After hearing some of my friends talking about mountain biking for months, I became interested to pick up on the hobby myself. It was during some in-depth research on the topic that I discovered how much equipment is needed for the sport. As a result, I put together a comprehensive list of 7 essential items that you need for mountain biking in order to help out other beginners like myself.
What are 7 essential items that are needed for mountain biking? The 7 essential items that are needed for any mountain biking trip include your helmet, lights, gloves, padded shorts, hydration pack, sunglasses, and a kit with first aid and tool supplies.
While it is true that you can pack some additional items for comfort, you will be able to safely ride with just this essential list of equipment.
Mountain biking is a thrilling and exciting activity that can be fun and rewarding for everyone involved. When it comes to scaling steep trails along the side of a mountain, you will need more pieces of equipment than just the bike itself.
If you are new to mountain biking and would like to get a general idea of what to expect as far as essential gear goes, you will find everything you are looking for in this article. Keep reading to get some helpful tips and advice on what you need to bring on your mountain bike ride for the best results.
7 Essential Items You Need For Mountain Biking
When you are preparing for any mountain biking trip, whether you are a beginner to the sport or a seasoned expert, there is a short list of essential equipment that you will need to have with your for the best results.
In this section, we will be outlining 7 of the most necessary items that you won’t be able to travel on a mountain bike without. Take a look at the list down below to get a quick idea of some of the items that you will need before you head out.
You might already have some of these items on hand, while others will need to be found and purchased prior to your first ride.
Essential Mountain Biking Items:
- Helmet
- Lights
- Gloves
- Hydration pack
- Padded shorts
- Sunglasses
- Tool/First aid kit
When you are preparing for a mountain biking trip with everything that you need as far as supplies, the most obvious thing that you will need is your actual mountain bike. Assuming that this has already been acquired, we will begin with the first essential item, which is your helmet.
For obvious reasons, you will need to keep your head safe with a sturdy helmet in the event that anything goes wrong during your trip. Considering the rocky and steep trails that you will be scaling on your bike, you should always make sure that you are protected.
Next, you will need to have lights that will attach to the exterior of your mountain bike for increased visibility and safety. Most people would be reluctant to consider this as a necessary item, especially if riding your mountain bike at night is not in the cards for you at the moment.
However, this does not mean that purchasing a pair of lights will be any less necessary. When it comes to mountain biking, literally anything can go wrong at any moment. If you are riding through a long trail in the mountains during the daytime and one of your tires go flat, you might be stuck walking it back out to the road.
During this time, it is very possible that it could get dark outside, leaving you stranded on the trail without any kind of visibility. So, even if you have your heart set on only riding your mountain bike during the daylight hours, you should secure your safety light in preparation for the worst. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.
In addition to the safety equipment, you will need to have a good pair of gloves for any length of a mountain biking ride. If you fail to protect your hands against the friction of the handle bars, you run the risk of getting blisters and calluses.
Depending on where you are riding your mountain bike, you might come across some less than desirable objects and terrains. If your bike happens to fall in a sharp, rocky area or near some sharp plants like cactuses, you will be glad that you took the time to protect your hands.
The best materials for mountain biking gloves include a durable leather, which should be thick enough to protect you from falls and injuries to your hands.
One of the more obvious gear components that you will need for a mountain biking trip, or any outdoor activity for that matter, is some kind of water supply. While it is true that you can bring just a regular water bottle with you, it is much more convenient to bring your hydration liquid in the form of a backpack.
With the use of a hydration pack, you will be able to fill up the bladder inside and drink out of a mouthpiece that extends toward your face from the back of the piece. This is a hands-free application that will allow you to drink your water and stay hydrated while you are actually riding.
So, if you are able to get your hands on a hydration backpack as opposed to the traditional water bottle, you will find that your experience is much easier than the alternative.
The next piece of equipment that is necessary for any mountain biking adventure is a sturdy pair of padded biking shorts. Since you will be sitting on your seat for long periods of time with added pressure while you are performing steep uphill climbs, you will be glad that you have some extra cushion during your ride.
Shorts with built in padding are not only ideal for purposes of comfort but also for your biking form. If you are uncomfortable in your seat, you will have a hard time with shifting your weight appropriately. A decent pair of padded biking shorts can be found for a relatively low price, and will help you out a lot in the long run.
When you are going out mountain biking during the daylight hours, you will need to have a good paid of sunglasses handy in case some parts of the trail allow the sun to get into your eyes.
Just like when you are driving a car in the road, you must be able to see everything in front of you without any obstructions to your eyesight. When you are peddling your mountain bike at high speeds, the last thing that you want is to run into something that you couldn’t see due to the bright sunlight in your face.
Finally, you should always have a kit with you that is ready to go in the event that anything goes wrong. While your first aid supplies will be different from your bike repair tools, all of these materials are included in the last essential item on this list.
The reason for having these items is pretty self explanatory. If you fall or get hurt, you will be able to bandage yourself up while you are in the middle of a mountain biking trail. While you are out biking, anything can go wrong where you might need to fix a tire or adjust one of your settings.
All of the supplies that are included in these kits should be stored somewhere safe and convenient in the vase that you ever need to use it.
Other Components To Check On Before Your Ride
Along with the essential equipment that you will need for mountain biking, there are a few components that should be checked on your bike before you ride it. The list below will outline the necessary credentials to assess and fix on your mountain bike before you head out.
Components To Check On Before Your Ride
- Is your mountain bike clean?
- Have you oiled the chain?
- Is the front end of the bike lowered?
- Is the saddle area properly adjusted?
- What are your pedal tension levels?
First of all, you will need to make sure that your bike is always clean on the outside and over the individual pieces. If you neglect these cleaning tasks, you will be more at risk for broken or permanently dirty parts that will need replacements.
In addition to keeping everything tidy, you will need to oil the chain and lower the front end of the bike for the best results. Your saddle should be adjusted to the proper height that will allow you to practice the correct biking form, with the tension levels on your pedal being set to the most comfortable setting for the same reason.
As long as you come equipped with the necessary gear that was mentioned earlier on in this article, you will be able to enjoy a successful and stress-free mountain biking ride with everything you need to be prepared.