[Closed] Why do mountain bikers take so much with them?

I forgot toilet paper and a fire stick to light it

FFS!

Jockey Wheels... I'll admit to carrying one in the pack. I had a set where one broke (mid ride) and replaced the set, so had a spare and another bike had one nearly shot, so I just chucked the spare in the pack.

Brake pads, rather than faff about pre-ride replacing a pad that's still got life in it and end up with potential calliper alignment faffing, I'll just stick pads in the pack and if it comes to it, replace pads on the ride. Usually I find I can still go fair bit longer on the last mm of pad anyway.

I also may carry a gear cable. Weight is next to nothing. Snapped cable is end of ride or maybe a singlespeed bodge with a cable tie. Or stick in new cable and tie the loose end to chainstay.

What I carry depends on the ride length and distance from car or home though. Mostly it's down to multi-tool, tubeless repair kit, spare tube, mech hanger, couple of CO2 carts and inflator (though I've got a mini pump too now having had minor punctures that sealant fixed but lost a bit of pressure and don't want to waste a full cartridge).

I must get the first aid kit sorted though. I used to carry one, but took it out as got battered about. I've used the kit a number of times. Been at least one where it would have been handy to have a foil blanket for one of the guys.

Spare tube is debatable with tubeless as mostly I end up giving them to non-tubeless folk, along with advice to go tubeless.

Although I was never in the scouts I have the reputation for being the boy scout in our group. I have mostly used my multi-tool, cables ties, first aid kit, electrical tape to fix other people and their bikes.

I suppose it comes from a background of spending big days in remote hills walking/scrambling/climbing. That outlook of being self sufficient and able to handle most situations you could reasonable expect to encounter.

Due to having riding bag packed with kit and just chuck in the hydration bladder before going riding I do tend to take my remote riding kit on short local rides too. The heavy bits (spare tube, multi-tool, pump, water) would be taken anyway so the lighter bits that might not get taken on short rides (spare gear cable, brake pads) just come along for the ride too.

I won't list my full kit as there's enough similar lists already. One thing I didn't see mentioned, though I may not have read it all thoroughly is couple of rubber gloves, handy for mechanical or first aid situations.

I think it's extra clothes/foil blanket/food/tubeless repair things and spare mech hangers that are the only extras I take. Mostly the clothes etc though.

Having a camelbak does encourage you to fill it up, though.

Multitools both have tyre levers, spoke keys and chain tools on, although I'd only envisage using the spoke keys in a position of desperation, not for some trailside re-tensioning.

If I trust the weather and I'm out for a short ride, I can put everything in my back pockets (even if I don't I can get a jacket in too).

I like to take some fun sized mars bars, because I'm a dwarf they're like normal sized mars bars.

Spare Tube(s) taped to the frame, mini-pump zip-tied to the frame, Multitool, spare chain link, Spare brake pads, CO2 all bundled up together will fit comfortably in a pocket, but I'm sure if I put my mind to it I could tape/strap those to the frame neatly enough as well...

I desperately try and avoid taking a bag now, if I do take it it's because I feel I need more water than my bottle carrying capacity...

Jackets seem to be the main sticking point, some bundle up small and can be stashed out of the way, I prefer not to need one unless I'm really sure I'll require it but Autumn/winter time can be tricky weather to plan for, and if you end up with excess clothing to stash mid-ride a bag of some sort starts to makes sense maybe.

However I've been riding with mates during summer who after twenty minutes need to stop to strip off two layers of clothing and stuff it into a rucksack...

well, here's the list of what was required for MBLA Level 2 assessment :

selection of spare parts - brake pads, chain links (9,10 and 11 speed), tyre boot, anchovies, tubes, universal hanger
multitool, leatherman, tyre levers
lube, duct tape, zip ties
shock pump, trail pump
whistle, compass, pad and pencil
mountain first aid kit, nitrile gloves
spare jacket, hat, gloves
food, water
emergency bivvy bag
group shelters for 8 people
foil blanket
torso sleep mat (casualty care)

It all goes in a 20l EVOC FR Trail Blackline - heavy to get on but not so bad when riding.

