Photo by Sam Marx
20 years ago you might’ve found me as an unprepared teenager on the side of the trail stuffing pine straw into my flat tires so I could limp my broken bike and body back home. With tubeless tires and inserts I rarely flat these days, and I can’t even remember the last time I broke a chain. Nevertheless, here are my five essential items to bring into the woods on a mountain bike ride.
1. Food and Drink
I always put a snack in my pocket and eat it at the top of the biggest climb. Throughout the ride I’m sipping on a sports drink. I’ve found that even if I can get away with not eating or drinking for a short ride, I feel less engaged the rest of the day and I don’t recover as well. It’s worth taking care of your body. Plus, you might encounter some poor soul who is bonked out of their mind; your food can get them through a dark time. Lately, I’m a fan of Clif Bloks in Citrus, but
historically I have been known to enjoy Fig Newtons.
2. Mini-Pump
As I alluded to earlier, I rarely flat anymore. Tires have gotten better and inserts help a lot. Nevertheless, if I do flat or encounter someone with a flat, I like to have a pump on hand. They are lightweight and unobtrusive so I always carry it with me. I really like the Lezyne pumps because they attach via a little hose. That feature really helps not to rip the valve core off the stem.
LEZYNE Pocket Drive HP Bicycle Hand Pump
0Don’t go on a mountain biking adventure without one. Lezyne Pocket Drive hand pump packs 160 psi of high pressure when you need it the most, on top of a mountain.
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3. Tube
I carry it for the same reasons as my pump. It basically costs me nothing to have and could help me or someone else get out of the woods.
Pro-Tip:
I carry a 27.5 tube, it’s a little lighter and can be stretched for a 29er or folded for a 26er.
There is a company called Tubolito making incredible light tubes that roll up into the size of a 35mm film canister, but I’ve yet to try them.
Continental New 2 Pack MTB Bike Inner Tubes
0MTB Bike Inner Tubes are a great accessory to bring in your pack. Help yourself or a fellow mountain biker get out of the woods in a pinch.
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4. Multi-Tool
A multi-tool is a must have on every ride. The ability to quickly adjust your bike or tighten something that is loose has saved dozens of my rides. I’m a huge fan of the smallest multi-tool that has a chain tool. The Specialized EMT 12 is my favorite, but there are many other good ones.
5. Rain Jacket
Where I live in Western North Carolina it rains a lot. Even if it’s not raining, temperatures can drop quickly and I like having a little bonus layer. I also don’t carry a first aid kit unless I’m riding with kids; I like to think my rain jacket could function as a sling in a pinch. I’ve had a bunch of terrible cheap rain jackets over the years and finally bought a Gore Shakedry 1985 Jacket; it may be the nicest thing I own. It breathes well, keeps me dry, packs down tightly, and weighs next to nothing. What more could I want?
GORE WEAR Mens C5 Gore-tex Shakedry 1985 Jacket
5Gore-tex Shakedry 1985 Jacket – waterproof, windproof, and extremely breathable. What more can you ask for in a rain jacket?
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That’s my list. What kind of things do you bring into the woods? Are you the friend always sheepishly asking to borrow a multi-tool or are you the guy who could perform a trail-side brake bleed if you needed to?
Peter Haile
Whether pushing his limits on technical trails, seeing what’s around the next corner, or tinkering in his shop; Peter enjoys life to the full. In addition to bikes, he enjoys frame building, graphic design, and math. He lives in Asheville, NC with his wife and son.
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