Why do mountain bikers carry backpacks?

I mean it’s not as if you can’t carry everything you need in just jersey pockets and a seat pack – most of you lot aren’t going for epic rides in the wilderness. You don’t need the kitchen sink.

I’ve just got no idea what I could possibly leave out.

Perhaps paranoia sums it up?

I hate back packs, long rides and winter only for me and even then it’s minimal stuff in there (and never a bladder of liquid)

There is of course some practicality in not having water bottles rattling about in cages when you are doing drops / jumps / roots, and also not having hard objects in a thin jersey right next to your spine could be seen as a good idea if there is a likelihood that you may land full weight on said back.

For me, I feel naked without a backpack now. I like to carry the extra clothing, tools, and drink. Sometimes a camera when it is nice weather.

You could look at it in much the same way as why rodies _don’t_ carry them, it is just the done thing, call it fashion if you want. But there has to be some practicality involved.

At the end of the day, why worry about it? Use what you want, carry what you like.

This is also a good reason for wearing a backpack – http://www.mountainbikebill.com/milescrash.htm

Because they are a better way.

I’d like to see you fit a 3L camelbak bladder in a jersey pocket…

Every tried off-roading on anything slightly rough with all the usual crap stuffed into jersey pocket and on frame bags. It sounds like your bike is about to fall apart and makes it a thoroughly unenjoyable experience most of the time.

Because they want to.

I’ve tried water bottles and stuffing stuff in my pockets … it is not for me. I prefer to keep the weight off the bike and love the fact you can still grab a drink on single track … also seen way to many people stopping to pick up bottles at the start of big rides. Sure if I’m doing my local short route it’s nice to go “naked” but in almost all other situations let me have a pack.

3kg of water on your frame makes your bike feel shite.

I too wondered why most of the mtbers at Cwmcarn yesterday felt the need to carry such large packs.

Maybe its a trail centre thing?
The back pack didnt seem to help their riding any.
Most had to stop on every technical section, stop on almost every climb and slow down to an almost stop on the descents.
They did have very expensive full sus bikes though…

The fact that the majority of MTBers use backpacks must mean they’re the “best way”, otherwise it’d just have been a fad that would’ve worn off by now…

3l bladder
3x Tubes
1 Pump
1 Multitool
Selection of food (Bars/Sandwich)
Hip Flask
Spare Top
Jacket
(possibly shock pump and more tools)

Sounds like a rubbish idea to strap all that to my bike and pockets

Jacket gloves hat spare tube pump zip ties camera wallet keys chain tool multi tool penknife shock pump puncture kit jelly babies 3 litres of water and Jaffa cakes …… I’d need frikken big pockets!

Im in the “backpack” camp. Not a giant rucksack but something that holds a bladder, a multitool, my phone, my keys and my snack. (small size camelback) hate the feel of guff rattling around in my pockets.

I carry one as my current bike has no bottle bosses. It only ever has the bare minimum in it, ie water, pump, multi tool, tube, patch kit. I hate using them though and if I’m going for a local fast blast of an hour or so I won’t use a pack.

There is a downhill track near me, most of the guys that ride it all live within sight of the bottom of the hill. Whenever they are riding it, they all have massive backpacks on, I often wonder what they have in the packs and why you would session a downhill with one on!?

well mine carries 3ltr of water, innertubes pump and a extra coat for the rain, if i didnt bring my bag id be stuck in the rain soaked with a flat tyre ;p

I don’t like wearing one but it’s the most convenient way of carrying stuff on a bike. It’s mostly for the water and I don’t carry loads of unnecessary stuff in it but I will start taking a camera when I get one – nowhere convenient to put that on a bike without risking damaging the camera.

3 litres of water? How long are you going out for? 6 hours+ it makes sense – assuming there are no sources to refil from.

Some mtb frames can’t support bottle cages very well, so a pack is fairly essential.

I’m in the “use what makes sense for the ride” camp. Sometimes a bottle and jersey pockets, sometimes a full pack.

So maybe the question should be “why a backpack for 2 hours round Swinley”?

Winter months it’s just a Camelbak bum bag with the bladder removed for me…just big enough to get the essentials in and then a water bottle on the frame. Good enough for up 3 hours riding as long as I’m decently hydrated beforehand. Can’t stand carrying loads of stuff.

hmm, i guess i could squeeze everything i carry into pockets and saddle bags, and strap things to my frame.

but i regularly ride different bikes: rigid singlespeed/hardtail/bouncy Xc bike/downhill bike with a granny gear.

and i wash my clothes.

having all my stuff in a bag means all i have to do i pick up my bag, and i’m ready to go.

i don’t want to spend time moving my pump/saddlebag from one bike to another.

i don’t want to spend time emptying pockets after a ride, and then reloading pockets before a ride.

putting everything in 1 bag is a much better idea.

but in case you’re still curious what i put in my backpack:

water
pump
2 tubes
tyre levers
puncture repair kit
inhaler
multi tool
shoe laces
leccy tape.
quick links
mech hangers
snack
cash
and often:
house keys
car keys
phone
extra layer
buff

For races/lap events I use frame and jersey pockets, but any rides in the Peaks Dales defo need a backpack.

