Mountain biking is a beloved sport that thousands of people enjoy every day. However, it can also be a dangerous sport and a taxing one, so it stands to reason that when a person takes up mountain biking, they must learn how to be prepared for whatever might come their way. The only question, then, is what exactly do you need if you’re going to have a successful multi-day mountain biking trip?
Mountain biking trips, especially when they last for multiple days, are going to require quite a few different supplies if they are to be fun and successful. Below you will find a list of supplies and things to bring with you on your mountain biking trip. After you’re done reading, you should be prepared to take on just about any trail out there.
1. Clothes and Gear
This is kind of an obvious one, but you must bring the necessary clothes and gear
that you’ll be comfortable in while biking. This means bringing breathable athletic wear including underwear, shorts, shirts, socks, and whatever else. You will also want to bring warm things to sleep in at night.
You should prepare for all kinds of weather, including sun and rain. Bring something to keep you dry if it starts to rain because biking in the rain isn’t very fun. You should also, above all else, bring safety gear. Knee and elbow pads are handy for keeping yourself free from bangs and scrapes. You need to wear a helmet to keep your head safe and biking gloves so you don’t get blisters.
2. Shoes
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but seriously, bring shoes that aren’t going to give you any grief. It’s generally not a great idea to bring brand new shoes that haven’t been broken in because you’ll get quite a few blisters by doing so. Bring shoes you can rely on that have seen at least a little bit of use. You can normally find biking shoes online or in some shoe stores.
3. Food
The amount of food you will need to bring is going to vary depending on how long your trip will be, but make sure you bring plenty of it. For the majority of your trip, you’re going to be doing some pretty labor-intensive exercise. Since this is the case, you should stock up on energy-filled snacks that will help you stay strong and fueled up.
Bring plenty of trail mix, granola bars, and other, similar snacks. The food you bring should be as lightweight as you can make it. A few freeze-dried and/or campfire meals would be a good idea so you don’t have to lug a huge, heavy backpack around while you’re biking. Having friends along to help with this isn’t a bad idea either. And, of course, make sure you bring plenty of water.
4. First Aid Supplies
Mountain biking can be as dangerous as it is fun, so even if you’re careful, you are more than likely to suffer a scrape or two. Most of these shouldn’t be too serious, but you still don’t want to let any cuts you have get infected. Bring some anti-bacterial wet wipes, bandages, bandaids, Neosporin, and medical scissors.
It might also be a good idea to bring some heavier-duty supplies as well. Bring stuff that you can use if somebody breaks a bone or suffers a bad sprain. It is mountain biking you know, which means just about anything is possible. It never hurts to be prepared so bring anything and everything you might need.
5. Necessary Tools
Bikes break and when they do, it certainly isn’t convenient. Mountain biking (even if you have a good bike) will cause strain and wear on your bike and possibly cause it to break at times. Now, you can’t bring your entire toolbox because that simply isn’t practical. However, you can bring a select number of tools and substances to keep your bike running well.
Bring oil or some kind of lubricant to keep the joints of your bike oiled and working correctly. It’s probably also a good idea to bring a pump for tires, a set of wrenches, and maybe even some spare bolts if any parts come loose. Use your judgment and knowledge of the trail to plan for any potential setbacks that might occur.
6. Spare Parts
This might complicate things a little, but it’s not bad to bring spare parts. Bolts, as said earlier, are not a bad idea in case things go south and you start to see parts loosening and possibly falling off. You should also pack a few extra tire tubes because goodness knows the trail isn’t going to be smooth.
Mountain bike tires and tubes are tougher than most others, but that doesn’t mean they’re invincible to everything. Sharp rocks and sticks will be littered along the trail and any of those could potentially puncture a tire tube at a moment’s notice. In addition to having tubes, you might want to bring tire patches as well. This will ensure that you are doubly prepared, since, after all, tires are one of the most important components of a bicycle.
7. Camping Gear
If you’re planning to be up biking in the mountains for several days, it makes sense that you’re going to need quite a bit of camping gear. You will need to bring a tent or several depending on how many people are with you. You will also want to bring plenty of blankets, sleeping bags, and anything else to keep you warm. The mountains can get pretty cold at night!
You will also want to bring a kerosene stove if possible. Nowadays, there are plenty of small, portable kerosene cookers on the market that are lightweight and easy to carry on hiking or, in this case, biking trips. If you’ve ever been camping before, you’ll know exactly what you need and how much of it you’ll need. Don’t forget the bug spray!
8. Personal Stuff
You will also need any personal effects that you’d have with you otherwise. Bring your phone (though you may not have great service) for pictures or potential emergency calls if possible. You can bring a few block chargers so your phone will last a while. You might also bring some sunglasses, sunscreen, a towel, and whatever else you might need. Don’t overpack, but don’t under-pack either!
