Mountain Biking - Got the bike, now what are the necesities.

What are some of the necessary things to have while riding?

and laying around the house?

Really, you don't need anything. Its all luxuries. Somethings that make the ride more enjoyable for everyone is hydration pack. If your into Downhill or freeriding, you might want to invest in some good protection for your head and body.

Good old military issue camel back... took it off my dad LOL.


I was looking around the store and saw many different pumps, along with CO2 pumps..

whats the difference between them all? i mean a pump is a pump isnt it?

What are the best types of inner tubes and lubes?
I need to actually try to take care of this bike lol.

Ditch the reflectors, camelback, a simple hand pump (stuff in camelback), patch kit, tube and lever if needed.

Just make sure the valves on the tubes match the valve on the pump (ie schrader or presta) - brand doesn't matter right now.

LOL, not many people like reflectors huh?
So that 80.00 repair seat bag thing with all kinds of stuff in it , that the guy tried to sell me isnt oneof those, must have things?

LOL, not many people like reflectors huh?
So that 80.00 repair seat bag thing with all kinds of stuff in it , that the guy tried to sell me isnt oneof those, must have things?


Stricly my own opinion - I don't dig saddle bags on mountain bikes. And for $80 you could do a lot better.

get a lid, kid

get a lid, kid


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A helmet. Always wear a helmet.

OH! lol ok

yea those multi tools were looking pretty cool.
got a birthday in April, ill ask for one.
as for the helmet, I dug my Pro-Tect helmet out that i used from BMXing.

You'll also want gloves. I ride with half-finger leather gloves that I replace every year (as I usually wear holes through the palms). I don't buy biking gloves - I go with weight lifting gloves. I find they're more durable, although not as light or breathable. I don't just bike, though - I do weight lifting and lawn cutting. Doing all three at the same time really ruins your hands.

If you're doing more extreme riding, you may want to consider gloves with full finger protection and knuckle guards.

Always wear a helmet. If you're doing extreme riding, you may want a full-faced helmet.

Hydration pack.

I wouldn't go for a saddle bag - camelbak should do everything you want.

You can get a multi-tool - it'll help you in the case of break downs.

Spare inner tube.

Inner tube patch kit.

As for lubes, DON'T use WD-40 on any part of the bike. You can get proper lubes at the lbs. You can use automotive grease on the chain, if you want.

I strongly advise wearing sunglasses, or some other form of eyewear. You'll be thankful when that insect dings off the lens and not your eye. Stops the branches from tearing up a part of your face too.

Congrats on the Trek!! I'm a Trekie (err not that other kind of trekie) myself, and thats a sweet ride you got yourself.

Thanks. I took it for a ride, rides great!
took it through a gravel trail, handles nice

A good jersey and shorts (Lycra or baggie, I wear Lycra) are pretty important.

For christmas my dads friend, and my riding partner, got me a nice jersey.

dont got the shorts or anything though lol

Try using the search function, there has been many a thread with people posting/asking what to carry on rides.

search doesnt work for me for some reason.

it just freezes up to a white screen

I like a seat bag with a tube and levers in it. If you get the CO2 pump you can sometimes get it in too, or a frame pump if you are going to use your bike for quick trips to the store or something and don't want your whole camelbak, you never know when you're going to get a flat. A camelbak is a great back protector too, mine has saved my spine a few times when I took big falls. I learned the hard way to always carry a Powerlink. You never know when someone on the ride will break a chain and that is a major downer if nobody has one.

water bottles
glasses
helmet
tire levers
pump
extra tube
do clip less shoes/pedals count?
gloves
food

I don't just bike, though - I do weight lifting and lawn cutting. Doing all three at the same time really ruins your hands.

Wow, that sounds awesome! Pics please!



You can use automotive grease on the chain, if you want.

Do you? Pics please!

Wow, that sounds awesome! Pics please!



Do you? Pics please!

Huh? You want pictures of my hands?

http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/101066_front200.jpg

They say white lithium grease is just as good as chain lube.

They say white lithium grease is just as good as chain lube.

They is riding with a dirty chain

Moar pics of new bike please.

They is riding with a dirty chain

I don't think they is.

you don't grease a chain man .. it'll pick up all kinds of crud and grit

What are some of the necessary things to have while riding?

spare piston seals and brake lines for hydraulic brakes, both front and rear. spare cables for mech brakes

if you grease your chain use patroleum base lube. it doesnt pick up as much dust

Ricoh,
I want my bike to last thankyou.
As parts do wear out."
" You don't need anything man, just get on the bike and ride it hard. (my opinion)"
thats exactly why youve gone through like what 5 bikes in the past week? and youre already asking if you should get a new frame...

I never rode with any tools, hydration, or spare parts until I got my camelbak. I got my camelbak this fall. I rode around on my crappy bike for five years (I think) until I lost in a car accident. I did mostly road riding on the bike, but I also hit the trail regularly.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've only had a few problems. One was my rear dérailleur falling off twice. Once on a trip to school, another while riding on the trails. For the school case I walked my bike the rest of the way to school and rode the slopes down hill (I hooked the dérailleur on a pedal so it wouldn't drag). For the trail case I had my swiss army knife on me at the time. I used the slotted screwdriver head to reattach the dérailleur - it was good enough to get me home where I had the proper tools. In terms of flat tires - sure it was a pain - but I just walked my bike home. The trail I was riding on was close to home anyways.

Even today when I ride my bike to school (well, not in the winter), I don't pack tools - just my lunch and textbooks.

It's just recommended that you bring stuff along.

Im just thinking basic stuff like a pump, tubes and power link

because where I'll be riding, its a long... long... walk.

