Trim down your trail kit

I’m the first to admit I dislike carrying too much stuff when I ride. Despite being risk averse I often take minimal spares. It’s rare that I’m without the essentials but there’s sometimes not a huge difference between what I’ll take for a 1hr blast on local trails and an epic loop in big hills.

The bare bone basics, for me, are a tube, tyre lever, CO2, multitool, your phone, water, ID, cash or credit card.

Food and clothing obviously gets added to this, and chances are I’ll flick a quick link, new hanger and tiny chain lube in for longer days.

But if you list out all the things you should carry when out riding, it all gets a little bulky. Here are a few bits and pieces that are more compact, and help keep your trail pack in check, and therefore more likely to be taken.

Orbitkey

This one is fun. Having an extra couple of keys cut isn’t hard (and you could go for the alloy ones) and this snazzy key ring keeps them lying neatly. YOu can get a few different add ons like a bottle opener, or an 8Gb USB stick. That’s pretty handy in this line of work. It all sits silently and your keys won’t bust a gel or tube in your bag. You can find out more on their site

BIrzman Zacoo Shock Pump

Only on bigger rides or with new bikes or suspension do I take a shock pump – but this little guy lives on my workbench, or in my backpack, or in my travel tool kit too. The dial is easy to read, it’s just as accurate as  other shock pumps I’ve used in the past, and it works. It’s also really small and light, and even fits in a jersey pocket pretty easily.

Lezyne Multitool

There are plenty of these models around, but when they’re packed flat, they are light and compact. Choose wisely, it’s easy to end up missing an essential tool like a 2.5mm allen key for your derailleur hanger if you don’t look over your bike before buying a multitool. This range or others should have you covered, but this one is pretty light and small.

Birzman Tyre levers

I’m well beyond boasting about not needing tyre levers. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. These Birzman ones are flat and clip together. MOst tyre levers do this – but these are the ones that I’ve had kicking around in my riding bag for a few years. They just work, and they are unobtrusive.

Maxxis WelterWeight tubes

I haven’t run tubes since… 2005? But that doesn’t mean I won’t carry them. I like the Maxxis WelterWeight tube, it walks the line between light and strong well enough. They pack up nice and compactly when you pack them into some plastic. This helps keep them weatherproof, and acts as an extra tyre boot if you do slash a tyre when on the trail.

Park Tyre Boot

For what this thing can achieve it’s worth carrying on any ride. Running tubeless with sealant means that most punctures will mean a torn tyre. Along with the wrapping of the inner tube, this boot can help get you rolling again. They’re peel and stick, but I’ve seen them used (and then re-used) as they come.

Compact First Aid

It depends what you choose, but you can pack a lot into a small bag. Wipes, latex gloves, crepe bandages and  steristrips do wonders, as do some gauze and a triangular bandage. Like the inner tube, repack it yourself and hope you never need to use it.

Light CO2 head

I’ll either take a small pump or this. This CO2 head from Mt Zoom is about 12g – and it works. Of course a big canister is heavy, but the alloy Big Air Cans from Genuine Innovations are light – but big. Take your pick. On long rides I will never leave a pump at home.

Bellroy Wallet

Another favourite, this is super compact and weatherproof. No ziplock bags, it goes right into a jersey pocket or backpack, no worries. It’s not so good if you hoard your silver coins, but otherwise it holds ID, credit cards, cash, travel cards and more really easily. It can even take a key and a spare SIM card for those who lead double lives. No need to make a ‘riding wallet’ each day, or cart around pointless crap.

Chain Lube

Those small test bottles are refillable, you know? I’ll often decant more chain lube into a tiny bottle. Either for wet or super dry long rides, group rides where someone always has a squeaky chain, or for long marathon races this is the perfect size to keep your drivetrain smooth and efficient.

Those are just a few suggestions, but the general idea is that even if your backpack is massive, you don’t need to fill it. Take what you need, but pack smart and the trail flies by that little bit quicker.