Anytime you see something like this: “Take less than you think you need.” you should realise that one day you are going to read an article about the heroic effort it took to rescue this guy, or recover his body.

And about bear proofing, check where you are going, in some places it is not only a good idea, but LAW to have your smellies in a bear can. And not just food but toothpaste and anything else that smells alot. Smells attract bears. Trust me waking up in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere to the sound of a bear in camp is not fun. Even Steve Irwin would have been scared.

And it is all about the taste of the water. First, why sacrifice enjoyment? You won’t enjoy the trip as much if the water tastes like it came out of a toilet, and second, if you hate the taste you are more likely to not drink enough. Always carry iodine for emergencies, but carry a water filter as your primary. They are small and light and make all the difference in the world.

Have as detailed a route map as possible left with a friend, and call them frequently at arranged times so that if you get into trouble a rescue can be launched in a timely manner in a general location to help you. And if you are planning on going somewhere outside of cell range and you have not attended some sort of wilderness survival training, well, good luck and my condolences to your families.

Seriously, this is not a joke. Sure, stories about getting lost or whatever can be really funny, or inspiring, but mostly they are just tragic. And bear in mind that on a bike you are more likely to run into wildlife or get hurt than while hiking. Perhaps I missed it but I saw nothing in that article about first aid or bear avoidance techniques. Bears use trails because they are easy to travel on. So do mountian lions, and their prey.

A GOOD FIRST AID KIT AND THE SKILLS TO USE IT AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT A WAY TO CALL FOR HELP IS NOT EXTRA WIEGHT.

I am about done with the soapbox for now, more because I have other things to do right now, not because everything has been said.

If you are not seriously skilled in being in the field for days at a time then stick with whatever awesome trails you were riding. Start with a big park and ride all day then come back to a campsite where all your stuff (tent food etc) is at. Learn to use all the gear until you can do it blind with one hand, because you just might have to in a survival situation. Get firsthand experience and go with someone who knows what they are doing until you know everything they do.

And for Peet’s sake, shows like Survivorman are for your ENTERTAINMENT not your education. Yes those guys are doing the real thing but they are pretty advanced, and EXPERIENCED. Being calm counts for alot. Panic kills. Panic is common with mucho time in the woods.

If this sounds like something you might want to try, but have no idea what wilderness survival is all about send me an email to seaduceratverizondotnet and I will try to point you in a safe direction. I can’t help you ride better but I can give you the lowdown of essential gear and point you to some decent resources on the web. I am just getting back from a road trip so I might be slow to respond, so be patient.

And be safe. Remember that despite all the advances in communication, gear, and the thousands of profesional rescue groups and volunteers, more people are killed in the woods than are rescued. Don’t be a statistic. Drew

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ultralightbiking/

I like stoves, Google alcohol stoves and get in touch with your iner pyro! you can make a set up that wights in at 6-7oz costs nothing and lets you have hot tea and ramen for a few days =)

Dry bags - don’t have to weigh much, since they’re available in ultralight ripstop material with air valves. So go ahead and put your sleeping bag in a dry bag on top of the rear rack. It’s not a measureable weight difference and may be lighter than a standard stuff sack.

Sleeping pads - Always bring a trusty ensolite pad (not inflatable, which can be punctured). A standard or 3/4 length blue ensolite can be rolled around the outside of the dry bag containing your sleeping bag. The entire roll goes on top of the rear rack. Still hardly any additional weight, although the roll could get cumbersome in size. It’s not just for sleeping, but any time the ground is cold or wet.

Clothing - If you travel in the desert, know the long range forecast, and double checked radar for distant storm cells, then perhaps you won’t need much. But if you’re in the mountains then it’s likely to get cold and rainy. Don’t bring less than you need, simply bring enough. One set of long skivvies (top & bottom) plus wool socks, all dedicated to sleeping, will keep you happy regardless of how cold and wet and miserable you are during the day. Avoid cotton.

Food - Gels and bars may get you through one night on the trail. But you better believe you’ll be dying for real food by days 2 and 3, and will regret not carrying some. Take a select handful of durable fruits and veges - Think apples, raisins or dates, carrots. They don’t add much weight and are a godsend when all you have is freeze dried backpacker meals and oatmeal flakes.

The author’s tips clearly favor cutting corners, which is probably because many late model mountain bikes aren’t made to tour and don’t hold racks and bags very well. If you add front panniers, you can take the ultralight stove, pot, cup/bowl and water filter that you need to be comfortable for multiple days in the wilderness. The second pair of panniers isn’t as much about carrying weight as it is about carrying volume.

And for goodness sake, carry two lights plus spare batteries. Even LED lights can fail, and the smaller it is, the more likely it will be a mechanical break such as the on/off switch. Been there, done that…