Needleess to say, I don't carry all that all the time 🙂

I carry the same bag of stuff on my local loop as I do for an all day ride - an hours walk home is still a long walk if I can't repair a chain/ puncture / whatever, particularly if it's a pre-work ride. In fact I even carried it during oktoberfest/bikefest - i'd rather spend 20 minutes repairing my bike by the side of the track than a 20 minute walk back to the pits.

I do need to have a bit of clear out though - went through my bag the other day and found i've been lugging round a d-lock for probably a couple of months...

Because I love lists like this

Bike Stuff:
-Tubes x2
-Mountain Morph with duct tape wrap
-Pedros tyre levers
-Crank Bros multi-tool
-Leatherman Skeletool (just for the pliers which have come in handy more than you'd think)
-Park patches
-Tyre boot & spare bit of tyre for big rips
-Powerlinks
-Gear cable
-Brake pads (used ones so I can fit them in without having to try and push pistons back)
-Mech hanger
-Zip Ties

First Aid Kit:
-Second skin blister tape
-Saline wash sachet thing (for eyes and wounds)
-Scissors that can cut through clothing / straps
-Wound closure strips
-A few large meopore type plasters
-Israeli style military bandage
-Ibuprofen, paracetamol, chewable aspirin (for heart attacks)

Misc:
-Phone
-Map
-Fancy emergency bivvy bag that folds up smaller than my fist
-Whistle
-Energy Gel (out of date emergency use only)
-Bontrager packable waterproof shell (I love this thing)

Winter Extras:
-Micro-fleece
-Primaloft packable jacket
-Thermal Buff
-Spare gloves
-Mini-flask of hot chocolate

When you list it out, it is a lot - still when bad weather rolls in on the fells I'm glad I know I'm self-sufficient.

However, for local rides I'll take a bottle of water in my back pocket and take the risk.

All this kitchen sink, self sufficient nonsense why not just travel faster and lighter, and keep an eye on the weather and possible escape routes.

i'd rather spend 20 minutes repairing my bike by the side of the track than a 20 minute walk back to the pits.

Makes no sense, by the time you've factored in riding back to the pits its taken you longer and you've probably had to bodge a repair, which you could have done properly in the pits / home.

@yoshimi - pretty much the same for bike stuff apart from only one tube, the Leatherman and gear cable (I've yet to break one or indeed meet anyone who has).

Map - if I know the area, no but otherwise yes.

Clothing - so variable really, does depend on the time of year and where I'm going. Rarely without a waterproof jacket of some kind.

If I'm doing bikepacking/ITT type multi-day rides then I'll have bivy kit and associated extra clothing but that's outside the normal range of rides.

spare tube
puncture kit
tyre levers
pump
shock pump
tyre boot sticky things
gaffer tape
first aid kit
space blanket
spare chain links (not that fit my chain of course!)
gear cable
cake
energy gels
jacket
bio degradable bog paper
latex gloves
sun cream
water
money
phone
couple of spare bolts (prob none that fit my bike)
Spoke key
Multi tool
lights (only of may be late)

Perhaps all that lot explains why Im so slow!

Jockey wheels and chain links?
Pah, amateurs...
I take a spare bike.

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It all depends on where I'm going and when.

If <1 hour straight from home then I often don't take anything in Spring or autumn
If >1hr but less that 2 then I have a Dakine 'Fanny Pack' with pump, tube and small mini-tool
3 hours + solo and away from civilisation then like Sanny I tend to take the hole survival shebang to try and cover most eventualities , but then that comes from having spent a fair amount of time in the mountains in Winter splitboarding etc - you are constantly striving for that balance between weight and safety: With safety being the priority.

