Beginner MTB Kit

[mmcd87]

Hi,

I'm wanting to start mountain biking as a hobby/keep fit. I have the bike (2006/7 Kona Fire Mountain), but would appreciate advice on things to get alongside it. For example tools, gear, etc. For example what should I take with me when I go?

Any advice/pointers appreciated

[porka944s]

I have only started doing the same about 6 months ago, and i think you learn quickly what to take with you, i started off riding with nothing but a bike, then the gear followed....

Helmet, after reading a few threads here a realised i was being a knob not wearing one for the sake of £30 and looking cool, i actually dont notice it now.

Gloves, after a slippy ride in the woods images of gravel in palms came back from childhood.

Glasses, for the summer definitely after getting a sharp bug in the eye.

Pump and repair kit, after getting a flat.

Chain tool, after snapping one in a 36 mile charity ride and getting stranded 6 miles from the end.

Spare tubes, after realising i don't want to fix punctures at the roadside for the sake of a £4 tube.

Padded shorts, any thing over 8 miles stings otherwise.

I carry it all in a rucksack now, its not that heavy, with some drinks a good coat im prepared for what ever happens. I didn't buy it all at once ive built it up over six months as i've realised that i needed them through trial and error. I also have a forerunner 305 GPS, a bit of an extravagance but its great.

[anonymous-user]

All that plus some good LED lights, a basic Cateyes HL-EL520 LED Front Light (£40) are quite good if you play out late at Dusk. and a normal Cateye TL-LD610 LED Rear Light, a must especially when on the road. If you want to do some proper night riding get a serious light setup.

I use my smart phone for the GPS tracking, very good especially when I got completely lost on a ride a few months back.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 31st January 13:10

[caiss4]

Echo the above and perhaps specifically for winter riding padded bib tights and a Gore or Gore-type skull cap to wear under your helmet.

Also for winter it's worth stretching to some reasonable quality upper layers particularly windproof outers. I was out yesterday in -2c with just two fairly light Gore layers and was fine.

[anonymous-user]

best thing to do is take your bike apart slowly and carefully and get an understanding of how it all fits together, thus if anything ever happens on a trail or on the sid eof the road you can at best, frx it and get home or at worse, bodge it and get home. a good topeak multi tool should contain all the bits you need for around £20.

cycling shorts are a godsend, as is chamois cream, i am amazed that people are still oblivious to lathering up their bits with the stuff given how much more comfortable it makes cycling.

[ad551]

If you don't already have them - mudguards! You can get a set of Crudcatchers for £15 in almost every LBS.

[Gooby]

1) A decent Multitool, includes allen keys, chain tool screwdrivers etc.
2) Good tyre levers (not halfrauds crap)
3) Park tube patches (then you can leave the sandpaper and glue behind)
4) Inner tube - only repair if you really have to...
5) Power links (quickest way to fix a broken chain)
6) Gas - CO2 canister inflator, gets the tyre up nice and quick, essential with UST tyres
7) Pump
8) Trail bag - best are camelbac or wingnut. Carries your kit, trail munchies and important drink
9) Lid - dont mountain bike without
10) Glasses- mud / branches/ flies in the eye HURTS (at best)
11) cycling shorts - obviously
12) handfull of zip ties. this will fix loads of problems, I have fixed snapped cables, torn tyres, ripped bags, loose/ broken spokes etc etc.
13) Duck tape. dont take the whole roll. Tear off 30cm or so then spool it on your pump for use later.
14) Park tyre patches
15) small tube of super glue
16) Gloves

I take all this plus my excelent leatherman and a small bottle of latex fluid to seal UST tyres in event of a big rupture and a shock pump.

This lot does not weigh much and in my camelbac it is comfy. (obviously, I am wearing the lid and shorts)

Edited by Gooby on Monday 31st January 14:57

Edited by Gooby on Monday 31st January 16:17

[Fetchez la vache]

When getting back into it a few years back I had forgotten how much a decent pair of winter socks and shoes made. Of all the things I've bought over the last 3 years, (other than a new bike), the shoes & socks combo definitely made the largest difference to me.

• Other opinions are available,and may will vary

[American iv]

gloves and safety specs.

I carry most of the things listed above when I ride and sometimes I forgo bits and bobs when I'm walking distance of the car, but the one thing I'd never be without is the gloves and safety specs (a helmet is a given for me).

Fallen off too many times and ruined the gloves not to be without them. Had too many flies in the face / glasses to be without those!

[shalmaneser]

porka944s said:

I have only started doing the same about 6 months ago, and i think you learn quickly what to take with you, i started off riding with nothing but a bike, then the gear followed....

Helmet, after reading a few threads here a realised i was being a knob not wearing one for the sake of £30 and looking cool, i actually dont notice it now.

Gloves, after a slippy ride in the woods images of gravel in palms came back from childhood.

Glasses, for the summer definitely after getting a sharp bug in the eye.

Pump and repair kit, after getting a flat.

Chain tool, after snapping one in a 36 mile charity ride and getting stranded 6 miles from the end.

