Biking Gear

10 Essentials

• These are needed on all outings

• See 10 Essentials 

Bicycle 

You can't go cycling without a bicycle.

This can be an expensive item and a lot of thought should go into selecting a bike, even when grabbing a second hand steal.

Recommendation:

• • Functional Mountain or Gravel Bike Styles are preferred 

    • Talk to our Bike Team First

      • Depending on the high adventure we plan for, you may need a road bike or mountain bike or something different

        • The wrong bike won't work well on High Adventure

      • You DON'T need to purchase a NEW BIKE

        • If you do - expect to spend $900 plus on an entry level bike (Giant Talon 1)

        • If you shop around, we can sometimes find an acceptable new bike on clearance for $400 plus

      • We can keep an eye out for acceptable used bikes that will work and won't break the bank

        • We can also help steer you clear of used bikes that you will want to avoid

  • Example Mountain Bikes

    • Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 Bike 

      • Reasonable "economy bike"

    • Mountain Bikes occasionally go on sale at Costco (Diamondback Overdrive) 

      • Outfitted with Micro Shift components - which are not as dependable as Shimano components

      • These don't last as long as other bikes - but should last a season of riding

        • Reasonable option if you want to try out biking or get Cycling Merit Badge and then move on

      • Expect to tighten things up a bit as we put miles on these

    • Anything sold at Walmart isn't expected to survive through High Adventure, at least not the way we ride

See our Bicycle Page for more

Cycling Safety Gear

Bike Helmet and other Safety Gear

• • Scouts and Adults MUST have a helmet to ride with us

  • Helmets age, get damaged and Scouts out grow them

    • Needs to be checked for fit at least yearly

    • Replace after one impact or if cracked

    • Frequently worn helmet should be replaced every three years as foam ages and wear out

  • Look for safety label 

    • CPSC 

  • You will also need:

    • Eye protection

    • Gloves

See our Cycling Safety Gear Page for more

Cycling Clothing 

Padded Cycling Shorts

• • Having a crease in the wrong place can cause some serious problems on a long or extended ride

  • Pads aren't just of cushioning, they distribute pressure and protect your skin and soft tissue

  • It is highly recommended that you wear padded cycling shorts

    • If you don't like the look of Spandex, either get over it or wear shorts over these

Cycling Gloves

• • Friction on palms help you hold on to your handlebars, reducing strain on long riders

  • Protects fingers and palm in case of accident

  • Insulated ones keep hands warm and functional in cold

  • Avoid bulky gloves that prevent you from easily shifting or braking

Cycling Shirt

• • Material depends on weather

  • Bright colors are preferred when riding on roads or trails

    • This helps both cars and other riders see you

Cold Weather Gear

• • Weather may necessitate insulated layers and/or waterproof layers

  • Tights are preferred  

    • Move easier than pants

    • Don't get caught in chain

See our Cycling Clothing Page for more

Water Bottles and Cages

• You should have at least one bottle on short outings

• Two bottles are recommended and sometimes required on longer outings

• Not all frame designs can easily hold two bottles 

  • Come talk to our team and we can discuss options

See our Water Bottles and Cages Page for more

Repair Kit

• Tires with Innertubes

  • Spare Innertube that fits

    • 2 if on remote ride, such as during High Adventure

  • Patch Kit

  • Tire Levers

  • Pump (can be carried by group) 

• Tubeless Tires (whiteout innertubes)

  • Spare Innertube that fits

    • Yup - you still need an extra tube

    • Some flats will make it impossible to reseat the tire after a flat repair - you'll need an innertube!

  • Plug Kit

  • Patch Kit

  • Tire Levers

  • Pump (can be carried by group) 

  • Extra sealant - for longer trips, such as during High Adventure

• Tools

  • Ideally bike multitool

See our Repair Gear Page for more

Bike Cargo Rack

• • Depending on what kind of Bike Outing we go on, your scout may need a rack

    • On non-BikePacking trips, a rack allows you to carry gear on your bike instead of on your back

      • This significantly improves your riding experience

    • On BikePacking trips, a rack is generally needed to store all of your gear

  • Panniers 

    • Can be made out of 5 Gallon square buckets (kitty litter buckets)

      • Make sure feet don't hit them

    • Ortlieb and similar panniers are great if you can afford them

      • Talk to our Bike Team before making a purchase as these probably won't be needed

See our BikePacking Cargo Racks Page for more

Lock

If you are on an urban outing, you MUST have a lock.  Ideally, you will want a quality U-Lock to lock up your bike on short stops. 

See our Bike Security Page for more

Cycling Wheels, Tires and Innertubes

A lot goes into wheel the tire selection for your bike.  

• For most of our trips, Scouts should have at least 26" tires

• Some trips on gravel or rougher terrain will require more robust and wider tires

  • Fine gravel on Seattle Bike Trails 

    • Regular street or mountain bike tires that aren't too worn

  • Rattlesnake Lake to Hyak 

    • 32mm wide tires in good condition

  • Palouse Trail

    • Ideally 2" (51") wide tires or wider

    • Minimum 35mm tires - but 40-50mm is better

• See our Cycling Wheels and Tires Page for more