The Road Less Travelled
Road touring is without question a real adventure, and a refreshing change from tooling about in traffic in our SUVs. For some of us, however (particularly old backpackers and young hardbodies), the call of the wild is a siren song we can't resist. And the vehicle of choice for this higher level of adventure is the mountain bike.
Wilderness travel by bike is essentially different from road touring, and it requires some different tools and techniques and definitely a different mindset. There aren't any QuikStops, B&Bs or filling stations in the mountains, and there's nobody there to take credit cards. But if you're into riding and you love the wilderness and you like to go where a car can't go, this is the road you'll want to take.
Mountain biking is slower going than road biking; you'll be on the bike for just as many hours, but you won't travel as far. Much of the ride might be on singletrack - a narrow dirt trail 4' to 18' wide which accomodates only one rider at a time. The rest of the time you'll likely be on fire roads - packed dirt with few large obstacles. But you'll see things you'll never see from a car or a road bike.
Michigan has some good MTB routes and you can find them at the MMBA trail guide site. Toledo has just opened its first MTB trail - 3.28 miles at Jermain Park. There are also plenty of absolutely terrific routes all across the U.S. Anywhere you find spectacular scenery, you'll find a good MTB trail, like Adventure Cyling Association's Great Divide Route, the longest MTB trail in the world. Wherever you go you can choose an MTB tour operator to support you or plan your own self contained trip, just like on a 
road bike.
So what will you need to begin?
The Bicycle
Touring and cyclocross bikes work perfectly well for rail-trail and groomed dirt roads, but if your plans include washboard roads, footpaths, single track, rocks and streams, you'll really need a true mountain bike. One relatively new mountain bike worth investigating is the Salsa Fargo (right), specifically designed for touring, with all the goodies you'd want in a touring bike, such as wide forks, lots of cage mounts and braze-ons. Depending on the success of the Fargo, expect to see similar products from the other manufacturers.
Suspension
Front suspension fork (shock absorber) is a must. The front of the bike will take a pounding, and so will your shoulders, arms, wrists and neck if you don't have it. Some suspensions allow you to adjust the travel of the fork to accomodate different riding styles, or have lockouts to prevent the fork from bobbing on climbs. Rear suspension is not totally necessary, but will make the ride easier and give you more control on rough climbs and descents. Every additional feature, of course, is another variable to contend 
with - things break down and need maintenance. If you're riding in third world countries where parts are hard to find, stick with a hardtail (no rear shock). If you don't opt for a rear shock, you might consider a suspension seatpost such as the Thudbuster. Try out several models with and without the two kinds of suspension and choose the one which feels best. Your local bike shop can help with this choice.
Keep in mind that suspension systems require racks made specifically for them, so this will add an additional complication (nothing that can't be overcome with a little imagination).
Frame
Stick with steel (or titanium, if you want to spend the money) over aluminum. The stiffness of aluminum transmits virtually all of the road vibration to the rider, and that gets tiring pretty quickly. Steel is tough, durable, forgiving and field repairable if you can find a village with a body shop or welder.
Wheels
The stable ride of large 29 inch wheels is making them increasingly popular with riders for use on dirt roads like the ACA Great Divide Route, but for rougher trails and singletrack, or with loaded panniers, 26 inch wheels are recommended.
If you're travelling in a third world country, anything but 26 inch wheels will be difficult to service.
Tires
MTB tires, unlike road tires, are thick and knobby to grip loose dirt, roots, gravel or small animals - anything you might be riding over.
Brakes
Disc brakes are good for wet, steep or technical riding, but are not essential for most off-road touring. Because of the difficulty of service, they are not a good choice for riding in undeveloped countries. If you go disc, mechanical disc brakes are lighter and simpler than hydraulics and are preferred.
Gearing
If you're looking at big climbs, make sure you've got low gears. A triple chainring and small ring with 20 or 22 teeth will be a godsend with your extra weight on rough trail. 
Handlebars
Most mountain bikes come with flat bars, allowing few hand positions. This means padded gloves are an important consideration. Bar ends of various configurations can be added to increase hand positions and help with climbing. Of course, you can purchase and install separately any bar that feels good.
Equipment and Gear
Luggage
The big decision is between racks with panniers and a trailer, although another good alternative is to go ultralight. Ultralight touring, with a base gear weight of 15 pounds or less, is the preferred option for the tough pounding of multi-day riding on technical singletrack trails.
Trailers The more popular choice recently has been trailers (in particular, BOB trailers). Simple, strong and easy to use, trailers keep the weight off the bike, don't require racks and handle better than pannier-laden bikes on rocky ground. There are many variations of trailer, but the single wheel version works the best in the outback. A MTB trailer comes with knobby tires and suspension, just like the bike. Racks and Panniers Transporting your equipment overseas is easier with panniers, as is portaging across streams, blowdown and other unridable stretches once you're on the trail. If your choice is panniers, make sure you use extra-strong wheels (the smaller 26 inch wheels are preferable). 
Manufacturers like Old Man Mountain make racks which fit virtually any bike, a good thing, because some mountain bikes are short on attchment hardware like braze-ons. Panniers are awkward on singletrack - they tend to snag on branches, bushes and other obstacles in tight passages. This is why many singletrack riders use backpacks, something not usually seen in road touring.
