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Hi,
I'm off to the bike park in a couple of weeks.
Normally I have a full kit on the bike
- Pump+ co2+ tube
- Multi tool
- Spare hangar
- Pliers + tubeless kit
- Plus assorted other junk.
I don't like the idea of missing x number of runs while walking back down.
Given things that have seen me walk down from a bike park are:
- Broken shock( rock shock)
- Broken Shock ( fox)
- Accident after shock lost rebound damping (cane creek)
- Mech smashed into wheel destroying mech, hangar.
- Front wheel into tree breaking the rim
- Rear wheel smashed 5 spokes in a crash
- Chain got stuck as I dumped all the tools and couldn't get it out from behind the chain device
Some folk look like they have nothing, the occasional person has a full evoc rucksack with ??? In it
What would you actually take up the hill?
A multi tool, make sure the bike is in good condition before I go and ride within my limits
If it was me, I'd have a multitool, something to fix flats, shock pump and a spare tube. Plus some spare chain links, and since a recent incident where I somehow lost a whole chain at Kronplatz, maybe a full chain! Just kidding...
What would you actually take up the hill?
I don’t want to carry loads of stuff so only a multi tool on the bike and everything else is back in the car. A tube and pump aren’t a bad idea unless you have inserts you can ride on a flat tyre.
Most of your show stoppers in the OP aren’t going to be fixed trailside so why not enjoy unencumbered riding. Though maybe some of that could have been avoided with maintenance/a check over the day before?
Nothing.
Full tool kit in the car.
I'm not strapping loads of stuff to my bike for an uplift day and no way I'm climbing in and out of a bus all day with a backpack on.
I very, very rarely (in reality never) have to miss runs to fix a broken bike. If I did I'd just suck it up and go to the car. Things break sometimes.
I generally travel light with just a tyre repair & allen keys. I have full toolbox in the van.
Given some of the things you have had go wrong, they're not being repaired trailside - I would sack off the bike, chuck it in the car & grab a hire bike.
I have done 3/4 day at BPW chainless after my rear mech snapped off on the start of 3 days away.
BPW was fun with no chain. Had to rent a bike at FOD (which was in poor condition & I swapped at lunch time for another one - which I also broke) then the car broke on the way to Wind Hill, but riding there chainless was also good fun.
Nothing.
Full tool kit in the car.
If I’m parked at the bottom, very much this ^
Yup, nothing at all. If something happens i'll get to the bottom and sort.
I usually have 1-2 spare bikes in the van anyway of various configurations.
OneUp pump strapped to frame with EDC and C02 cannister inside it. Tubeless tyre plug in the end of my handlebar. Mini saddle bag with two Tubolitos, tyre boot, patch and tyre lever. Plus some cable ties stuffed in my crank axle. I'll then have more spares in the car. Basically all my stuff is attached to the bike. Walking down when you have a puncture might not sound too bad but it could takes ages if you're in the wrong place.
Riding with a shock pump? This shouldn't ever be the case, but especially not in a bike park.
If I'm in a park I don't carry anything. Maybe an allen key or two in my pocket if there's a particular concern (e.g. not confident levers are set correctly, or something had previously come loose). If I get a mechanical I'd rather make my way to van / trailhead and fix it properly rather than messing about trailside and holding other people up.
Walking down when you have a puncture might not sound too bad but it could takes ages if you're in the wrong place.
I've got a pair of Rimpacts on both bikes. I'm not walking anywhere.
Some folk look like they have nothing, the occasional person has a full evoc rucksack with ??? In it
I think you have hit upon a viable GMBN 15 minute YouTube vid….or have they done it already?
When riding anywhere that involves a car journey I'm the nothing on my person club, although I do have a Topeak Hide 'N BB multitool/chain breaker in my crank spindle.
Ideal world I'd have a multi-tool / CO2 stored somewhere on the bike and that will do. Plugging a puncture on the trail takes the same time as down in the car park, and might save you a hike.
Any sort of bag really does suck on the uplift - it's worth the occasional mechanical (which you can often freewheel back down the hill on) to avoid this.
I try to avoid carrying tools about my person, for any type of riding. So I like the bars / spindle etc tool hideaways on the bike. Even a small saddle bag won't usually work on an enduro bike with the rear travel.
multitool, pump, spare tube, tubeless puncture kit, a couple of nuts and bolts, a couple of cable ties, 3 quicklinks, 2 chain links
multitool, pump, spare tube, tubeless puncture kit, a couple of nuts and bolts, a couple of cable ties, 3 quicklinks, 2 chain links
And this is in the bikepark? On an uplift day?
👍
Having typed all that out I might get a spare shock 😀
everything is in the van spare tyres, tools everything
The only tool on the bike is me. The rest - multitool, pump and puncture plugger are in my extremely unfashionable Camelbak 🙂
Having walked a long way down at BPW and missing runs a result, tube pump and multitool. All on the bike or in a pocket.
Nothing in the bike, tools and spares in the car. Most places you can get back to the drop off and get a lift back down. Otherwise it is a walk, normally it isn't far
SWAT multi tool, chain breaker, and spare master link in the steerer tube.
Tubeless repair kit in the handlebar ends.
Mini pump, spare TPU tube, tyre levers/master link pliers, emergency snacks in the downtube.
In frame storage is a wonderful thing.
Depends on how long the walk to the car is - for example a cable car up could mean a loooong walk down. So for me it’s tyre levers, spare tube, mini pump, multitool, couple of cable ties and some kind of mini-pliers. And probably a shock pump too, although I’d be happy leaving that at the car if I was staying within the bike park.
