carrying bike gear....

having several bikes means i have ended up with several tool kits,under seat tool bags,small frame bags,bottle cages,pumps,spare tubes etc... and it all has never been really organised...and spent a small fortune. over the years...
thens theres all my bags...i mean how many do you need? (not enough some woman will tell you!)...

while its good if its all on the bike the wieght does add up..the price for not having a sweaty back...a day humping a bike over fences/unridable terrian and you really feel it...without sounding like a wieght weenie (with a 35lbs pugsley???? lol) it does make a noticable difference riding a stripped bike...
so after trying to carry it all on the bikes for the last few years im going back to riding with camelbacks...so i stripped all bikes of tool bags,bottle cages and frame bags including the pugsley as i want to use the epic designs frame bags on the karate monkey 29er aswell if i go bivvying for carrying the stove and food...
so i sorted all the stuff out and simplyfied what to carry...

first off a lightwieght kit for glentress or a 2-3hr ride on my suspension mtb or 29er;

topeak mini blaster pump (with spare O ring seal)
26"x2.25 spare tube (26" tube will also do as a spare for the 29er
crank brothers multi tool with chain breaker...
shimano rivet link and sram quick link
spare gear cable
park tool tyre lever
park tool glueless patches for back-up tube repair
this lot goes in the camelback rogue which has a 2 litre drink bladder...a (car key) pocket and enough room for a couple of cereal bars...


main pack
for general riding-all day or the pugsley...

toppeak master blaster pump (with spare O ring seal)
26x2.5" nokian downhill tube for the pugsley and a 26x2.25 tube for all bikes (do as a get-you home tube on the pugsley)
tyre sealant- use this if way out on the beach or a busy road,night time etc...
Co2 bottle and adapter (pugsley tyres take alot of pumping!)
puncture repair kit with shimano rivet link and sram quick link inside
2 park tool levers
spare gear change cable
small stuff goes in a little cordura bag then the tools go in a sealed bag
tubes go in a seperate sealed bag...

this goes in my old trusty camelback blowfish which has a zip that can open the width of the bag for a second external compartment,it too takes a 2 litre drink bladder and has a car key pocket and net bag for ceral bars etc...

its getting a bit old so will replace it this year...with its extra capacity pocket i can add any of this stuff...

front and rear lights- all bikes have brackets fitted for these lights...
and hope stems for the hope HID (high intensity discharge) stem mounting light or helmet mounting light...
cameras-cannon compact and tachyon 2010 xc sports cam...
montane packlight jacket and trousers...
bike lock...
survival blanket...
tub of treats (haribo sports mixture!)...
another spare tube...
hip flask...
waterproof mobile phone...
more food,clothes etc...

all this lot can also go into the big blue karrimor rush air 20 bag which has loads of room and if going bivvying will carry spare clothes too...all bags use the same 2 litre drink bladder so i have one that i use for powder mix drinks...
top tip- keep the drink bladders in the fridge and it stops them getting that black spec alge type stuff on them.. i clean them every couple of months with "milton" baby bottle cleaner...
i can still put everything i need to carry in the epic designs frame bag on either of the surly bikes if i dont want to wear a backpack...
if im going to take alot of pictures or film i also have the gas tank bags to fit ...
it all sits in a box near the back door beside the backpacks and epic design frame bags so i can just grab what i need and go ride...
dont think ive forgotten anything......