Liam's Ride Wallet Breakdown

Words by: Liam Woods

What’s In My Ride Wallet?

Why I Carry a Ride Wallet and How It Has Evolved Over Time

After talking about my ride wallet on the MTB Podcast, I’ve had a lot of people ask for a full breakdown of what I carry. So here it is: my daily ride wallet setup.

I literally do not get on a bike without this thing. It comes with me on every ride, whether I’m doing a quick morning spin, shuttle laps, bike park days, or a bigger pedal. The only time it changes much is for races, and even then, I’m mostly just moving a couple of things around so I can get to a tire plug or CO2 faster.

Everyone’s “ride wallet” is going to look a little different. Mine is not really a wallet in the traditional sense. It’s more like a tiny emergency kit that lives in my pocket. Inside, I’ve got multi-tools, tire plugs, CO2, an AXS battery, and, because I am apparently delicate, chapstick.

This setup has evolved over the years. I actually just got a new bag for it after using the same one for probably six or seven years. That old bag started pink and eventually faded into some kind of sunburnt coral color. Jeff recently pointed out that he remembers it being pink, which tells you just how cooked that thing was.

This is only one part of the spares I carry. The ride wallet is the universal kit that can come with me on any bike. Then I’ll carry tubes on the bike itself depending on tire and wheel size. For longer days, I’ll add more tools and spares in a hydration pack.

I’m planning to make this into a small series. First up is the ride wallet. After that, I’ll cover the spares I carry on the bike, and then what I bring for bigger backcountry missions or guided trips, like Tasmania last year or the Dolomites trip we’re doing this fall with All Mountain Rides.

Daysaver Tools: The Essential 8 and Coworking 6

I’ve been a big fan of the Daysaver tools, but Jeff was actually the one who first sent them to me from an Instagram ad or something like that. We ordered two, and after using them, I immediately reached out because I wanted to carry them.

The Essential 8 is basically an L-shaped hex wrench on steroids. It has 2–8mm hex bits and a T25, with bits you can move around depending on what you need. It gets the job done for most things on a bike, and the L-shape gives you really good torque and feel.

That “feel” is the big thing for me. Some multi-tools are shaped in a way where you can technically get enough torque, but you don’t really know what is happening at the bolt. That can lead to things being either not tight enough or way too tight. Since I’m used to normal shop wrenches, I like that this tool gives me a more familiar feel on the trail.

The 8mm is built into the wrench, so it can’t fall off. I’ve even been able to loosen and tighten SRAM T-Type derailleurs with it and a foot for extra leverage. Is that ideal? Absolutely not. Did it work for a trailside fix? Yes, and that’s all I really care about in that moment.

The Coworking 6 pairs with the Essential 8 and rounds out the system. It includes a chain breaker, which is a must-have if you want a complete repair setup. It also has a tire lever, tire plug tool, spoke wrench, valve core tool, and a spot for quick links. The two tools fit together nicely and don’t take up much room. The Coworking 6 is not something I use all the time, but when you need it, you really need it.

Dynaplug Racer Pro

If you haven’t heard of Dynaplug by now, I suggest you climb out from under the rock you’ve been trapped beneath and welcome yourself to one of the best tire plug systems out there.

Over the last three years, I can only think of one time where I needed more than a Dynaplug to fix a puncture. They are more expensive than a traditional bacon strip setup, but they are also easier to use, easier to push into the tire, and much less frustrating when you’re on the side of the trail trying not to lose your mind.

They also tend to stay put. That is a big deal.

The Racer Pro is a great shape because it fits nicely in the ride wallet or a jersey pocket without feeling bulky. It has three standard plugs and one mega plug. I like using the sharp-point refills because they work well on those weird little holes, especially in gravel tires, where the hole does not look big enough to matter but somehow refuses to seal.

That is where the Dynaplug shines. The metal tip helps the plug seat against the tire, so it does not pull back out like some bacon strip repairs can.

WTB TCS Rocket Tire Plug Kit

I recently swapped the Stan’s DART Tool for the WTB TCS Rocket Tire Plug Kit, and so far, I like this setup more. It still uses traditional bacon strips, but adds a small metal anchor to the end of the plug. That helps guide the plug into the tire and gives it a better chance of staying put compared to a standard bacon strip.

