Check out a/the bear grenade - super high pitched noise like a rape alarm - hanging from your pack - just pull on the tab. Easy to use and super duper loud. On the idea that the bear won't be used to high pitched noise. I carry it in the chilcotins, though my wife bought it after getting bluff charged by a bear around Bunzten Lake locally.
Bear spray - no good if the wind is wrong, or it's not rapidly accessible.
Bear bangers - easy to shoot behind the bear, can't be carried "loaded", take too long to get into action.
I'm carrying more on the trails these days. Even TP like Mics suggested after an unpleasant experience in Squamish. Which seems funny, as my bike is more resilient and less prone to mechanicals than ever before.
Which reminds me - I need to pick up a couple of quick links.
Any randoms on the trail I'll loan you my pump if yours is shit, or an allen key if you need one, but you're walking out if you didn't bring a tube.