I'd also bring along a spoke key, and allen keys.

Obviously the first thing you want to pick up is a helmet. Gloves are also great, since they'll protect your hands in a fall (since until you get good at falling, which I definitely am not, your palms will get ripped up in falls), and they provide a little bit of padding too. Shorts with a decent chamois are a must. Your privates will thank you. I think those were the first three things I picked up. After that, I bought pedals and shoes. I picked up 520's since they were cheap and could be set really loose, so I didn't feel like I'd get stuck in them. I also replaced my water bottles with a Camelback, since it carries more water and has space for whatever else I feel like bringing along (like food, for example). I'd also suggest picking up a spare tube, some tire levers, and a pump, all of which can also go in your Camelback. A frame pump is nice since you can bring it along for your ride (and they're usually pretty cheap). Also, a floor pump will make your life a lot easier at home, but you can always pick that up later. Most of my friends carry CO2 pumps (though I haven't made that investment yet...but then again, I haven't been riding that long), so you might want to consider that eventually. I'm sure I've missed some things, but that's what I usually bring along. Oh, and I also bring along friends. They generally ride harder than me and know more than me, so I figure if something else breaks, I can beg them to fix it (or get help if the thing that breaks is me) and then buy them a beer later. ;)

yea im thinking of getting some of that.
just wanted to know what other brought so i don't look like a Mac Tools Bike. LOL


as per request heres my new ride:

i always bring an extra rear derailleur and cassette in my camelbak

Sweet bike broski! I got a trek 3900 too.. it got me hooked into mountain biking.

Do you really carry an extra RD and cassette?

Do you really carry an extra RD and cassette?

What MX forgot to tell you is that he also carries an extra shock and a torque wrench.

Ahhh. Thank you for clearing that up. I was planning on hiring a chase-truck to carry a couple extra bikes in case I break, but it's really overkill for the way I ride. I'd probably end up riding in the truck...

ou'll also want gloves. I ride with half-finger leather gloves that I replace every year (as I usually wear holes through the palms). I don't buy biking gloves - I go with weight lifting gloves. I find they're more durable, although not as light or breathable. I don't just bike, though - I do weight lifting and lawn cutting. Doing all three at the same time really ruins your hands.

If you're doing more extreme riding, you may want to consider gloves with full finger protection and knuckle guards.

Always wear a helmet. If you're doing extreme riding, you may want a full-faced helmet.

Hydration pack.

I wouldn't go for a saddle bag - camelbak should do everything you want.

You can get a multi-tool - it'll help you in the case of break downs.

Spare inner tube.

Inner tube patch kit.

As for lubes, DON'T use WD-40 on any part of the bike. You can get proper lubes at the lbs. You can use automotive grease on the chain, if you want.

I strongly advise wearing sunglasses, or some other form of eyewear. You'll be thankful when that insect dings off the lens and not your eye. Stops the branches from tearing up a part of your face too.

WD-40 is excellent when used for cleaning and lubricating cables and housings.

I was looking around the store and saw many different pumps, along with CO2 pumps..

whats the difference between them all? i mean a pump is a pump isnt it?


No. I had a pump once that was so hard to use that it gave me tendonitis (I'm serious.) Get a good one. I like HpX or Mountain Morph.

What MX forgot to tell you is that he also carries an extra shock and a torque wrench.

the advantages of a hardtail...i don't need to carry an extra shock. i bring two torque wrenches. one craftsman microtorque inch-pounds and another craftsman microtorque foot-pounds for those high torque trailside applications.

Do you really carry an extra RD and cassette?

i thought most people did? what if you bash your cassette? i have a great big camelbak....no space worries.

LOL,
I have a standard mil. issue camelback... no pockets in it lol

camelbak or seatbag, I use both, I leave the seatbag on most of the time for short rides or easy trails, I use water bottles, a frame mount pump and my tools in the seat bag, allens, chain tool, patches and have room for some clifs, if it is going to be a longer ride I take the bag off, get the camelbak loaded with room for some clothing, either to put or take off depending on temp, a few more snacks, a tube gonna get some powerlinks, I leave the pump on the frame.

I also pack a longsleeved under armor shirt in my bag if I'm going out late. Sometimes the temperature drops really quick, or the cold wind picks up. The extra shirt really does the job.

camelbak or seatbag, I use both, I leave the seatbag on most of the time for short rides or easy trails, I use water bottles, a frame mount pump and my tools in the seat bag, allens, chain tool, patches and have room for some clifs, if it is going to be a longer ride I take the bag off, get the camelbak loaded with room for some clothing, either to put or take off depending on temp, a few more snacks, a tube gonna get some powerlinks, I leave the pump on the frame.

while your doing all this I'm 5 miles into the ride.

^ and when your chain snaps, hes passing you giving you parts lol

I've never had my chain snap on me...

spare piston seals and brake lines for hydraulic brakes, both front and rear. spare cables for mech brakes

Good call. I also bring several B-Adjustment screws for my rear derailleur, several ferrules, 9-10 chainring bolts, rebound adjustment assembly for my 888, 550# Ti spring for my ROCO, and an extra Salsa seatclamp.

I've never had my chain snap on me...

hmmmm I haven't either.. I've broken a derailer hanger on acouple of occasions though that's worse than a chain.. you have to rig it just to coast down a hill.


Good call. I also bring several B-Adjustment screws for my rear derailleur, several ferrules, 9-10 chainring bolts, rebound adjustment assembly for my 888, 550# Ti spring for my ROCO, and an extra Salsa seatclamp.
I just carry a folding bike in my camelback