[Closed] Riding without a pack.

+1

Fluids are essential if riding any length of time I usually try and drink a bottle an hour

I don't really carry what's useful for riding. I try to carry what's useful for an unplanned stop.
This is especially true in this weather.
Depends where you are I suppose but it's good to have some basics, should you really need them.

I'm debating buying a bum bag (don't shoot me) with a single bottle holder, I love the feeling of being pack less but I suppose having at least one bottle would be better.

My biggest ride pack less was about 18 miles and about 1,800 feet of climbing and I didn't miss a drink, the ride took about two and a half hours.

I just find I'm carrying fewer tools and can't see the point carrying a pack.

I don't really carry what's useful for riding. I try to carry what's useful for an unplanned stop.

This (including relevant tools) is really important at this time of year.

Come summer you'll be needing some hydration.

Can you fit a bottle cage?

If I'm just sticking in a fast lap around Whinlatter I generally just take a bottle at most.

No mounts on my FS but I can fit one to the HT so I think this is a route I will go down.

Think a bum bag with bottle would be the way forward on the FS.

Bum bag (inov-8 waterproof running one), bottle. Find it noticeably better

I tried it when I did penmachno enduro back in November,wedged some tyre levers up inside the seat post,I don't have a reverb so I wrapped my multi tool in an inner tube around my saddle rails ad used an elastic band to connect the pump to the frame,didn't have a drink though and found out I didn't really crave fluids on the way round,my camel back does really piss me off it never sits right on my back,and TBH on a 3 hour ride I probably only take a few swigs and always end up pouring all of it away after,I'm going on now arnt I.......

There's been a few posts on this recently. I tend to ride with tools and pump fixed to the bike and using a water bottle. If need be, I'll use a bumbag for a spare layer, phone, snack, wallet. Feels much better than a full-on rucksack, regardless of how light you like to keep it. I'd been using an old Karrimor bumbag but the postie delivered a very Enduro-looking lime green Ortlieb one today.

So am I right in suggesting there is a gap in the market for a bumbag with bladder,surprised no one has though if it yet,.

Camelbak do one already.

The thing that puts me off bumbags is how the weight acts on your [s]belly[/s] six pack. I used to use them on motorbikes ,but at least there,it would rest on the seat when a bit heavy.
I think a bumbag with shoulder straps would work,like a Wingnut bag with no back.For me ,packing smart to suit where ( and how long )you are riding makes more of a difference. I don't mind a backpack,just don't overload them.

I've just bought one of these - LifeVenture Hip Pack 2 (for 2 litres) -

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which was £15. The bag bit is maybe 10" long, to give the picture some perspective. I can fit a tube, pump, mini tool, tyre levers, tubeless repair kit, phone, bandage and dressing, and my keys in it, with room if I wanted for a small snack. I wore it today and, since my shorts already have a belt, did not even know I had it on. I'm a convert.

Bottle in cage for a drink, plenty of streams for refilling if required.

Roadies seem to manage ok without a bag on their back...

Road bikes have 2 bottle cages. & how many do you see with huge, ugly seat bags?

Think a bum bag with bottle would be the way forward on the FS.

For enduro'ing you mean 😉

WaywardRider - Member
Roadies seem to manage ok without a bag on their back...

If I'm heading into the mountains in winter then I will be equipped for the conditions. That doesn't fit into a pocket.

Exactly what scotroutes says. Tubes, pump multitool and bottle on the bike. In summer I stuff a wee snack, wallet and an extra layer into my jersey pockets. I've just bought a BUMBAG to use in winter as I can't reach the jersey pockets under a jacket.

Recent studies suggest that taking on fluids whilst exercising provides no benefit at all. If you're properly hydrated before you start that should be sufficient until you finish. I saw a documentary with some studies of marathon runners who took on no liquid during a race and didn't suffer either physically or in their performance. Me? I'll carry a drink thanks.

Had an interesting 6 hour ride this week. My standard every ride backpack with allsorts in it really helped.