I'm often a bit bemused by many mountain bikers attitude towards the 'outdoors' - mountain biking often doesn't behave like other 'mountain sports'

Toilet paper? Do you also take a plastic bag to pack it out? Otherwise it's litter. Sticks, stones or grass.

I'm not carrying stick stone and grass around with me just in case i get caught short and
Yes I just bag it all up and hang it in the nearest tree 😀

Makes no sense, by the time you've factored in riding back to the pits its taken you longer and you've probably had to bodge a repair, which you could have done properly in the pits / home.

But the whole point is that I can't ride back to the pits (or home) if i've broken a chain or got a puncture. I'd use the same tools regardless of whether I was by the side of the trail/in the pits/at home. I'd just rather do it and carry on than walk anywhere!

A lot of it boils down to whether you go "countryside cycling" or actually get up on the fells. If you're on helvellyn and have mechanical or a fall you'll be glad of all that spurious crap in your rucksack

I often take the same thing as it's small

Mini FAK - tiny wallet size pack with cuts and grazes kit, incl tick removers
Spares bag - small ziplock bag with useful bits in like mech hanger, zip ties, M5 bolt, anchovies with one pre threaded on the tool, patches, duct tape wrapped around a piece of plastic

Then take tyre levers, bike multitool, plier multitool, mini pump, tube, and often a cable lock

That lot takes up very little space - goes in a bumbag, a rucksack, or in a frame bag if I'm bikepacking

Even in the bumbag I have loads of spare space for a warm layer and food. In my local group of friends I seem to be the only one who carries anything, or knows what to do with it. I once had a puncture without any spare kit and spent about an hour walking home, I was pretty annoyed at that. Haven't made that mistake again

i take exactly the same on the road as I do on the mountain bike

Same here: multi tool, power links, tubes, patches, zip ties in a small seat pack, pump on the frame.
I also carry a hanger for the MTB, after a friend baled me out with an emergency hanger on a ride.

Pretty much that basic kit has worked OK for me for probably 30+ years of riding. If I had a more serious mechanical I'd just accept baling out with a walk.

I think good preparation and preventive maintenance is often the best way to avoid field problems. I'm sure everyone who has ridden in a group will have seen people suffering mechanicals that could have been avoided if the bike had been checked over the night before!

For the 1st aid kit above, mine also has a tick tugger. Round here, it's not just Lymes, but TBE too.

Nice idea about carrying used pads rather than new.

When out in the big mountains I also carry pads, gear cable. 20min walk is fine, but an annoyance. 4 hours taking my bike for a walk to get back to car where there's better spares and tools is not fine.

Tube, patches, pump, tyre levers, multitool. Plus 3 course meal, phone and beer money.

[b]iainc[/b]

[...] tyre boot, anchovies, tubes, [...]

Wait - what? Vegan pizzeria on your regular route?

If you are going to carry toilet paper just in case, you can get biodegradable toilet paper.

Is that really a thing? I'd have thought normal toilet paper was pretty biodegradable? Maybe not your thick, coloured premium stuff. But the cheapo, basics stuff should be.
Obviously you don't take a poo on a rock and leave it there, but if you poo in the woods and then bury it and the paper it should rot pretty quickly no?

I think good preparation and preventive maintenance is often the best way to avoid field problems. I'm sure everyone who has ridden in a group will have seen people suffering mechanicals that could have been avoided if the bike had been checked over the night before!

If I had a more serious mechanical I'd just accept baling out with a walk.

In nearly 30 years I take nothing on local rides or pump or tube

On more kind distance this will go up to a tube multi tool.

Probably had 3 punctures in 30yrs and never had a mechanical.

You see people riding and the way they have no mechanical sympathy it's no wonder stuff breaks. Also some people are prepared to blast through stuff in a way that makes you more prone to punctures/breaks.

Tubes
Patches
Multi tool
First aid kit
Pump

Also some people are prepared to blast through stuff in a way that makes you more prone to punctures/breaks.

