10 Essentials for Every Mountain Biker’s Gear Bag

orange and black off-road bicycle on hill
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Have you recently purchased (or are planning to purchase) a mountain bike? Great!

Hopefully, you’ll soon be exploring endless off-road adventures on the trails after getting training for mountain biking. However, there are a certain mountain bike gears that you need before you leave.

Your level of experience or expertise doesn’t matter, rather having the right riding gear is essential to having fun mountain biking. Risk is always there when mountain biking.

Accidents will occur to even the best of us. The best MTB equipment is made to keep you cool and comfortable while you ride, but it also aids in protecting you from injuries if you crash.

By outlining the essentials, this list seeks to simplify the process of expanding your gear collection.

Along with having more fun and being prepared for anything on the trail, you’ll also look the part. Every mountain biker needs to have this gear in their closet.

Here Are the MTB Gears You’ll Need to Add in Your Bag:

1. Helmet

Despite the fact that you won’t be riding on the roads very often on a MTB, there are still trailside hazards and obstacles that you’ll come across, like animals, trees and bushes, boulders, other trail users, and more. In light of this, a helmet is an absolute need.

Any helmet is preferable to none at all, but mountain bike helmets are made expressly to cover your lower back. (Crashing is inevitable and essentially a rite of passage; do not be alarmed by this fact.)

An adjustable visor is typically included with a mountain bike helmet. Choose a full-face helmet for even greater protection, such as while you’re sharpening your abilities at the bike park.

2. Mini-Pump

The most common problem that occurs on the route is having a flat tyre. There’s a good probability that anything will occur from the stumps, rocks, sticks, bumps,and twigs.

You’ll be trapped in neutral without a pump! It’s simple to pick up a little pump, right? Wrong! How do you choose since there are so many sizes? You need to locate the ideal fit.

Use the smallest pump you can find, but be prepared to spend a long time attempting to pump it up if you do have a flat.

However, if you choose the largest one, it will take longer to pump the tyre and be much heavier to handle. Opt for medium-sized pump. It’s big enough to quickly pump in air yet light enough to tote along.

This is the most important mountain bike accessory to have to increase your training volume, regardless of how long the trip is, unless you’re using tubeless tyres.

3. Patch Kits

Including a patch kit in your training plan is as important as anything.

There are mainly two types of parch kits:

Fast Glueless Patch

It resembles an upgraded sticker. The quickest solution, and it works great.

Glue Patch

It takes longer but is more robust. Apply adhesive on the innertube, allow it to dry, and then sew on the patch. Repeat.

Before applying the patch, let the glue dry. Do not forget to clean and sand the patch area first.

Use a CO2 cartridge pump, suggests the racer. It quickly inflates a flat. For typical trail riding, it’s not really necessary. Before using CO2 at a race, get familiar with using it at home.

Additionally, slightly blot your tube before tucking it into the bungee cord of your water bag. You don’t need to be fiddling with the tube and casting around as other racers overtake you.

4. Spare Inner Tube

Why would you need a spare tube if you have a patch kit, you might be wondering. Yes, even a weight wimp like myself travels with a spare tube. It’s quicker, to start.

Simply replace the tube on the first flat then make repairs for any more flats. Additionally, a patch kit may not be able to repair all tube damage. If you sustain a significant gash or damage to the valve and don’t have a spare tube, you must walk home.

Also, remember to pack out all of your rubbish, including used tubes. Additionally, if you can, fix any tubes you hid in your pack when you arrive home.

5. Eyewear

Most mountain bikers deem sunglasses, riding goggles, or other protective eyewear to be mandatory.

Wearing sunglasses even while participating in training sessions will shield your eyes from more than just the sun’s dangerous UV rays. You’ll see a noticeable difference in performance when you’ll ride while wearing an eyewear.

You can ride without them if you choose. In particular while riding behind another person and on dry trails, it will keep dust, dirt, bugs, and other debris out of your eyes.

But don’t just pick out any pair of sunglasses: Choose sunglasses with lenses that are appropriate for low light circumstances or even clear if your local trails are severely shadowed.

