Multi-Day Mountain Biking Gear Guide
Facing a multi-day mountain bike ride can be a daunting prospect. With the right gear however, it really shouldn’t be.
Photos: Timothy Arch
This is a guide to the planning process we went through in preparation for our very own 3-day mountain biking trip. Of course the type of gear you take will vary depending on factors such as what time of year you’re riding, and how remote the route is.
Regardless of the time of year, you’ve got to be prepared for bad weather, and there are a few basics you should always follow:
- Use a simple layering system. Layers are easy to add on or peel off to adapt to the weather conditions.
- Get yourself a high quality waterproof/breathable jacket. Cheap raincoats will leave you hot and steamy (and not in a good way…) when you’re riding, so it’s important to have one that works for an activity like cycling.
- Merino base layers are versatile as they’re great for both warm and cold conditions. They’re also ideal for multi-day trips to minimise the stink.
- Good quality padded riding shorts are obvious, though err on the lighter side for baggies and make sure the chamois is top-notch. You’ll notice the difference between a $50 pair of Lycra shorts and a $200 pair of bib knicks should be evident right around 9am on Day 2.
- Chamois cream is a must-have. Trust us, this one is non-negotiable.
- Lightweight travel wear is also a good idea if you’ll be visiting civilisation during your trip. Showing up to country pubs wearing Lycra has started wars in certain parts of the world.
- Where you can, strap gear to your bike rather than stowing it in your hydration pack, so your back doesn’t have to support the weight.
- Take a First Aid kit along with you. Pack bandages, anti-inflammatory medication, an emergency space blanket, and any other essentials you might need if you get caught in a pickle.
All set!Of course there are plenty of other tips and tricks to pack light and effectively, but the above list is a great place to start. As part of our 3-day mountain bike adventure, we put a whole bunch of products to the test to see what stood up to the conditions, and you can read about those below.
The North Face Venture Jacket $160
The Venture isn’t a cycling-specific jacket, but it does feature pit zips, a dropped whale tail, and a longer cut that makes it ideal for mountain biking. A close-fitting hood will fit underneath your helmet, and Velcro cuffs and an adjustable waist keep the jacket from flapping about. Using their own HyVent 2.5L membrane technology, the Venture is breathable while being fully waterproof and very compact. A great value jacket for stuffing into the bottom of your pack for when the weather turns sour.
The North Face Long Way Home Shorts $145
Featuring a lightweight fabric with integrated ventilation, the Long Way Home shorts sure are breezy, and they’re casual enough to get away with wearing in public relatively unnoticed. The Polyester/Elastane fabric is flexible for moving around on and off the bike, and we experienced no excessive chafing. They come equipped with a high quality removable liner, which employs a multi-level chamois for comfortable all-day riding.
Kathmandu Ultralight XT Down Vest $349
Coming in at less than 300 grams, the Ultralight XT vest is deserving of its name. The shell is made from supple Nylon, while its internal baffles are packed with 800 fill duck and goose down. This makes it perfect for keeping your core insulated on brisk evenings and fresh mornings. The Ultralight XT vest stuffs down into its own bag about the size of a 500ml drink bottle, so you can leave it in your backpack to utilise in the case of a cold weather emergency. You never know when things might go wrong leaving you out in the bush for longer than you expected!
Kathmandu Akola Top $159
Part of Kathmandu’s new cycling range, the Akola is a lightweight long sleeve top. It’s made from Kathmandu’s driMotion fabric, which combines Merino wool, Polyester and Elastane to create a shirt that offers a balance between lightweight, breathability and durability. It offers a slim fit that’ll go underneath heavier outer shells, making it a great base layer too. Kathmandu market the Akola Top for commuting cyclists, but we think it’s more versatile than that.
Kathmandu Sarn Top $139
Not so much the cycling top, the Sarn is more of a post-ride casual T-Shirt. Made from 100% Merino wool, the Sarn feels beautiful next to skin, and it takes up next to no space inside your backpack. Merino is naturally anti-microbial, so in some cases you can wear it for days without need for washing. Never underestimate how good it feels to change out of your stinky jersey at the end of the day! On that note, the Sarn now regularly comes with us to cycling events to wear for the drive home or the pub afterwards.
Kathmandu merinoBASE Leggings $119
Also made from 100% Merino, these leggings are a great temperature regulator. As many cyclists will know, Merino has an amazing ability to keep you warm when it’s cold, even if you’re wet. When you warm up and get sweaty, the fibres help to disperse your sweat to assist with evaporation, and therefore keeping you cool. Compact and breathable, the merinoBASE leggings are another great layer to stuff into the backpack. Use them as leg warmers for cold riding conditions, or as casual wear while you’re sitting around the campfire.
BBB Adapt Glasses $199
Riding glasses are the transparent shields between trail debris and your eyeballs. You should never ride without them. The BBB Adapt glasses use a quick lens-change system, but these ones are photochromatic, which means they adjust to different light conditions. With a variable 17-85% light transmission, the Adapts can be used for a wide range of riding applications, including night riding. It means you won’t need to carry additional lenses in your backpack, and I found these were just the ticket when we pulled into our destination a few hours later than expected.
Bontrager Velocis Helmet $249
Offering masses of ventilation and a near-200gm weight, the Bontrager Velocis helmet was my pick for long days in the saddle. I typically ride with a large-coverage trail helmet, but when it comes to multi-day rides, trimming grams and maximising breathability is key. Keeping your head cool will ward off dehydration for longer, and your neck muscles will thank you for not lugging around an enormous trail helmet. Great adjustability in the Headmaster II fit system makes for good comfort too.
