8 Epic Ride Essentials | What To Take On A Long Mountain Bike Ride

Epics, long rides, marathon’s, all dayers. Whatever you call them they require a bit of planning and certain bits of equipment to make things easier, more fun, and safer. So here are Rich's top bits that he takes on epics rides.

Do you take anything else with you on a long ride?

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[declanfaughey]

Also you should tell someone when you are going out and your planned route and what time you are due back.

[Mububban]

Hydration backpack with minimum 2L bladder (I live in Australia) plus a bottle with energy drink on the bike. Backpack contains my multitool and tube and CO2/pump, as well as bars, gels, phone.
Zip ties can reattach things, and a quicklink in case of chain snap.

[janukachandrasena]

Something I always take with me is Duct tape, from patching up a little tire tear to sticking a mangled derailleur to your frame while you shred on your Frankenstein single speed.
I personally wrapped it around an old bit of aluminum rod and just tossed it in the saddlebag, but you could also try wrapping a bit around your pump/ CO2
Great stuff to have!

[whollyspokes]

Tweed trousers and pipe and stout canvas backpack

[davidking]

Why try and put all that stuff in jersey pockets, and strap all that stuff to your bike where it can get covered in mud or fall off when you can carry a small back pack or bum bag, and keep it all organised easy to grab each time and just ride, rather than checking all the bits and bobs are there?... including some zip ties and the CO2 head... You mention the multitool being a hazard in a pocket, surely a phone is bigger, as hard and way more expensive to break when you slide off the bike... can't call for help if your phone is broken!... A small camelback bladder in a hydration backpack can cover the water bottle thing too... and you can carry a layer of clothes for changing weather conditions...plus a small pack of baby wipes is easy to carry in a backpack rather than paper toilet roll... A backpack can also carry some lights in case it gets dark by the time you are heading home... it can secure your car keys so they don't get lost falling out of a pocket on the trail...
The weight is negligible compared to all the other stuff in it anyway... and if you are worried about 600 grams for the backpack, do a No. 1 & No. 2 before the ride, and you have offset that amount...
Trying to strap everything to the bike and in a couple of open pockets on a jersey is not the smart way to travel...

[michael.knappitsch]

Finally, a vid with Rich in long pants that are not worn-out jeans! :D

[johnnydoe]

I carry a section of old tube to help with that possible sidewall tear to help keep the new tube from popping out. With toilet paper, roll a decent length around a pencil, and you have a mini roll

[garethhughes]

been riding over 30 years and never felt any need for chamois butter ever. My long ride kit (6 hours+ riding and nothing strapped to the frame as it WILL bounce off eventually as you bounce over rocks) : First aid kit (amazing how so many people neglect they might need it), insect repellent, factor 30 sun cream, nutty snack or cereal bar or 2. a very good multi tool (like topeak alien), mini pump, tyre lever or 2, spare tube, glueless patches if like me your a tube runner, 2L to 4L of water pref spreading weight by Camelbak and Bike bottle, zip ties, bike lights (smallest lightweight leds for emergency use, but make the front one good enough to see well), microfibre towel (ultra small one can be only 2 inches when packed and weighs next to nothing), small carabiner, can be used to hang up things or extend your zip ties further, emergency beacon light (high power light that flashes every so many seconds and can be seen from many miles away) + small survival kit if going alone if going really remote just in case you break a leg. light Pak away jacket of good quality waterproof windproof. Theres probably something else i may have forgot but that a pretty comprehensive list of what i carry on any long ride. and let someone know where your going just in case you dont return. and 29ers are awful for carrying, getting them through streams and over stys and fences, and really tight places, far too big get a 26 or 650b and you can go anywhere.

[thelmaviaduct]

Don't wipe your bum hole with grass and leaves in Scotland, you'll get a tic dangling on yer ballbag* (*and/or lady fadge flaps) like Stallone in Cliffhanger. Trust me on this one 😉👍🏿

[TheRSChippe]

Bottle with energydrink and a camelpak with 2.5l of water. And the pack can also take my keys, wallet and more energibars/gels, Snickers, bananas.

[tobyehillier]

Interesting that you've never talked about the emergency location beacons you can buy from Garmin etc.... Some of the Garmin ones even have texting options

[winklertribe]

Thanks for a helpful and hilarious episode Rich!😛

[rosspaton]

So glad this video was done…..so much new insight into how to manage a long ride….

[adolfdoenitz]

GPS - beer - 9mm handgun - sub sandwich - satphone 🚲

[ritid]

I take distress flares and a life jacket, and a set of spare clothes, a snorkel and some flippers, 9mm Glock, parachute and some Haribo

[paulsslightlyactivelife]

Strap things to the frame, or just stick it all in a smallish seat pack and save the paintwork.

[the_spanner_chmp]

Great video Rich and tips.
I have everything on my bike also but in rides that are generally 3hrs + I take my Osprey Seral 7 hip pack which has a 1.5 bladder and room for food.
Just planned a 99mile (I will take it to 100mile) loop of Salisbury Plain on Komoot Premium (which I won here from #GMBN 🤘 😃)
Great stuff #GMBN 🤘

[pawel]

Jesus men, You must have really big pockets, advise to use small back pack so You will not loose pants overloaded by all this stuff 🤩

[peterianstaker]

I honestly thought it was only me that bangs some tissue in the frame bag. I’ve never actually been caught out when on the bike but I have been caught out while on a walk in the middle of nowhere so it is a constant fear. As I get older I definitely can’t hold it as long as I used to be able to 😂😂😂

[thehighground]

This is pretty much what you need to take for an enduro race as well