Check our Mountain Bike Gear Survey
I’m back at Western Washington University for the year, and as some of you know, I’m studying industrial design.
For our first assignment we’re doing a project with a local bike company (you have two guesses). First step is researching how people store equipment while mountain biking. Classmates and I made a short survey about what riders carry with them, etc. Although this is WildSnow, it’s still kinda summer (and we’re still riding around here), so I figured some of you might be interested. It would be a great help if you would fill out our survey (it’s super short, I promise). I’ll post the results in a week or so.
If the embeded survey below isn’t working, click here to get to the same survey.
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15 Responses to “Check our Mountain Bike Gear Survey”
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Completed. It would interest me to see the final project you create.
What an ironic timing of this topic.
Last week while attempting the Lead King Loop from Marble clock wise towards the Crystal Mill I got a flat about two miles in. I have a new full suspension (April ’12) bike that I thought I could get the tire off without levers (left them home to save weight and bulk). Wrong. My old Stump Jumper was easy to de-tire with just my hands.
I tried to hike a bike the rest of the way but again too much weight. I stashed the bike in the woods and did the hike to the Mill for the picture. Spectacular leaf peeping and I put this on my list for a winter sliding trip.
The point of this comment was always take the tools, tubes, CO2, and pump in case you get stranded. I could have been all the way to Lead King Basin with a 25 lbs of bike to hike.
The best thing about this trip however was I finally met Lou and Lisa in person along with a friend/helper that I forgot his name. Famously charming and friendly people Lou and Lisa truly care about life. We should all try to follow their example for they share their lives not only with each other but the rest of us through this wonderful blog, internet, and other forms of social media.
Glenn, thank you for your kind words. Lou and I certainly have a wonderful life and it’s a privilege to share it. Great meeting you and hope next time we see you it’s at the bottom of the peak with a big powder grin.
BTW, the helper was Joe Risi, our fabulous Production Assistant.
Hey Glenn, FWIW, you can *sometimes* use your bikes quick release skewers as make-shift tire levers. They can be hard on rims but beats the heck out of walking.
Louie, I checked some things (clipless pedals, short fingered gloves) because they are with me on all my rides even though I don’t carry them in my pack. I was a little confused on that aspect of the survey.
If you don’t have a lever, just use the quick release from the hub. Works great.
I tried the quick release levers and the end of my multi tool. Major damage to the rims. The tire I have is designed for tubeless and it tighter then most it seems. I could have gotten the tire off but with too much damage. The main thing was I would have no back up tube on a very rocky road with 12 miles to go.
Got the picture though. That is a good tip however but I hope to never forget the levers again. I’ve bought several backups and now give them to others!
Thanks for the great tip.
Sorry Joe for forgetting your name. Glenn
Shane, Christian & Glenn, you bring up a good point: essential bike parts, such as quick release levers, that function as tools too.
‘Finished’ button is somewhat interesting to find in the embedded frame, fyi.
One trick to get a tire off without tools. Pinch the tire a bit from both sides, and push the bead down and inwards. Work you way around the tire keeping the bead off the outer part of the rim. You are basically reducing the diameter of the tube by a slight bit, but normally makes the tire easy to pull off without any tools. Do in reverse to re-mount the tire. Hard to describe, but works well.
Louie:
What about saddle bags in your survey? Many of us jam an inner tube, CO2, tire levers, quick link, multi-tool and $$$ in them. I would suspect this is one of the most popular methods for bikers to store equipment when mountain biking. If your saddle bag is always packed all you need is water and proper clothing. I look forward to your results.
George
@ Glenn,
Your weight and bulk argument leaves me a bit skeptical.
I just went down to my workshop and weighed my tire levers, results below:
Maxxis, 15 gr.
Schwalbe 12 gr.
Mavic, 10 gr.
even if you tied all three of them together end to end to make them unwieldy as possible, ‘saving weight and bulk’ could have been better accomplished someplace else I would guess
I agree with gringo, unless you are some mad lycra wearing road rider trying to ride carrying nothing why not carry one, maybe two of those tiny little plastic tyre levers. They weigh barely anything.
I carry a big metal Park Tools lever and a Topeak reinforced lever as these will happily get 2.5″ maxxis dual play tyres off and back on again if I puncture on my DH bike. For XC tyres little levers tend to be ok.
I’m from the U.K, so Louie, what bike company is it your studying near?
Thanks for all the responses! Yeah, I forgot to put a seat bag in there.
Both Kona and Transition are based out of Bellingham (where I’m studying).
Transition bikes are lovely!
Bikepacking bags have changed riding for me. With a frame bag and gas tank you can ditch the pack.
Bikepacking.net