Troy Lee Designs XC Gloves $39
Troy Lee make killer riding gear, and their popular XC gloves are easily some of the best trail riding gloves on the market. Flexible 4-way stretch Spandex makes for a comfy fit, but unlike some ‘barely there’ gloves, they’re built tough enough to last longer than 3 rides. The durable Clarino palm will also ward off crash damage for those who are hard on their gear.
Osprey Rev 24 $149
If you’re multi-day riding, choosing the right pack is imperative to your comfort. With an emphasis on using lightweight materials, the Rev Series from Osprey employs a design that’s inspired by trail-running packs. Compared to traditional mountain bike hydration packs, this sees the Rev equipped with a broader harness and a more substantial hip belt to better distribute weight. The flexible Biostretch harness and sub-600 gram weight makes the Rev nearly unnoticeable on your back, and it was a pleasure to wear. The Rev 24 includes a high quality 2.5-litre bladder along with the brilliant magnetic bite valve.
Osprey Escapist 30 $169
With a design that draws styling cues from Osprey’s dedicated hiking packs, the Escapist offers more load-carrying capacity for adventures that necessitate more gear. This particular pack offers 30 litres of storage space, making it a great option for overnight bike packing trips. It has a better-supported harness than the Rev so it helps to position loads lower down around your hips, though the mesh construction offers good breathability. Multiple zippered pockets and clever internal organisers provide a place for every piece of gear you can think of.
Optimus Crux Lite Stove w/Terra Solo Cookset $99
One of the lightest compact stoves on the market at just 72 grams, the Crux Lite threads onto a standard gas canister for portable cooking in the wild. It comes packaged with an anodized alloy saucepan to boil water, and a smaller frypan for cooking up a storm. For us, this little guy is the best ticket for fresh coffee to start each day on the right note.
Nalgene OTF Water Bottle $18
There are regular water bottles, and then there’s Nalgene bottles. The OTF bottle uses a wide mouth opening that makes refilling super easy, and a secure latch system guarantees its leak-proof claims. It uses a durable construction that’s also BPA free, and it also fits neatly into a bidon cage.
Topeak Wedge QR Saddle Bag $25
Saddle bags are kind of like bum bags. They are incredibly daggy, but there’s also no denying their practicality. The Topeak Wedge QR uses a sturdy bolt-on mount to clip the bag on and off the bike. It’s an ideal method for fitting weighty tools and spares to save carrying them in your backpack.
Gerber Gear MP-1 $239
For mountain biking in the outdoors, sometimes your local bike shop won’t have all the gear you need. As a solid piece of survivalist equipment, the MP-1 multi-tool packs in pliers, a bit driver, bottle opener and 6 different blades and pry bars. The blades are perfect for cutting vegetables and salami to make a trail-side wrap. Oh and it’s the choice of Bear Grylls no less!
Birzman E-Version 15 Multi-Tool $39
It’s easy to pack your bag with too much gear, but a high quality multi-tool will ensure you have everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Includes a T25 torx bit, 2/2.5/3/4/5/6/8mm allen keys, and a chain breaker. All CNC machined from super tough Chrome-vanadium.
Birzman Infinite MTB Pump $59
Don’t rely on a cheap pump to get you through several days of riding, especially if you or your riding buddies are running tubeless tyres. The Birzman Infinite is a classy CNC machined alloy pump that features an extendable braided hose. CO2 compatible too.
Birzman Tyre Levers 3pk $12
Park Tools GP2 Glue-less Patches $10
SRAM Joining Links $5-15
Schwalbe Inner Tube $12
Exposure Flash/Flare Combo Lights $129
Compact high-powered LED lights, which are easy to stow in your pack in case of emergencies. Or a late night ride home from the pub back to your tent. Depending on what kind of ride you’re organising, you may want to pack in a high-powered headlight, but for our ride, the little Exposure lights were perfect.
www.ultimatesportsengineering.com
Muc-Off Dry Chain Lube $9.95
More for your riding buddies sanity, chain lube will help silence that squeaky drivetrain that’ll cause you temporary insanity by day 3. Whether it’s dusty or wet, I recommend packing a small bottle of chain lube to apply at the end of each day. We managed to snag one of these neat sample tubes of chain lubricant, but otherwise the little fish-shaped bottle that comes with your sushi work just as well.
Chapeau! Chamois Cream $29
Not just for roadies, chamois cream is liquid gold when you’re riding 6+ hours each day. This is especially the case if you’re riding through puddles like we did, where a wet bum can be the perfect environment for chaffage. Chapeau is a lovely moisturiser that’s anti-friction and anti-bacterial too.
Clif Bar $3
Incredibly tasty energy bars. Lots of ‘normal’ ingredients and packed with carbohydrates, making these a great alternative to sugary drinks and overly sweet gels. If you can’t find a flavour of Clif Bar that suits your tastebuds, call your Doctor and get a check up ASAP!
Clif Shot $3
Sometimes however, you do need a fast energy hit. When your concentration is starting to wane and you’ve still got an hour left before you reach your campsite for the evening, get one of these into your system for a fast energy hit. Easily digestible and hits your bloodstream within 5 minutes of consuming.
Clif Shot Blok $6
Currently one of my favourite snacks for mountain biking. In essence, they’re just like a gel only chewy. A full row of Clif Blok’s is the equivalent of two gels so they’re actually quite good value. Plus you don’t have to down the whole thing in one go, just eat one blok at a time. Easier to share too!
