humboldt'sroads

I've recently had to go to a one-bike quiver that's seen me go from three bikes to one over the last few months, and most recently, sold my CAAD9 for a 2012 CAADX 105. The reasons are multiple, but first and foremost I was always jealous of mountain bikers having the ability to ride arguably more remote, and much more fun terrain, though I was unwilling to give up the speed and 100+ mile ride capabilities of a good road bike.

When riding fire roads and trails I know that I should probably carry more than I'm used to when venturing out on a road bike and am wondering what others consider as their minimum checklist or carry list for riding away from roads. I only carry the bare minimum on road rides, and wouldn't be caught dead with anything on my back, though I usually don't figure I'm gonna break a spoke or chain, or flat more than twice on a typical road ride. I mostly will be riding 20-40 mile rides of mixed road and fire roads. I wouldn't mind eventually getting into longer more technical stretches up in the foothills or Sierras.

What do you carry? Maybe this is more appropriate for the MTB forum, but I'm not doing anything super core. I also figured in the MTB forum opinions would vary from "I only carry water" to those who take the whole damn garage. I'm looking for the "basic essentials" lists of other mixed terrain riders. Is a chain break, a few links advised? Kevlar spoke? Derailleur hanger? I don't quite have a feel for how much more likely I am to have a mechanical problem than I normally would on a road ride.

Also, maybe an obvious question for those riding cross or MTB for a while, but I have one road tire I love for all seasons. How useful is it to have 3 or more sets of tires for various conditions? I quickly realize having a set of wheels mounted with road tires will be all but necessary since this will also be my commuter and road bike, but I also realize my Schwalbe Sammy Slicks aren't good in mud or loose stuff.

Thanks in advance for opinions on the above or other essentials.

RGNY

my commute on my CX is a 10mi mix of road, gravel and mud or grass depending on conditions.

-spare tube
-patches
-tire lever
-two CO2's w/ inflator
-bike multitool (Crank Bros 17)

in Tacx tool tube in bottle cage.

dfisha

Congrats on the new ride, I just sold the mtb to do the same thing your doing.

I think it all depends on where your going (how isolated) and how far. For a spin around the park or a short ride on a local trail i'll bring the normal road kit, like rgny posted. On the long, "backcountry" type rides where i'm out in the wilderness all day i'll bring more.

Camelback mule, 3l of water
-1 or 2 Derailleur hangers, i've had a friend break 2 on one ride!
-a few extra links
-spoke wrench
-two tubes, and patch kit
-mini pump
-multi tool with chaintool
-little first aid kit with liquid bandage(love that stuff), a couple bandaids, and some aspirin ..one type of pain killers isn't good for endurance activites, i forget the details, i should probably find out
- a little roll of duct tape, I roll it onto it's self so it's the with of my thumb, super handy after crashes on clothing or fixing little things on the bike.
-extra bars/gels
-Clothing i find super important on the long remote rides, especially if your in the mountains. It might be 75 when you start but up at altitude it might be in the 30's. Toe warmers saved my ass many times

i've never needed extra spokes...and i've never used a spoke wrench on the trail, but i bring it along anyways.

dfisha

Also I can't recommend the camelback mule enough, I've had mine for 5 years and it's bulletproof, I only use it on really long road rides or offroad rides but it's comfortable all day. Here's a screen shot from a ride before my volagi

https://vimeo.com/54329391

Breathegood

All my bikes have a tool kit with multi-tool, tire levers, spare tube, and patch kit. I won't ride without any of these things. All my bikes accept the cross bike have a pump mounted to one of the water bottle cages. My cross bike doesn't have any braze-ons for bottle cages so I carry the pump in my jersey pocket. I won't ride without ample water, so on the CX I've grown accustom to wearing a camel back type of product. I hate having to carry water on my back, but the seat post mounted aqua rack I was using didn't hold up to the riggers of the cross course. Other than that, I keep my phone and a zip lock baggy with an expired driver's license for ID, $20 bill, and health insurance card in my jersey. I also rarely ride without a HRM, but that's hardly essential.

As for wheels and tyres....In theory, I like the idea of having multiple sets, but I really keep comming back to one tyre that will do a little bit of everything. I've come to the conclusion that a file tread is about the best you can do on a CX bike. I ride the Conti Cyclocross-Speed. It has pretty low rolling resistance on the pavement to and from the trail and has pretty good trail manners. All the trails in my area are dry and hard packed, so I don't need a real aggressive tread. Any time I come across terrain that I feel I don't have enough tread for, I'm either shouldering the bike or wishing I had a MTB anyway. The actual cross course is a little different though. I keep a more aggressive tire for the course. The Speeds get a little squirrly on some of the grassy and loose sections of the course. I'll ride the Speeds through the summer on the local singletrack and various gravel and paved roads and swap to a different tyre later in the summer or early fall when its time to get on the cross course. Since the CX is your only bike, however, I can see a definate advantage to at least two wheelsets. An upgraded lightweight set dedicated to road riding and a more durable, utiliitarian set for everything else. You just have to remember to carry the right spare tube for each set, and adjust the brakes as needed for differnt rim widths.

humboldt'sroads

Dfisha - thanks for the recommendations. While I have an aversion to riding with anything on my back (the road rider in me), I realize that it's all but necessary for extended offroad rides or like you said, trips into the mountains requiring serious layering. I did ride with a hydration pack last weekend and while I hated it, I could get used to it. If it comes down to carry all your crap or not ride, the choice becomes obvious! Seems like with the exception of the longest most remote rides, I can stuff all I need in my pockets.

