Thursday, June 28, 2012

What's in YOUR Pannier?





I've got, currently, the following necessities: Extra socks, Moleskine, drawing pen, bike pump, watercolor pencils, post-it note pad (2), kids' pool IDs, stress lozenges, USB memory stick (2), duct-tape pencil case, old container of dental floss, credit card, band aids, old driver's license (to identify me if incapacitated), cash,  tube patch kit, old bottle opener (vintage!), binder clips, colored penciles, USB charge cable, coins, Leatherman.


How do you compare? With my pannier, the credit card, and my bike, I think I could go anywhere.





6 comments:

She Rides a Bike said...

I carry my wallet, camera, mobile, u-lock, reading glasses, a pen, a small makeup bag, an small allen wrench set and a few Kleenexes. I like the idea of carrying a Moleskin and colored pencil (or in my case, watercolor pencils or watercolor crayons). I love you urban sketches and think that as my life is getting more settled I need to get back to my artistic roots and see what materializes. Once upon a time, I was a prolific and accomplished artist but career changes took me further and further from my right brain, which frankly was a thrilling place to live. Hmmm. . . I wonder if I have my pan watercolors and my Arches postcards packed yet?

anniebikes said...

This is a great post because it makes me realize how what you haul around identifies your personality. Let's see, I have a little notebook and pen (for blog notes), a camera, wallet, patch kit, pump, tissue, bungee cords, lock, first aid kit.

anniebikes said...

I forgot to mention that I have these fantasies of credit card touring, as you have. With a pannier and credit card, it's be extremely easy to escape for a few days.

I wrote about it here:
http://anniebikes.blogspot.com/2011/05/have-credit-card-and-lure-of-open-road.htmlhttp://anniebikes.blogspot.com/2011/05/have-credit-card-and-lure-of-open-road.html

Ben said...

Thanks for your comments! Yes, the bike and a simple bag can offer a lot of individuality and adventure. I do think of a cross country tour, but that must wait until the kiddos are in college...

Also: are you not always rearranging where the BEST location for a given item must go? The drawing pen often sits in the mesh exterior pocket of my pannier, but sometimes I thought it best to live in my duct-tape pencil case. And my pump: it's usually in the bag but I wish it could fit well on my frame. Ah, the decisions!

safetystephen said...

"One forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings."

Andy in Germany said...

I depends on when I clear them out. Last week I was looking all over the place for my garden seeds for this years second bout of planting. Not in the house, garage or in the garden. You can guess where I eventually found them.