The Bike and What I Carry

This is Joe. People have asked about the bike, so here we go:

I bought the bike at Costco, of course, April, 2025. It was on sale, of course.

It is an Intense 951 gravel bike. It is a 1X12 gearing, with a 40 tooth chainring and a 12-speed cassette (11-44 tooth). I made some upgrades to the bike:

1. Carbon wheels front and back. (stiffer, lighter wheel)

2. I put a 165mm crank, (stock 170mm), I have shorter legs

3. Oval chainring, not round (better for climbing)

4. Aero bars- improve aerodynamics and save watts.

5. Tires 29x35mm the hardest I could find

I wear an air pod in my right ear. Garmin gives me turn by wrong turn.

I carry pepper spray. I have a Garmin radar (detects cars .25 mile away) A Garmin mapping bike computer, an old school bike computer, a rear flashing red light for my helmet and a white flashing white light. I carry 2 changes of socks, warm gloves and hat, rubber bands and duct tape, all in a watertight bag. The rest of the stuff: spare tire, spare tub, tools, electric pump and manual pump, bike lock, dry rag, toilet paper, wind breaker jacket goes in the rear bike pannier. I carry 6 water bottles and all the food and snacks I've mentioned before.

Now let’s talk about the most important safety feature, sunglasses!

They are Tri-eye, they have a built-in rear view mirror on the left eye, if you have a road bike I would buy them!