Mountain Biking

Patrickknives

Patrickknives

Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
2,415
I just got back into mountain biking by buying a great bike. I was out on Sunday in a pretty remote area and realized I was not carring much with me. I had a drop point and folder of my own make, tire patch kit, new tube, co2 inflater, water, energy bars.

I need to put together a small kit in case of trouble, what would you take. I carry a small pack but want to stay pretty light.
 
Bike repair tool. They make multi-tools with a few common allen wrench sizes, regular and phillips driver. Maybe get one with a star driver or nut driver too if your bike needs them. A cell phone or radio is a good idea depending on what works where you go. A camera so you can share your adventures with us.
 
Allen wrenches 5,6,8, spoke wrenches, 15mm wrench for pedals if you can fit it. Go grab a pack for your bike, i used to have one that went between the seat tube and the top tube, it was triangular. Phillips & flathead, tire levers, patch kit, pump/inflator, maybe some teflon lube. Being a bike mechanic and all i don't really pack tools as most of you would think... lol. Although i do ride around town, when i go out i grab my specialized or park tool multi tool, and thats about it. Do you have quick release on it? Make sure to check pedals, brakes, headset, stem, derailleurs, tires, wheels and bottom bracket before you go out. My specialized tool has everything on it that i listed, but i also have all that seperate. When in town, if i just built wheels or got a new bike, i'll carry spoke wrenches and allens, thats about it.
 
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Park Tool, Crank Brothers and a couple other companies make some pretty awesome small light multitools for bike repair, I'd check one of those out. Tubes and a pump or c02 inflator-I prefer the pump-I'd bring some water purification tabs and ceralite or gu packs for electrolytes too, hydration is probably going to be your biggest issue. Clif bars are great. The back pocket of your jersey can carry alot of stuff too. I never took alot of survival stuff with me when mountain biking now that I look back on it, but a leatherman or swiss army knife can go a long way
 
I carry tire levers, tube, pump, spare CO2, multitool(swisstool spirit), some allen wrenches, patch kit, chain tool, a few extra chain links, duct tape......for tools.

You need a light or headlamp in case you get stuck out after dark. A packable rain shell/light jacket, water, water, water, bandanna, Minimal FAK, Helmet, gloves....

Depending on the ride I am taking dictates the gear, and food I take. Cliff bar has new minis out that are dope. Good stuff. I also pack babyfood. The fruit gives me a good energy boost, and is easy to pack, and suck down while riding. I put mine in small squeezable bottles.
 
j williams said:
I carry tire levers, tube, pump, spare CO2, multitool(swisstool spirit), some allen wrenches, patch kit, chain tool, a few extra chain links, duct tape......for tools.

You need a light or headlamp in case you get stuck out after dark. A packable rain shell/light jacket, water, water, water, bandanna, Minimal FAK, Helmet, gloves....

Depending on the ride I am taking dictates the gear, and food I take. Cliff bar has new minis out that are dope. Good stuff. I also pack babyfood. The fruit gives me a good energy boost, and is easy to pack, and suck down while riding. I put mine in small squeezable bottles.
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i think it usually depends on your terrain and how far/long you're going to be out, but for the most part i carry just about the same stuff as Jake, give or take a few small items...:thumbup:
some of the more dense forests around here tend to get really dark around dusk, so a good/small headlamp is always good to have..
 
I'm casual so just tube, patches, pump, keys, spanners. I've got a pair of lamps somewhere that put out about 200 lumens each. They're fun, especially along the sea front path, without getting into silly power. Took them off to mount a cheapo video camera.
 
I ride everywhere. Literally. So this is what I carry with me:

-Pump
-Multi-tool - LM Surge
-Bike specific multi-tool (any bike shop has them, just all the tools you would need for your bike, and fold-able. Fits in my spare water bottle)
-Patches -pre-glued, in spare water bottle
-Spare inner tube - in spare water bottle
-F.A.K
-Bandana
-Tri-Flow - mini, in spare waterbottle
-Flashlight
-Batteries
-Bike computer (obviously optional, but a great investment. I have a wireless Cat Eye system: odo / dist (x2) / speed / max speed / avg speed / time / lap)
-Energy Bars --Necessity when you're riding long distance, you can just find yourself shaking suddenly from lack of energy.

HTH
 
I have had two instances, both in Moab, UT, where I was exploring on my mountain bike and ran into trouble. Both times I had very limited survival gear with me. Ever since then I carry enough that I could survive for a night if needed. Besides my bike tools (pump, tool, tube, etc), I carry the following items.

Petzl E-lite - critical that you have a light. If you get stuck on the trail after dark you will need to it find your way back and to make repairs on your bike, etc.

Light Jacket - I live in the high desert and if I do an afternoon ride it will usually be hot when I ride, but after the sun goes down it gets cold quick!

Multi-tool and/or knife - Usually carry my leatherman or Izulu.

Space blanket - multitude of uses.

Lighter - If you need to start a fire in the rain, a small piece of innertube will light with a lighter even if it is soaked.

First Aid Supplies
 
Thanks I think I will start a list and then I can add to it.

Riding after work from about 5 -8 pm there were a couple of things I thought about,
1. I really did not have the tools and/parts to fix a broken bike
2. No first aid
3. Bad place to spend the night ( I did have matches) and happend to have a LED flashlight left over from a short hike.

My after work rides are not too far but in areas where hiker rescues are pretty common, they get hurt on rocks or lost. I know alot of mountain bikers that have been hurt pretty badly but they are much more aggressive riders than I am, although, I am pretty good I raced for several years and have been riding strong for almost 30 years.

