| So you've got yourself a nice bike. That's the first big | | | | depend on the type of pedals your bike has. If you |
| step, but having the right accessories and | | | | have clip-less pedals, which most mountain bikes do, |
| components can make a world of difference. Let's | | | | we recommend specific mountain bike shoes. These |
| take a gander at some of the most important parts | | | | come standard with special cleats, designed around |
| to outfit your rig. | | | | your pedals, and are both sturdy and comfortable. |
| Helmet - Don't Leave Home Without It | | | | They have rigid soles to keep your feet from |
| From the simplest to the roughest of conditions, no | | | | suffering any pain or damage. Your feet, like |
| matter what kind of riding you do, the importance of | | | | everything else, are going to take a bit of a beating, |
| a proper helmet cannot be overstated. At the very | | | | so having the right shoes is a huge help. |
| least, a good helmet can save you from a nasty cut, | | | | Mountain Bike Shorts |
| but at the end of the day, a bike helmet can mean | | | | Let's face it: if you're riding rough terrain, nothing |
| the difference between life and death. | | | | takes a bigger beating than your rear end. While a |
| Besides, these days modern bike helmets are | | | | proper seat is a must have, some high-quality |
| incredibly safe and stylish, there's just no good | | | | mountain bike shorts can really help relieve the pain. |
| reason to ride without one. There are virtually | | | | You could swing for those ubiquitous tight-fitting |
| unlimited color and style options, so take your time | | | | Lycra shorts (you know the ones), but recently |
| and find a helmet you like. | | | | fashion has caught up and now you can find |
| Eye Protection | | | | well-padded, comfortable riding shorts in a wide |
| If you're riding at high speeds, especially downhill, | | | | variety of styles and colors. |
| then you really need to protect your eyes. The | | | | Mountain Bike Gloves |
| smallest fleck of dust or dirt can mean losing vision at | | | | Your hands may be the most crucial part of |
| a crucial moment, and that can spell disaster. Not to | | | | controlling your ride, so you need them free and |
| mention the wind blowing in your face, making your | | | | capable at all times. Between gear shifting, braking, |
| eyes water and occluding vision. For sunny days a | | | | and the inevitable death-grip of a rough patch, your |
| decent pair of sunglasses is fine, or you can also try | | | | hands see a lot of wear and tear. A decent pair of |
| goggles or clear lenses. | | | | mountain bike gloves can help alleviate that pain. And |
| Hydration - Drink Lots of Water | | | | if you fall, you'll really want those gloves to take hit |
| Serious biking means a serious workout, and keeping | | | | the dirt, not your bare hands. |
| properly hydrated is incredibly important. Any cheap | | | | Emergency Preparedness |
| water bottle will do the trick, and for a few bucks | | | | Mountain biking is about fun and adventure, and most |
| you can find a simple-to-install bottle bracket to | | | | of the time that's exactly what it is. But accidents do |
| attach to the bike's frame. For serious riders, | | | | happen, so you want to be prepared with a few |
| however, we recommend a backpack hydration | | | | tools. Just a few things, such as a multi-tool (made |
| system, such as the Camelbak. It will keep your | | | | especially for bikes, preferably), a patch kit and tire |
| hands free at all times and make hydration a | | | | lever for flat tires, an extra tube, and a mini-pump |
| carefree task. | | | | are all super-handy to have around in a pinch. Also |
| Mountain Bike Shoes | | | | don't forget a small first aid kit, with things like |
| What makes the best kind of shoes will ultimately | | | | bandages and Neosporin for cleaning up scrapes. |