To equip my bike for mulit-day touring/trail rides, I have picked up some extra gear. Before acquiring my bike trailer I came very close to choosing a set of Arkel Extreme Mountain (XM-45) rear panniers. This may become an addition some (long) time down the track. For now, I have an Arkel Trail Rider (mounted on a Blackburn rack)
In a Nutshell: People sure are vocal about what they want - and it suits us just fine! Arkel has designed what might be the sleekest trunk bag available. A single glance shows how different it is: sleek, uncluttered and aerodynamic. The Tail Rider is fully insulated, has an immense opening, many internal pockets and a divider to keep the content from shifting around. Waterproof zippers keep a sudden rain outside, but for longer rides the Tail Rider has an integrated rain cover. That's sweet! A built-in expansion bellow will stretch for more carrying capacity when needed. Finally wrap it all with lots of safety features and the package is the best you can wish for short or long rides alike!
I also have a pair of Cannondale Roam clipless shoes — they are an all-terrain shoe that can be used for short trail walks away from the bike (exactly what I was after — and they fit perfectly):
Description:
- Durable carbon-black reinforced rubber outsole provides superior traction on the pedals, on the rocks and off the bike
- Midsole is stiff enough for hard riding yet offers enough flexibility for walking from the bakery to the coffee shop
- Combination of pungee-thwarting synthetic nubuck and cooling breathable mesh
- Lace Containment Device (LCD technology) keeps laces from flopping and getting wound up in chainrings and around pedals
- Compatible with all 2 bolt pedal systems
[I have the grey/blue version]
Other riding essentials are my MEC shorts, arm warmers and leg warmers, and a MEC SuperMicroft Cycling Jacket (not to mention a decent helmet and tools).
