MTB Essential Tools

Ardennes1944

Having moved to Switzerland and left my road bike at home I just bought a MTB beater in the form of a BTWIN Rockrider 500.

I have a chain whip, cassette lock, patch kit and tyre levers.

What else should I be getting, specifically which oil? I'll be using it mostly on the trails (nothing too rough) near me. Which tools should I have in my saddle bag?

Thanks

rizzodun

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Having moved to Switzerland and left my road bike at home I just bought a MTB beater in the form of a BTWIN Rockrider 500.

I have a chain whip, cassette lock, patch kit and tyre levers.

What else should I be getting, specifically which oil? I'll be using it mostly on the trails (nothing too rough) near me. Which tools should I have in my saddle bag?

Thanks

I only ever carry enough to get me home, spare tube, puncture repair kit, pump, multitool, and perhaps a powerlink, don't carry one myself but I know plenty of people who do.

For post ride, some silicone oil for cleaning the forks, and I put a light coating on the frame when clean to help make the dirt come off a bit easier next time round. Standard chain oil, but make sure you lube the chain well before the ride so the chain is dry, so all sorts of crap doesn't stick to the chain when on the trails, by far the best tool I have is a chain cleaner kit, really helps get the crap out of the chain after a wet and muddy ride.

I'm guessing the brakes are hydraulic? If you're really going to town and doing all the work yourself you may need something to bleed the brakes when needed, as well as finding out what fluid they take.

Don't find myself taking the cassette off so have no chain whip, or any tools for the bottom bracket, I just try to keep as much crap out of them as possible and get the odd check up in the LBS, so not sure what else you need.

Ger.O.Mahony

I carry a couple of tubes, repair kit, pump, multi tool, and a couple of powerlinks. Also, a small first aid kit due to my inability to stay upright most spins...

triggermortis

What I carry on my MTB is a couple of tubes, a pump, a CO2 pump, multi tool with chain breaker, tie wraps, tyre levers, tyre patch, first aid kit and gloves. This is one tube and pump more than the road bike as I use a camelbak.
I always take my phone and Garmin 800, and I have next-of-kin details on a laminated card in there too - helpful in a non-English speaking country!

How are you finding Switzerland by the way? I'm in Zurich

Peterx

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Having moved to Switzerland and left my road bike at home I just bought a MTB beater in the form of a BTWIN Rockrider 500.

I have a chain whip, cassette lock, patch kit and tyre levers.

What else should I be getting, specifically which oil? I'll be using it mostly on the trails (nothing too rough) near me. Which tools should I have in my saddle bag?

Thanks

Assuming you have allen keys, screwdrivers and spanners the bike tools you might consider could include;
A floor pump, shock pump, proper cable cutters and spoke key.

Out on the bike I carry pretty the same as Rizzodun but add a small first aid kit and a mobile phone.

rizzodun wrote: »

I only ever carry enough to get me home, spare tube, puncture repair kit, pump, multitool, and a powerlink,

blobbie

Similar to all of the above tool wise and also carry some money, ID and a zip lock bag for phone, cash & ID for when it rains.

Ardennes1944

Great stuff lads thanks, I'll have to get my parents to send over the manageable bike stuff I have at home.

Il have a look on Wiggle.de now for the other bits.

triggermortis

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Great stuff lads thanks, I'll have to get my parents to send over the manageable bike stuff I have at home.

Il have a look on Wiggle.de now for the other bits.

Be careful with the value of what you order online. Swiss post office will charge on the value of the item plus the postage, and you have to pay before they will give you the parcel. Can't remember what the rates are, but I recently got Northwave boots (approx 160CHf value on the docket) and had to pay another 37Chf to the postman to give me the box. Luckily the exchange rate swing at the time still made this a bargain compared to buying here.
Best way is to order stuff at home and bring it back yourself or get someone to bring it with them

rizzodun

Just a pic of how I carry everything but my tube, fits in the bottle cage, saves on a backpack, tube doesn't fit because it's a 29er.

Ardennes1944

triggermortis wrote: »

Be careful with the value of what you order online. Swiss post office will charge on the value of the item plus the postage, and you have to pay before they will give you the parcel. Can't remember what the rates are, but I recently got Northwave boots (approx 160CHf value on the docket) and had to pay another 37Chf to the postman to give me the box. Luckily the exchange rate swing at the time still made this a bargain compared to buying here.
Best way is to order stuff at home and bring it back yourself or get someone to bring it with them

I get all my stuff over 60 odd francs delivered to LAS Burg paket service on the border which is very handy

Also, going on the specs of the Rockrider 500, does anyone see a component thats a weak point that could easily be upgraded? I know its hardly a top bike as I a lot of the time I buy the best and then stop using it after a couple months so will try MTBing with this first

Eamonnator

Every MTBer should have one of these, or similar, in his bag.

http://www.muckynutz.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=102

They've got me out of a hole, more than once.

This is the one, that I've got

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/mucky-nutz-emergency-mech-hanger-prod21516/

JBokeh

If you plan on doing a fair bit of trail riding,i'd recommend getting a set of hydraulic brakes, something like shimano m355 or m395 can be picked up super cheap,and take the arm strain out of braking for long ride,it is personal preference really,but I find cable brakes can cause a bit of arm fatigue. Brakes can be picked up for half nothing from secondhand sites because people tend to upgrade from the entry level stuff on bikes.

I'd change the tyres off that too,either 2.1s or 2.25,something like a racing ralph,theres a lot more engineering goes into them,and though it sounds weird,they are a lot more predictable than the generic cheap ones that you get from the LBS for like 12 quid. It is hard to describe why they're better,but it is something you notice in the corners.

Other than those I'd just be going out and enjoying the bike and trails

Ardennes1944

Thanks for that, the tyres on it are DSI brand from Sri Lanka and are 26 x 2.0 .

Can you link me some good ones from wiggle and some suitable tubes too so I dont get the wrong ones please?
Wheel size is 559x19c

blobbie

Have a look at some of the German sites. Cheaper than Wiggle/CRC if you are getting a few items and possibly cheaper post to CHF

Various sites listed here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84919709

I have used Rosebikes, Bike24, Bobshop & bike-discount in the past without issue.