Functional Trails and Technical Singletrack: a Mountain Biking Kit List

For many of us, our MTB ride starts at a trail centre carpark, a chairlift, or a waymarked trailhead. We loop our favourite trails multiple times until, satisfied or exhausted, we return home in our cars. All done in the pursuit of a purist experience: where energy is saved for the trails only. But what if we’re missing something?

Kelly Servinski has developed a more rounded, circular approach to his riding style. He designs routes that include pedalling both to and from the trails. The outcome is a far-reaching experience. Diverse, challenging and unpredictable. A ride characterised by the very variety of terrain that mountain bikes were designed to handle, creating skill-shaping moments. And the adventure begins with a rebellious act of rolling out the front door.

As Co-Founder of the Tutti Gravel Inn, Kelly pours his love of cycling into helping guests launch adventures into British Columbia’s Cariboo Plateau. Deep into the backcountry, he explores the endless puzzle of picturesque gravel tracks, whilst simultaneously looking for new networks of MTB trails. In turn, providing a knowledge base of routes to create memorable experiences for visiting cyclists.

Kelly built his hardtail with this type of lengthened mission in mind, and the component choices are focused on durability and ride quality. The bike choice is appropriate: a quick and versatile option, for an efficient journey to the trails, but more forgiving upon arrival. The perfect tool to build some endurance fitness and improve technical abilities on the more rugged terrain.

This multi-purpose approach is reflected in Kelly’s packing choices. The Backcountry Hydration Backpack provides enough storage capacity for a long day out: a waterproof jacket, gloves and neck warmer to account for a dip in temperatures at the end of the day. Plus, it has the advantage of an internal hydration bladder for water storage, and external pockets for mid-ride essentials, such as snacks and phone. This on-body storage is then removed before taking to the trails, where the Backcountry Frame Pack (1L) is a compact option for maintenance essentials.

Kelly and his partner Erin are currently based in Arizona with the idea of ‘dirty birding’ – a seasonal migration away from the Canadian winter in exchange for the warmer climate.  In the springtime, they’ll be returning to the Tutti Inn to host their calendar of exciting, gravel events.

You can follow the adventures via Tutti Gravel Inn.