Mountain Biking - Newb to Mtn biking..what else to buy?

Hello all,

Well..biking again 17 years after high school. Wife and I just bought TREK 3700's and helmets. I am not sure where to start except for..what else would you purchase as "must haves".

Tube kits: Trek combo pack? or other?

Gonna be riding back and forth to work also...

Rack/Pack over rear wheel for lunch/camera: topeak? others

Backpack better? Camelpak?

Bike locks: Cable with combo built in? U-lock? how safe and easy to store during ride?

Gonna be doing trail riding/road riding...no extreme stuff..lol

Thanks

-Camelpaks are nice but a bit overkill for an around town ride, in my opinion.
-U-locks are nice(and heavy). They are still the safest as long as you get a regular key(not the round one). They come with some mounting brackets to hang it from your bike. If you care about your paint job, or just don't want that thing hanging there you can always throw it in a backpack like me.

It really comes down to what you are going to be doing though. If you ride trails will you be on them for 1 hour or 5? How long is your commute to work, mine is only like 3 miles so I don't really need much, but for a longer daily ride you would definitely want a patchkit atleast (and probably a pump to match). The racks (panniers?) are good if you want to carry things like a change of clothes or lunch, as you said. As for the brand, I think it's more personal preference. You get what you pay for.
multitools are also a popular investment. See what your LBS has in stock.

riding gloves

Without question, the wisest money you can spend is on comfortable saddles. Search this forum and the web for Brooks saddles. After all what is more important than being comfortable on the bike?
http://www.wallbike.com/jpgs/b17standnarrblack.jpg
http://www.wallbike.com/B17.html

After that get a seatpack. Put a multi-tool, tire levers, spare tube, patches etc. in there. You will also need a frame pump or C02 to air the tires back up after repair.

always have and extra tube or patch kit and a pump(i use a CO2 canister filler)if you want to get a hydration pack you can get all different sizes(water capacity/storage capacity)so it depends how much you want to store it it. a bike tool is a good investment. i have a topeak hummer. and ive had an alien bike tool both amazing tool and have almost anything you need for on the go repairs. the only other thing i take along is a crecent wrench(adjustable). gloves would be a good idea, so would a pair of riding glasses. for me i found a cheap pair in edmonton mall for 10$ for when goggles are overkill.

http://hydrapak.com/packs/matrix.shtml

lots to choose from. anything from 50oz and no storage to 100oz and 1770 cu in of storage.

Bandaids, alcohol prep pads, a good knife, gauze, ibproufen and some athletic tape :D

What about a carrier for your/her vehicle(s)? I rarely ride me bike to my riding destination.... :p

Must haves, for me anyway:

Extra chain (don't pack it, but on hand @ home)
extra tubes
hydration system (bottles or pack)
gloves
helmet
glasses
shorts w/ padding
proper riding shoes (SPD for me)

What about a carrier for your/her vehicle(s)? I rarely ride me bike to my riding destination....
shorts w/ padding
proper riding shoes (SPD for me)

Three good points, it's nice to be able to carry the bike around. No one likes a chaffed bum. You're also prolly going to want clipless, as it makes use of so much more of your spent effort.

certainly have a flat kit, cause walking the bike sucks (pump, tube, patch kit, tire levers). also, if you do put one together, wrap duct tape around the barrel of your pump. you never know.

water is good for longer rides, simplist and cheapest being cages and bottles mounted to your bike. my commute to work is a skimpy 3 km, and i usually just sip on water when i get there.

i recommend a U-lock. especially if you're locking your bike in a high risk area, or over night, or for a long time etc. etc.

perhaps look into some clothing?

Wow..thanks for the replies.Good info.

Work ride is only 1.7 miles each way..nuttin honey!

Ranger..whats up with those seats..they look like something off the first experimental bicycle..pre 1900's?


One last question...How bad is it..as in "make fun of" for someone to match colors of packs and stuff to their bike? lol! One of those Hydrapcks comes in grey/green that is similiar to bike color....

No helmet doesnt match.....no green..hehe

Wow..thanks for the replies.Good info.

Work ride is only 1.7 miles each way..nuttin honey!

Ranger..whats up with those seats..they look like something off the first experimental bicycle..pre 1900's?


One last question...How bad is it..as in "make fun of" for someone to match colors of packs and stuff to their bike? lol! One of those Hydrapcks comes in grey/green that is similiar to bike color....

No helmet doesnt match.....no green..hehe

I like having my stuff coordinate but I don't necessarily want it to be all the same color. I probably match more than a lot of riders but nobody's ever said anything. On the other hand, I have a buddy who's obsessed with blue; blue helmet, blue Camelback, blue shoes, blue shorts, blue jersey, blue bike, blue car and, as you can imagine, he gets a bit of crap from the rest of us who ride with him.