First, the ride was only meant to be a 2/3 hour ride to Langset and back, but I decided to tackle Cut Gate once I'd reached langset. The 2l bladder and bananas I took just in case where god send an hour away from home.

On Cutgate, I was very glad I had an extra buff and cheap coat in the bag, although even with a buff on my neck/face and one on my head, plus a breathable winter coat and a cheap plastic shell, I abandoned Cut Gate half way up. Horizontal sleet, ice cold wind that was freezing the water on the peak of my helmet and it looking like there was zero visibility up on the top, made me think better of going up there.

I cut over to the strines road instead. On a 25% decent, my rear pads failed (one pad came away from the backing plate). Luckily I had some pads in my bag, so I changed them and carried on.

For me, I'd rather carry too much and be prepared on any ride I expect to be more than an hour or so.

(I've now added a couple of energy gels too, as getting home was hard!)

If you are only going out for an 1hr or so you don't need any tools or liquid

You can manage with a bottle and a medium sized saddle bag like and arkel. Personally I just find it easier to throw stuff in a pack.

One thing I do do is carefully go through everything I'm taking. Some people carry extraordinary amounts of stuff on short rides. If you cut back it makes a difference. Heaviest thing is water so I got out of the habit of filling my bladder to the brim. Instead take as much as you need. In winter on a 3-4hour ride I don't need more than 1.5L of water so I don't take 3.

HAving a minimalist racing pack helps make the decisions easier as not much fits in it.

For more wild rides I still have a bigger pack as what has been said above is true. You need proper kit in the hills in winter. Local stuff I can just pop into a pub to keep warm and phone the wife if I need to.

Be interested to hear people's experiences of hydration packs that sit around your waist. I find a standard hydration pack has been adding to some back woes, been riding pack less recently and falling back in love with my riding. Worried that by summer time I will have to take a hydration pack again. I have been looking at wing nuts etc. but would love to hear others thoughts or recomendations of brands that keep the weight wound your waist.

If your planning to be out for an hour, what happens if Your bike suffers a catastrophic failure at furthest point?.

Recent studies suggest that taking on fluids whilst exercising provides no benefit at all. If you're properly hydrated before you start that should be sufficient until you finish. I saw a documentary with some studies of marathon runners who took on no liquid during a race and didn't suffer either physically or in their performance. Me? I'll carry a drink thanks.

Really? I Don't buy that. Short stuff, absolutely, perhaps even elite marathon runners in cooler climates, 2 hours exercise. Good luck doing a 4 hour ride in summer though.

If your planning to be out for an hour, what happens if Your bike suffers a catastrophic failure at furthest point?.

I doubt many people do more than 10mph, so you potentially have a 5 mile walk.

Average 20 mins per mile add 10 mins for terrain. Can get pretty cold and uncomfortable in that time.
Sometimes I ride with a full leaders pack, sometimes a lot less because I know what others are carrying. And if I'm doing a short blast from home just tube pump and multitool.

I went for a kit free ride a few weeks back. I brought a 5mm hex to alter my saddle height and that was it. It was going great until one of the bolts that holds the saddle sheered. Would have been nice to have a bag to put my seat and seat post in - pockets weren't ideal. And standing up pedaling for a few miles on swampy ground doesn't half make you thirsty so a drink would have been nice too.

If you are only going out for an 1hr or so you don't need any tools or liquid

I doubt many people do more than 10mph, so you potentially have a 5 mile walk.

I'd rather take a few bits and guarantee a nice ride.

I agree, but it was a straight answer to the question.

Heres a recent topic that may help. Deuter is the answer- http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/biking-bum-bags

I never really notice my pack always just put it on have done for 9 years +, had bottles before that which used to fall out just when I was thirsty 🙂

Out of interest, how high do people wear their packs?

I've always cinched mine down fairly tight and high-up, but have started experimenting with it lower down my back lately, which seems to help a bit.

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Still enjoying riding without my pack.

Bottle on the bike, and a rollable one that fits in a minimal roadie jersey that I wear under a normal jersey with tools & tube on the bike (if I remember one).

