MTB Accessoris - what do and don't I need?

Now that I have have started riding a couple of decent tracks and am slowly getting fitter, I figured I might start setting up my bike a little to suit me. So I spoke to a few friends, and spent a little Google time to work out what accessories I do and don't need on the bike.

I won't cover what I actually plan to carry with me riding - just what I will attach to the bike or buy to have at home for maintenance. This is only a basic list for starting out so don't expect it to be exhaustive.

Don't:

• Kickstand: a rattling, unreliable death-trap. The first scratch on my bike was due to the wind blowing it over while it was resting on the kickstand. This rattles around on rocky terrain, and I can imaging a big enough jolt would flip it down and throw you off the bike. Take it off!
• Bell: was kind of in the way where I wanted to mount my smart phone holder (below) - and realistically I won't use it. I find riding on the road boring so I don't really care if my bike isn't street legal. If I want to ride to the shops I can put them back on in 5 mins.
• For the same reasons as above - I removed all of the reflectors as well. The rear one was in the way when attaching the wedge pack (below) so I just got rid of them all. Same as the bell - easy to put back on if I need it.

Do:

• Lock and cable. Won't exactly stop master thieves - but at least I can leave the bike in the rack at work or not worry about someone running off with it if I need to be away from it for a minute for any reason when I am out and about.
• Wedge Pack. A very convenient way to carry essentials when riding. Mine contains a bike multi tool, puncture kit and mini pump, spare tube as well as a few other goodies which I will cover in a later post as I figure out what I will carry with me on longer rides. You will want a water proof wedge pack, especially if you do not have a rear mud guard. I also got one that expands to a larger size if desired.
• Smartphone holder. This is pretty neat, it has a pivot mount you can attach to the handlebars, and it is waterproof. You can operate the touch screen through the front cover, and it is easy to remove if not needed. I Use my phone to record all my rides and stats like time and distance. I also intend to use the gps to navigate if needed, although all of the trails I have ridden so far are simple to follow.

That's about it for now - I am sure I will acquire and discard various accessories as I learn more about this wonderful sport in the future, and that is just part of the fun.