre from the rim, several patches of different sizes, a piece of sandpaper, and glue. Repair using the kit should not take more than a quarter of an hour, counting from the removal and installation of the damaged wheel. A repair kit is a better idea than taking an entire inner tube for a simple reason - the kit allows you to patch several tyre damages, not just a one-time replacement. The size of such a kit does not exceed that of a pack of cigarettes, and the cost is just a few pounds.

While on short trips across even terrain, a first aid medical kit is an optional accessory, if you are planning a trip to the Bieszczady Mountains and tackling challenging trails like the Red Walking Trail, or something as long and demanding as the Great Bieszczady Loop, it is better to have more than just a plaster for scrapes. In case of an unfortunate accident, bandages and larger adhesive bandages, as well as ointment for abrasions, can be particularly useful. If there is a need for more advanced help, you should call for assistance or, if possible, report to a clinic, hospital, or rescue station yourself.
 

Basic sewing accessories are an absolute must-have. Did your shoe fall apart? It happens. Did your trousers tear where they tend to? It happens. Was your backpack overloaded and a strap broke? All this can be fixed with a needle and thread and a bit of basic sewing skills. Sometimes, a thread can also be useful for other purposes, though let us not imagine we are stitching a live wound like John Rambo. That is not a smart idea.

Card payment is popular, but not every place offers it. There are also situations where it is better to have cash to repay someone for a phone call or fuel, or even to buy a slice of bread with lard from someone. Several dozen or a hundred zlotys should suffice, also remember to have some small change.