When you're a cyclist, one of the things you're bound to encounter is a situation where you find yourself trying to improvise repairs for your bike while out on the road just so you can get back home. Maybe it is stitching up a big split in the sidewall of your tire or else stuffing a dollar bill or energy bar wrapper in there until you can do a more permanent fix.
So, it's key to take a few key items with you when you ride to help address the most common fix-it situations you'll encounter. These are things like a spare tube; a multi-tool; a patch kit, etc.
Recently I came across another piece of gear worth considering for these types of situations. This is the Survival Straps wrist band, which is essentially a tightly wound length (approx 10 feet) of military spec woven nylon parachute cord that goes on your wrist like a bracelet. You've probably seen them before worn as a fashion statement, but I have to confess that until now I never fully understood the total potential for their use. When needed, it gets unwound and offers a handy option to bail you out of whatever situation you're in.
For instance, the paracord can be handy for any number of bike repairs (think of lashing on a pannier with a broken bracket; tying a broken spoke to another until you have opportunity to do a more permanent repair; or even serving as a temporary link in a broken chain). When riding cross country, It can also be used to tie on a sleeping bag or to secure other items that you acquire along the way but didn't necessarily plan for in your original bike tour packing list. Plus the company promises that if you do use it in an emergency situation, they'll send you a new one, free of charge. And that kind of deal almost makes one hope for a mishap, ha ha.
Other uses for paracord include application in a first aid situation, including as a method of lashing on splints to help shore up a broken bone; to help make an improvised sling; or God forbid, as a tourniquet in case of bleeding so severe that a person's life is at risk.
Another option for bringing paracord along instead of wearing it like a bracelet is to wrap your handlebars with it in place of bar tape. It offers a cool look and different texture, plus makes a whole bunch more available to you when needed. Here is a nice set of instructions on how to go about doing that. Note that you'll end up carrying 20-25 feet (at least) of paracord. That's enough to use to construct an emergency shelter if needed when you're out on a bikepacking trip. You can stretch the cord between two trees and then use brush or ponchos or plastic tarps to create a tent that will keep you warm and dry.
So all in all, there are a ton of uses for parachute cord. Enough so that it's certainly worth taking with you. If you're interested in the Survival Straps wristbands specifically, check out the company's website here. Otherwise you can find paracord in camping supply stores, military surplus or even on Amazon. Prices are all over the place but generally in the range of $5.00 for ten feet, going on up to $20-30 for 200 feet.
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