Hi, do you have any recommendations for riding in the mountains over the summer?
In particular, I’m curious about what gear you bring on rides. Do you carry spares and extra layers in your handlebar bag? If so, what would you recommend bringing, and which bag would you recommend buying? Do you use insulated water bottles, etc.?
I’ll be training (not bikepacking) in the mountains for a couple of days this summer.
Thanks in advance!
Not something to bring, but see if there’s a mountain-specific or summit forecast for the area. There can be a huge difference between conditions at altitude and in valleys and they can change quickly. The normal temperature drop is roughly 2C/300m.
There’s also the clothing difference for climbing and descending if you’re doing long climbs and long descents as opposed to rolling terrain.
A light packable jacket is always a good idea. Depending on conditions and your own temperature sensitivities, you might consider full-finger gloves, an earband/skullcap, and legwarmers.
Bags: My current preference is to offload small jersey pocket items(food) into a top tube bag and use the pockets for clothing. I’m experimenting with a small “burrito” style handlebar bag and a small frame bag. I have a dedicated seat bag for tools and tube.
And there are times where, somewhat counterintuitively, it’s nicer further up the mountain than in the valley if there happens to be an inversion. Regardless, as Peter says, the temps and weather can change quickly. Be prepared.
I don’t have bag recommendations, but as far as what I pack, I focus on wind-blocking layers and things that provide a lot of warmth for a small size, to put on for the descents. So I usually have with me a wind vest or jacket (depending on the weather - they both pack down really small), a thin wool cap and/or wind-proof cap, and a thin wool buff. I might add arm or knee warmers, and long finger wind-proof gloves depending on the day and the ride. If you’re travelling, a hotel shower cap makes a great wind and waterproof layer for your head in a pinch, and takes up no space.
I’ve never regretted bringing a layer I didn’t use, but I have done freezing descents regretting not bringing something.
^ Agreed! One year in August in Switzerland we had fine weather in the valley, then torrential rain, then snow, then back to rain for the descent. Not having numb fingers would have helped quite a lot wiith braking for all the corners.
As others have said, weather can change rapidly, so if you’re going out for more than a couple of hours don’t get upset if the forecast ends up being wrong, and be prepared. Even on shorter rides a wind vest is super useful.
(And if it was me I’d use anything else in preference to handlebar bags; I hate them all.)
Thanks everyone for your answers. I find them very useful, it helped me complete my packing list.
I am leaving in one week for EDT recon 
I’ve had success with the handlebar burrito bag to hold extra layers. I don’t like carrying too much in my pockets.
You can always go old school and stuff some newspapers in the front of your jersey.
This is where old tech wins. Stuffing your phone in the front of your jersey doesn’t work nearly as well.
A packable ‘waterproof’ is the best thing for a cold descent, along with some knee warmers and thin but full finger gloves. Whatever extras you take for the way down, my best advice is to put them in a thin plastic bag so they’re not soaked with sweat and/or rain when you come to put them on. Riding in the mountains is amazing - enjoy!
When I have done mountain days, they are usually quite a way from any towns. So depending on the forecast, at a minimum I’ll usually bring my ShakeDry jacket. Add long finger gloves if the forecast is borderline. Warmers if it’s likely to have some level of weather, such as thunderstorms.