Mountainclimber

Ok i recently got my MTB & helmet and know i will need some essential gear for long rides just cant decide which i will be using the most so what are the most important things to buy next in order of priority.

ankush

• portable pump (make sure it corresponds to your valve type, my mini pump has both presta and schraeder)
• water bottle, water cage
• patch kit, dont forget the sandpaper, i think in america you get glueless ones, those seem faster to patch up with, i never seen those though
• a multitool, the one i have now has just allen wrenches and its good for the trail, but i ordered a topeak alien from supergo- why not..it has a chain tool and spoke wrench so its good..
• extra tube
• chain link
• if i just go out for a ride with my wife in the evenings i mount my light before i go so i keep an extra set of batteries those with me in my wedgie bag
• of course a wedgie bag, whatever it is called, the bag that fits under your seat. mine is a big one because along with a tube i keep a lock inside it too because last time i went to the market with my wife (i have only one bike so i commute/do-everything on it) and i realised i forgot my lock. so my bag is big so it can fit one of those long tubular locks with a number system on it. i usually take it outta there before i go out into the cow trail though because my last bag totally tore off because it couldnt take the weight what with those bumppps, which sucked, so this time i bought a good quality expensive Fox bag which is really nice and big and attaches nicely to the post)
• also i think you should get some good cleaning equipment. some chain lube. a brush or two. i used to use toothbrushes but my wife just bought me a chain cleaning machine kit so they had a brush in it. tooth brush is fine though. get some nice chain lube. i use pedro's ice wax, i think there might be better ones out there, i dont like this one all that much mostly because it rains here a lot, if where you stay is dry then it should be okay i think. some people might say a degreaser to clean the chain before you wax it, for me though that is expensive. soapy water is good enough.. but maybe if you have money buy degreaser...why not? my chain machine uses degreaser though i dont know what i will do when the small bottle they gave me along with it finishes..
• gloves, you might need gloves. my wife wears a pair. i dont because i feel like a fool in them. but i think it is wise to wear gloves. palms scrape and burn if you fall..
• maybe you need shinguards or other guards if you are going to ride rough. i would like to buy myself some so i can try some rougher stuff. without protection i feel scared to try too much rough sh*t, but they are expensive........

okay anyway i better get outta here before you guys call me a ranter again

[bEn]

You've pretty much said everything!

Mountainclimber

Thanks thats a great help

chris_pnoy

oil. don't use wd-40.

thats about all that I could think of.

Callaway

I would suggest a camelback, especially for long rides, I pretty much use mine all of the time though- they are invaluable...

harris

amen to the camelbak. i have a kelty source and it does the same thing, but to keep from confusing my friends i just call it a camelsack. keeps the slower guys happy.


harris

cryptid01

A way to carry water (I prefer a hydration pack...it holds LOTS of H2O and it's a good place to put all that stuff in the other list).

Gloves

Cycling shorts

Cycling shoes

MtbVA

GLOVES!
Save your skin! Your going to fall!
I like thin ones without any padding.

zx108

i dont like to take a patch kit, i think it is much easier to take an extra tube and then patch the poped one when i get home. that said:

pump, i dont like the C02 ones, some people swear by them
extra tube, like i said above,
gloves, a MUST for me
shorts, a quik wicking tee, and cycling shoes(or else i am not riding on my pedals)
i bring a small allen wrench set for slight tunning.
oh, and a cliff bar.

/\ most of that goes in my hydration pack, not the clothes or gloves

Dannihilator

Suprised that no one mentioned a first aid kit yet.

santiago

For extra long rides I take along a whistle and one of those space blankets. They fold up to a pretty small size.

Dave719

Also:
- Shimano replacement rivets - assuming its a shimano chain or Powerlink for SRAM (or in place of the Shimano rivet). Make sure you have a tool to break off the end of the replacement rivet.
- Tire irons (optional if your tires don't fit tightly). Some tools have them built in (Alien).
- Sunglasses: don't have to be expensive, but protects your eyes from bugs, dirt, UV, tree branches, etc. Some have multiple lens, so you can also wear them in low light or night time conditions.
- Sweatband or do rag: Essential if you sweat a lot. Or else you'll hit a bump and a waterfall of sweat will come down on your face. I'm bald, so the do rag protects my head from the sun too.
- Gloves: I like full fingered ones. Even the ones I normally wear for hot weather (Specialized) provide some protection from glancing blows to tree branches and of course abrasions during crashes.

Dave

UAEBiker

I wouldn't recomend not taking a patch kit. Even if you have a tube. You could have mulitble flats or the tube could have a hole in it. (Had that happen once it really was no good) So for sure a patch kit and a tube if you want.
The stick on patches are fine but dont last very long especially in hot weather. The clue ones bond to the tube and are better if you have the time to do them. The stick on ones are kind of like a quick fix till you get home.

Mountainclimber

Thanks that was helpuful advice.

Mountainclimber

Yeah probably would come in handy if i got a bitten by a brown snake or red back.

willtsmith_nwi

You missed a few things
* Duck tape. Wrap it around a card and have it at the ready. For all you know, you may need it to plug up a gash in your body.
* Small medical kit.
* Nutrition.
* Bug Spray, if you ride near water/woods, get a 20% deet formula or better. If you have to stop for a repair, you will DEFINITELY need it.

[bEn]

I totally forgot about that. That's a thing you defintaly need if your going on a long ride. It helped me out a lot when i stacked by hitting this rock going down a hill.

Raiyn

Here's my usual long offroad kit reposted for the umpty billionth time

• 100 oz of water
• 1 space blanket
• pill bottle of matches / lighter
• 1 spare tube
• Topeak Mcguyver multi-tool
• Old plastic gift card wrapped with about 15 ft of duct tape
• Another plastic gift card wrapped with about 20 ft of duct tape
• Leatherman tool
• Bundle of zip ties
• Keys
• Mini pump
• FRS radio
• 2 Tire Levers
• Spare Teflon Shifter cable
• Spare Teflon Brake cable
• Glueless patches
• Spare Power Link
• Energy bar(s)
• Spare batteries for radio or lights
• Bug spray
• Cash
• ID (I've got a set of dog tags from https://www.poundmaster.com/ They have my name, driver's license number, blood type and medication allergy info on one tag the other has my emergency numbers)
• ATM Mini Card
• Fist Aid Kit