minimalistic riding

What part of this worries you? Is it the lack of parts/tools/tubes, the cellphone/ID or something else?

If it's about tools and stuff, I'd just have to ask how far you are willing to walk back to the car every now and then. I used to ride a lot with no spare tube or tools. Since the bike was pretty reliable and had tubeless, it wasn't much of an issue. I did have to walk a few miles maybe twice in about three years. Not a big deal. I did have some other incidents where bolts loosened or things came out of adjustment and no proper tool meant a slow or shortened ride. So, for a long time I almost nothing with me on short-medium rides and it did inconvenience me a few times.

Now, I carry two tubes, multitool, patch kit, mini-pump, chain pins, spoke nipples and a cell phone (which is really just to check the time). Aside from a few changes in bike and location (trails where I am now are faster and longer; rides average around 2 hours; main mtb is not tubeless and gets more flats), I basically realized that it wasn't that I didn't like taking stuff with me, but that I didn't like wearing a Camelbak. So, everything but the cell phone is attached to the bike. Pump taped to the downtube, one spare tube taped to the seatpost, rest of the stuff in a medium sized seatbag (chain pin and nipples inside the patch kit container). It has two bottle cages so no problem there for most rides. On longer or really isolated rides, I take food, ID/money and some other things. I make sure to buy jerseys with pockets. Actually it was kind of hot here a few days ago and I went on a long ride with three bottles- just had to stick one in a jersey pocket and drink that one first.

Not really sure what all this is supposed to mean to you, but I guess I don't think you're an idiot. But maybe some basic tools/parts would save you a big headache one day.

if i just got for a quick ride down the street from me i just empty my pockets and go. i don't think your being reckless or stupid, but i was also most likely dropped as a baby.

I do the same. No need for camelbaks and all the tools for a 6 mile ride. Its great to ride with nothing weighing you down.

Some of my riding buds are old XC and road pros and top ammies and they will go on 3 hour rides as if they're on the road... no hydro pack, no tools. Of course this means they hope to bum tools needed. Usually they have a spare tube in a pocket and water bottle(s) on the bike. And they carry CO2 cartridges instead of a pump.

If you have always ridden with a hyrdo pack you should enjoy the occasional free-back ride, it's good for a change of pace.

Me... I was a Boy Scout so I always follow the motto Be Prepared. I like being ready to ride long rides with a pack so I use my pack almost always.

Exception: when I ride our low-elevation trails on my 'cross bike, I go roadie style. It's nice, free-backing like a roadie!

Also to the original poster: I grew up in the MD suburbs of DC and have ridden most of the DC metro area MTB riding places. They are all safe enough to go tool-free. By "safe enough" I mean they're not super rocky and even those that are rocky, the rocks aren't sharp jagged things so you're not super-likely to rip a tire. And even if you rip a tire, a dollar bill can work as a sidewall boot.

Just remember: if you're not confident in your ability to avoid trashing a part mid-ride, then ride a bit more conservatively when you go tool-free.

I often do my shorter rides with a bottle but I do carry a tube and cartridges and multi tool in a small seat pack. And when I remember a folding knife. Lots of coyotes bears and the odd cougar and I usually have my dogs with me too. I don't worry about animals myself but the coyotes are aggressive at times and I have had a dog get bitten by a coyote. Cougars are rare but they say if you are attacked by a cougar to fight for all you're worth.

Camelback each and every ride. I don't even notice it really.

Well, I take that back. If I'm DH'in and wearing the body armor THEN I will go sans-camleback (leave it in the car if it is a short shuttle, or at the chair-lift on shorter DH runs (like Northstar, but NOT at Mammoth)

i'm all about the minimalism & efficiency. i typically do sniper rides: high intensity 1-1.5hrs, hammer up, rip down, and carry nothing but my keys & cell phone. i hate packs.

I'm used to take my camelbak on each and every ride. I've been doing it for so long I don't even notice it nowadays. Plus I tend to drink (and crash) a lot, so the whole bottle idea got ditched pretty quickly after wrecking three cages in a row ;-). I do also carry a multitool, a tube, my hybrid suspension/tire pump, cell phone, mini wallet and a couple of chain links.

chillindrdude said:

there's a number of trails near my house that i hit up after work. they're short loops 4-6miles, a good mix of flowy descending, short climbs, small jumps, tech rock gardens/roots. i've recently been doing 100% of my riding at these local trails with just my bike clothes and helmet. i stick a bottle in my cage and go. i usually just carry my car key in a sealed pocket, nothing else.

do any of you do the same? am i throwing caution into the wind? or maybe reckless/stupid/both?

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I try to get out with little crap in my pockets... and I ditched the camelbak last year. Phone, keys and a cliff bar in the jersey pockets, that's it. But I always have a tube, lever and 2 Co2's with me though just incase I tear a sidewall or get a puncture that stan's cant seal. Same little flat kit is attached with a velcro strap to each bike.

I ride without anything in my pockets/no camelbak a lot. I really hate riding with stuff on my back--it makes me feel like I'm commuting and not just riding for fun.

I run 2 bottle cages, and I keep a wide-mouth screw top bottle in one of them with some tools in it. It's plenty big enough for a multi-tool, some CO2, a tube, and a granola bar. I rarely need more than one big bottle of water, and if I do then I probably want a whole camelbak.

My point is, its pretty easy to ride without dealing with carrying stuff actually on you. Putting it in a water bottle makes it easy to switch bikes. In fact, my multi-tool pretty much just lives in its bottle, and I just throw it on the MTB or road bike depending on what I'm riding.

-JD

I rarely use a Camelbak around the Bay Area. It is not very hot, so I go on 1 bottle.

However, I still carry a pump, 2 tubes, and tools. I use a saddle bag.

Do yourself a huge favor and at least get a road id. www.roadid.com

I carry my retired military id card and have all of my VA info and personal info on my interactive road id. I go with no tools, no spare parts, etc. If something happens mechanically I will suck it up and walk out. I do the same on the road bike for 15 or 115 miles. I do carry one or two gels, and a bar if it is a long ride and one or two bottles depending on distance and what type of biking.

Everyone should have a road id for all biking.

*No I do not work for them, just believe in them that much!*

I run as little kit on my bike in the summer as I can, Winter I carry everything though.

me no likey walky down mountain with flat tire... always try and carry a flat kit and a mini tool just for shats