On top of the usual water,tools & tubes when crossing some of those high fells, you’d be daft not to carry an extra layer, 1st aid kit – even a map & compass if its proper remote. And that’s note to do with fashion.

As long as people are safe and enjoying themselves, who gives a carp what they are wearing/carrying.

it seems to annoy some people, which is 1 more reason to carry on doing it.

I like the fact that all the essentials are in one place. Just pick it up and go, without worrying about whether I’ve forgotten something. I then just add extras (food, jacket, etc.) as required.

As long as people are safe and enjoying themselves, who gives a carp what they are wearing/carrying.

best answer!

I had to laugh at the other thread. there was some comment along the lines of “Their backpacks and expensive bikes didnt make them any better” . Its the old argument that you need some kind of MTB cycling proficiancy test before you are allowed to upgrade from a carerra..

Pure fashion. Its a part of the “uniform”

I very rarely carry one. You don’t need 3 l of water, you don’t need a rucksac full of stuff.

A bottle ( or two if its hot), spare tube, pump, patches, multitool all go on the bike. Its much nicer to ride without a rucsac

No bottle mounts on my frame, means having to use a camelbak to carry water, and since I’m wearing the pack anyway, I put my pump, spare tube, multitool and patch kit in there. If the weather looks a bit iffy then the waterproof goes in there too. Also handy for carrying food for longer rides.

. You don’t need 3 l of water

Fatties like me do – when its hot. We dont need coats though when its cold 😉

also, if i stop for a wee, if i’ve got my backpack on i can easily give my hands a quick wash.

there’s often a bit of tearing and sharing of food during or after a ride, and it just seems polite to wash my hands after i’ve made pee-pee.

i suppose i could use a bottle for this, but that would mean carrying a bottle with me as i walk away from the trail, and that would make me look like a piss-drinking weirdo.

God, this one gets debated at least once a month, more than helmets and rlj’s. Just do what you want.

I have a good selection of water bottles found on various trails.
I also have a few good tools, tyre levers, bits` bobs found out on various trails which have fallen out of unzipped or broken saddle bags.
Before Camelbacks I used to ride with all the bits strapped to my bike, stuffed in pockets and got fed up wearing out short/trousers rubbing against saddle bags, losing tools when saddlebags burst open or became detached from the bike when straps broke etc.
So when the first hydration packs came on the market(or at least I found out about them)some 20yrs ago I got one.
For me it has got nothing to do with fashion and get fed up with guys who “don`t see the need” but then rely on the riding buddies to carry stuff or feed and water them when the run out 🙄

I use a bag.. It’s more comfortable..

I feel a bit of a lemon carrying extra clothing.. food.. spares.. etc. I do however nearly always need to carry a map and compass..

My feeling like a lemon was laid to rest on a ride earlier this year when the weather turned very bad a long way from home.. I was absolutely soaked to the skin.. it was incredibly cold and foggy and I was alone and navigating by map and compass.. the terrain was much slower going than I had anticipated and required a lot of hike-a-bike and I was already very tired and very cold..

It was nice to be able to change into some warmer gear.. get a good feed and sort myself out before the next leg of the journey..

if i stop for a wee, if i’ve got my backpack on i can easily give my hands a quick wash.

have you tried not weeing on your hands?

If your actually riding anything slightly rough, having stuff attached to your bike is a nightmare and I expect to fall off 1 in 4 rides. So having my stuff in my bag means its still usually on my back afterwards.

if you actually have decent mounts for your kit it does not fall off the bike – even on rough trails

why do stw whingers care so much what other people choose to do/not do/wear/use etc?
oh that’s right, it’s so that you have something to whinge about, obviously. and what better way to spend your time than picking faults with eveyone else’s lives?
i’m going for a ride. without my backpack (this time).

andemJeremy – Member
if you actually have decent mounts for your kit it does not fall off the bike – even on rough trails

Enlighten us.
Show us your solutions pls

Ortleib seat pack, mini pump on a frame clip secured with an o ring, water bottle in a secure mount. None of it falls off. I have never lost any kit in decades of riding. Once a bottle came off but I went back for it.