Get you... I carry my bike over all those nasty rocky sections precisely to avoid any unnecessary stress to wheels and tyres. I also stop my bike and invert it to change gear to avoid stressing the drive train. 😉

The question comes how will you go with a badly sprained ankle and mechanical? How far will you be walking?

Or riding. If it's badly sprained you won't be doing either.

It's all very well saying "Well this could happen, or that could break." but what's the likelihood of those incidents occurring? Further to that, how reasonable is it to repair trailside? A damaged or broken chain is relatively easy to repair but even something as simple as a broken spoke might require you to remove the cassette to replace, etc.

A lot of the scenarios being put forward appear to be attempts to justify taking piece X of kit rather than based on any rational reasoning. As an example: how many have had a gear cable break when out riding? How many times has it happened and over what time period? My own answer to that would be: zero occasions in twenty years. Further, I don't actually know anyone who's had a gear cable break. (Cue thirty responses stating that they break one every other ride 🙄 )

Further, I don't actually know anyone who's had a gear cable break. (Cue thirty responses stating that they break one every other ride )

i had a gear cable outer fail once.

spokes snapping is annoying but hardly catastrophic.

some of those kit lists up there are more than I think the tour divide racers carry...

how many have had a gear cable break when out riding? How many times has it happened and over what time period? My own answer to that would be: zero occasions in twenty years.

My 2nd will now be this coming weekend 😉

I'll admit that I carry too much stuff, it hasn't always been that way. I used to take a tube, tyre levers and a pump but then I got several punctures in a single ride so I started taking 2 tubes and some patches.

I didn't used to take a chain tool and spare link but I broke a chain 10 miles from home one evening. I didn't used to take a mech hanger but broke on at BPW and the shop didn't have any in stock. I also snapped a gear cable at Afan and had a long walk so now I carry one of those too. I didn't used to carry a spare battery for night rides but I have been caught out a few times.

All in, it is probably half a kg extra weight in my pack. As a percentage of my body weight, it is pretty minimal and means I can get myself home or not spoil a day out.

The thing is, you need to be both rational and realistic. Be realistic about just what can be fixed out on the trail then be rational about what you take to deal with those issues.

Depends on the nature of the ride.

1 hour blast within walking distance of car/home? Minimal kit.

Several hours but relatively near civilisation? Reasonable size bag.

Out into the sticks? Kitchen sink self-sufficient.

Broken loads of stuff in loads of places, sometimes quite remote. Careful selection of spares and a bit of innovative thinking has always got me home. Beyond the tube, pump, multitool that I take on my road bike I have a tiny bag of spares about the size of a phone.

I've managed to fix

Broken frame (stick, zip ties, tape, cautious ride home)

Mech (singlespeed and a bit of pushing)

Gear cables - adjust the stops to singlespeed + push

Amongst the more usual issues.

There is a balance between what is likely to happen, where you are and what you want to carry. Short of having a back up crew and bike you are never going to cover everything. Also I consider that in the event of problem X do I want to continue my ride or just make it home/back to the car. Example being a shock pump. I can get to 100psi with my mini pump so I just carry an adaptor. I tried it out in the garage. It is an arse and you can't get the pressure right - it would ruin a ride but not leave me stranded. In any case if my for suddenly lost pressure I'm not sure it would be fixable at the side of the trail.

The answer to the original question is: Because all of that 'so much stuff' actually fits easily into the small rucksack that we're taking with us anyway.

A mountain bike ride is much more like a walk in the hills, than the 'important sporting event' that most road rides seem to be.

So, why do walkers take so much stuff with them?

Wow - I'm woefully under equipped to lots on here!

I have two packs - a small one for shorter rides which is water, pump and multi tool plus my phone.

The bigger one is water, pump, tube, patches, tyre levers, multi tool, powerlink and a chain tool.

In many years of riding, punctures and broken chains are the things I've had to deal with.

