Your bicycle is tuned up and the road is calling your name. Just don't take off without the right gear! Just like with our cars, it's smart to keep a supply of essential items on hand with you while riding a bicycle.

Just ask Ethan Johnson. He's the owner of the Campus WheelWorks bike shop in downtown Buffalo. Johnson has rode countless miles on city streets and rural trails, facing many repairs and flat tires along the way. Having the right tools and supplies has been critical to Johnson through the years. Here are some of the must-have items he recommends.

HELMET AND LOCK

Helmets and bike locks are safety and security standards for any bike ride, long or short, Johnson said.

There are many secure locks on the market, with solid steel U Locks being particularly popular. Other locks are made of braided steel, chains and even titanium.

"A helmet takes precedent over anything else because you want to be safe," Johnson said.

FLAT FIX KIT

Johnson relates the "flat fix kit" to the spare tire and jack for your car, only for a bicycle. These kits often include spare tubes, patches for punctured tubes, tire levers for prying off the tire and some type of inflation device, which could be a traditional hand pump or a high speed inflating CO2 system.

"Flats can just happen. You know, bicycle tire wheels are meant to be really light to make them easy to ride, (meanwhile) it takes quite a bit to get a flat tire in your car," Johnson said. "A bicycle's tires are basically fabric with rubber stuck to it."

Having spare tubes on hand has been very handy for Johnson.

"I sometimes tell people—if they're real flabbergasted that they might have had a couple of flats in a year or a month or in a week—that I have had five flats in one day!" he said.

MULTI TOOL

Bicycle enthusiasts like Johnson enjoy the innovative gadgets provided to the hobby, and there are no shortage of light weight, easy-to-carry tools that can help riders in a pinch. He said most multi tools include Allen wrenches, hex wrenches, a chain tool and spoke wrenches.

"You can go from tools that have 11 functions to tools that have 60 functions, they can get really complex," he said.

LIGHTS

Visibility is a huge issue for bicyclists in both rural and urban areas. Being able to see—and be seen—is a major safety concern, especially with the rise in distracted driving due to cell phone use by drivers.

"Many drivers are way more distracted than they once were, because we all have these real interesting pocket devices that are so cool," Johnson quipped. "But with (drivers) being distracted, and because bicycles are not as large as cars, you need to make (your bicycle) really stand out. So the best thing is flashing lights."

Like a car, a bicycle should have white lights in the front and a red light in the back.

"There now are a lot of people advocating to use lights in the daytime. It makes a lot of sense because motorcycles have had mandatory daytime running lights for a long time," Johnson said.

OTHER ITEMS

Cell phones are now a common part of bicyclist's kit, providing navigation information and communication when needed. Johnson warns about the potential distraction the cell phones can cause when used improperly.

A source of hydration is also a key item to bring, especially on longer rides. Personal protection can also be a consideration, depending on where you are riding. Johnson said a friend of his is cautious about  potential encounters with wildlife on a ride planned from Canada to Mexico.

"One of his concerns is am I going to bring bear spray? Yeah, that's a real thing," he said.

CARRYING YOUR GEAR

So, how do you actually carry all of this gear?

"There are bags that go on handlebars, there are bags that go in the middle of the frame," Johnson said. "There are saddle bags which go on the back tire called panniers. Depending how much more stuff you want to carry, there are tons of options."

Remember to bring these items with you on your next bike ride, along with your AAA Membership card. AAA Membership now covers your bicycle, providing transportation for you and your bicycle when it has become disabled and can be reached from a normally traveled road by our AAA service vehicle.

FREE AAA BICYCLE COVERAGE