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Tend to carry stuff according to where/ how far etc, but with the usual standard basics on board. But similarly we have also rescued people in various locations who needed stuff like a multi tool/ chain splitter, pump,inner tubes, patch kit, split link, disc pads, shock pump, zip ties .... the list goes on. We've also been helped by other people e.g. when a chain tool broke and we didn't have a split link. So experience says the time you aren't carrying something is the time you'll need it .. like taking that spare inner out and realising it's actually the buggered one that you forgot to replace 😯
did we have to see that - matching shorts and shaved legs!!
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Most of what's in my mule is water, then the usuals, pump, tools, tube, glasses, pants, kitchen sink, waterproof jacket if it looks like rain etc.
Always take the same pack as it's comfy and secure don't give a toss what anyone else thinks. Never have, never will.
ditchjocky - all of those I can and have dealt with with what I carry.
Cranks can be refitted with my multitool, I have singelspeeded bikes twice. etc. etc. There is a chain tool on my multitool.
I have even fixed punctures and broken chains for others.
I can mend anything I can think of with the kit I carry - I do often have two cableties as well - I forgot to mention them
like taking that spare inner out and realising it's actually the buggered one that you forgot to replace
In my case, that was on the canal path through Bishopbriggs in Glasgow, in the dark, freezing cold and sleeting. The commute home from hell I call it now, as I suffered the consequences of the council having cut back all the hawthorn bushes at the edge of the path.
I always take a backpack, even If I'm going for a 50min blast, at this time of year I usually come back with potatoes/apples/broad beans/mushrooms, or whatever's in the fields etc etc. Can't stuff all that 'local produce' in me pockets!
Two Camelbaks here. Small 1.5ltr for local rides/road rides, & 3ltr Mule for everything else.
I have to confess that riding my measly 5",which is never enough by the way,I am usually to be found with me full face and body armour,etc - no big bag tho!.However,to clarify why? - Golspie,Laggen and a bit o the puffer,have at various times ripped me face off,busted me bones and generally inflicted such kickings on me that the only other way to get similar "injuries",is to get pissed and punch some big bloke down the local boozer.Now I may be shite,old, an slo,but wearing a full face,
no-one knows who you are anyway,so who cares.Probably only some skinny little bugger on a hardtail,an he is too busy giving himself a heart attack trying to "leave you for dead" anyway - Keeps my LBS in coin an all!
I have one £10 rucksack that sometimes contains a few emergency spares and a 'nana and a couple litres of water.. and sometimes it also contains a nice warm jersey.. some lunch.. four cans of scrumpy jack.. sunnies.. a camera and a good book.. and other times it contains a weeks worth of clothes for when we're going camping with the family in Cornwall.. and other times it contains all me little boys kit for going to stay with his Gran.. Other times it's full of paint... yesterday it was full of shopping from town...etc etc etc
I think camelbacks are really the mark of someone who doesn't [i]get[/i] mountainbiking.. anyone who uses one needs their bike (probably plural) taking off them and raffled off to [i]real[/i] mountainbikers
Personally, I come from a climbing and mountaineering background, and I'm well aware of keeping weight to a minimum, but equally I have the philosophy that I should be totally self sufficient. So if that's on a mountain then I'll have enough to cope with most emergency's and if necessary a night out.
As for water, if you've seen one of your group slump to the floor in a blizzard on Cairngorm due to dehydration, then you'd make sure you had sufficient water.
Quite agree with you flatlander. I am totally self sufficient with what I have, I can repair anything that is repairable and I carry enough water for me
Its so much nicer to ride without a rucsac
UK-FLATLANDER - Member
...I'm well aware of keeping weight to a minimum, but equally I have the philosophy that I should be totally self sufficient...
And that my friends, is a real mountain bike attitude.
We'll leave the fashion conscious to parade around their little loops at the local play park.
ajantom - Member
The whole point of MTBing is self-sufficiency and being prepared.
no, it's 'pratting about on bikes'.and it's lots of fun.
Ok....one of the main points IMHO.
..........and pratting about on bikes. 😀
But the self-sufficiency thing makes it more fun, as you can go where you want when you want and fix it if it breaks, then continue on your way.
have one £10 rucksack........I think camelbacks are really the mark of someone who doesn't get mountainbiking...
Yeah, I have a cheap rucksack too - but it's not as comfortable to cycle with as my Camelback. Why hurt your back, because you want to make a point?
