Gear: What's in the bag...

Packing for any trip can be tricky, and while the average mountain bike is a rather short trip, it can be difficult to determine what to carry along for the ride.  In writing this entry, hopefully you'll gain some insight to what's been useful for me to have along, and please, if you have any other suggestions for great items to carry, let me know.  

Starting with the bag, I wear a Camelbak Mule NV, which provides enough room for me to carry the essentials without being too big to encourage me to be too prepared; the more "prepared" you are, the more you typically carry.  And while it's usually good to "be prepared", the Boy Scout Motto can lead to carrying everything, including a kitchen sink...and household appliances tend to be heavy.  So, I like to carry the tools and nutrients absolutely necessary, plus a little extra just for "insurance".  The Camelbak Mule features a large pouch for mounting the 3 liter water reservoir, a large zippered compartment, a smaller zippered compartment featuring organizational pockets, a large pouch, and a smaller pouch cinched by a drawstring strap.  The entire bag can be cinched by four drawstring straps, and these are great for binding everything together as well as cinching down any items in the large open pouch (where the water bottle is located in the picture below).  

Camelbak Mule

The large zippered compartment lacks any organizational pockets, so I typically use it to store additional repair items or food.  On longer rides, I'll use the large compartment to carry an additional water bladder, and the compartment is large enough to fit a 3 liter bladder.   I've enjoyed the flexibility the large compartment provides me. 

The large pouch that is sandwiched between the large and small zippered compartments has been great for stuffing extra water bottles or clothing items like a windbreaker.  This pocket/pouch has been great for holding items that are too bulky for storing internally or items that I want repeated or quick access to while riding.  The items are secured by the four cinch straps, which tighten everything down in the bag.  This pouch is large enough to carry two bottles of Italian Champagne (Prosecco).  ...a typical item carried for a New Year's (Capodanno) ride!  :)

The Camelbak Mule can carry everything for your ride, including two bottles of Prosecco!

The smaller zippered compartment features organizational pockets which have been great for storing tools, repair items, utensils, and keys.  

Last, there's a small pouch on the very outside of the bag.  It's relatively small, and is kept secure by its own cinch strap.  Because of its size and ease of access, I typically store a small wrench for adjusting my suspension.  

The outside of my bag features a small first aid kit that's zip tied and a tire pump that's velcroed to the outside of the bag.  By externally mounting these two relatively bulky items to the outside of my Camelbak, not only do I prevent them from taking up room on the inside of the bag, but they are also more easily accessible on the outside of the bag and they also advertise my first aid and repair capabilities to others on the trail.  Initially I kept these items on the inside of my bag, but I've liked having them externally mounted, freeing up room in the bag for other stuff.

So, as far as what I fill up my bag with, I break it down into Repair Items, Food, and First Aid.  My first aid kit is externally mounted on  my bag, which provides easy access and advertises to other trail users my ability to help.  I've organized my first aid kit using plastic bags to seperate and organize the specific items, as well as protect them from the elements.  Keeping the items separate in bags allows them to be labeled, making first aid faster and easier.  There's nothing like trying to find what you're trying to administer!  Organizing is the first step in providing first aid.  The little red pouch on my Camelbak features Gauze, ointments, pain pills in a plastic tube, and large and small self adhesive bandages.

I use plastic bags to segregate and label my first aid supplies.

As for food, it really depends upon the length of the ride how much I carry, but I always carry some combination of fruit, sandwich, and water.  If it's particularly hot or long ride I'll carry Gatorade in a separate water bottle (or two) in the large pouch on the outside of the Camelbak.  I don't put drink mix in the Camelbak water bladders, as mold, mildew and sea monkeys tend to start growing in it soon after.  I use a reusable Rubbermaid container to store sandwiches, and I'll take dried fruit in plastic bags.  Granola bars are also a favorite.  The Italians I ride with like to carry Ritter sport chocolate, a big plus at the top of the mountain!

Rubbermaid keeps the sandwich fresh and prevents it from being crushed in the bag.  A waterbottle allows me to mix the sports drink in something other than my Camelbak reservoir, keeping it fresh and clean (Sea Monkey free).

I keep tools and repair items on me at all times.  Tools of particular importance include a multi-allen, tire levers, chain tool, patches, and a "Leatherman" multi-tool.  I like carrying the "Leatherman" really for the pliers that it provides, but many of the additional tools it comes with are great, too.  The chain tool is small, light, and it's one of the tools that really has no replacement.  With a chain tool, a nearly impossible task of repairing a chain that has become separated becomes an easy task.  Without it, you are quite literally up a river without a paddle.  Or a trail without a tool. Of course I take an extra inner tube (or two) along with a patch kit.  Thorns (spina, in Italian) are common in southern Italy, on the many cacti and other "spina" equipped plant life, so I carry enough to get me through and help other riders.  One tool that many folks don't consider taking is an eating utensil.  I have a little mini-spoon which has been great for eating canned fruit or anything requiring something other than my fingers.  I also include a nifty little multi-tool that I received as a gift at a conference; it looks like a credit card but includes a blade, wrench, bottle opener, etc.  It doesn't take up any space, so I include it in the kit.  Last, but not least, I have a little tool wrap that my beautiful wife sewed up for me.  This tool wrap not only keeps my tools organized and quick to access, but it also keeps them safe.  Prior to the tool wrap, I had some tools wear out and break due to the constant vibration from riding.  The wrap cushions all the tools and protects them, ensuring they are ready when you need them.

The tools and other repair items.

Some optional items that I'll carry include a shock pump for adjusting my suspension on the trail, extra food, and as I mentioned earlier, extra water in a water bottle or an additional Camelbak bladder.