| ain bikers need only two things when they go biking - | | | | some time after purchasing those tools to work with |
| a good bike and a good helmet. But there's dozens | | | | them and familiarize yourself with the methods |
| of other pieces of equipment which riders should | | | | necessary to fix the various things that can go |
| stock up on to increase their enjoyment of the | | | | wrong with your bike. |
| sport. | | | | Bike accessories |
| When you're out on your mountain bike, the only | | | | What kinds of accessories can you get on your bike? |
| things you really need to have, apart from a bike | | | | There's such a thing as rear view mirrors, although |
| suited to the terrain over which you're writing, are a | | | | these are more popular among road cyclists than |
| helmet and goggles. Everything else can really be | | | | mountain bikers. The same goes for horns or bells to |
| considered accessories, although they're the type of | | | | let people know you're behind them. Also available |
| accessories that it also important to have. | | | | are bike lights, powerful ones for use when you want |
| But let's consider mountain biking equipment from the | | | | to tear down the trail at night. |
| ground up. | | | | Bike clothes |
| Bike storage | | | | Road cyclists normally wear tight fitting cycle shorts |
| Where do you keep your bike when you're not | | | | and a tight fitting jersey, whereas mountain bike |
| riding? If you live in an apartment where space is at | | | | riders do have a tendency to look a bit baggy. The |
| a premium, it's always best to hang the bike in a hall, | | | | more clothes a mountain biker wears the better, |
| either on the wall or suspended from the ceiling. | | | | actually, as they can serve to cushion falls. Rather |
| (Anyone remember seeing that bike hanging from | | | | than depending on those clothes, however, you can |
| the ceiling in the classic Seinfeld television series?) | | | | also stock up on knee, shin, leg, arm, and elbow |
| If you're fortunate to have a garage, there's plenty | | | | guards. Gloves are also an essential, as they'll protect |
| of places to store a bike, but since chances are you | | | | the hands from road burn, not to mention increasing |
| don't have a kick stand on your mountain bike, the | | | | the grip on the bike. |
| best thing to do is have a bike stand in which to | | | | Bike security |
| place it. Placing bikes in a stand also simply makes the | | | | We live in a world where unattended bikes will quite |
| garage look neater. | | | | often disappear. That may not be much of a bother |
| Bike tools | | | | if its only a $20 "beater", but when it's a mountain |
| Do you want to do your own bike repairs? If so, it'll | | | | bike worth hundreds of dollars the loss stings a bit |
| make it a lot easier on you if you not only have the | | | | more. Sturdy bike locks are a must. |
| small tools made for the purpose, but also a large | | | | It's possible to put transponders into bikes so that |
| tool - to be exact a truing stand, which will help you | | | | they can be tracked if they're stolen. Police use this |
| true your wheels on occasion. | | | | with "bait" bikes. However, various companies are |
| When you're out on the trail you may have a flat, so | | | | working towards making GPS tracking devices to put |
| of course you'll want to bring a bundle of tools with | | | | on real bikes. They'll probably be on the market in a |
| you. But it's not enough for you to have the tools - | | | | few years. |
| you also have to know how to use them. So take | | | | |