Weekend is a whole different animal, god knows where I might go. I see it on a map and go.

Tools
Park Tool looks like a must and really fits the job
Chain tool w/ links
Spoke Wrench
Small Saw (Cable Saw?)

Equipment
LED headlamp + Extra LED Flashlight
Pump/CO2
Patches
Spare Tube
Tape
Wire
Map
Compass

Overnight
Space Blanket
3 ways to make fire
Tri Flow Water Bottle
Water Decon pills
Cell Phone (I dont think it will work, should have checked last night)
Jacket

First Aid
Lots of Gause pads and rolls
Tylenol
first aid cream
Needle/thread (ouch)
Tape
Bug Repellant

Misc:
paracord
food, on trail and overnight
 
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The only thing that I can add to the above lists is a small bottle of bug dope. If you are riding anywhere with mosquitos (like MI) you'll be eaten alive while fixing a chain or repairing a flat.

Jeff
 
If you are allowed, and inclined, to do spot trail maintenance, a light weight folding saw is good to bring along for removal of branches blocking the trail.:D
 
Thanks JDS, repellant added to list, good one

I am in CA and I would be really wary about cutting anything, I will think about the saw, overall a good idea for overnight. Maybe a cable saw but I would not mess with their stuff, they get really mad.
 
I'm a cycler, but not a mountain biker. For some reason I don't get the same joy from it as I do hiking. I've been moutain biking a time or two, and it seems like (and this just might be where I'm green at it) I paid too much attention to what was ahead of me, and not enough to what was around me. I like to take in everything when I'm out on a date with Ma Nature.
However, I do like and own a couple hybrid bikes; my first was a Scwhinn Link, the other is a GT Timberline I bought off a guy for 25 bucks (he thought he was slick and was selling me a bike that wouldn't shift gears. Apparently he didn't know how to adjust the derailleurs. So I got a 300 or 400 dollar bike at a steal.). Ended up giving the Link to my wife. I flat dig that GT.

I like the look on peoples' faces when I talk about having to clean my bike or having to do maintenance to it.

"You have a motorcycle?" (everybody who knows me knows that I don't care much about motorcycles now that every Jack, Mason, Landon, Tyler, Blake, Blaine and Blaire have one)

"Nope. A bicycle."

They do the :eek: and then the :confused:, because a grown man has something that is considered a child's toy. Especially a guy who is known for sleeping in the dirt and eating what he finds in the wilderness.
 
I stop and smell the roses pretty often. The nice thing about a mountain bike vrs. hike is I can cover alot of terrain and be somewhere new. I get the same looks when I get home and my neighbors and friends seem me jump on the bike, last night I guess the Laker were in the playoffs, I just dont have the time to sit and watch.

We do hike quite a bit and typically that will lead to a mountain bike trip to expand the area. But I do prefer to ride the bike after work ride over a short hike.
 
My first aid kits gets used a lot especially when going down black diamond rated trails. But at the same time I keep it basic with an ace bandage, 4 band aids, 2 large gauze pads, duct tape (also for temporary tube repairs), antiseptic wipes. and a couple of pain relievers.

I also carry in my camelbak (beside 2liters of gatorade)

a skeletool with a bit kit for the bike
tire lever tool
tire pump
compass
maps and permits
space blanket and small throwaway poncho
headlamp
bandanna
cell phone
small fire kit
whistle
para-cord

It sounds like a lot but it all fits in a small pouch
 
I took my bike out today for the first time in a while and first my rear brakes were rubbing then my kickstand came loose and was rubbing my tire.Leatherman Surge and some allen wrenches in my gunbag saved the day.
 
KEmSAT-Survival said:
I'm a cycler, but not a mountain biker. For some reason I don't get the same joy from it as I do hiking. I've been moutain biking a time or two, and it seems like (and this just might be where I'm green at it) I paid too much attention to what was ahead of me, and not enough to what was around me. I like to take in everything when I'm out on a date with Ma Nature.
However, I do like and own a couple hybrid bikes; my first was a Scwhinn Link, the other is a GT Timberline I bought off a guy for 25 bucks (he thought he was slick and was selling me a bike that wouldn't shift gears. Apparently he didn't know how to adjust the derailleurs. So I got a 300 or 400 dollar bike at a steal.). Ended up giving the Link to my wife. I flat dig that GT.

I like the look on peoples' faces when I talk about having to clean my bike or having to do maintenance to it.

"You have a motorcycle?" (everybody who knows me knows that I don't care much about motorcycles now that every Jack, Mason, Landon, Tyler, Blake, Blaine and Blaire have one)

"Nope. A bicycle."

They do the :eek: and then the :confused:, because a grown man has something that is considered a child's toy. Especially a guy who is known for sleeping in the dirt and eating what he finds in the wilderness.
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People like that drive me nuts-thankfully I live in a place now where bikers have more respect than motorcyclists so I don't have to put up with ignorant jerks like that anymore. Drivers in Wisconsin are a bunch of A-holes in general.
 
This area is considered bike friendly, I a sure am glad I would not want to see these people pissed off. They are friendly, they are having a great time talking on the phone and sucking down a latte when the mirror on their SUV hits you. Just stupid is all.

Off road is nice no cars,

Added paracord, I am going to get this put together for the weekend. Show you the final pack, and my new bike.
 
I am looking forward to seeing what you end up with, and the pics of your steed...

I have been carrying an Osprey Daylite as my bike bag, but just bought a hydration pack from Voodoo Tactical that Im excited to use.
 
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