Got a bike, but what 'bits' do I need?

Scottland

I have a bike, and means to get it to trails - but what bits/tools will I need to keep it in good order?

Obviously I'll need a decent pump, and some tyre levers/puncture repair kit. But what bits will I need to take with me to trails - is a multi tool enough?

Anything else?


Ta!

keirtristan

Spare inner tube/s.
Hydration - best getting a hydration pack so you can carry keys, mobiles and money in as well.
Maybe a lock if you're going to leave your bike at any point.
Some sort of sweet food - choccy bars etc for energy.

rockhop09

as said above. i would consider also Specializeds EMT Comp Tool

Scottland

Didn't think about inner tubes! That spesh tool looks decent too, seems to have a few useful heads on it.

Ages since I changed a tyre, I'll have to have a practice before I go!

Rich Hcp

Replace the trubes with slime ones

llamafarmer

You might not need tyre levers if you have folding tyres, mine will come on and off easily without levers. A spare tube is relatively bulky, but when you do puncture it's a lot less hassle than repairing and you can fix the old one later and make it your new spare.

Camelbaks are brilliant, but aim to get one with a bit of storage for food and extra layers on your trail rides.

Scottland

Rich Hcp wrote:

Replace the trubes with slime ones

Are the slime/gunk tubes any good then? I like the idea of these, any particular ones to go for?

ratty2k

Depends, IMO they are ok for thorn type punctures, but if you pinch flat where you end up with more than one hole in the tube, and usually 2-3mm long not much use against that.
Stick with normal tubes unless you have a lot of thorns around.
Tyre levers as mentioned, a tube, maybe two. Multi tool is useful no doubt, cahin splitter aint heavy and worth taking as are some Sram powerlinks if you do ever snap a chain, as they make an easy and quick repair.
Flapjuack is easy to make and better than a mars, one because it aint over produced like a mars, and two, the oats give a slower releasse of sugars and will keep you going longer- the sugars in the rest of the flapjack will give you a quick instant burst as well.

rhann

Rich Hcp wrote:

Replace the trubes with slime ones

agree with that 100% had slime in my tubes for about 2 1/2 years, cant remember having to fix a puncture at all in this time. thoroughly recommend.

elPedro666

I've been running Specialised Air-Lock tubes for about 15 years (no exaggeration) on three bikes and I've had to change one of them when I split it wide open on an evil Scottish rock.

Just go round with a pair of pliers occasionally and pull all the thorns out!

One tube in fifteen years, right in the heart of blackthorn country, ain't that summat?!

There's a thread running called something like 'the eternal question... with the answer' which lists all the (mostly unnecessary) cr*p people haul around with them...

elPedro666

Here it is:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

Banned!

pump and patches

phone

multi tool

some cash.


thats it.