So, you took some advice from our Mountain Bikes For MXers guide and got yourself a pedal-powered pony? Then by now you've discovered that some of your MX accessories and tools don't really work so well on these somewhat more delicate machines, and also that there are no pits out in the woods. But fear not - there's a plethora of MTB-specific gear for you to now lust over, and we'll break down some of the essentials for you right here in this guide. Make sure the secret PayPal account is topped-up, and lock yourself away for a bit - time to go gear shopping!
Bicycle Multi-Tools
Bicycles may have less moving parts than your motorized monster, but they have still been assembled with what seems like the world's most random collection of different types of hardware. So rather than try to assemble a bag full of assorted tools in the hope that you'll have the one you need when a suspension pivot comes loose in the middle of nowhere, your first bicycle-specific purchase should be a good multi-tool. Not only does a multi-tool guarantee that you'll have the right size Torx on hand to remove your bent brake rotor to be able to ride back to the trailhead after that last tumble, it will also keep the weight and bulk of your riding pack down (and it might also be a cheaper solution than hitting your local hardware store's pic'n mix section). Prices for good multi-tools vary between $20 to $40, depending on the configuration.
A good multi-tool will include at least the following:
- Chainbreaker tool
- 2,2.5, 3, 4, 5 6, and 8 mm allen wrenches
- Philips and flat drivers
- T25 Torx driver
Full-size multi-tools may also include the following:
- Bottle opener
- Tire lever
- Disc brake pad spreader
- extra L-shaped allen wrenches
- 10mm allen wrench
- T30 Torx driver
- Knife blade
- Box wrenches
- Spoke nipple wrenches
A multi-tool should have all the basic drivers and tools you need for trailside repair. It also needs to be as streamlined and lightweight as possible, to keep your riding pack svelte. The Crankbrothers Multi-19 fits the bill!
Hydration Packs
So you got yourself a multi-tool. Now you need somewhere to put it! And more than just your multi-tool, if your MTB rides take you into the wild, you're going to want to be carrying a few spares, a replacement tube, a pump, some food, water, a first aid kit, and maybe even a wind-breaker or a rain jacket for when mother nature gets temperamental. This is when a hydration pack comes in handy. If your moto takes you beyond the MX track, chances are you already own one, but it still won't hurt to take a little look at what's out there.
Hydration packs come in all shapes and sizes. Since your MTB's fuel tank will only hold so many burgers and tacos, the trick is to make sure you carry everything you need and nothing you don't. In other words, choose a pack that is well suited to your riding style. If you mostly go on quick rides around your local trails, you probably won't need more than 1 to 2 liters of water, and 5 to 10 liters of storage space will suffice. If day-long wilderness epics are your thing, look for 3 liters of water and up to 20 liters of cargo capacity. If you intend to hit hour long climbs to get to your favorite high-alpine DH sections, you might also want to make sure your pack has straps to carry your full face helmet and some of your protection on the way up.
The hydration pack should help spread the load out and hold all your gear securely, and not move around too much when the going gets gnarly. It should also feature padded straps, a chest strap, and some kind of ventilation solution on the back panel to keep it from toasting your back on warm days. And of course, it needs to be able to take a beating for the times you fail to keep the rubber side down. As for the hydration system, many brands will provide one with the pack, but if they don't or you prefer another brand, most bladders are compatible with most packs out there.
Count on spending about $70-$100 for a well-equipped 10 liter pack including the hydration system, and up to $150 or more for the biggest and most complex packs.
The Camelbak Lobo 100 oz will carry up to 3 liters of water, your essential gear, tools, and food, and it will look pretty good doing it too!
Bicycle Tools
Hold up. Didn't you just send me to buy a multi-tool? Well yes, but you'll be thrilled to learn that whereas it will cover the basics, there are a bunch of other repairs that necessitate different tools, or that are simply a lot more comfortable to carry out with real workshop tools. Let's take a look at what the discerning DIYer needs to put together a proper bicycle workshop (be warned - don't let anybody know you own this stuff, or you'll have the neighborhood kids queuing up outside your house Saturday morning to fix up their old bangers so they can go ride with their friends again).
Actually, you might need 2 pumps. A Frame Pump to mount on your bike or carry in your riding pack, and a Floor Pump for your workshop (you probably already own one of these, or even a compressor). Inflating large-volume MTB tires with a small hand pump gets old real quick, and if you run your tires tubeless, it won't work at all. Make sure both pumps can adapt to both presta (or "French") valves and standard Schraeder (like on your MX) - don't ask why there are 2 types in MTB, it's a bit of an iPhone/Android thing. If your mountain bike has air spring suspension, you would do well to invest in a Shock Pump too, to allow you to set your spring rate properly and to top up the pressure every now and then (there are Frame Pumps that will function as a Shock Pump too, although they are often a bit less reliable in terms of pressure readings).
