A comprehensive list of what to bring on bike rides, remember it's always the tool you don't have that your bicycle will need. How much food you will need and how to not get lost, be ready for anything....

For Day Trips

• Always wear a helmet (read more about helmets).
  
• Wear versatile cycling clothing.
  
• Wear bicycling gloves for comfort, control, and crashes.
  
• Proper eye protection is strongly recommended.
  
  
• Tire Pump.
  
• Spare tire tube, or at least a patch kit, with tire irons.
  
• Proper bicycle repair tools. A simple hex key and the approriate wrenches would have saved the authors from some very long walks.
  
• A chain tool is lightweight and would also have saved many a long walk.
  
• Duct Tape.
  
  
• Plenty of water; one bottle per hour of riding (read more about drinking).
  
• Energy food (read more about eating).
  
• Small first aid kit, with kits for snake bite, bee sting, and the like as applicable.
  
• High socks or legwarmers on trails with poision ivy.
  
  
• Remember to pack it in, and pack it out.
  
• Know where you are riding and carry a map.
  
• Chart your expedition.
  
• Bring a mileage odometer to orient yourself.
  
  
• Swiss army knife.
  
• Money.
  

For Tours and Longer Trips

• Suntan lotion.
  
• Bug repellant.
  
• Small flashlight and/or bike light.
  
• Bungee cords.
  
• Bike tent, or protective plastic sheet, available at bike shops.
  
  
• A Lot of Food. Don't binge at restaurants (read about it).
  
• More bike clothing. Soap.
  
• Tampons (if applicable).
  
  
• Spoke wrench.
  
• Screwdriver.
  
• Pliers.
  
• For longer trips, bring specialised overhaul wrenches such as a freewheel remover, cotterless crank remover, cone wrenches, as well as bicycle grease and the like.
  
  
• Spare spokes.
  
• Spare brake pads and brake shoes (read about what brake pads to buy).
  
• Spare brake and derallieur cables.
  
• Spare chain links.
  
• Light oil and chain wax.
  
  
• Advance knowledge of where the local bike stores are.
  
• Specialised bicycling maps. Try the CAA/AAA, and obtain county maps which show little-used paved roads, even if you'll be doing trails the whole time.