There are two plug sizes: a smaller anchor for one bacon strip and a larger anchor for two strips when the hole is a little more exciting than you’d like. The tool also has two ends. Under the large cap is the plug installer, and under the small cap is the “Extra Hand” tool, which you can stick into the puncture to slow down air loss while you get the plug ready.

What I like most is how much it carries for the size. You can pre-load a plug into the installer, keep a few sheets of bacon strips inside, and carry two small and two large anchors. Compared to the DART, it feels like a better use of space in the ride wallet: more plugs, more options, and still small enough to not turn the wallet into a brick. Plus, let's be honest, I thin ive had a dart work well 2-3 times maybe? And break just as many or more times. 

Lezyne CO2 Head

For a CO2 head, I like the smallest and simplest option possible. This is the Lezyne Twin Speed Drive co2 Inflator

I prefer the style that threads onto the cartridge, then opens with a small turn to release air into the valve. They are compact, easy to use, and there is not much to mess up.

That said, test your CO2 head once in a while, especially before a big race or event. A few years ago at the Downieville Classic, I went to use one and the O-ring seal blew out, which basically turned my CO2 into a very disappointing trail-side air show.

Now I carry one CO2 head in the wallet and usually another in a hydration pack for bigger days.

20g CO2

I try to carry a 20g CO2 cartridge when possible, but sometimes I’ll use a 16g if that is what I have.

A 20g cartridge is usually enough to fill a 29-inch mountain bike tire, and sometimes you’ll have a little extra if you’re dealing with a slow leak or just need to get enough pressure to limp home.

AXS Battery

This one is simple: carry an extra SRAM AXS battery and keep the red plastic cover on it.

I’ve seen the slimmer third-party batteries, and I’m sure they save a little room, but I prefer to just carry an actual SRAM battery. Funny enough, I probably hand it to other people more often than I use it myself.

That said, I did recently end up with a dead derailleur battery about two hours into a ride, so yes, it absolutely comes in handy.

Chapstick

Yup. My fragile lips need chapstick.

I like to carry one with SPF because sunburned lips are horrible, and this is an easy thing to forget until it’s too late.

Topo Designs Mountain Accessory Bag

I just picked up the Topo Designs Mountain Accessory Bag, which has a little more room than the old Topo Designs Micro Bag I was using before. It’s simple, but it works.

Before buying this one, I looked through a bunch of different brands to see if someone made a better option, and Topo still had the best mix of size, simplicity, and price.

Mission Workshop makes some nice options, but they are smaller and more expensive. Backcountry Research makes one too, and the size is good, but the grippy backing makes it harder to get in and out of a pocket quickly. For how I use this, I want it to slide in and out easily without feeling like I’m wrestling my shorts.

Exceptions for Racing

Most of the time, I ride with everything in the wallet. Racing is the exception.

For races or events, I’ll usually pull the Dynaplug out and keep it in a jersey pocket so I can grab it fast if I puncture. I’ll also pull out the CO2 and inflator so they are ready to go.

Because I use the simple thread-on inflator, I do not want to fully thread it onto the CO2 cartridge before I actually need it. So I wrap a small piece of electrical tape over the CO2 threads, then gently thread the inflator on just enough to keep everything together without puncturing the cartridge.

Then, if I need it, I can quickly thread past the tape, puncture the CO2, and get air in the tire. It’s fast, simple, and it works.

If I’m racing a mountain bike without SRAM AXS, like both of my full-suspension bikes that now have SRAM Eagle 90, I’ll take the AXS battery out to save room. In that case, I could swap in a second CO2, especially since I already have one outside the wallet on race day.

Final Thoughts

That’s it. Pretty simple: tools, plugs, inflation, a battery, and chapstick.

For a lot of my short morning rides, I can just grab this wallet and not think twice. That is really the whole point. Build a setup that works for you, with the tools, tire plugs, and inflation system you actually like using, and keep it with you.

Nobody wants to be the unprepared one on the ride. Or worse, the person everyone has to keep bailing out because they never bring anything.

This article was written / authored by Liam Woods. Liam has been in the bicycle industry for over 10 years as a racer, professional mechanic, service manager and as of late, media and content creator. Liam has ridden thousands of different bikes, ridden countless components, tested endless MTB apparel of all kinds and written reviews on it all. He's a key piece to the Worldwide Cyclery "All Things MTB" content creation puzzle. He also makes consistent appearances on the Worldwide Cyclery YouTube channel and Instagram.