Venturing into the great outdoors can quickly go wrong if you’re unprepared and lacking the proper tools. Bringing along certain items while mountain biking can prevent a minor inconvenience from turning into a major problem. Head to your local bike shop to pick up the following vital pieces of equipment before your next ride.  

What Should You Carry on Your Mountain Bike at All Times?

1. Spare Tubes and a Mini Pump 

Trails can be full of sharp and pointy debris like rocks and branches that easily puncture a tire. An additional tube acts as a spare and can replace the damaged one. Use a mini pump to inflate it, and it’ll be ready to go back onto the path. 

2. Patch Kit 

While a spare tube is important to keep around, a patch kit will do the trick in case of an emergency, like if the spare tube is damaged. These kits contain small rubber patches and adhesive, and are used to cover up punctures in a tube. This is a temporary solution so that you and the bike can make it to a safe area. It will later require a full repair at a bike shop.

3. Tire Lever 

When a tube needs to be replaced or patched, it must be removed from the metal rim housing it. A tire level can quickly slip between the pieces in order to pop the tube out, saving your fingers from cramping and pinching between the two parts. These are essential for any biking kits, as they are quite portable, compact, as well as widely available at most bike shops.

4. Mountain Bike Multitool 

Loose screws or jammed chains can quickly spiral into a disaster for you and your bike, but they are fixed effortlessly with a multitool. This is a tool that includes other useful items in small sizes, like wrenches, screwdrivers, hex keys, and chain breakers. These can fix and tighten parts like the pedal and brakes, as well as snap and repair the chain if the bike is stuck.

For all these mountain biking necessities and more, speak to the experts at Jim’s Bike & Key Shop. Since 1977, they have provided the Columbia, MO, area with bike repair and assembly, as well as emergency lock picking services and key cutting. The mechanics are reliable, trustworthy, and always ready to answer any questions about what should be carried on all treks with your bike. To speak to an associate about mountain biking essentials, call (573) 442-7011, and see more of what they offer for bikes on their website.