Ditch Your Pack and Get Sendy
Have you ever wanted to ride naked and feel free as a bird shredding down those rocky trails? Ok, I know that sounds terrifying, but how about the next best option—pack-less riding. Sure, everybody’s got that cycling-specific pack that’s supposed to hold water, tools, shades, camera, and an extra layer. But the dirty secret is that these “form-fitting” packs are affecting how you ride when things get sendy. My solution: dump the pack. All of today’s top EWS riders are doing it. You should too.
Let’s dive right in and explore a better way to carry your gear.
Tubes. Whether you ride tubeless or still rock them, you always need a backup. What you don’t need is a pack to carry it in. Instead try strapping them to frame, preferably the inside of your front triangle. Putting them here gives your tube some protection from a fall but leaves it easy to grab and go for fixing a flat. Even better, it solves another packing issue, as you can strap 2 20oz CO2 cans on here as well. My favorite is the Mutherload Strap Frame Mount.
Fluid. While a pack is a convenient way to carry fluid on a long ride, it’s not the best way. Mountain bikes today are so much more water bottle friendly, with some fat bikes accommodating 4 bottle holders. So why have all that water sloshing on your back when the bike can just handle it for you?
On the topic of fluid, ask yourself whether you really need to be carrying so much fluid. Most rides don’t require a full 3-liter of reservoir of water. And a lot of the time there’s a spot to fill up somewhere along the ride if water levels are running low. So the next time you head out on a ride, evaluate how much you drink and then tailor-fit your bottles to match. Your back will be so stoked not to be lugging all that weight around anymore.
Food. A gel or bar is a great pick me up during a ride. But you don’t need a pack to carry these snacks. Just stash a couple bars and gels in your jersey’s rear pocket and you’ll be good to go. I’ll put the picnic in Tim’s pack the next time we ride one of these awesome trails.
Extra Layer. On most rides, I tuck a wind shirt or vest in another of my jersey’s rear pockets. They pack so small that there’s no need for a pack to store them.
Tools. It’s a little scary to be carrying sharp, pointy things on your person. But here’s a simple trick for making it (relatively) safe. Cut an inner tube into a 2-inch wide section and use it to wrap all your tools. Then get put the whole package in a storage pouch—this Tulbag is awesome—and store the pouch in a jersey pocket. Stash your back-up hanger, a small patch kit, a few zip ties, and your car key in there for good measure.
The best part of pack-less riding is that you can do it using any bike jersey with rear pockets. So stash your snacks in one, the tool bag in another, and the extra layer and phone (with its built in camera) in the third. With the tube and C02 strapped to the frame and fluid in the bottle holders you’ll be good to go. See you on the trails!
Words and photos by Mickey Spades. If you found Mickey’s post useful, consider sending him a few bucks. (Venmo: @michael-spadea-4)
