If you want to avoid any nasty surprises during the tour, you should only set off on your Transalp adventure with a perfectly maintained bike. Tyres, drive and brakes are the most common weak points for a defect.
On strenuous tours, you should not use the Weight of bike and equipment pay attention. Nevertheless, for MTB guide Lisa Wild, the Function over a few grams of weight saving. In our large Transalp Special she tells us her favourite parts for her Transalp bike.
To make sure she doesn't lose any unnecessary time in the event of a breakdown, Lisa always packs special items such as a Derailleur hanger and spare spokes in. In addition, the following Tools and spare parts on long tours and always in your rucksack:
Spare tube It is also mandatory for tubeless riders. If you want to save weight, use lightweight inner tubes: e.g. Aerothan from Schwalbe or Tubolito.
Tyre lever Not absolutely necessary, but definitely helpful for tight tyres or tyres soaked with latex milk.
Tubeless plugs If the hole in the tyre is too big and the milk splashes, only a tyre plug will help. Simply stuff the rubber sausage into the hole with the tool and you're good to go.
Shift cable A Bowden cable weighs almost nothing and fits in any rucksack. Perfect for fixing not only a broken gear cable, but also imprecise shifting.
Chain lock For the quick repair of a broken chain. It is essential to ensure compatibility with the drivetrain (11-speed / 12-speed).
Chain lubricant Whether spray or dropper bottle, dry or wet lubricant, oil or wax is best chosen according to the conditions in which you ride the most. Lisa favours a small dropper bottle with dry lubricant. This also works temporarily in the wet.
Brake pads Small part, big effect. Even if the mounted pads are still in good condition, it never hurts to have the right replacement with you. Helps not only with wear, but also with contamination.
Cleats Wear or, in rare cases, even loss of the shoe cleats can quickly end the tour.
Mini pump A handy pump with sufficient volume quickly brings the necessary pressure to the tyre. Also an ideal place to attach some adhesive tape for emergency repairs.
Repair kit should of course never be missing, even if you are travelling tubeless yourself. It is the last resort when even the spare inner tube runs out of air.
Tyre patches The self-adhesive patch is ideal for covering large tears in the tyre through which a replacement inner tube would otherwise squeeze out.
Mini-Tool A mini-tool with sensible equipment is obligatory. The chain riveter helps if the chain lock also fails.
Leatherman As a more universal tool, this multi-tool can help with many a repair. The pliers, knife, file and saw have already saved the day for MTB tour guide Lisa in the event of many breakdowns.
First aid kit (not in the picture) Of course, no tour should be without a first aid kit. It is best to check it for completeness and durability before use. Disinfectant and bandages are the most important items for treating minor injuries.
Damper pump* (not in picture) The fork and shock can be optimally adjusted with the high-pressure pump. This allows you to make adjustments on the move. Some mini-pumps can do both - suspension elements and Inflate tyres.
Focus on "Transalp" - The special in BIKE 3/2021
Route, training, bike and equipment. Crossing the Alps by mountain bike takes a lot of planning. But the effort is worth it and increases the anticipation of the season's highlight. In the 20-page Transalp Special we give you tips on planning and equipment and name mistakes that you should definitely avoid.
Thematic focus "Transalp": Contents
- Transalp photo story: Over all the mountains - the adventure of crossing the Alps in pictures
- Route selection: Design it yourself, or just book? Three Alpine crossers report on their experiences
- The perfect bike: tried and tested - how to equip your bike for adventure
- Transalp equipment: They can do a lot and weigh little - perfect Transalp parts
- Avoid mistakes: A Transalp guide explains what can go wrong on tour
You can download our 20-page PDF on the focus "Transalp" from BIKE 3/2021 below the article.
Why is the download not free? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, namely tens of thousands of euros every year.
