9 Surprisingly Simple Supplies in My Bikepacking Repair Kit That Aren’t Tools or Spares

One of the most interesting dimensions of bikepacking, in my opinion, is the chance to practice self-reliance in remote places. And that means carrying a dialed repair and spares kit. 

I’ve gone deep down the rabbit hole of bikepacking repair supplies, both due to my own riding (20,000+ miles in 16 countries) and my adventure kits side project.

In my experience, most people focus on bike tools and spare parts, which is indeed essential (see my big list here). But some of my most-used supplies actually have nothing to do with bikes!

Here’s a quick list of supplies in my personal bikepacking repair kit that newer riders might not expect. Even experienced riders might pick up a new idea or two. You can find most of these at a basic hardware store in the US and many places around the world. 

Most of these supplies are in the Bikepacker’s Fix It Kit and Tubeless Tire Repair Kit if you’d like to cross this stuff off your packing list in one fell swoop. I buy them in bulk directly from manufacturers and divy them up into affordable kits without the high markup you’ll find on Amazon etc. 

Ok, on to the supplies!

Sandpaper and Alcohol Wipes

I once bought sandpaper from a hardware store in rural Kyrgyzstan, and I’ve carried some in my repair kit ever since.

The purpose? Fixing squealing disc brake pads. This might not seem like an emergency until you’re staring down a 10,000 foot descent (Not a typo! Kyrgyzstan is incredible!) while your brakes sound like nails on a chalkboard.

Brake squealing caused by worn or misaligned pads can’t be fixed with sandpaper. But sometimes brakes squeal because the pads and rotors are contaminated with oil from the road or your skin, or glazing from high temperatures. In this case, sanding pads and wiping rotors can solve the problem and restore your sanity.

Most kinds of sandpaper will help in a pinch, but I recommend a medium grit, around 100. Start with the pads which are easy to sand, just go until the shiny dark streaks are gone. In some cases you may need to sand the rotors too, which is more work but restores them to a confidence-inspiring grippiness. 

And the alcohol wipes? You’ll also want to wipe down your rotors with rubbing alcohol so they don’t recontaminate your freshly sanded pads. A cotton ball and bottle of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or local equivalent is ideal, but I carry individually wrapped alcohol wipes (like in first aid kits) for remote fixes.

Careful not to touch the pad or rotor surfaces with your fingers or you might make the problem worse. And be sure to repeat the bedding in process after sanding and wiping.

Threadlocker

I discovered the need for threadlocker early, on the gravel roads of my first tour in Southeast Asia. Ever since I carry a small tube of blue threadlocker in my bikepacking repair kit. I apply it preemptively to bolts I don’t trust (rack mounts, cargo cage mounts) and I definitely apply it to any bolt starting to work its way loose. 

Pro tip: Check for loose bolts periodically instead of waiting until they fall out. Also, carry spare bolts.

Threadlocker is a special type of goo that makes it harder for bolts to rattle loose. The type you want for bikes is Loctite 243, which is BLUE (non-permanent, avoid red), oil tolerant, and designed for smaller bolts and lower torque. 

In my experience some bolts will rattle loose again and again until threadlockered, while others will never loosen one bit. Just depends on where they are on the bike and the forces they experience there. 

Section of Old Tube

It’s a basic law of bikepacking: enough teeth-rattling miles of washboard gravel can rattle ANYthing loose. 

I use sections of old recycled bike tube as shims when I mount handlebar gadgets like lights, phone holders, and GPS devices. Tubes are grippy, protect what’s under them, and generally work really well, but inevitably something still rattles loose.

In the past I’ve had to pick up random rubber from the roadside to fortify or replace my mounts, so I now carry a few inches of old tube on every trip. 

This is an easy one to get for free if you’ve ever kept a punctured tube sitting around. Otherwise ask any bike shop; the bit of old tube in the Bikepacker’s Fix It Kit is recycled from my LBS.

Electrical Tape

Many kinds of tape can be helpful when bikepacking (duct tape, Gorilla tape) but I turn to electrical tape most often. 

It’s just stretchy and sticky enough to be useful in a wide range of cases, and it peels off without leaving residue. I use it to secure or protect cables, patch worn handlebar tape, and shim loose mounts if old tube (see above) is too thick. Wrap a foot or two around the handle of your mini pump or the neck of a water bottle.

Helicopter (Frame Protection) Tape

It’s good practice (and essential on carbon bikes) to tape your frame anywhere bikepacking bags will touch it, or abrasions over time will do damage. Tape can wear through on a long trip or you might miss a spot, so I recommend carrying extra in your repair kit. 

I rode my steel frame for years before learning about frame tape. Fortunately steel is real and I didn’t do structural damage, but I did rub off more paint than I would have liked. I’m more careful now!

There are two approaches. Heavy-duty “helicopter tape” is at least 8 mil (0.2mm) thickness polyurethane designed to protect paint on aircraft and cars. It’s durable but harder to install in the field. You can also find thinner more flexible tapes that are easier to install but wear through quicker. I say pre-tape with heavy tape at home and carry a bit of both on the road.  

Gear Aid Tenacious Tape

Yet another kind of tape (are you noticing a pattern here?), Gear Aid Tenacious Tape is a reliable brand of PVC tape used for gear fixes of many kinds. I’ve used it to patch holes in my rain jacket, sleeping quilt, sleeping pad, seat bag, and even a leaky hydration bladder.

Pro tip: Cut into a round shape to reduce peeling corners. After applying, set a pot of hot water on top for a few minutes to help set the adhesive.

Zip Ties

If you’ve been bikepacking for long you probably already got the memo about zip ties, but for anyone who doesn’t know yet I want to mention it here:

Carry zip ties! In a variety of sizes!

A couple creatively placed zip ties can repair a broken bag strap, tighten a loose handlebar gadget mount, or even hold a broken rack together for long enough to reach civilization. I use them in non-repair situations to mount lights and electronics. 

They can even help with kludgey bike repairs! I once used a zip tie to assist with an emergency singlespeed conversion. 

Pro tip: Multiple zip ties can be chained together to make a longer loop. 

Braided Fishing Line, Curved Needles, and Rubber Thimbles

If you bikepack in remote places with tubeless tires, I highly recommend carrying supplies similar to those in my Tubeless Tire Repair Kit to get you out of a sticky (literally, sealant will be everywhere) situation someday. 

Tubeless tires can lull you into a false sense of security. They prevent tons of flats and rarely cause problems, but when they do, those problems can be ride-stopping.

One of the most basic tubeless repair supplies is a simple tire sewing kit: needle and thread. But which needle and which thread? 

I did a LOT of testing while developing the Tubeless Tire Repair Kit and this is what I now carry: 

• 2 heavy-duty curved upholstery needles in 2” and 2.5” sizes
• 10 feet of 50 lb braided fishing line
• 2 grippy rubber thimbles, because jamming a needle through a tire is harder than people make it sound

My fellow bikepackers, what simple but incredibly useful supplies do YOU carry in your kit that I haven’t mentioned here? Please share in the comments below!

More Bikepacking Resources

If you liked this post, you might also like these:

• Peek Inside My Bikepacking Tool Kit: 4 Things I Never Ride Without
• Bikepacking Pace Calculator (interactive tool)
• Pinion vs. Traditional Drivetrains: His vs. Hers 2400 Mile Comparison

Or visit the bikepacking home page for lots more!