Spare tubes, after realising i don't want to fix punctures at the roadside for the sake of a £4 tube.

Padded shorts, any thing over 8 miles stings otherwise.

I carry it all in a rucksack now, its not that heavy, with some drinks a good coat im prepared for what ever happens. I didn't buy it all at once ive built it up over six months as i've realised that i needed them through trial and error. I also have a forerunner 305 GPS, a bit of an extravagance but its great.

This is a good selection to be getting on with.

I'd also recommend a multitool of some description - if you crash and your stem slips round the steerer they're very useful, for example.

[slomax]

The list so far is good. I would recomend taking some alcohol wipes and some fresh water in a platic bottle. If you get gravel or mud in a cut or graze, it can make a mess, always clean any cuts. As mentioned above, if you don't have any plasters handy, improvise with a bit of tape and a tissue, if you have one.

A buff is very handy to have too.

[mmcd87]

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

[Engineer1]

My extra kit over my clothes currently is 2 spare inner tubes, a can of inflator gunk, tyre levers, multitool, mobile, pump, woolly hat, a couple of extra alen keys. As I'm not worried about cycle weight I have slime in the front tyre and will do the rear as soon as I get over to the cycle shop to buy some, it may add a little weight but self healing tyres means you spend less time fixing punctures.

One thing worth doing, which I need to improve on, is learning how your bike works what each adjuster on gear mechs does etc, as knowing what to tweak to make things run smoother is a skill to learn especially if you are riding out alone somewhere having the tools but no idea how to use them then means you end up carrying your bike home.

[mmcd87]

As an update, after some research I have purchased so far...

1) Multitool - Crank Brothers M19
2) Tyre Lever - Crank Brothers Speed Lever
3) Tube patches - Weldtite Red Devils/Tesco Value Repair Kit
4) Inner tube - Halfords but Tesco have these for <£2 each! Really makes you question patching on the trail unless you really have to.
7) Pump - Already had Beto Mini CMP-008 (very cheap on Amazon!). Tesco seem to have this under their own name too.
8) Trail bag - Tesco 6L Hydration. Seems very well made for the price (£12). May replace mouthpiece with better brand one but will wait and see.
9) Helmet - Gyro Rift
11) Cycling shorts/light jacket/etc - Sports Direct!
16) Gloves - Giro DJ


The only real thing I'm struggling with is the chain/power links - where do I get these?

Thanks

Edited by mmcd87 on Sunday 20th February 22:17

[AVeryNaughtyBoy]

Here.

[Digga]

slomax said:

The list so far is good. I would recomend taking some alcohol wipes and some fresh water in a platic bottle. If you get gravel or mud in a cut or graze, it can make a mess, always clean any cuts. As mentioned above, if you don't have any plasters handy, improvise with a bit of tape and a tissue, if you have one.

A buff is very handy to have too.

Prevention being better than cure, I'd seriously suggest - especially since, as a beginner, you may have a few blind-spots in your skills - to get a pair of knee guards.

Most of the decent ones are flexible enough to be comfortably worn all day.

[robpearson]

Only one thing to add- SRAM power links are great to carry as they are the easiest way of fixing a snapped chain in no time at all. I'd also consider shoving some energy food in the bag just incase you get really lost and are hours from home.

[mikezs]

They should make whole chains from powerlinks.

[mmcd87]

More to add -

1) Multitool - Crank Brothers M19
2) Tyre Lever - Crank Brothers Speed Lever
3) Tube patches - Weldtite Red Devils/Tesco Value Repair Kit
4) Inner tube - Halfords but Tesco have these for <£2 each! Really makes you question patching on the trail unless you really have to.
7) Pump - Already had Beto Mini CMP-008 (very cheap on Amazon!). Tesco seem to have this under their own name too.
8) Trail bag - Tesco 6L Hydration. Seems very well made for the price (£12). May replace mouthpiece with better brand one but will wait and see.
9) Helmet - Gyro Rift
10) Some old wrap around sunglasses
11) Cycling shorts/light jacket/ 3/4trousers - Sports Direct!
12/13/14) duct tape/zip tie/glue kit - to do for this weekend!
16) Gloves - Giro DJ

I have also bought the following -

Karrimor Summit trainers/shoes - £18 from Sports Direct. These seem excellent so far and give great grip and feel on the standard pedals. Also fairly weatherproof etc being walking shoes! The Karrimor shoes seem recommended in MTB circles if you Google.

Shin guards - Again, SD had these (Umbro) reduced to £3. I took a chance on size 'small' and it has paid off as they are ideal for the purpose, and have the ankle sock built in so stay put even when knocked!

Bender Fender 2.0 - Google it Just stuck it on the bike after getting plenty mud in my face. Reviews are positive and it's dirt cheap and lightweight.


On a side note, I'm rather impressed with my used Kona Fire Mountain too - excellent starter bike if you like trails and the odd muddy path.

[shalmaneser]

Re, the fender bender...

You can get the same protection (or better in my experience) by zip-tying a bit of inner tube between the lower and upper fork crowns.

Reduces the amount of spray in your face considerably!!!