Every so often you come across a witless wonder who's totally unprepared, like the muppet in Morzine this summer who didn't have even a spare tube or a pump, let alone a tyre boot. Thankfully my medium-ish Camelbak (given that we're all naming our kit, a Hawg) held all of these things, and I could get him on his way. Otherwise a 5-mile walk back to town.
Having been caught out before, I'd rather have a degree of certainty. A pound or two will make no difference unless racing, and it's good to have the space to put pads etc in when climbing.
have one £10 rucksack........I think camelbacks are really the mark of someone who doesn't get mountainbiking...
again, what is there to get? what is the point of mountain biking? grown men/women playing on pushbikes in the hills?
maybe after all this time i still don't get mountain biking... but i have a lot of fun! maybe thats because i couldn't give a flying **** what anyone else is riding, wearing, doing.
enjoy your ride!
Can get everything I need into a pretty small Dakine bag. Generally mountainbikers are looking more and more silly these days, the whole motorcross influence doesn't really help with people ambling around trail centres all padded up for a day in the alps.
Is there some kind of database where we can look up what the regulations are for the correct amount of kit and body armour for each trail please? I really don't want to embarrass myself.
Is it BigDummy (where art thou?) that has been know to drag a trailer behind his bike?
I can only assume that this is done, in order to carry as many camelbaks as possible..... a different one for different parts of the same trail. It stands to reason that you need a bigger camelbak on a climb than you would on a descent, surely?
I'm not sure about the 4mph, but I'm one of those blokes.
I ALWAYS ride with knee/shin protection and sometimes with arm and full face.
My Camelbak always contains what is in the pic, plus food and normally a 1.5l bottle of frozen water.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/4947870706_266628c137.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/flamejob/4947870706/ ]CamelBak Contents[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/flamejob/ ]Flamejob[/url], on Flickr
But it is feking hot here and mega rocky.
I use a 3L Dakine back pack all year round, carries everything I need. Dunno if it's too big or too small. Nor do I care what some of the plums on here think about it either. Ride your own bike with whatever you decide to use/wear/ride and butt out of other peoples choices.
Flamejob, wtf are you doing carrying all that shite? Are you entering the Paris-Dakar? LOL
Thought for one min that was a car jack, but I see it's for the rear shock...you use this on the ride?
It may seem like I'm digging your bag's contents (suits you sir) but either I'm putting myself and friends in grave danger or....
That said, who forgot to pack a power link the other weekend 😯 😳 
The above is meant to be 'tongue in cheek', just a bit of fun Flamejob.
EDIT; do I spy a prismatic compass? If it is, then I take all of the above back.
but it's not as comfortable to cycle with as my Camelback. Why hurt your back, because you want to make a point?
I think camelbacks are really the mark of someone who doesn't get mountainbiking...again, what is there to get? what is the point of mountain biking? grown men/women playing on pushbikes in the hills?
sorry... I made the tongue in cheek reference to the camelback as a pisstake of the OP..
you can ride with a full grown bonobo chimp full of water strapped to you if you so desire.. I really won't judge you for it..
I was just being sarcastic.. thought it was obvious...ooops
Flamejob, do you really carry 3 or 4 mech hangers with you?? 😯
Flamejob, wtf are you doing carrying all that shite? Are you entering the Paris-Dakar? LOL
Do people really go out riding in the woods and on mountains, for hours on end, with only some water and perhaps a minipump and a puncture repair kit? Got to say that to me, Flamejob looks pretty well prepared, but certainly not overly so.
I've been working on minimising the amount of kit I carry with me in my camelbak when I go riding, as obviously less weight is better, and to this end I've found a smaller first aid kit, smaller multi tool, and downsized a couple of other bits and pieces too... But given that I ride offroad, and often miles from anywhere, I always have at least the following in my Camelbak (A MULE by the way)...
A First Aid kit
2 Inner tubes
Mini Pump
2 SIS Energy Go Bars (I can have quite bad bloody sugar problems, when I need to eat, I NEED to eat if you get me)
A Multi tool with allen keys and chain breaker etc.
Mini Leatherman style tool (it's tiny, but very useful)
a few metres of gaffer tape, wrapped around the mini pump body
a couple of pairs of spare brake pads
some zip ties
a couple of powerlinks
2 or 3 tyre levers
my iPhone and wallet
And depending on the conditions, or what I'm doing I'll also take
a spare layer, or two, depending on how changeable the weather looks
a shock pump, if I want to mess about with pressures on a ride
extra food (if out for more than 3 hours say)
clear glasses and a bag (usually if it's wet or muddy)
spare gloves (usually a warmer set, I have bad problems with bloody circulation in my extremities)
2 gel pocket handwarmers... Not had to use in anger yet, but have been VERY close a couple of times... Like I say, I've got real poor circulation in my hands.
