Bike Trail Gear

Every bicyclist has opinions about gear, some prefer going ultra light and minimalist. Some people want to bring along the house. At the risk of sounding authoritative, I'd like to share my gear selections for Minnesota bike trails, I offer this not as the "inflexible list" but rather a list of accessories that I find helpful and enjoy, most of these come from trial and error over the years. Traveling with the right gear, in my opinion, makes the trip more enjoyable.

When I travel alone up in Northern Minnesota, I find a great comfort knowing that I have a good dependable equipment along that makes me feel somewhat self-sufficient. Nowadays, I rarely run into a situation where I need something on the trail that I cannot pull out of a pouch, or improvise. I should mention that along with gear, is the importance of knowing how to use the gear properly. As an example, it is pointless to carry a spoke wrench, if you have no idea on how to true a tire.

Obviously, the Sakatah isn't the remote woods, there are towns every 12 miles or so. You cannot get lost, and it's a pretty remote possibility that you will die on the trail. I have seen some things that could be considered hazards. I've come face to face with a Skunk near Elysian, in the same area I saw a very sick Racoon. For the people scared of bats, you should know that the bats can be very thick from Elysian to Madison Lake just after sundown.

My primary focus for bicycling is Minnesota rails-to-trails. Because of that, my choice of bicycle, components and accessories differs quite a bit from traditional bicyclists. When I travel on the Sakatah, my main purpose is relax, exercise and see nature. I'll present 2 lists, one is what I take on the Sakatah, the other list is additional equipment for trails that are longer and more remote. I'd be interested in getting your opinion on the choices, and any recommendations you might have. I'm always willing to listen to good ideas.

Here is my Sakatah Trail Gear - (from front of the bicycle to the back)