Just got a mountain bike! Now what?

[fatbottomedgurl]

So... what's a gillet and a couple of buffs?

I never even think about my camelback when it's on. 100oz, and sometimes I'm sucking air at the end of a ride. I pack it with ice and water so it actually helps keep me cool.

Packing it is like backpacking- easy to over-weight it. I carry a tube, patches, multitool, pump, levers, first aid kit, a snack, phone, ID and health insurance card, emergency numbers, poison oak wash. Need to throw in a space blanket and a radio. That's about it. I don't carry lots of food, don't seem to need more than some sport drink and some fig newtons or a banana for a four hour ride. A shorter ride I don't eat anyway.

Find some gals to ride with and have fun, They can show you the ropes and keep you safe too.

It's a good idea to know some trailside maintenence. Today I had to pull out my disk brake pads and get some crud off them. They were making a horrible racket!

[tattiefritter]

So... what's a gillet and a couple of buffs?

I call it a gillet - you'll call it a vest! A buff is, well a buff:

http://www.buffusa.com/

I use one under my helmet when cold and sometimes one as a "scarf" round my neck to keep the wind out. Absolutely fantastic things, I use it for running to keep my hair out of my face, hiking, climbing,....

I forgot to say I carry lots of food because I prefer to eat than use energy drink (unless its a multi day event or something).