Anyway, I personally don't consider that a lot... I always have the ability to fix my bike, or myself, just about wherever I am. And I can't count the number of rides where I've been riding with others and they can't fix their bike cos they've not brought the right tools, or they've run out of food, or they injure themselves and don't have a first aid kit, or their brake pads wear out (if you've ridden in Swinley, you'll know what I'm on about here!) on a ride and I've had to be there to provide brake pads! People may laugh at me being over prepared, but everything that goes in my bag gets used out on the trails (except the handwarmers so far, but I'm betting they'll get used this winter).
mboy, thats alot.
Rear shock pump and a couple of pairs of brake pads !! Check your pads before you set off and the shock pressure, with the amount of kit you carry i would stick a couple of extra bar in it, again check before you set off.
You might as well take a brake bleedkit, hydraulic fluid, spare rear mech and mig welder, just in case.
Tell you what, forget the above, attach a spare bike to your Camelbak (MULE) but make sure the pads are OK etc on it. 😛
Jesus, STW at its worst. Who cares if people wear huge packs with armour? Are you only a real Mountain Biker if you ride a rigid singlespeed 69er over secret (and most definitely not in a trail centre) trails while punching yourself in the face. Yes, a lot of new technology is overhyped, but a lot of it makes riding more easier and more enjoyable. Is that a bad thing?
Sneering on forums is big and clever.
I consider that a ridiculous amount!
For local rides
Multitool
1 tube
Puncture kit
Pump
m5 and m6 nut and bolt
2 cable ties
3 sram links and 2 links of chain ( I only carry more than 1 sram link 'cos the tandem has a timing chain that cannot be shortened)
The pump goes on frame clips the rest in a small seat pack.
Food and a waterproof goes in the jersey pockets if I needed. ( or in the seat pack)
For going out into the heart of the Highlands, winter and multiday I would carry a bit more stuff but nothing like the stuff some of you carry.
Why people carry all that unneeded stuff is beyond me - but if they want to its their choice. Just don't tell me that a rucsac and al that stuff is needed as clearly it is not.
Do I need to take bum wipe products incase I need a banging poo ? or could anyone suggest natural products that I may come across in the woods/moors ? Thanking you in anticipation of your kind/helpfull replies.
moss, just check it for ticks first. 😯
mboy, thats alot.Rear shock pump and a couple of pairs of brake pads !! Check your pads before you set off and the shock pressure, with the amount of kit you carry i would stick a couple of extra bar in it, again check before you set off.
You might as well take a brake bleedkit, hydraulic fluid, spare rear mech and mig welder, just in case.
Tell you what, forget the above, attach a spare bike to your Camelbak (MULE) but make sure the pads are OK etc on it.
Shock pump only if messing about with pressures... Brake pads though, how much do they weigh? And how much space do they take up? NOT VERY MUCH!!! And as for the rest, well... You're just taking the piss methiks... 😉
I consider that a ridiculous amount!
For going out into the heart of the Highlands, winter and multiday I would carry a bit more stuff but nothing like the stuff some of you carry.Why people carry all that unneeded stuff is beyond me - but if they want to its their choice. Just don't tell me that a rucsac and al that stuff is needed as clearly it is not.
I'll refer you to the comment I made in my above post TJ...
People may laugh at me being over prepared, but everything that goes in my bag gets used out on the trails
Maybe I should have put "everything" in [b]BOLD CAPITALS[/b] perhaps? I guarantee to you that I've used the lot... 😉
i carry a cx tube, 2 x 26" tube and 2x 29er tubes. i once got a puncture and had the wrong sized tubes. got all the bases covered.
oh and single speed/ 9 speed / 10 speed quicklinks.
disc pads for shimano and hayes.
could definately cut that down a bit!! 😆
My MULE's sometimes a bit stuffed in winter, but if I've gone out on the train I'll probably be out for about 8 hours in total. I'll carry extra clothing so I'm not sitting on a train/platform in wet clothes, as well as enough food and water for the day, a spare tube, pump and multiool.
I [i]could[/i] go cold, thirsty and hungry I suppose, but what's the point of that? I'm not that interested in feeling that I've somehow got one over on other people because I have less stuff, cheaper kit, football jersey over a T-shirt and so on rather than whatever it is they've got, before savouring the look on their faces as I leave them choking on my dust etc etc etc.
