Offroad Adventures-Online: Ultralight MTB Touring

Ultralight MTB Touring
The essential pack list for B&B and Youth Hostel touring
By Kevin Hodgson

Pete Jones (AKA trackster man) has already explained to you what to take, and what not to take with you when cycle-camping. However, as yours truly might well say "I don't do camping!", and many of you would agree with that sentiment. Whereas sleeping out under canvas (well, nylon) might be preferable to mixing it with the cockroaches in a Moroccan hotel, a full English breakfast and a warm bed wins hands down over a midge-infested wet hillside, as far as I'm concerned!

Comfort is not the only appeal of abandoning the tent, weight is also critical. While you might imagine that trackster man's burden of two 15 litre panniers and a bum bag is pretty minimal, by using roofed accommodation that can be reduced to a single 15 litre bag, a small rucsac, or even fit into a larger hydration pack.

Off road touring is a fairly specialist undertaking, and many multi-day riders resort to supported touring, where the infernal combustion engine takes the strain of the luggage. And you can't really blame them: luggage massively upsets off road ability, and it also isn't particularly compatible with suspension either. If your idea of off road is 500 miles of Tibetan 'road' then camping and panniers are a jolly good idea. If your idea of off road is 125 miles of singletrack then even those 2 small panniers and bum bag will seriously spoil your bike's handling and hence, your enjoyment. But here at Offroad Adventures - Online we don't want you followed around by a transit van nor pushing your bike along even the most minor technical sections.

Duration?

The first question to consider is how long you shall be travelling for. The shorter the journey, the less you'll need to take along. For a 2 day ride you shouldn't need more than a camelback or bum-bag worth of gear (approx. 5 litres additional to day-ride kit), for 2 weeks 30 or 40 litres might be more sensible. This decision may even be iterative: a five day tour might become a three day tour by travelling lighter - therefore needing less gear.

2 or 3 day trips in summer:

For tours of this duration you can smell! By carrying almost nothing your enjoyment will be almost undiminished by your measly luggage. All you need to do is shower, clean your teeth and change your clothes at night. Clothes and maps are your main requirement:

Bike clothes - whatever you normally wear on the bike.
Extra clothes - a wind jacket, a lightweight waterproof, or perhaps an activent to replace both.
Wash kit - a couple of beer mats or flannels is preferable to a 'pack towel'. Sometimes I've forgotten my towel, and paper towels or even just standing around for a few minutes isn't as uncomfortable as you might think. Any spare clothes can also serve that function, provided there's somewhere to dry them afterwards. The smallest toothpaste tube you can find (use it for a few weeks beforehand, then once almost empty, stash it away ready for the ride), toothbrush and sachets of shower gel complete this sub-list.
Hygiene - whatever you personally require. I take along plenty talcum powder even on the shortest trips, especially if my shorts get used for 2 or 3 days in a row. Some prefer Vaseline, chamois cream or other potions. But never underestimate the ability of a minor rash or chafing to end even an overnight tour. I also never leave home without lip salve or ear plugs.
Evening wear. No not a dashing black ball gown (well if you really want to, why not!), but just some togs to allow you to get out of your stinking bike gear and not scare the locals when going for a bar meal. The lightest shorts or Rohan bags, and a T-shirt usually suffice. Coolmax T-shirts, a non-garish cycle top (such as those from Polaris or Ground effect), or a loose fitting thermal top (e.g. Lowe alpine) are best as they can double as a towel or emergency bike clothing. Another option is to continue wearing your cycling shorts all evening, then change into a new pair for the second day, rather than wear the same pair for both days' cycling (next to the skin you know - yuck!). With modern cycling gear being a little less garish and lycra-based, the possibilities are much better for not looking like an eediot down the pub. Unfortunately, for 2 or 3 days you'll probably be better off wearing your cycling shoes all day, but new socks take up no space. And one last point - if you don't want to find yourself down the boozer 'commando-style' - don't forget your kegs!
Bike tools. Nothing special. Just the usual day ride gear (tube, multi-tool, pump), but perhaps add a second inner tube and some Park tyre-boots. Bust tyres and tubes are still the number one cause of breakdowns.
Navigation. Maps can be bulky, so consider photocopying (and even laminating) the required sections of the route. For the West Highland or South Downs way, things are even easier with Harvey's dedicated waterproof maps.
First aid. Not so much emergency kit - but if you usually carry a 1st aid kit on your bike (I do) then most certainly leave it there. Even for short journeys I dose myself to the eyeballs with Vitamin C (to avoid colds) and cod liver oil (to keep the knees well lubed).

If you ruthlessly cut items out of your kit for a short duration trip, your pack weight can be as low as 500g, and fit into your normal hydration pack. You will simply not notice this level of luggage, and can concentrate 100% on the riding. I proved without doubt on the South Downs way that the benefit from having almost zero luggage load, far outweighs the minor disadvantage of having minimal spare clothing at the day's end. At this end of the scale there is almost no discussion on where to carry this load, bum bag, jersey pockets, large saddle bag or hydration rucsac will all suffice.

