Biking Gear

10 Essentials

• These are needed on all outings

• See 10 Essentials 

Safety Gear

Bike Helmet

• • These 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 

      • Legal minimum standard for helmets manufactured for US since March 10, 1999

      • If a helmet lacks a CPSC Label, you should find another helmet

    • ASTM

      • Most used test prior to 1999

      • Tested on a 2 meter drop on a flat anvil

    • Snell Memorial Foundation 

      • B-1990 standard has a 2 meter drop test similar to ASTM and CPSC

        • Prior to 1995 was the industry standard until Bell stopped using this certification 

      • B-1995 standard has a 2.2 meter drop test

    • ANSI - outdated standard that was too easy to meet

    • "Novelty Item Only" - if you see this or a similar label warning you are not looking at a helmet engineered to protect your head, trust you are not looking at an acceptable helmet for any other use than cosplay

    • No Label - assume this has not passed any safety tests

  • Doesn't have to be expensive 

    • Read reviews - some acceptable ones can be purchased for around $20 but be willing to spend more

    • See outdoorgearlab.com

  • Must Fit

    • Go to bike shop and fit helmets - it MUST fit to work 

Cycling Gloves

• • Provides some protection in event of crash

  • Keeps hands warm in winter so you can still use them

Sun Glasses

• • Keeps sun from blinding you

  • Keeps bugs and dust from blinding you

Repair Gear

Anything mechanical will breakdown, especially if used by a scout.  Part of biking is learning how to maintain and repair you gear. 

• Tire Patch Kit

• Mini Pump

• Spare Tube

  • Sometimes a tire is damaged beyond patch

  • Spare tube should be carried by group 

• Bike multi-tool

• Pouch to hold gear

Clothing 

Padded Cycling Shorts

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

  • Pads are just of cushioning, they distribute pressure and protect your skin and soft tissue

Cycling Gloves

• • Protects fingers and palm in case of accident

  • Insulated ones keep hands warm and functional in cold

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

Cycling Shirt

• • Material depends on weather

Cold Weather Gear

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

  • Tights are preferred over pants

    • Move easier

    • Don't get caught in chain

Gear

Bicycle 

• • Mountain or Gravel Bike Styles are preferred 

  • Occasionally on sale at Costco

  • Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 Bike 

Bike Rack

• • Depending on what kind of Bike Packing we go on, your scout may need one of these

  • Panniers 

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

      • Make sure feet don't hit them

    • Ortlieb panniers are great if you can afford them

  • Bike Racks are notorious for getting loose.  Loctite the bolts and bring extras

Water Bottles and Cages

• So nice to have on shorter outings

• Must on longer outings

Locks

• If you on an urban outing, you MUST have a lock

Gear MUST be Inspected and Maintained

• Needs to be done by Scouts

• Needs to be done by Scout leader

• Bikes cleared by mechanics often fail

Wheels, Tires and Innertubes

Tires and Wheels

• Road and Gravel Tires

  • 700c

  • 29"

    • About the same size as 700c but generally wider

• Mountain Bike Tires (some Gravel Bikes)

  • 26"

  • 27.5"

  • 650c - about same size at 27.5"

  • 29"

• Kid Bikes and Folding Bikes

  • 16"

  • 20"

  • 24"

• Tubeless Tires

• • Different rim style

    • Ideally use tubeless ready rims

    • Wheels can be converted using a Tubeless conversion kit such as Muc-Off-20085-Ultimate-Tubeless kit

      • Rim tape

      • Tubeless valves

      • Tubeless tire sealant

  • Resistant to Flats

    • Impervious to pinch punctures 

    • Less likely to have catastrophic puncture

      • A punctured innertube can explode, resulting in instant flat

    • Still prone to snakebite punctures 

    • Uses sealant in tire that will seal small punctures

  • Can run lower pressures

Innertubes

• 700c and 29" (Road and Gravel Bikes)

  • 700 × 20-25mm

    • Traditional road bikes 

  • 700 × 25-32mm 

    • Road bikes

  • 700 × 28-37mm 

    • Road, cyclocross, gravel and hybrid bikes 

  • 700 × 32-47mm 

    • Road cyclocross, gravel and hybrid bikes 

• Mountain Bike Tires

  • 26", 27.5" (650b), 29"

  • Up to 2"

    • Old-school, narrow Mountain Bike Tires

  • 2-2.3" 

    • Typical cross-country (XC) Mountain Bike Tires

  • 2.3-2.6"

    • Trail

    • Enduro

    • General Mountain Bike Tires

  • 2.6-3.0" 

    • ‘Plus’ sized Mountain Bike Tires

  • 3.0"+

    • Fat Bike Tires

• Rubber

  • Butyl 

    • More common

    • Cheaper

    • Easy to repair

    • Heavier

  • Latex

    • Lighter

    • Lower rolling resistance

    • More fragile and floppy

    • Damaged if using brake pads on rims on long downhills

    • Need to be pumped up more

    • Requires a special repair kit

• Valves

  • Presta 

    • More common and specialty bikes

    • Longer and narrower

    • Some wheels require longer valves

  • Schrader

    • Similar to car tire valve

    • Found on economy bikes

  • Dunlop 

    • Found on some bikes in Europe

    • List here for trivia