Fluids are essential if riding any length of time I usually try and drink a bottle an hour

Rubbish. There is agrowing body of research that shows that people are drinking too much during sport.

On local xc rides, I've ditched the camel back. Bottle cage and then Multitool/CO2/tube/phone/keys in jersey pockets. Specialized's EMT tools are quite tempting.

There is a lot to be said of routine maintenance, when I'm out on the bikes, the last thing I want to be doing is fixing them.

Two bottle cages on my ht and fs and roadbike, one for liquid one for spare plus tools. I also sometimes use a small saddle bag instead of the tools bottle. I can't remember when I last used a backpack. I also like that sense of freedom but if you weigh your bike down too much you notice a slight change of balance if getting a bit of air.

If I rode with a 3lt bladder I filled it and drank the lot. Most of a rode though I'd be carrying circa 2lb balast.

If your planning to be out for an hour, what happens if Your bike suffers a catastrophic failure at furthest point?.

Id walk home/back to the car.

I'd still be walking home/back to the car if i had a plethora of tools on my back too if it was anything other than a puncture repair or snapped chain (but then i wouldnt need the plehora of kit).

Lets face it, what catastrophic failures can you have that a multi tool etc can actually fix?

On an hours ride, any repairs other than a puncture repair or fixing a snapped chain is going to take up a significant chunk of that hour you're out, may aswell call it a day and go back to the car anyway.

Bigger rides, multi tool, chain tool, mech hanger and gear cable/puncture repair stuff can save a day from the most common faults, but no matter how much kit you carry you're not going to fix a set of forks that have lost air or a frame snap trail side are you. An extra layer is always a good idea too.

It's quite scary how much people think they need to drink too, i dont know what it is. Might be just a mental thing when getting tired, "im putting stuff in so i must be getting stuff out".

Local ride, one bottle in a cage for juice, one small seat bag with mini tool, tube, co2, splitter and 2 links. I feel a proper div if a flat tyre meant walking. I realise 2 flats would be an issue but that would be sad times while hacking around Ashton court on conti protection tyres.

Bigger day in the Brecons in winter or wherever then it's pack with a fair few spares, tubes, mech hanger, space blanket, triangle bandage, food, buff, wee head torch, arm/leg warmers, camel, inner cable, bigger tool, links. Don't have a whole mech replacer set up, probably should? If it's grim spare gloves for a half time swap! Carry less in summer.

There has been a few times over the years that I've been very glad of most if not all of that stuff at some point. Am sure will still get caught out one day.

Prefer no pack as much as possible, tis just nicererr

dirksdiggler - Member
Think a bum bag with bottle would be the way forward on the FS.
For enduro'ing you mean

POSTED 15 HOURS AGO #

Yes 😀

Local rides up to a good 2+ hours = phone and a fiver in a pocket, nothing else.

Luckily the Malverns have plenty of springs so no need to lug water around, though I'd stick a pack on for longer stuff that's further from civilisation and night rides for head torch battery.

Anything else trail centres etc I can't see the point, tubeless tyres with sensible sidewalls and a regular spanner check of the bike is enough.

scotroutes - Member

I can only imagine how much stuff you've got hidden in those oven gloves

"Luckily the Malverns have plenty of springs so no need to lug water around,"

Really and truly? You would rather stick your head in a muddy puddle in January over carrying a light pack or a bottle cage?

I've used plenty of natural water on multi day expeditions etc but on a days ride I think I'll stick with a bottle full of Hi 5 thanks!

legend - Member
scotroutes - Member
I can only imagine how much stuff you've got hidden in those oven gloves

Really and truly? You would rather stick your head in a muddy puddle in January over carrying a light pack or a bottle cage?

Yup, really - they're not exactly muddy puddles, there are usually people there filling bottles from them as it's better than the stuff that comes out the mains.

I deffo take some of the water from one of the springs over a plastic bottle full of chemicals or a festering pack.

Short ride close to home? Bottle in cage, phone in pocket, anything more serious and I'll go home and grab the other bike or fix the problem properly before heading out again.