Breathegood - good advice. Think that for now, I'll look at a cheap set of RS-10's or 20's or something similar to keep a 25c road tire mounted for road-only rides and keep my file-treads on the wheels that came on the bike for commuting and mixed-terrain riding. When money permits, I do think a third custom-built set could be justified to use on very long rides, or difficult terrain where my wheels will take a beating. Our trails do get quite muddy here in the Bay Area, and my Schwalbe Sammy Slicks (file tread) seemed a little sketchy in mud and loose stuff. If I run a more aggressive tire in wet conditions can I expect my handling and rolling ability to be greatly compromised when on-road? Is it common to run a file or directional tread up front with a mud tire in the rear for traction?

fietsbob

This a lost soul that wanted the Touring Forum instead?
seems to have a ..long way from Civilization.. tone, to his List.

Breathegood

if I were going to consider a custom-built wheel set for my cross bike, it would be a lightweight set of road wheels. Stay cheep, heavy, and durable on the ones that will take the most abuse. I can't imagine being able to ride my cross bike all that aggressively on technical terrain anyway, but light wheels equal less fatigue and greater speed on a long road ride.

You will notice a difference with an aggressive tyre on the pavement to and from the trail. That's why I like the file tread. Its a trade off that will probably require experimentation. Almost half of my miles are to and from the trail, so rolling efficiency on the pavement is important to me. If you drive to ride or have trail access right out your door, a more aggressive tyre may be a better choice.

it sounds counter intuitive, but the more aggressive tyre should go on the front. With most of the weight over the rear, propulsion is not typically as big an issue as steering when conditions get loose or technical. That's been my experience. Others may disagree. Keep in mind, a CX bike is no substitute for a mountain bike on rough or technical trails.

humboldt'sroads

Who? Whaaa? Wait, I'm not even 30 bro! That's actually why am asking - I want to minimize my "necessities" list but don't yet have a grasp of how much more often mechanical problems come up riding trails as opposed to roads.

Long way from civilization? Meh, sometimes. Busted something on the bike and walking out into the streets of East Oakland without a ride home after dark? Could happen. Skip the carry list for a glock and a cell phone? Hmmmm...

SnowJob

I like to keep it fairly simple for long, rough rides. Multitool with chain tool and spoke wrench (CB m19), tire levers, 2 spare tubes, credit card/cash and ID, a couple $1 bills to use as tire boots, lots of water, spare cleat bolts, mini pump and cell phone. I've never carried a spare spoke or chain bits before, but I've had to retrue a wheel after a spoke broke and then limp home.

If I'm going to be gone all day and feel like having a bit more, I put on the revelate frame bag and throw in my camera, maybe a book, and some granola bars or other snack food.

It sounds like you got it pretty figured out, though. Good luck to you, I'm jealous that you have foothills you get to ride in!

marqueemoon

I dunno. Maybe some extra food and water since you won't be as near a 7-11? Aside from a major mechanical problem nothing ruins a ride like bonking.

Otherwise it sounds like common sense to me. Bring what you think you might need within reason. Bring the kitchen sink and you'll be lugging a kitchen sink along on your ride.

humboldt'sroads

Sounds like quite the exciting Saturday. Throw in some good trees and a radio and you may never have to return! Yes the foothills are nice they help me bring in the Niners when I'm a LONG way from home. Oh yeah, the riding's super good too. The hills right here in the Bay are pretty rippin' too.






Agreed. *Bonked a long way from home with a few G to climb. *That really sucks. *And yea, it seems that I'm not much more likely to encounter much that I can't at least limp home on. *I'm sure after a few more trail rides I'll know exactly what I need.

Yotsko

FWIW...CX IS racing. To say you're new to cx but not racing means that you're looking for a road bike with 25c tires and fender mounts (ie a touring bike).

humboldt'sroads

While I would have to agree with you that CX is indeed, racing (just as MX is), to say what I'm looking for is a road bike with 25c tires and fender mounts (a touring bike) is simply wrong. I had a bike that would accommodate 25c tires and fenders. I now have a have a bike designed for cyclocross racing that will accommodate much wider tires, uses canti brakes, still has drop bars, road levers, road geo, and is much better suited to riding fast on mixed surfaces (a CX bike). I don't race CX but I certainly don't have (nor need) a touring bike...

What am I missing here? I think it's too late to change the title of this post to "Essentials for a mostly-road rider who sometimes also likes to ride his road bike that has 35c tires, drop bars, canti brakes, is designed for cyclocross racing but not a cross bike, on fireroads and singletrack..." so this will just have to suffice.

You're obviously a 'cross racer and I know where you're trying to go there, but I think a 'cross bike is still a 'cross bike in all its applications. Calling it something else would be misleading and really more effort than it's worth.

fietsbob

Or a Hybrid with Drop Bars..

700-35 tire, check

luggage rack mount go? check,

room for Mudguards Check.

not get stolen on the streets of Oakland, can't help on that