Carousel Design Works (right) and Relevate Designs offer soft luggage systems designed specifically for lightweight mountain bike touring which eliminate racks by using the space within the frame, strapping directly to the frame or bars.
Accessories
GPS If you're depending on a GPS (a good idea), you'll need a system with backcountry software, not the road maps which come with most GPS units. There are many good programs which show trails, rivers, topography and other natural features. Lakes and rivers will be especially important, since you'll need to watch access to water closely.
Hydration A backpack hydration system is something to consider, since you'll need to keep both hands on the bars when you're riding rough terrain. You're going to be working hard - be sure you have at least two and maybe even three water bottles. When you choose to leave the familiar neon lights of civilization, water will be your most pressing need. You'll need water for drinking, cooking, washing dishes and bodies, and water to carry the next day. You'll need to plan your route very carefully to make sure you have adequate access to water as you ride and when you camp. If there are no commercial or residential facilities available at your chosen campsite to buy or beg water, you'll need a stream or river nearby you can access. You'll also need some means of purifying the water, because there is a great risk of organic contamination, particularly from guardia lamblia, a potentially deadly protozoan parasite very common to wilderness rivers and streams. Fortunately, there are solutions to this problem in the form of filtered pumps, water additives and ultraviolet light.
Clothing 
For the most part, clothing for off-road isn't much different from road touring. You can find a more detailed discussion on the Clothing page. However, if you get wet weather, you'll be riding in mud and water on occasion, so a spare dry set of clothing and an extra towel or two will be welcome.
Helmet Helmets perform the same function on road or off - the difference is mainly one of style. Since there is more chance of a fall and damage off-road, be sure to check your helmet after each fall. Replace the helmet if there's even a small crack.
Pants Since you don't have to worry about aerodynamics, that Spandex won't be necessary. Most trail bikers opt for baggy shorts with good abrasion resistance and lots of pocket room.
Shoes If you're going mountain biking, expect to do some hiking as well, so pick shoes which have some flexibility in the sole for comfortable walking. Your stiff road shoes won't be your best choice.
Mountain bike type shoes have heavy tread, good for walking or pushing, and are available in waterproof synthetic materials.
Gloves You'll want full-fingered padded gloves, because there's a much bigger chance of falling and /or whacking branches and other obstacles on singletrack trail.
Nuts & Bolts
MTB touring is tougher on your equipment than road touring, so make sure you have lots of extras in your repair kit: extra tubes (maybe even an extra foldable tire), extra spokes,
an extra derailleur hanger, extra pins & tire tube for your trailer, extra pump (and shock pump), extra cleat bolts, extra zip ties, extra duct tape, etc.
Emergency
When you're in the wilderness, getting hurt means big problems. There won't be anybody riding along shortly to help you out and even if you have a cell phone to call for help it might be a long time before anybody gets there. The first rule is to BE CAREFUL! Because of the stakes, cautious riding is the only kind of riding you should be doing.
First Aid Kit Carry a generous first aid kit. Here's a suggestion for a comprehensive kit.
Cell Phone Even if it takes a while for help to arrive, it's better late than never. Take a phone and all the numbers you're likely to need in an emergency. Never underestimate the potential for accidents; tell people where you're going and when you'll be back and tell them to be concerned if you haven't checked in on schedule.
Whistle A loud, lightweight whistle (to let searchers know where you are) is cheap insurance, and you can use your personal mirror to signal visually, if needed.
Reference An excellent book of first aid and medical advice is "Where There Is No Doctor." You can download this title (and others) by going to "download" at Hesperian and selecting the title.
Skills & Techniques
Riding Technique
If you're going to be riding on singletrack, you'll find it's fundamentally different from riding a bike on a road - it's sort of a combination of bike riding and horseback riding. There's a lot of technique involved - you'll be sliding over logs, jumping over holes, rolling up and down sharp switchbacks, floating and being light on your bike. There's even a best way to carry your bike past obstacles. We won't try to cover all that ground here, but be sure to develop a little skill in trail riding before you attempt a major tour on singletrack. Try riding in a group, following other more experienced riders and watch what they do - when they lean, when they brake, when they jump - and follow suit. You'll develop a skillset quickly. You can also spend some time on the on-line mountain bike forums reading about the experiences of other riders. Camping
Certainly you'll need camping equipment, gear and skills. You can find help on that subject on the Camping page.
Map Reading
A GPS takes the guesswork out of finding your way, but it also takes some of the fun out of it. If you're not going electronic, be sure you've got good maps and a compass. If you haven't done this before, get acquainted with map & compass skills before you go.
Minimum Impact Camping
Because of the enormous pressure on the little remaining wilderness we have, it is our responsibilty to leave it as unmarked by our presence as possible. Leave no footprint. This is your ethical obligation to your children and grandchildren.
Ride Free
Mountain bike touring comes in all the same flavors as road bike touring: supported and unsupported, organized and self-guided, credit card and self-contained. The difference is that the mountain bike can transport you to wild, wonderful faraway places you've never seen before - even if they're just around the corner.
© 2010 - 2012 Bob Beach