Away from home and a longer ride? Couple of tubes, pump and levers, cereal bar, £5, phone, drink and multitool.

Sounds like you've got it nailed deviant!

Damn this thread. It took me years to convert to a hydration pack from a fairly large bum bag. Now that I've been riding with my pack for several years along comes this thread and I'm confused 😆

I like the idea of riding light, but at least in winter would want to pack some extra gear. Like some others have said I rarely empty the bladder in the hydration pack (even if only filled half way) so would be fine with a bottle for most days except when it's hot.

Perhaps it's time to try a smaller bum bag than I had before? More likely a different solution is required for different rides/conditions?

"Luckily the Malverns have plenty of springs so no need to lug water around,"

Don't google land runoff... 😉

I wouldn't buy a bike if it didnt have a bottle cage mount. Infact that was pretty much top of the list when it came to narrowing down my enduro rig buying.

I had an argument with a bike shop owner about a bike not having a mount as he thought everyone uses packs so what was I on about.

But theyre too heavy and you end up carrying all sorts of rubbish.

I pretty much only take a multi tool, some money and a bottle. Sometimes take a tube and gas taped on but thats only for races. Especially since going tubeless.

Don't google land runoff...

Do Google Malvern Spring Water, I'll still be leaving my pack at home 🙂

Just bought one of these as i am trying to get away from riding with a pack. Holds loads of gear and has bungee straps to carry a waterproof/extra layer.
http://www.chevintrek.co.uk/omm-ultra-waist-pouch-6l-6011-p.asp

"Luckily the Malverns have plenty of springs so no need to lug water around,"

Really and truly? You would rather stick your head in a muddy puddle in January over carrying a light pack or a bottle cage?

Awesome. 😀

A few Malvern springs/wells:

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Got to be honest have never carried water hereabouts. Nothing beats the fresh-tasting brain-freeze inducing experience of a slurp from one of the above, usually following a hooge sweaty climb.

*addendum^

Sometimes get caught out by 'failed bacterial test' signs, so have to make do with a pint of local ale instead.

If its 2 hours or less I'll take my fanny pack with tyre levers, multi tool, tube, bottle, pump and phone.
More than that then I'll take a bag for more water.
and you don't need to prepare for every eventuality when you're just out on your local loop or with mates.

OK, third 'packless' ride out for me on Sunday just gone, according to Strava we were out 3 hours 28 minutes, clocked up 20 miles and did just shy of 2000 feet of climbing.

It was a bit of a funny ride as we basically rode around Cannock all off piste and rode loads of sweet, tight and twisty singletrack.

I made sure I was hydrated before the ride and also ate, during the ride I didn't feel like I needed to eat or drink, but was glad when we got back to the car (rididng mosty in the mud takes it out of your legs!).

I carried: Pump, multi tool, tyre levers, chain tool and tube. I put this in a little bag you get when you buy a Thomson stem then wrapped in a carrier bag for good measure. I simply carried this is the rear zipper pocket of my waterproof jacket and didn't event notice they were there.

I think for me, riding packless is the future!

Don’t need tools with my bike, can do a spin for 2-3 hours without food/fluid – will regularly pop off with my phone, a tenner and the shed keys in a pocket. I might put a gilet in my other pocket if the weather looks worse than I’m dressed for.

I must admit those springs look ace!
I'd still carry a bottle and fill it up from those.

In the winter I find carrying a pack gives me a 'security' feel - knowing it has an extra layer, some emergency food and most things to fit a trailside mechanical.

In the summer I try and ride packless when possible though I have an ultralight camelback which I bought for trail running which is so comfortable you hardly notice it

I used to use a bumbag, back in the day. They were far less comfortable than a camelbak imo.

Recent studies suggest that taking on fluids whilst exercising provides no benefit at all.

See, I drink plenty on rides - usually about a bottle per hour's worth. And yet I don't pee on rides and usually not much when I get home. So if I don't need it, why aren't I peeing it out? Where does it go?

Don’t need tools with my bike

Don't have a chain or pneumatic tyres?

I don't drink much and don't eat much when on a ride.

