| You've decided to take up the exciting and | | | | and take a sip. |
| challenging sport of mountain biking. Unlike | | | | |
| casual biking, you need much more than just a | | | | Mountain bike shorts |
| helmet to ensure that you have a safe ride as | | | | |
| you hit the trails. | | | | These days bike saddles are a lot more |
| | | | comfortable than they used to be. There are |
| Mountain biking is such a popular sport that | | | | saddles made especially for women as well as |
| there is now a vast range of accessories for | | | | men, and you can purchase gel-filled saddles |
| both men and women. Make sure you do a bit of | | | | that make the hours you spend on your bike a |
| research on each item you want to purchase to | | | | bit more comfortable. But you'll also want |
| make sure you buy the best quality for the | | | | padded bike underwear and padded bike shorts, |
| amount of money you want to spend. | | | | just for extra comfort. |
| | | | |
| Bike helmet | | | | Mountain bike gloves |
| | | | |
| We may be listing the bike helmet as an | | | | If you fall off your bike (or should that be, |
| 'accessory' but it really isn't. It is a | | | | when), your hands will probably be the first |
| necessary piece of equipment. In mountain | | | | thing to hit the ground - either a paved |
| biking, it is not a question of if you're | | | | road, a graveled road, dirt, mud, |
| going to fall, it's a question of when. And | | | | bushes...all sorts of hazards that can rip up |
| when you take a header over your handlebars, | | | | your hands unless they're properly protected. |
| having a secure helmet on your head could | | | | Gloves serve another purpose as well, of |
| well save your life. Although you can buy | | | | course. If you're heading down the trail your |
| most accessories second hand if you so | | | | hands will get sweaty which could cause |
| desire, the bike helmet is something that you | | | | problems keeping your hands on your bike |
| want to buy brand-new, and make sure that it | | | | grips. Wearing gloves eliminates that |
| fits your head properly. And if you do have | | | | problem. |
| an accident in which any damage occurs to the | | | | |
| helmet, the wisdom is that you should | | | | Mountain biking shoes |
| purchase another one. One accident per helmet | | | | |
| - that's the rule. | | | | These days there's a shoe made for every |
| | | | sport under the sun, including that of |
| Eye protection | | | | mountain biking. The main difference in |
| | | | mountain bike shoes is the type of sole - |
| Have you ever been riding on the road and | | | | designed for the different types of pedals |
| been passed by a car that sends up a spurt of | | | | out there: with clips or clipless. The |
| gravel at you? If any of that gets into your | | | | clipless type of pedal requires that your |
| eyes, you have to stop immediately to clear | | | | shoes be fitted with special cleats. The |
| your vision. If you're on a trail heading | | | | shoes need to be durable and comfortable. |
| downhill at a breakneck pace, and a baleful | | | | |
| bee takes that opportunity to hit you in the | | | | Trail repair kit |
| eye, the following seconds could end up being | | | | |
| very uncomfortable. Glasses or sunglasses are | | | | Regardless of what type of biking you do, it |
| one solution, but the best method is to wear | | | | always makes sense to carry a bicycle repair |
| goggles. Whatever you get, make sure that | | | | kit with you. However, you can 'get away' |
| lenses are non-breakable. | | | | with not carrying one if you ride on the |
| | | | streets of your city. You'll just be a phone |
| Hydration system | | | | call away from someone who can come and help |
| | | | you if you have a flat, after all. It's not |
| It's common sense to bring a water bottle | | | | that easy if you're out in the woods and your |
| with you when you go out on a trail ride. | | | | cell phone doesn't work. Always have a a |
| It's very easy to get dehydrated which brings | | | | multi-tool designed for bike repair, tire |
| your energy right down. However, in order to | | | | levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat |
| drink from your water bottle you have to take | | | | tires. However, having a repair kit will do |
| your hand off one of the handles, and there | | | | you little good if you don't know how to use |
| are sometimes when you don't want to do that. | | | | the tools! So make sure that after you |
| A hydration backpack is a good solution. As a | | | | purchase your kit you familiarize with each |
| backpack you can put all kinds of necessary | | | | of the tools and how to use them! It's easy |
| inside it, and when you need a drink you just | | | | once you know how. |
| reach over with your mouth to the bite valve | | | | |