5 to 7 days in summer, or shorter trips in spring/autumn:

The major problem on these tours is that the possibility of getting wet and stinking increases massively. Arriving soaked and muddy at a youth hostel with no towel or dry shoes, being caught out in a Cairngorms snow storm with inadequate clothing, or wearing the same pair of shorts for a week are all less-than-pleasant experiences. Note that a four day trip duration is not included - use your own judgement to fix together a compromise between the "take nothing" approach of the weekend tour, and the "be prepared" of the week-long epic.

Bike clothes. Whatever you usually wear on your bike doubled. Obviously not two pair of shoes or two helmets, but everything that touches your skin: gloves (yes, they can be the king of stink), shorts and cycle top. One set can be washed while the other is worn.
Extra clothes. Imagine the worst weather you might encounter (e.g. Scotland at Easter = blizzards) and then imagine what you would need to wear to survive that. Now make sure that you have that much clothing. This clothing can include anything you have with you, i.e. wearing both your cycling tops at once, and that lovely fleece top you promised yourself you would never wear on the bike. This is a very good reason not to use lightweight cotton shorts or T-shirts for evening wear, as cotton couldn't be pressed into service to keep you warm in an Armageddon scenario. A 'proper' breathable waterproof is essential.
Wash kit. Perhaps add a small towel (or a couple more beer mats) and a 'sample' bottle of shower gel / shampoo / washing-up liquid. It can be used to wash clothes / body / hair equally well.
Hygiene. Same the as before, perhaps just a bit more, and slightly more comprehensive. You know what you suffer from and we are all different (personal problems remain confidential at OAO). Some people even take along tiger balm!
Evening wear. You'll probably want to add a spare pair of shoes. Deck shoes with coconut soles are great, as are 'technical' moccasins. Those 'off road' sandals pack small but are often dog heavy (solid rubber soles) and lightweight trainers can be a better option. Depending on what type of cycling shoes you use, you might not consider a second pair, but imagine how unpleasant your shoes are when fully saturated, and just how long they take to dry out! As mentioned before, technical fabric tops are wonderful, not just because they feel great (and don't look quite so daft these days), but they can double as emergency warm-wear on the bike. If all goes well weather-wise on your tour, you'll find yourself with fresh-smelling gear to wear every evening, and if shit-happens you'll end up smelly but warm. Polaris or Ground effect cycling T-shirts are modest enough to wear during the evenings, or press into action on the bike, if the rest of your gear is wet through and stinking.
Bike & 1st aid. See the "toolkit" article published earlier. I also usually take my "medicine cabinet": simple remedies, such as a few throat lozenges, aspirin, indigestion tablets and whatever you usually suffer from. It saves you from; a) a rough night's sleep; b) trying to locate a pharmacists in remotest Scotland.

Now this amount of gear can take up some serious space. 20 to 30 litres is a fair estimate. This equates to either two small panniers, or a small 'proper' rucsac. The debate into loading yourself or the bike is still not fully resolved, as the magazines might lead you to believe. As a very experienced off road tourer I can assure you that both options have their advantages. Many longer tours take place in Scotland and can occupy mile after mile of land-rover track. In this case two small panniers mounted on the rear rack might be preferable.

The rucsac allows for better bike handling, and is essential if you wish to ride a full-susser. But the flip side is the even a small rucsac can cripple you. I know more than one abandonment of a tour due to back problems caused by a rucsac. Consider the terrain and any back problem you may already suffer from, and if in doubt try both out for a day before committing. The ideal cop-out is taking a rucsac but also fitting a rear rack: if things get bad then strap the rucsac to the rack top, or even invest in a convertible pannier / rucsac. Polaris competitor might opt for a rucsac but they are only riding for a day and a half!

You might just cram all this gear into Karrimor "Rush Air", but a KIMM sac is more likely, and a superb cycling rucsac. Complete with a full camelback the weight may shock you, but the KIMM sac is designed to carry 10kg or more in mountain marathons, hence the superbly designed hip belt and harness.

For pannier users, two 15 litre (front) panniers mounted at the rear is best. Or you might cram it all into an Ortlieb waterproof stuff sack and lash it to the top of the rack. A combination of lightly loaded pannier (clothing) and a hydration pack or bumbag (water, maps, food, tools) is an ideal compromise.

However long your tour, you should really never need more than 35 litres of gear. With not much more than that capacity you could be cycle-camping! Always carry less than you think necessary, there'll still be unused items at the tour's end. Remember than if you over-pack you'll be committed to several days of uncomfortable, non-enjoyable bike pushing. If you under pack, you might get cold and wet and have to abandon early, or stink the local pub to high heavy. Strike the right balance and both days and evenings will be enjoyable rather than just bearable.

Top Ten Pack-list secrets:

EAR PLUGS
Coolmax (or similar) T-shirts
Sachets of toothpaste, shampoo & shower gel
Ortlieb waterproof wallet bag
A pack towel, or sewn together beer mats / flannels
Park tyre boots
A comfy saddle
Karrimor KIMM sac
Race walking shoes
Talcum powder

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Last Updated 23-04-2001
You can contact me at James@OffroadAdventures-Online.co.uk
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