A few of our favorite things.

Guitar Ted and I took a minute to jot down some thoughts about things we rely on to make our time on a bike better.  So here, just in time for that shopping suggestion to your significant others, is what we suggest.

From Grannygear:  5 Things I do not want to ride without.

As you go along in your journey towards being an experienced mountain bike rider, you tend to come across certain items that you come to rely on for every ride or that simply make the experience better.  It takes time and trial and error, but you will develop your own list of things that go in the pack, on the bike, or in the stomach.  That list may be a bit fluid over the years as you try new things and new things arise, but the list will remain none the less.

So here is my list of ‘Five Things I Do Not Want To Ride Without’.  Without which I do not want to ride????  OK, my grammar is suspect, but you get the idea.

1 -  A Buff.  Since I got my first Buff, I cannot remember one ride where I did not have one on my head.  I have three now and have given some as gifts.  I have two of the normal Buffs and one wool one and I wear them in the summer thru winter.  They shade my neck, cover my ears, keep my head warm, and blot up the sweat.  They dry fast, hand wash easily and fit under a helmet.  Buff rocks.  We reviewed the Buff here on The Cyclist.  MSRP about $20.00 for the original Buff...others vary.

2 - My wife’s oat bars as a trail snack.  Yes, I do enjoy wholesome and well made commercial energy foods like the ones we have sampled from Clif bar.  But the dense calories and homemade goodness of oats, peanut butter, honey, nuts and seeds, choco chips plus whatever else gets put in the mix....well, it is cheaper and flat out keeps the fire stoked on a long ride.  Mix that with a good drink mix like the Clif Shot electrolyte stuff, some gels, and a Snickers/Payday here and there and I am golden.  Want the recipe?  See my blog entry here.

3 - A Lezyne Mini Drive hand pump.  I have several quick fill devices around...somewhere.  Never use them.  I will take a good pump any day, one that fills fast, is light to carry, will never run out of air as long as I have the strength to pump the thing, and if it is a bit blingy...well, all the better.  Yeah, it does not fit everywhere and minimalists need not apply, but I always wear a hydration pack and I always have my Lezyne pump.  We looked at the Micro Floor Drive HV here on The Cyclist.  $45.00 to $60.00

4 - Sheep fur for the feet.  Swiftwick Merino wool socks keep my feet happy.  Summer through winter they just work and seem to last quite well too.  Only on the very hottest days would I go to a synthetic sock like the Olefin Swiftwicks, but there are few days that wool is not on the ride menu.  We reviewed Swiftwick socks here on The Cyclist.  $18.99 for a Merino wool #4 length sock.

5 - I prefer bibs, thank you.  As in bib shorts.  This is a recent revelation and it comes in as my baggy days are waning.  I first tried a set of the ¾ El Fito knickers (I looove knickers too) from Ibex and found bibs to be a bit inconvenient, but really great at keeping things from sagging and drooping...the shorts I mean.  No saggy chamois here for this lad.  Since then I have acquired a pair of Ibex wool bib shorts in a regular length and two Specialized bib shorts and they are all I wear these days.  I will pop a set of bags over them if the ride demands it, but I seldom wear baggies anymore.  Try bibs.  You may never go back to regular lycra shorts.  We reviewed the ¾ El Fito bibs here and the other bib shorts here on The Cyclist.  Plan on spending $150.00 for a goodie like this.

Guitar Ted:  Five Things I Can’t Ride Without

I get to test and review, and just generally use, lots of mountain biking and commuter gear throughout the year. Here are some standout items for me that would likely make some cyclist on someone's Christmas list happy. (In no particular order)

1.    Answer Fall Line XC full finger gloves: The cyclist, especially the off-road types, should always use gloves not only for hand protection, but also for safe grip on the bars. Of course, everyone is a bit different when it comes to personal fit, but take this from a guy that typically hates cycling gloves; The Answer Fall Line XC gloves are really nice. They have a thin padded palm, don’t bunch up, and keep my fingers from going numb. (That’s something I can’t say about 98% of the other cycling mitts I’ve tried.) The Fall Line XC full finger gloves come in a variety of colors and retail from around $20.00-$28.00 depending on where you buy and we reviewed them here on The Cyclist.

2.    Osprey Hydration Pack: Keeping watered is a wise idea while out riding. Keeping some support tools and food is also a great idea. But....where do you stash all that stuff? I have found that a hydration capable back pack or rucksack is indispensable for forays out into the wilds. My favorite is an older Osprey Raptor 10 pack, but Osprey has many 2012 models that have improvements and better features which would make great gifts for cyclists. We have a post up here; that details out some of the newest packs from Osprey. Many sizes and price points to choose from, but all should be intelligently designed, rugged, and comfortable to wear like my old Raptor 10, which I use all the time.

3.    WTB Saddles: SST & Pure V: You know, I like to spend some days on my bicycle. Like as in all day riding my bicycle. That means that my contact points better be good for me after 2, 5, and 6 hours of riding time. My saddles of choice for such rides? WTB’s “Pure V” and “SST” models seem to do the trick. Now, not everyone will like these saddles, and saddles are very personal choices, but if you are looking for a saddle that has a great feel after three hours and if you need something a little wider than the normal skinny racing XC type saddle, look no further than one of these two perches. WTB Pure V saddles range in price from $60.00-$150.00 depending upon the model and SST saddles range from $60.00- $130.00 depending upon the model.

4.    Clif Shot Bloks: One of my favorite nutritional supplements on the bike is Clif Shot Bloks. These little blocky, gummy, tasty treats can keep you going when not much else sounds good when you are out on a long haul on your bike. Clif Shot Bloks are a mixture of carbohydrates and electrolytes that add up to 33 calories each of chewy goodness. These are easy to pack, and don’t get messy, even when the sun is blazing down. A box of 18 packets that holds six Shot Bloks each goes for around $30.00 retail and comes in a variety of flavors.

5.    Blackburn Toolmanators: As a cyclist, you need tools to maintain and adjust your bicycles. One of the handiest little gadgets came to us late last winter in the form of Blackburn’s Toolmanator multi-tool line. These multi-tools have become an integral part of my kit for their easy stow-ability, ease of use, and for the quality of the tool steel Blackburn uses in these products. We tested the model 1 and model 3 Toolmanators, and either would be an excellent gift for any serious cyclist on your giving list. Toolmanators vary in price from about $13.00 to upwards of $30.00 depending upon the model and where you buy.