6. MTB Gloves

When we fall, our natural inclination is to reach out with our hands. Consequently, during a crash, your hands are one of your body’s most susceptible areas. If you strike the deck, full-fingered gloves will stop your hands from getting burned and stay injury free.

Any protective work glove is adequate, however gloves made specifically for mountain biking feature very thin leather or synthetic palms that offer excellent dexterity and improved bike handling without compromising protection.

For road bike riders who have sweaty hands, they will offer additional control and grip. In addition to having an absorbent wipe all around thumb that is excellent for wiping away sweat and boogers, many mountain bike gloves have permeable backs. Start using a pair of gloves during your training plan to find the best fit for you for the real ride.

7. Pressure Gauge

You need to know how much air is in your tyres, but not all gauges are created equal. Analogue gauges have a needle that points to the pressure on a dial.

Digital ones work by beeping when they reach the set pressure. Many digital ones also have an LED light, which can be handy if you’re changing a tyre in the dark.

It’s important to measure tyre pressure to determine how your bike performs off-road and keeping a steady race pace and body position.

A blown tyre can result from either too little or too much pressure; the latter increases the likelihood of a crash.

A precise gauge is your only method to maintain consistency while experimenting with your tyre pressures to see what works best for you.

In comparison to many universal floor pumps, a digital pressure gauge is more affordable and accurate.

8. Multitool

Most MTB riders only need a basic multitool to carry out simple trailside repairs. An essential component of a multitool is:

  • T25 Torx
  • 8mm hex
  • 5mm hex
  • 6mm hex
  • 4mm hex
  • 3mm hex

The majority of the hardware on a MTB can be installed using just these six bits. Simple trailside fixes like adjusting your derailleur, levers, and handlebars will be possible for you to complete.

Additional bits are common in multitools, increasing their versatility. A small chain-breaker will be included with a more comprehensive multitool in case you need to remove a chain’s broken links.

If any link in your chain break, having a spare quick-link on hand can keep you riding.

9. Pack

It’s a great idea to have a few necessities with you when you’re out for a ride. Specifically, a jacket or additional clothing, snacks, water, a multitool, possibly a tyre repair kit, and these items. A pack can help with that.

Most of the time, any little running vest or hiking daypack will do the trick, so you can use that equipment twice.

However, if you have been riding for some time , you’ll find that having something like that on your back bothers you or throws you off balance.

Many mountain bikers may choose a hip pack or bike bag to keep their gear since it lowers your centre of gravity and provides for an easier ride all around. As well as it will help you keep your balance between your front leg and back leg.

10. Chain Checker

A chain checker is a handy little gadget that helps you determine if your chain is still in good shape when you commonly participate in mountain bike racing. Chains will naturally stretch over time, and if they aren’t maintained, they will eventually snap.

Using a chain checker, you can see how much your chain has stretched. Most riders like to replace their chains before they get too stretched out, as it can cause shifting issues.

If you don’t have a chain checker, you can also bring your bike into a shop to have them measure your chain for you.

Bonus: Action Camera

If you’re looking to document your rides, improve your mountain bike fitness or take some sweet photos along the way, an action camera is a great investment.

Many newer phones have excellent cameras built in, but if you’re looking for something a little more rugged, an action cam is the way to go.

There are many different brands and models of action cameras on the market that can record the tiniest details like flexing of your muscle groups, so doing your research beforehand is important.

You’ll want to find one that suits your specific needs. Do you need 4K video? Slow motion? A wide-angle lens? Waterproofing?

Once you’ve got your camera, get creative with it! Attach it to your helmet, handlebars, or even your bike frame to capture some unique perspectives. And don’t forget to bring along some extra batteries and memory cards so you can keep going all day long.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! These are the 10 essentials for every mountain biker’s gear bag. Make sure you have all of these tools with you on your next ride and keep your leg straight, and you’ll be prepared for anything that comes your way. Thanks for reading!

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daniel in queenstown with mountain bike

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