The floor pump should have a pressure gauge, to allow you to find the pressure that works well for your riding, and to fill your tires accordingly after repairs. The hand pump's job is to get you home again if you flat on the trails, so it's less critical here. $30 will buy you a decent hand pump and $40-$60 a good floor pump. You can spend a lot more if you want to get fancy with it. Now's a good time to stock up on a couple of Art's Cyclery Patch Kits too!
Lezyne's Alloy Drive M will get you rolling again after you flat on the trails, while their Alloy Floor Drive will grace any workshop with it's great features and sleek design.
Wrenches
There's a reason it's called wrenching on a bike. Allen, Torx, headsets, pedals, suspension - there are a bunch of different wrenches needed for many part of your bicycle. You already have some of them on your trusty multi-tool, but those are more intended for trailside emergency repairs. They are less comfortable to work with, and sometimes they simply won't get the job done. Get yourself a good set of workshop wrenches and you'll never look back!
A torque wrench will ensure you don't get hamfisted and treat your MTB bolts like they were MX bolts (especially important if you run carbon parts on your bike). A good set of workshop allen wrenches will ensure smoother wrenching and no more hard-to-get-to bolts. A chainwhip is essential for cassette removal, and a cone spanner will help you tighten up your hubs if they develop play (the type will vary depending on hub type).
The wheels on your mountain bike are a bit of a modern day engineering marvel. They are light, stiff, and strong, but like all finer pieces of machinery, they require a bit of TLC every now and then to keep you rolling smoothly. If you go hard on your wheels, you may find they get out of true a bit more often than the boat anchors you run on your MX bike. Fear not, unless you tacoed the rim, it's often possible to set them straight again. A spoke key is the absolute minimum requirement here, but a wheel truing stand will make life a lot easier. And don't worry if you don't know what to do - Art's have your back (pay no attention to Eddie the Expert from Edmonton...):
It's not an absolute necessity, but investing in a proper bike stand will make all that work on your trusty steed much more enjoyable. Get a compact and foldable stand if you want to throw it in your truck and bring it to the trailhead for pre-ride tune-ups, or aim for something a bit more sturdy for the workshop.
Go for Feedback Sports' Pro Elite stand at $249 if you want to spoil yourself, or Park Tool's Home Mechanic stand for half that if you want to go easier on space and wallet.
Bike Lights
Just because you get home from work after dark doesn't mean you can't go ride your new mountain bike. Get yourself a set of riding lights, and hit the trails for a unique and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Night riding is not only good for freeing up new riding time, it is a lot of fun in and of itself.
Today's riding lights have come a long way from those old front-wheel generator-powered bulbs you used to have on your commuter bicycle 20 years ago. Today, they are high-powered and compact units that run on rechargeable batteries and light up the trail like car headlights. Look for power output in the region of 1000 lumens or more for good results on singletrack - but note that the shape of the beam is at least as important as raw power. Handlebar mounted or helmet mounted is largely a matter of taste (people who are serious about night riding often run both - a wide beam on the handlebar and a narrow beam on the helmet for looking further down the trail). Battery longevity is another factor that greatly influences performance, and in no small measure, price. Count on $100 minimum for a light that can handle trail riding, and more like $300 to $500 for high-performance units that will have your wondering what is wrong with your car's lights the next time you drive it.
Niterider's Lumina 700 will get you there and back, while Light & Motion's Seca 1500 will turn the night into day.
Bike Computers
Getting out on your bike is a perfect excuse to leave any and all computers behind, and just enjoy the ride. But sometimes, whether it be to keep track of your training or to discover new trails, a bike computer can be a very helpful tool. If you already own a smartphone, you might actually already have everything you need, but a dedicated bike computer is far easier to operate when riding, takes up less space on your handlebars, and is less likely to break when you end up on the ground. Either way, both options will conveniently allow you to completely ruin the enjoyment you get from playing in the woods by uploading your every ride to Strava and turning every trail into a racetrack, as long as it has a GPS.
The Cateye Strada Wireless (non-GPS) will keep track of distance and speed, while the Garmin Edge 810 GPS will allow you to record and save tracks, navigate trails and streets with the help of GPS maps, keep track of elevation gains and distance ridden, and even record the output from ANT+ compatible devices like crank power meters and the like.
Product Reviews
Be sure to do your research and read product reviews. Reviews are a great way to find out specifics about a particular accessory or tool, user impressions, and things to watch out for. After you've used your gear for a while and had enough time to thoroughly test it, we encourage you to leave a review for other people to see when they are researching accessories on the web.
We'll see you on the trails!
3/28/2014 9:49am
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