Mountain biking is a popular and great sport for building power, endurance as well as agility. Using the appropriate mountain biking gear, equipment or clothing will help improve your biking experience. It will also make your next bike ride safer, more comfortable, and faster. Choosing from the plethora of mountain biking gear can be overwhelming. However, below is a shortlist of the essential mountain bike gear to get you started and help make every ride a great ride. All these following gears are available at a specialty bike shop or at any online/outdoor retailer.
Mountain Bike
Getting a good and well-maintained mountain bike is the first gear you’ll be needing for any mountain bike training ride. This essential mountain biking gear is available for every trail condition and rider. You can also choose a bike with different wheel sizes, frame material, full or front suspension, disc or V-brakes, etc. For beginners, it’s important to visit a bike shop( especially those that specialize in mountain biking) to learn more about the bike that best suits your purpose. Be sure to maintain your bike (for people who already have a bike) and perform a pre-ride safety inspection before hitting the trail.
Helmet
Your helmet is the most essential safety gear of mountain biking. This vital piece of gear helps reduce the severity of head injuries such as low-speed crashes or concussions during riding. The mountain bike helmet usually has a visor to help prevent distraction by flashing light or glare by the sun. Generally, there are three types of mountain bike helmets available; XC, trail, and full-time. So, you can choose the one that best suits you depending on the kind of activity you’re doing.
Hydration Pack
A hydration pack is necessary for your ride as it gives you easy access to hands-free hydration. With this piece of biking gear, you don’t have to take your hands off the handlebars to grab your water during your various riding activities or while climbing loose rocky trails. A hydration pack is essential, especially for people who exercise for more than three hours and have limited access to refills on the trail.
Mountain Bike Shoes
A rider can choose different types of cycling shoes, but importantly, all-mountain bike shoes should provide you great comfort, durability, good traction off the bike, and a stiff sole for better efficiency while pedaling. Most beginners wear any pair of shoes they feel comfortable with and use the bike pedal to power the bike, but experts or people who ride frequently prefer mountain biking-specific shoes such as cleated bike shoes that work in combination with pedals and essentially lock the rider’s feet to the bike.
Mountain Bike Gloves
Mountain biking is an exercise that is more demanding on the hands than road cycling because your hands absorb a lot of trail shock and mostly take the punishment if you ever fall on a rough trail. To prevent or reduce the risk of this, you need suitable mountain bike gloves to serve the two primary purposes of providing additional padding and finger coverage. The handlebar grips of a mountain bike are already padded, but gloves add more cushion, especially if you’re involved in long or downhill rides and need extra comfort and protection. Most mountain bikers wear full finger gloves for the best protection, coverage, and grip on the brake levers.
Padded Bike Shorts
Padded bike shorts are also one of the essential mountain biking gear. They offer significant benefits to riders, especially if you ride any distance over rough terrain. They usually have a padded inner liner worn like underwear to increase comfort and reduce chafing on the bike. Also, the outer layer looks baggy, but they’re tough and have abrasion-resistant fabric to hold up to the wear and tear of the trail.
First Aid Kit
Most riders neglect and don’t ride with a first aid kit, but it’s wise to pack a few first aid essentials. They’re different injuries you or other fellow riders may encounter. You never know when you or another rider may lose traction while riding, making carrying a first aid kit important. Your first aid kit should include various sized bandages, tape, pain relievers, moleskin, energy gels, and antiseptic wipes handy.
