|
For two or three day mountain bike trips the trick is to take the least amount of stuff that you can safely get away with. This invariably means omitting a few comforts but is a worthy sacrifice ... tackling wonderful singletrack while being loaded like a packhorse is not a good time.
Play it Safe
If you land in the cactus while in the back of beyond you've gotta yell pretty loud to get help. Travelling light doesn't mean foregoing emergency stuff and you do need to make conservative decisions that reflect your ability to deal with the unexpected. Typically this involves researching the area you're heading into, timing the trip with a decent weather forecast, making sure your bike is fit and healthy, riding a little less on-the-edge than usual, and having the 'huevos' to turn back if things aren't going to plan. Mobile phones have limited coverage in the NZ backcountry – but might still be useful to holler for help, text your mates or call for pizzas.
Money or the Bag
I have an aversion to panniers. Great for off-road touring, but often don't cut the mustard on technical track, grovelling through undergrowth or when carrying your bike. That said, a couple of excellent options exist for rugged off-road racks from www.oldmanmountain.com and home-grown www.kiwijoe.com. Otherwise a lightweight pack is the story – about 25-30 litres capacity. Tents and sleeping mats are millstones to be avoided. Plan a trip around huts with mattresses – and survive with a compact 150-300gm down sleeping bag coupled with a lightweight down jacket for stooging around the hut. Not always a cozy pit, but good enough after a hard day in the saddle.
Toasty Warm
Even in summer it can get cold and wet. I pack a pair of Daddy Long Legs tights, a Baked Alaska thermal top, perhaps a Submerino thermal base-layer, a Storm Trooper rain jacket and Helter Skelters over-trou'. Plus a Baked Beanie for me noggin' and some lightweight polypro gloves to wear under my cycling gloves. I survive on a single riding top and pair of shorts. Washing in the evening helps avoid saddle sores.
Feed Me
You'll need a lot of space for food. Pre-cooked avoids the need for a stove and billy and stove. Ride-food will occupy a lot of luggage space. Choose wisely. If you're in some dodgy place overseas, then a water filter is good insurance. Capacity to pump lots of water is everything and worth paying extra for.
First Aid
Apart from the standard trail tools, it pays to pack a few spare parts. Depending on the terrain I take a few spokes, a folding tyre, rear hanger and/or derailleur. A torch and flashing tail light are handy if be-nighted or suffer an after-dark road-bash back to the car.
Surprisingly, your body is even more precious than your bike. Pack some heavy duty painkillers, arnica cream, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine tablets, plaster and dressings for the nasty falls, a crepe bandage and survival blanket. You can score a ready-made kit from St Johns Ambulance. If you haven't done so already, shuffle along to a basic first aid course.
Getting Lost
At the risk of stating the obvious carry a map, compass and the skills to use them. If your route crosses private land then ask the land owner's permission first ... and try to glean local knowledge from them. A GPS is a useful toy to know exactly where you are, how far you climbed, how you got there and all sorts of other train spotting data. For the paranoid or truly death defying trips take a locater beacon (EPIRB) like they use in multi-day adventure races. Setting it off is like blowing a whistle that the whole of the Southern Hemisphere can hear. Check out www.mapworld.co.nz for more.
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council regularly hold Outdoor Safety Courses in First Aid, Navigation and even Risk Management. All handy tools for your resumé. Check out www.mountainsafety.org.nz for more information on available courses and additional resources.
Have fun and be careful out there.
|
