Mountain biking advice wanted

[ChristinaJL]

Thanks all!! Just got back from a great session at the mountain bike centre!! I made it up all the uphill sections, over the rocks, including by some fluke lifting the front of the bike totally and riding over a large rock at the top of an incline. Oh and no problems with the uphill tree roots bit either this time round. I did however manage to sink the bike up to its' disk brakes in mud, though thankfully all I did was stop and I didn't fall off.

I bought a dakine ladies' hydration pack, as I got fed up of drinking mud as all I had was the bottle cage/bottle. The shop had 40% off the rucksacks, so how could I not come home with one. Tried it on and rode back to the car with it on, seems to be a good fit, so it shouldn't give me backache.

 

[Zoiders]

The other thing about a rucksack is you should be aiming to keep most of the weight on the hip belt. Make sure you try a few on for comfort and find an assistant who knows what he's showing you, a walking shop might be better than a bike shop, though ultimately what you find comfortable will be peculiar to you, especially if you back problems.

Now you see I hear this line put about by camping shops that sell very complex bergens with fancy hip belts but you have to have a very heavily loaded bergan before it's transfering any noticable amount of weight.

I would also point out that hip belts tend to only work well for women, try actualy wearing a belt on it's own that is too heavily loaded with kit such as a bum bag, if you are an average or slim man, it won't take it, it just keeps falling down around your knees as you move about.

Hip belts are a climbing bergen carry over, it stops the pack moving about, especialy if you are leaning back into a rope, you certainly wont be needing one to take any weight on a sub 20 litre daysac worn on a bike, you are leaning forwards for a start so if it is weighing down on your hips you haven't got the shoulder straps done up properly.

 

[Crackle]

Now you see I hear this line put about by camping shops that sell very complex bergens with fancy hip belts but you have to have a very heavily loaded bergan before it's transfering any noticable amount of weight.

I would also point out that hip belts tend to only work well for women, try actualy wearing a belt on it's own that is too heavily loaded with kit such as a bum bag, if you are an average or slim man, it won't take it, it just keeps falling down around your knees as you move about.

Hip belts are a climbing bergen carry over, it stops the pack moving about, especialy if you are leaning back into a rope, you certainly wont be needing one to take any weight on a sub 20 litre daysac worn on a bike, you are leaning forwards for a start so if it is weighing down on your hips you haven't got the shoulder straps done up properly.

It depends is the answer: 20 years ago I would have agreed outright and it wasn't until I started carrying heavy climbing packs that I began to use hip belts and chest belts. Heavy padded hip belts don't work for me, neither do broad ones. Simple webbing belts do but they work best when there's adjustment straps at the top of the pack to alter the position of the pack. The pack I've just bought has a very simple thin hip belt and lots of adjustments to alter how the load lies on my back. It took me a while in the shop before I'd adjusted it and it felt comfortable and it felt comfortable because of the way all the straps worked together. Rucksacks certainly aren't as simple as they used to be.

 

[andym]

Camelbak rucksack it is then, I think. Might try some on tomorrow at the mtb centre, although I think they stock Dakine which is a brand I've not tried. Re my back, I have a wonky pelvis and slight curve in my spine which causes the problems, but since I've been cycling on my rollers over winter it seems to be getting a bit stronger, so here's hoping the mtb will also help strengthen it up.

Camelbak has become the generic name - a bit like hoover for vacuum cleaners - but there are other brands that are worth considering. Personally I prefer Source hydration bladders as they have a wider mouth and are easier to clean (they also make the bladders that Deuter sell under their own brand).

 

[ChristinaJL]

Camelbak has become the generic name - a bit like hoover for vacuum cleaners

Well, I did mean I was going to buy a camelbak, but actually when I went to my LBS I ended up with a Dakine.

 

[Muddy Ground]

...now go out and get some Milton fluid...