| The beginner mountain biker can get a little | | | | mountain bike shorts are over. You can still buy them |
| overwhelmed when they first walk into a bike store | | | | and some racers still use them but the more |
| to buy their first mountain bike and all of the | | | | comfortable padded mountain bike shorts of today |
| mountain bike accessories they will need to start | | | | look and feel much more casual. |
| riding. | | | | Mountain Bike Shoes - Pedal More Efficiently and |
| There is no shortage of mountain bike accessories | | | | Keep Comfortable |
| and related product that you can buy. The sales | | | | You need to pick the type of shoes you wear |
| staff will certainly sell you anything they can but the | | | | depending on the type of pedals you have and the |
| real question for beginners and bikers on a budget is | | | | type of riding you want to do. If you have clipless |
| not what mountain bike accessories are cool, but | | | | type pedals, as I recommend for most types of |
| what you need to have to make your rides safe and | | | | riding, you will need to get some mountain bike |
| enjoyable. Start with these accessories and you | | | | specific shoes to accept the special cleat for your |
| won't come up short on the trail. | | | | pedals. A good mountain bike shoe will be durable, |
| The Bike Helmet - The Most Important Mountain Bike | | | | comfortable and should have a stiff sole for better |
| Accessory | | | | pedaling efficiency. You should also pick the right |
| This is a shameless plea, but please wear a bike | | | | shoe for the terrain you will be riding in. |
| helmet. Nobody should be on a bike without a helmet. | | | | Eye Protection - Protect Your Vision from Wind, |
| There have been too many people with serious head | | | | Bugs, and Dirt |
| injuries that could have been prevented if they were | | | | Something in your eye can run you right off the trail |
| wearing a helmet. | | | | and into trouble. Eye protection such as sunglasses or |
| Modern mountain bike helmets are both comfortable | | | | clear-lensed glasses help keep your eyes free from |
| and stylish and everyone on the trail wears one. | | | | debris as well as protect them from the wind that |
| Mountain Bike Gloves - A Mountain Bike Accessory | | | | can cause your eyes to tear and blur your vision. |
| for Comfort and Safety | | | | Make sure you use non-breakable lenses for safety. |
| When you ride, your hands can take a beating. | | | | Hydration System - Keep Yourself Hydrated for |
| Beginners who tend to keep a death grip on the | | | | Better Energy and Health |
| handlebars can be especially brutal on their hands. | | | | Bring either a water bottle with you or as I |
| Your hands are also one of the first things to come | | | | recommend take a hydration backpack such as a |
| down to the ground when you crash and everyone | | | | Camelbak or similar product. It is easy to let yourself |
| crashes at some point. Mountain bike gloves are a | | | | get dehydrated so bring water with you and drink it |
| great mountain bike accessory because they take | | | | on the trail to keep your body running properly as |
| the beating for you. I recommend full-fingered gloves | | | | you ride. |
| over the cutoff finger type. Dont get caught red | | | | Trail Repair Kit - Make It Home When it Counts |
| handed. | | | | Its not to hard to get stuck in the woods if you |
| Mountain Bike Shorts - Ride Longer and Stay | | | | don't bring the most basic mountain bike accessories |
| Comfortable | | | | for the most common repairs on the trail. To be |
| The first few mountain bike rides you take can be a | | | | prepared bring a multi-tool designed to repair bikes, |
| bit uncomfortable on the rear end. Your body does | | | | tire levers and a patch kit for fixing flats, an extra |
| adjust to this after a few rides, but bike shorts are a | | | | tube in case your tube us un-repairable, and a |
| great accessory that can help keep it to a minimum. | | | | mini-pump. |
| Fortunately, the days of the tight fitting Lycra | | | | |