In practice, most of my bike park days are in the alps, so I tend to ride outside the park a lot. But that’s not really within the realms of this thread, which I assume is more like Dyfi etc.
Tiny bag which lives on the bike all the time has tube, pump, tyre levers, multi tool which has a chain tool on it a couple of chain links and a couple of zip ties. Smaller and lighter than a small bottle and never really noticeable.
The thing I lend to people most often is the chain tool. Surprised how many people don't carry one
Longer days other bits get added to the pocket/rucksack, dry top and gloves, food, etc then for big days map, compass, bivvy bag, water filter, etc
Longer days other bits get added to the pocket/rucksack, dry top and gloves, food, etc then for big days map, compass, bivvy bag, water filter, etc
Would you take that lot up on an uplift?
Oh time I could imagine needing that would be a multiple lift day in the Alps and getting very unlucky with the weather and getting stuck in the wrong valley
Riding with a shock pump? This shouldn't ever be the case, but especially not in a bike park.
Love it, I'll consider the advice.
I reckon I've done about 80 bike park days over the last 3 years and frequently use them as an opportunity to test out different shock and fork pressures, especially with shocks having become pretty complex to set up recently. But then I dont have an issue riding with a pack either. But admittedly I'm not usually close to a full toolbox at the bottom of the runs where were riding.
I've never split a tyre, broken a mech or used a cable tie on any of those days.
I guess some people are planning to ride to the bike park from Scotland/home 🤪
If someone brings a shock pump to the bikepark and wants to try a bunch of different fork and shock pressures they can ride on their own.
I'll catch up with them in the pub afterwards.
I do also tend to have a backpack on uplift days, not for tools but for snacks. I can't stand the idea of waiting until lunch to refuel, I'm snacking on the way up and don't miss out on any uplift over lunchtime
Yeah I'm a backpack-at-bikepark person too. Limitless haribos, convenient water, extra or less layers, all means staying more comfortable which is good... less time wasted, can deal with little mechanicals or punctures or help others-you get good chat, fixing world champions' bikes for them like they are a small child 🙂 Rolling down the hill is just crap and while sure sometimes you can be parked nearby and it's a minor incinvenience, other times you can be a slog away like most people at BPW.
Plus sometimes it'll save your spine on teh uplift too, lookin at you here Dirt Farm.
The snacks and stuff is where Dyfi and place like FoD work superbly, compared to say BPW which is more of a hike if you’ve cone down by the bus. But even BPW for me is ok as I’m happy with less runs than most, so taking 20 min to get a bit of food is fine. If I get 5 runs at a place in a day I’m happy
Plus sometimes it'll save your spine on teh uplift too, lookin at you here Dirt Farm.
You raved about that tractor uplift but my coccyx has never been the same 😀
Have a multitool, tubeless worm thingies and my wackybaccy in my hip pack. Pump and spare tube are fixed to the frame.
The worms have been used occasionally and the multitool often for quick adjustments.
lost a whole chain at Kronplatz,
Fortunately not much climbing there!
Multitool, mostly for the hex keys to tighten the odd bolt and anchovies/tool in the bar plus a mini pump lashed to the frame.
Basically just enough to get me rolling again if a minor mechanical occurs and/or sort a puncture, again just enough to get back to the car.
It might be worth carrying a tube, but honestly if it can’t be plugged and re-inflated without unseating the bead I think I’d rather trudge back to the car to fix it…
Yeah I'm a backpack-at-bikepark person too. Limitless haribos, convenient water, extra or less layers, all means staying more comfortable which is good...
Really can’t put up with a backpack full of crap that I’m probably not going to need, a small hip pack or even a mini frame pack would be preferable, small bottle on the frame, soreen stuffed in a pocket is all the sustenance I need till lunchtime, then a picnic sat in the boot is a bit of a treat for me…
You raved about that tractor uplift but my coccyx has never been the same 😀
Yeah but on the other hand, tRaCtOrZ!oNE!
I bloody nearly fell off the back last time though
I never used to take anything but after a long walk down at BPW and missing a few runs I started carrying a spare tube/multitool/pump. These just stay on my bike now even though having a pump strapped to the frame is criminally ugly.
I just take what I usually take, really.
One-up pump and multi tool /tubeless worm jabber on the bike
Spare tube strapped to bike
Under saddle roll with various small spares like extra tubeless worms, quick links, spare valves, spare inner cable for gears or dropper post
As minimal as possible in bumbagor pocket. maybe a small pair of pliers based multi tool /knife.
Also in bumbag some snacks and jacket as needed.
Water bottle on the bike maybe a bit of extra water in bumbag if it's hot and water is difficult to come across at the park.
Sounds a lot but it's really unobtrusive when distributed on bike / bumbag and worth it for me to avoid missed runs due to schleps back to the car
multitool, pump, spare tube, tubeless puncture kit, a couple of nuts and bolts, a couple of cable ties, 3 quicklinks, 2 chain links
While wearing age-appropriate fashionable clothes. or is it hair cut? 😉
anyway, at a bike park I’d ride with a minimum tyre repair things a one up head tube multi tool a quick link. Walking your bike takes ages
Same as normal rides for me.
EDC pump, dynaplugs, tube, TP, painkillers, chain links, electrolyte and water. All in a hip pack.
Some of the places I've shuttled you don't see your car and I've definitely needed all of these things in the past.