Don’t leave home without it
On your first ride you don’t need to take anything else other than a AA card and personal safety information. However, if you want to continue trail riding you should carry some essentials.
So you have the bike, the gear and a route to go test your skills on. Great, but have you thought what if?
Whilst out in the middle of nowhere the mechanical gremlins strike, you suffer a puncture or a fall breaks a lever. Do these issues call an end to your day or have you had the foresight to pack a few well chosen tools and spares to get you out of trouble.
The following list will provide some idea as to what the well equipped trail rider may carry:
The above list may look like a tall order, but with a little effort you will find that you can secure some of these items to your bike, providing it is safe to do so and in no way affects or interferes with the safe operation and handling of your machine. Otherwise dividing the items up and storing them in your pockets / backpack or fender / bum bag is the way to go.
You may be able to carry less if you know that you’re riding buddies are taking. You can decide who’s taking what so you don’t carry duplicate items.
Hertfordshire Map
For Hertfordshire get a Ordnance survey map (50,000/1) no 166 (Landranger Pink). The 25,000/1 (explorer orange) map shows more detail but you will not cover the area you want to ride due to its scale. The 50,000/1 is more suitable for motorcycling. Available online from the Ordnance Survey.
Hopefully the following will never be needed, but should always be carried.
For your own interest you should add a “In Case of Emergency” number to your mobile. If you were to have an accident which left you needing serious medical assistance and the remainder of the group were unable to inform your family or even return your bike, the ICE number would allow this.
You should also carry a crash card:
Your own safety is your own personal responsibility, and not of the TRF.
The following is a summary of suggestions from the TRF Forum and is probably only for the completely paranoid although there are may sound ideas herein.
Clothing
Spare pair of gloves/socks
Reading glasses
Communication
Mobile smart phone with charged battery, charger, credit and mapping software
Old style phone with PAYG sim to suit area your riding in as backup for smartphone.
Finance
Bank/Credit card
£50 or more in a back pocket. So when you knock on the door of the farm and ask for help, you can at least offer to pay
First Aid
Clean handkerchief
Space blanket
First aid kit with Painkillers, resusciaid and gloves.
If somebody is injured, giving them any painkillers, food or drink could delay any treatment when they get to hospital. Ask first.
Food
Crisp packet (Holds fuel well enough to transfer some if a bike runs out)
Bottle of drink (like the crisp packet – for emergency siphoning)
Energy bar
Hydropack containing, water
Fuel
Spare bottle
Navigation
Maps of the ride in case of GPS failure
Spares
Cable ties.
Chain link
Clutch and Brake levers
Connectors male and female
Baby wipes
Fuses
Inner cable kit in a little tin
Inner tube(s)
Insulating tape/duct tape
Nuts and bolts, assorted
Puncture kit
Section of rubber radiator pipe tied to handlebars.
Spark plug
Tie wraps
WD40 50ml Can
Wire
Tools
Original bike tool kit including plug spanner and spare spark plug. Check to see that you can remove the plug with the tools as some plugs are now buried deep in the cylinder head particularly on the 4 strokes
Adjustable spanner.
Allen keys
Chain breaker/riveter
Chemical metal
Co2 cylinders for bikes
Gerber, Leatherman or similar (multi function penknife thing).
Inner tube, front will fit the rear in emergency or carry both
KTM socket tool and sockets.
Sockets ¼” drive
Screw driver bits
Multimeter
Saw Fold up pruning
Small hand pump
Spark plug socket
Spanners for wheel nuts, taped to frame
Spanners 2-3 small
Tow rope/strap (multi purpose)
Tyre levers
Tyre inflator/ pump
Valve puller
Breakdown card
Sense of humour