| It's always a pain to lug around more gear and tools | | | | If your rides take you deep into sparsely traveled |
| than you need on a ride, but it's much more | | | | woods where cell service is sketchy, you might be |
| inconvenient to be stranded miles away from | | | | advised to pack your seat-bag something like this. |
| civilization with just a water bottle and cleats to hike | | | | |
| in. There is always a debate over how much or how | | | | 1. Full patch kit with glue, sander and levers. The |
| little to carry in your seat-bag, but if you're unsure | | | | glue-on patches are more durable and reliable than |
| what you might run into on a ride it's always better | | | | the stick-on variety. |
| to err on the side of caution. In any case, here are a | | | | 2. Spare tube. When a tube is badly damaged, |
| two different ways to approach seat-bag packing. | | | | sometimes you have no other option but to install a |
| If most of your rides keep you close to civilization | | | | new one. |
| and within reach of cell phone towers, I recommend | | | | 3. Hand pump. A hand pump is generally more reliable |
| going with a minimalist approach. You'd rather not | | | | than a CO2 pump and has the added bonus of |
| have to call for help in the event of a flat, so flat | | | | allowing you to adjust your tire pressure based on |
| repair supplies is top priority. Here is the list: | | | | different trail conditions. |
| | | | 4. Full featured multi-tool. On epic rides far from |
| 1. A small pack of sticker type patches. These work | | | | home it's nice to have a tool with additional options |
| great for all but the biggest holes and are usually | | | | like a knife, spoke wrench and chain tool. |
| plenty durable to get you home or back to the car. | | | | 5. Zip ties and small roll of electrical tape. These two |
| 2. One plastic tire lever. The plastic levers are light | | | | supplies, combined with a little MacGyver spirt, can |
| and won't damage rims or tubes. These usually come | | | | temporarily fix almost anything that can go wrong |
| in sets of three, but one is enough to get the tire | | | | with a mountain bike. |
| off the rim. | | | | 6. Picture ID and health insurance card. If you go big |
| 3. CO2 Inflator with 1 gas cartridge. These devices | | | | and don't quite make that transition, it's nice for |
| are very handy, but they're a one shot proposition, | | | | whoever finds you unconscious at the bottom of the |
| so make sure you've got everything in place before | | | | mountain to know who you are. |
| you pull the trigger. | | | | These are just a few suggestions on how to pack a |
| 4. Folding mini-tool with 2mm and 8mm hex keys and | | | | seat-bag. You'll most likely create your own, |
| screwdrivers. This should be more than enough to | | | | customized gear combination that's based on your |
| attend to most minor repairs and adjustments. | | | | own riding style and the locations of the trails you |
| 5. Cold, hard cash. A useful tool if you're near a | | | | ride. There is also the consideration of variable bike |
| convenience store and feeling depleted or if you feel | | | | repair skill. Some riders might have no problem truing |
| like swinging by the coffee shop after a ride. | | | | a wheel on the side of the trail while others might |
| 6. A cell phone. The cell phones serves as a last ditch | | | | have trouble getting a clincher off a rim. The main |
| option if mechanical problems are too big for the mini | | | | thing is to carry whatever makes you feel confident |
| tool or patch kit. It's also advised to use the phone | | | | and comfortable enough to handle any situation on |
| to alert your significant other if you decide to extend | | | | the trail. |
| your ride. | | | | |