My current MTB is a Trek 6500, from 1995 or 96. When I started riding regularly again, this was my only bike. I put about 300 miles on it on the road, and realized I needed to get a real commuter bike. So I got a 2001 Jamis Coda. But, while I was using the Trek I would load it down with around 25 extra lbs of junk in the panniers and it still performed well. I just got tired of the rolling resistance of the fat tires on blacktop, but didn't want to put slicks on it. My max speed on this bike topped out around 36-37 mph on fast downhills. Anyway, I had alot of gear on it. The bike is pretty much bare again, back to the standard MTB configuration of just a wedge pack, although I've kept the Cateye on it. All the other stuff is now on the Jamis. But just as a description of what's on it in the pic below, I've included the gear list.

Here's the list of stuff:

• Cobbworks Oyster Bucket panniers -- These are great for putting lots of crap in, just put a full grocery bag in each one, or programming manuals, or shoes, or whatever you like. They're huge, come off the bike pretty easy, and are fairly cheap (55 bucks). The downside to these is that the retention system isn't so great -- when I got above 25 mph the slightest bump would send a pannier flying into the road. So, the verdict is: great for tooling around town, picking up groceries, etc. Not what you want to use to carry your spare water bottles and food on serious rides.
• Cateye Astrale Cyclecomputer -- pretty good little computer, it comes off the bike easily and stores in a pocket when you have to leave the bike untended (but locked) somewhere. I've had a few occurrences where the speedometer wigged out above 35 mph. I have recorded speeds of up to 86.3 mph with this computer! All in all it works good. The only thing it lacks is a backlight for night riding. A backlight is pretty important for nighttime rides, otherwise you find yourself waiting to pass under a streetlight to see how fast you're going.
• Air Zound Airhorn -- 120 decibels for 20 bucks, recharges w/ a standard pump, AWESOME for riding in traffic. When I hit the button on this baby whatever driver it's pointed at inevitably hits the brakes, probably thinking a huge semi is bearing down on them for the kill. This horn gives me alot more confidence riding in traffic. You can't really shout loud enough to be heard over a radio, and drivers for the most part I've found will ignore a whistle. The horn is great. You can find these at http://www.onlinesports.com
• Vista Road Toad front light and rear flasher -- 4 AA batteries in each. Front light sucks, rear light is pretty good. The front is basically a "please don't hit me" kind of light, improves your visibility to other vehicles but doesn't help you see the road very well. The front burns through batteries like crazy though. The rear is excellent for alerting other drivers they're coming up on a bike. Still on the original batteries that shipped with the light after ~2 months. I recommend the rear flasher light but not the front unless you don't like to see the road and enjoy buying 4 batteries/week.
• 2 Polar Bottles -- fill 'em 1/3rd full the night before a ride, put them in the freezer overnight, fill to the top w/ cold water before you ride, and they stay cold for 4 or 5 hours.
• Kickstand -- a must with the bucket panniers. You can't really lay the bike down with those on, and leaning against something is unpredictable unless you have a perfect weight balance in the panniers.
• Specialized Body Geometry split saddle -- this seat is ok, much more comfortable than the standard issue trek saddle, but somehow just doesn't feel right.
• Cannondale wedge pack -- Does the job of holding tools fairly well. Wedge packs are wedge packs. The only drawback on this item is the annoying strap that slides through the saddle rails. This strap connects with a clip on the bottom of the saddle, after sliding it through a loop. Velcro would've been much easier for taking the pack on/off the bike. As is, you're stuck with threading the strap in and out of the loop.
• HALT! Dog repellent -- One handlebar-mounted can does wonders for my confidence riding by dog parks. I like dogs well enough when I'm standing on the ground and they're friendly. But the sight of someone on a bike seems to drive dogs into a frenzy. I bought this after a dog leaped over a fence in a dog park and started running after me. I hear squirting dogs with your water bottle will work too, but the Polar bottles w/ the thick double-wall insulation don't squirt so well.

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