For those that take slightly more the actual weight and space of it is tiny. If you laid it out on a table you really wouldn't see much impact, it's like taking an extra pork pie or scotch egg (some list above are bigger than this though)

And a lot does come down to where you ride

Here's my kit:

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

I also carry an inner-tube specific to the bike I'm riding. In here is:

[list]
[*]Tool[/*]
[*]CO2 (cylinders carried depending on bike - normally the larger one for my 29er XC bike[/*]
[*]Puncture repair kit[/*]
[*]Spare pads[/*]
[*]Chain links for varying chain types - normall 9,10,11 to cover the whole family :)[/*]
[/list]

In addition, I may also carry (ride dependent):
[list]
[*]First aid kit (if with family, or travelling further)[/*]
[*]Silver blanket things (if with family, or travelling further)[/*]
[*]Zip ties[/*]
[*]Food![/*]
[*]Mech hanger[/*]
[*]More tubes and a spare tyre[/*]
[*]Gear cable[/*]
[/list]

90% of the time, however, it's just the first list in the two small neoprene pouches in the back pocket. Never failed to get home yet 🙂

What's the USB for ?

The question comes how will you go with a badly sprained ankle and mechanical? How far will you be walking?

Or riding. If it's badly sprained you won't be doing either.

...which is why some extra layers/waterproof and poss a group shelter/blizzard bag might be useful.

But hey, what do I know ...Summer and Winter ML, MBLA, member of an MRT

All just depends on where you're riding and likely conditions

What's the USB for ?

Hacked software override for the e-bike?

More to the point, what's the mouse for?

What's the USB for ?

It is dependent on where what and how you ride. I am heading up Fairfield tonight and riding the ridge. It is going great to be wet and could turn bad. I carry quite a bit, because if you go all the way up and something silly breaks, it is nice to be able to fix it.
It is also a long way from anywhere for help, so I carry some heavy duty pain killers and some extra heavy duty pain killers to get me off the mountain.
This is essentially as useful as a what tyre thread. Oh and by the way I'm a dual ply sort of person.

I stashed some gala pie in my camelbak on my last ride. But then I also had my first broken set of cranks as well, maybe they're connected..

It's only recently (last 2yrs) I've looked in my camelback and thought 'why do I carry this much crap?'

Gerber multi-tool with pliers
Standard multi tool
2xtubes
Puncture repair kit (although I run tubeless)
Shock pump
Regular pump
Jacket (in all seasons)
Zip ties
Gels and energy bar
old gel wrapper (for ripped Tyre)
Cash (notes and change)
Phone
Spare bolt assortment
2x quick links
And a spear come links of chain
+2.5 ltrs of water (again all seasons)

Now I've a fully rigid fat bike, I'm starting to pair down my kit, food and spares to what I can easily carry on the bike only:

1xtube - carried on a backcountry research super 8 (fat bike tubes are to big to fit in a regular way)
Zip ties in the crank axel
Tool pack with multi tool, cash and a spare energy bar etc under the seat (dropper compatable)
Chain link taped to a cable
And upto 1.5 ltrs of liquid in bottles on the bike.
Pump on a mount on the frame.
Phone and food in pockets.

If I need to I stick a frame bag on for larger rides or when the weather is changeable for clothing.

This has revolutionised the way I ride to some degree - no bouncy pack and sweaty back!

For local stuff or fairly contained riding close to where you leave the car it's phone, bankcard, water bottle.

For anything more adventurous I might chuck a pack on with multi tool, tube, quick link and co2 but try to keep to a minimum when possible.

Whitestone/Bob - like you I've never had a cable break on me in over 30 years, but it didn't stop me carrying a spare for 5 days in Rovaniemi....in case I had to make a snare and trap some wildlife in the forest 😉

I've broken a few spokes and snapped a few cables and chains over the years, but I've always managed to get the bike up and running and get back to the car. It's amazing how easy it is to get back up and running when you have a few spares and a couple of key tools in the bag. I wouldn't go too far off the beaten track without some sort of kit with me.

