Wingnut Copyright Nathan Ward

6. Bring two lighters rather than a stove. A stove is never just a stove, it also means bringing a pan and gas—all of which add weight to your kit. Skip the hot meals and morning coffee for a few days. If you need a caffeine fix, bring along a Starbucks Double Shot and chocolate. Eating cold meals and drinks also makes the hot food and coffee just that much more sweet when you drop down into town to re-supply.

Why two lighters? In case one doesn't work or gets lost. A campfire on a rainy night could be a life saver. However, if you do build a campfire, make sure it's an environmentally secure campfire—use a fire pit at an established campground and put every ember out with water before you leave. For emergencies, carry firestarter at all times—cotton balls packed full of petroleum jelly and stuffed inside a film canister—they burn and get the fire going even if it's wet.

"A sleeping pad is nice, but one can be made by piling up pine needles or digging a hip hole in soft sandy soil."

7. Use iodine tablets to purify water. Iodine tablets weigh less and take up less room than a water filter. They also cost less and are very easy to use. Some people complain that iodine tastes bad, but baby, it's about doing the ride, not about how the water tastes.

8. Don't bring a sleeping pad. If you ride singletrack all day with extra gear on your bike, you will sleep well even on broken rocks. A sleeping pad is nice, but one can be made by piling up pine needles or digging a hip hole in soft sandy soil. I also pad the ground under me with my goretex jacket, dry bag and extra clothes (put the clothes between your sleeping bag and bivy sack or they will get wet).

9. Use a bivy sack instead of a tent. A bivy sack does everything a tent does except for giving you a place to change. In a bivy bag, the view of the stars is unsurpassed. If it's raining, you may need to put your head under a thick tree and be sure to hang your food in case bears come sniffing for a snack.

10. Clothing depends on the situation. It's impossible to give a hard and fast rule for clothing because cold and rainy climates obviously call for more gear. Just make sure that every piece of clothing you bring serves a double purpose. Take less than you think you need.

11. Tools Tools are the one item hard to scrimp on, simply because singletrack touring is hard on your bike. If the machine breaks down, you could be left miles from help. I bring tools to work on nearly every part of my bike. An old-school Alien tool or new multi-tool works wonders, along with a wrench to tighten the cranks, extra spokes stuffed inside the handlebars, a few zip ties, a pipe clamp and several inches of duct tape wrapped around the seat tube. Before you head out into the wild, go through your bike and make sure you have all the tools you need to fix everything big on your bike (major damage excepted). Leave the tools you don't need and make an emergency plan before you leave home.

This brief list obviously does not cover everything you are going to come across when you're out on the trail for days at a time. In the end, the most important ingredient falls within the space of your skull—if you are willing to go out and try it, it will work. Make sure you cover the basics of staying dry, warm and having a bit to eat. At the moment, singletrack touring is an untapped area of adventure in the world just waiting for two-wheeled pioneers. It could be you—if you can stand the suffering.

11. Gear for Singletrack Touring—Based on Nighttime Temperatures Down to 40 Degrees Farenheit.

3L hydration pack—Wingnut HyperLITE
3L water bladder
Dry bag—Pelican
2 Bungee cords

Point and shoot camera
8 rolls of film
Mini tripod (4 inches high)
Extra camera battery
2 pieces of writing paper in Ziploc bag
2 pens
Map of Area

Headlamp—Petzl Tikka
3 AAA extra batteries
1 oz. sunscreen
Chapstick, SPF 30
2 feet duct tape
Swiss Army knife—small
First Aid kit—minimal (band aids, guaze, tape, ibuprofen, tweezers)
Cell phone—for emergency only
Firestarter—4 cotton balls with petroleum jelly in film canister
2 lighters in Ziploc bag
Iodine tablets and instructions
Toilet paper in Ziploc bag

2 Tubes and lots of extra patches with glue
Frame pump
Bike tools—enough to do the job
Extra derailer hanger
Chamois Butter—4 small containers (0.33 oz.)

Food—depends on you
2 flasks of Hammer Gel
15 Jolly Ranchers
Gorp Mix
Beef Jerky
Sardines
Bagels
6 energy bars
2 bananas
Sandwiches

Clothing—depends on your body type
1 pair of bike shorts
1 pair of warm tight
1 jersey
No underwear
2 lightweight fleeces
1 Goretex jacket and pants
2 warm hats
1 pair full-finger gloves
1 pair warm gloves
1 pair tennis shoes
1 pair riding socks
1 pair warm socks—only for night time
1 Helmet
1 Headband

By Nathan Ward