Mountain bike is a wonderful sport for improving strength, endurance, and agility. You can make your next mountain biking ride faster, safer, and more comfortable by using the proper mountain bike gear, clothing, and equipment.
Regardless of whether mountain biking is your only sport or part of a cross-training fitness routine.
There’s no doubt that mountain biking has become the sport of the .001 percent thanks to the rise of carbon superbikes as expensive as cars. However, if you try hard enough and in the right places, you can find some great deals.
When it comes to the best deals, you can’t beat used. Demo bikes are always available on eBay, but if you’re looking for a more dependable option, try your local bike shop, as the bikes are sure to be in good condition, and you’ll have already established a relationship with the mechanic.
Buy a bike from a reputable manufacturer or consider buying a bike from a closeout store if you’re set on buying new. Even the most affordable bikes nowadays are still very well made.
I have compiled a list of my recommendations for new beginner bikes and related equipment. The list also includes some upgrades you may want to consider.
Mountain Bike
A mountain bike that is fitted correctly and is well-maintained is the most important piece of equipment for mountain bike training. You can get a bike for every riding level and trail condition. Different wheel sizes and frame materials are available, as well as full-suspension or front suspension, disc, or V brakes.
Consider consulting a professional when purchasing a mountain bike. They can help you find the best bike for you. You can learn more about mountain biking and get fitted for a bike at a local bike shop if you are just getting started. These features make mountain biking more enjoyable.
Brakes
If you want to stop safely and at a good distance while riding high-speed mountain bikes, go for disc brakes, which provide more braking security.
Frame size
Side tubes, seat tubes, head tubes, and more of a Mountain bike’s components must be designed so that it provides easy steps over and proper pedaling height for riders.
Suspension
If you’re planning on cycling on varying terrains you may want to consider getting a Mountain bike that will absorb some of the shock and impact of the ground. You can also get a bike with a suspension fork if you’re looking for a little extra comfort.
Wheels
You’ll want to pick the right wheel diameter based on the terrain you’ll be riding on and how fast you’ll be going. There are different sizes of mountain bike wheels. However, larger wheels provide better traction but will take longer to accelerate. A smaller wheel is lighter and can be maneuvered more easily.
Helmet
Do you know why bicycle helmets are so important?
Every Mountain bike rider should wear a helmet. Around 800 bicyclists are killed in the United States each year, and another 500,000 end up in hospital emergency rooms. The head and face are involved in more than two-thirds of the deaths and injuries. As much as 85 percent of head injuries for bicyclists can be prevented by wearing a helmet.
When buying a helmet, what should I look for in terms of safety information?
Within the helmet, you will find a Consumer Product Safety Committee (CPSC) sticker. A helmet with this label or sticker is guaranteed to provide high-quality protection against impacts. The CPSC standard is mandatory for all helmets manufactured after March 1999. CPSC standards are also met by the ASTM, ANSI, and Snell labels. Prior to 1999, these labels were voluntary.
Is it possible to use a helmet that has been used or a hand-me-down?
Whenever you consider purchasing or using a used helmet, avoid those that are cracked, broken, or have been in a crash. Be aware that helmets manufactured before 1999 might have cracks you cannot see and might not meet current safety standards.
Mountain Bike Gloves
As important to cyclists as padded bib shorts and a cycling MTB jersey are gloves (and we’re talking about short finger mitts here). Gloves allow you to grip your handlebars more easily, add extra cushioning with padded and gel inserts, protect your hands if you crash, and wipe your nose.
When you’re riding a Mountain bike on a warm day, your hands can get pretty sweaty, and unless you’ve got really grippe bar tape, your hands can easily slide around.
Padded gloves offer extra comfort by cushioning your hands from the vibrations transmitted from the handlebar and Mountain bike to the main contact points. Padding levels vary greatly between brands. Many are padded with gel. If you prefer an unpadded palm, there are gloves with simple, unpadded palms available.
A crash can be made safer by wearing gloves. No matter how cautious you are, accidents can happen no matter how carefully you ride. Often, gloves are enough to prevent painful cuts and grazes since they are the first layer of defense.
Clothing
Mountain bikers vs. roadies: What’s the difference? Lycra versus bags.
Your riding experience will be more comfortable with mountain bike clothing. Despite what you might think, MTB clothing provides more than just casual looks: it’s breathable, flexible, often reinforced, and usually made of a tougher material so it won’t tear if you fall off.
If you’re considering mountain bike shorts, choose ones that have at least one zip pocket, a reliable fastening system, and are of a reasonable length so that they don’t ride up when pedaling. Chamois inner shorts are typically included with many shorts, so you can choose whether you want the extra padding. As an alternative to wearing baggy mountain bike shorts, road cycling Knicks or bib shorts are popular.
Eye protection
If you ride a mountain bike, you should wear goggles or glasses to protect yourself from bugs, debris dust, UV rays, splashing water/mud, high-speed winds, and protrusions during falls and crashes. A pair of goggles or glasses can help prevent the majority of eye injuries that occur in cycling sports.
Wearing glasses designed to withstand impacts will offer more protection and keep your lenses from breaking during crashes.
It is the last thing you want to worry about getting your eyes poked by broken glass or sharp metal frames during a fall. You should wear the following eyewear:
A metal frame is not allowed
Glass lenses are not permitted
Because they are fixed to the rider, goggles offer better protection during crashes/falls. You might still crash with fogged-up goggles if you’re riding with them.
Cycling Shoes
When you cycle – whether on the road, up a mountainside or in an indoor class – your feet don’t touch the ground much. Shoes, however, are essential.
As a competitive cyclist and personal trainer based in California, Keli Roberts, CPT, explains that cycling shoes are made specifically for the sport and can enhance your overall biking experience.
The question you may have is, “Do spin shoes really make a difference?” You know, one worth the money.
Benefits of Cycling Shoes
A Secure Footing
Bicycling shoes have the benefit of clipping into your Mountain bike’s pedals, much like ski boots clip into a ski. Pedals (or pedals on a stationary bike) have holes in the bottom that correspond to the holes on cycling shoes where you attach cleats (a metal or rubber plate).
Thus, you won’t have to worry about your foot flying out from under you when you ride in spin shoes.
Stronger strokes from a solid foundation
Shoes for athletics are usually flexible, permitting the foot to bend and move. In order to maximize their energy, cyclists wear stiff-soled shoes.
Your pedal stroke will be more powerful when your feet are flat and stable. Pushing with your hamstrings works your hamstrings while pulling with your hip flexors (muscles across your pelvis). This increases your power.
A Smoother Ride
With your foot attached to the pedal, you will be more stable and your legs will have less work to do to keep your foot in place. By doing so, Roberts says, you make your pedal stroke smoother and increase your pedaling efficiency.
A More Aerodynamic Position
According to Texas-based triathlon coach Jen Rulon, an Ironman triathlete and 15-time Ironman champ. clipping into your Mountain bike will increase your aerodynamics. You can get lower to the handlebars with your torso when you clip in.