I tend to ride a lot with my young son, so I've always got a mental risk assessment in the back of my head to work out how we will get to shelter if the worst happened while out in the hills.

We've started road riding now, and it's lovely how little kit we feel obliged to cart around on a ride 🙂

For years I carried loads of crap I never used. Now after 10 years of hardly ever wearing a back pack I carry what fits in pockets - 1 or 2 tubes(tubeless has stopped so many pinch flats & small punctures)mini pump & decent multi tool.Plus maybe some food if I'm doing an all dayer & there's no cafes about... Other items go in shorts - money, phone & keys....

sometimes I also carry a normal sized mars bar, because I'm a dwarf it's like a king sized mars bar. 🙂

Funny, I've started taking more since riding in a group on local rides. Riding on my own, I'm quite happy to ride with nothing and take the slim chance of a perfectly enjoyable hour and a bit walk home.

Because other people in the group take varying levels of kit, and would basically not let me walk home if my bike could be fixed, my options are no longer "ride light and walk if necessary", they're now "ride light and leach off others if necessary". And I'm less happy with the latter!

i take a drink and gels, maybe a multi tool, xc rider can't be weighing myself down lol

Pump
Shock pump
Multi tool
Gerber
Full set torx
Mini saw
Mini spade
Refillable lighter
2 tubes
Patches
4 tyre levers
Can gunk
3 spokes
Jokey wheels
Spare bolts various
Gear cable
Break hose
Hydraulic fluid for brakes
Rockshox oil
Syringes
Mech hanger
Reverb lever
Lightweight folding Tyre
Foil blanket
Spare phone
Energy gels
Scotch egg
Sausage roll
Toilet paper
First aid kit
First aid manual

geologist - Member

Pump
Shock pump
Multi tool
Gerber
Full set torx
Mini saw
Mini spade
Refillable lighter
2 tubes
Patches
4 tyre levers
Can gunk
3 spokes
Jokey wheels
Spare bolts various
Gear cable
Break hose
Hydraulic fluid for brakes
Rockshox oil
Syringes
Mech hanger
Reverb lever
Lightweight folding Tyre
Foil blanket
Spare phone
Energy gels
Scotch egg
Sausage roll
Toilet paper
First aid kit
First aid manual

I'm assuming that comes down to "where you ride" ? I can do 5+ hours and not be more than 3 miles from a village/town, probably less than 3 if i checked.

Hydraulic fluid for brakes
Rockshox oil
Reverb lever

If you're pissing brake fluid out on a ride, having some spare in your bag is not going to help you get home. Having two working brakes so that you have a spare is the solution here. And a reverb lever? If your dropper stops working, you just set it a little lower and keep riding - amazingly, people rode bikes quite effectively before dropper posts 🙂

What you've described here is possibly a "van stock" for an expedition, but definitely not for carrying.

He's just missing:

"Gentleman's gentleman"

To do all the work for him 😆

Ha, sorry - I was a bit bored last night.
In reality I only carry a mini tool for local rides and pump, tube and tool for longer rides.

Ha, sorry - I was a bit bored last night.
In reality I only carry a mini tool for local rides and pump, tube and tool for longer rides.

It probably speaks volumes about the shit that MTB riders carry around that I would consider taking you vaguely seriously. It was the scotch egg that caught me out - far too reasonable!

I tend to just pack Chuck Norris into my backpack. That way nothing can stop me - punctures, broken mech, ninja army.

lube, duct tape, zip ties

Reind me never to go cycling with you on my own..

😉

I needed spare gloves, a buff and a jumper in my back pack last night when got into that cloud.
[img] ?oh=aaf02e13a433c04d51e9ac07cdd3c62e&oe=59DCCD2D[/img]

A jumper?! Did have pictures of mince pies and reindeer on it?