I wear a helmet all the time (most of the time). On occasion I get lazy, but for the most part I stick with my ATGATT rule.
I have a pair of specialized full finger gloves that I wear when I hit the trails. They are mesh on top and leather on bottom. They grip really well and protect my hands nicely.
My FS Gary Fisher has one bottle cage. I can only carry a small bottle on it. When I hit the trails, since I am normally out there for over an hour, I wear my Camelbak. I stash my wallet and cell in there in a plastic bag (just in case the bladder breaks in a fall). I feel it is a good thing to keep a cell handy on the trails; especially going solo. I also always wear my RoadID bracelet with contact info and allergies. Always good to have some peace of mind.
I always say, "What is worse, you 'looking a bit dorky' wearing a helmet while you ride or having a head injury?" I'll be a dork thank you very much. hahaha