Thought I might as well join in (this thread could do with being killed :-))
I've got a small Camelbak I use for events/races. It's enough for 1.5L bladder, plus multi-tool, tyre levers, puncture kit, pump & tube.
I could use a saddlebag, but the frame mount for my pump is knackered and I am too cheap to buy a new one, so it gets strapped to the bag. I also don't like divving around with water bottles, so the bladder is easier.
I've got a large bag for general riding. I don't really want a collection of bags so i bought one that will be suitable for trail centres, commuting, using in Spain where 3L water is a necessity, as well as knee/elbow pads, first aid kit etc.
And generally I keep all my 'usual' kit in the bag. As already mentioned it is far less hassle to go out for a ride if you know you can just pick up your bag and it just needs the bladder sticking in it. I even carry a skinny & a fat tube so I have one for commuting punctures and one for every other puncture.
Now I know it winds people up so much, I am tempted to fill it to the brim (couple of balloons should do it) everytime I go out, just to get people's blood pressure up.
Do people really go out riding in the woods and on mountains, for hours on end, with only some water and perhaps a minipump and a puncture repair kit?
yes. sometimes I don't even take water....
It doesn't wind me up people carrying huge amounts of unneeded kit "just because one day it might be needed". it just makes me laugh.
What winds me up is people claiming it is essential to carry all that kit and in a rucsac when clearly my decades of riding without show that it is not essential.
There is no situation I have been in or that I can think of when what I carry would not be enough.
JUST WORKED OUT THE PROBLEM [i]FELLAS[/i], NO MORE POSTS NEEDED ! 😆
Roy Hobbs, 41, who spent almost a grand on cycling equipment without having the faintest idea why, said: "I bought the bike, the clothes, and some sort of bottle in a holster.
"I dressed myself in the gear and looked at myself in the mirror and thought, 'What have I become?' I looked like a chunky wasp.
"Maybe I will take the bike into the garden tomorrow and smash it with a mallet, while weeping."
I prefer not to wear a backpack if possible and prefer to use two bottles, a saddle bag, frame bag and pockets.
If other people want to use a backpack, that's up to them.
Is it OK for me to have a preference without criticising other people's preference ?
MidlandTrailquestsGraham
No its not. You must not question the orthodoxy on here. Please go into the naughty corner
jedi
the point is that it's their leisure time and they are enjoying what they do.I take Pleasure in other Peoples Leisure 😐
There is no situation I have been in or that I can think of when what I carry would not be enough.
How do you carry the x-ray goggles required to tell the amount of water someone has in their camelbak?
I thought the point was that there is no point or have I missed the point?
This threads pointless 🙁
Granted the stuf we carry MAY not be needed, i cant remember the last time i got a puncture, but i do remember tweaking bar position and brake reach/ angles very recently.
I also very recently had a rear pivot bearing work lose, needing the multitool to fix.
I also recently had a spate of snapping chains that were only weeks old, needing the chain breaker on the multitool.
Id rather have enough odds and sods on my back to fix most foreseeable mechanicals and carry on my ride. id rather have enough water and grub on my back to enjoy my ride, when far away from home.
I'd rather take my waterproofs along too if it looks changeable.
The best way i have found, and this is personal to me, is to carry this stuff in my backpack.
pypdjl
I don't. But I have repeatedly been told on this thread that carrying more than I do is essential. That 1.5 litres is insufficient.
apparently according to some you must carry a rucsac as you must carry 3l of water and loads of tools and spares - even for a couple of hours in the local trails.
i attach several helium filled balloons my my seatpost, this cancels out any weight gain from the following:
carrying essential fluids
carrying a spare inner tube
carrying a small pack of allen keys
carrying a waterproof
carrying my excess body fat
sometimes i take an AA emergency car kit with a tyre jack and warning triangle in my camelback (charriot racing special edition (as we're naming them)) jsut incase i come across a borken down car, occasionally i bring a ladder incase i need to break into my house due to forgetting my keys when packing the balloons
not sure if i should mention the fact i wear american football padding for riding along the canal tracks, you never know when the back wheel might wash out and i could fall into a keep-net
that reminds me, i should work out how to pack a snorkel
U31. i quite agree apart from I find it easier to carry on the bike.
I carry a multitool with which I can strip the bike all bar the BB. Its the only tool I need. I find the necessities are so small that theya re easily carried on the bike and in my pockets