But

I'm damn sure that a warm layer or waterproof is preferable to a cold hr plus walk home (in case of a failure i cannot fettle a repair on), a spare pair of gloves is welcome if my gloves get wet. Although local rides will be bare minimum in the summer, definitely carry more in winter.

Don't have a chain or pneumatic tyres?

I can only remember snapping a chain once and I've not had a flat since going tubeless*.

*watch me double flat next ride now!

I'm damn sure that a warm layer or waterproof is preferable to a cold hr plus walk home

My bag has saved a few bruised ribs and back. I can wrap the phone in soft stuff so it's less likely to get snapped in a crash than if it's in shorts pocket. I genuinely don't feel encumbered in the slightest by a camelbak. I also tend to run low on energy quite easily so always carry a lot of food.

Me and a few mates did the Edale classic in summer 2013. It was insanely hot, something like 24deg, and as most of the route is up high pretty much no shelter. We started from Hope so had to climb the broken road and I had finished the water in my bladder by the time we were climbing up to the top of Jacobs Ladder. Halfway up there's a small stream that crosses it so I dipped my head under it to cool down, it tasted okay so I filled a bottle I was carrying for someone and drank that until we got to the pub in Edale. Glad I had a pack that day.

I prefer riding without one though. Looking to get a frame bag for the fatty.

I can only remember snapping a chain once and I've not had a flat since going tubeless

Hahaha... 🙂 After never having snapped a chain in 15 odd years of biking, I thought snapping chains was something that happened to other people. Until, I snapped one. Fortunately I was about 100 yards from the end of a 100km enduro 🙂

As for tubeless - you can still get flats that you cannot seal. I always carry two tubes. I ran over some glass once, huge pssss noise and latex squirting out everywhere - and remarkably it sealed. However I'd lost a lot of latex and when I ran over another piece of glass about a mile later, I needed a tube.

Bottle cage, big pockets. It's actually fine in Winter and also in Summer. The difficulty for me comes in autumn / spring when you want to shed a layer and you've got nowhere to put it.

I like the look of the Spesh SWAT lycra. Haven't heard many people talk about it, but it looks like a useful way to stash a bottle.

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/news/128/specialized-swat-technology

Simple answer......Wingnut hyper.......I brought one and it truly feel like you're wearing a bumbag even loaded and with 3litres of fluid in it.....I'm never going back to a traditional pack!

Me and a few mates did the Edale classic in summer 2013. It was insanely hot, something like 24deg, #

24 degrees? Bring it on, is all I can say - beats this bloody cold any day.

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Camerbak Flashflo FTW 🙂

It was insanely hot, something like 24deg

Hang on 24 and it was hot... WTF that's winter temperature. Summer is more like 30-35°C

For shorter rides I use a lezyne micro caddy under my seat its fine with a dropper, as there is no post strap. I managed to cram a small crank bros tool, tube, link, patch and air cartridge in it. Plus a bottle in my bottlecage on my frame.

Went for a ride around cannock sunday. Forgot usual jacket, camelbak, tools, everything apart from shoes and gloves. Downed 500ml water in the carpark from cafe, bought another for when i got back to the car. Never done it so fast. Not sure what i learned but i had a great time.

Each to their own, but seems to be a bit of alpha seeking one-uppery going on here too.

"Unless it's Iditabike, I just sling £1, patches and my trusty blade into a condom which goes into my seat tube. I might carry a pump between my teeth if it's a multi-day epic"

Meanwhile, in another thread posters extol the virtues of the extra space a LWB T5 gives you vs a SWB base one.

Consistency please people!

"Unless it's Iditabike, I just sling £1, patches and my trusty blade into a condom which goes into my seat tube. I might carry a pump between my teeth if it's a multi-day epic"

I don't think I've gone for a ride or run without a pack since 2002. I feel naked until I strap it on 😯

Me and a few mates did the Edale classic in summer 2013. It was insanely hot, something like 24deg,

If you aren't carrying a pack, you don't have anywhere to store your spare trousers. The barmaid will be angry when you leave a wet patch.

🙂