Going Mountain Biking? This Is What You Need To Wear

So, you have probably biked around the block a few times in your days. You might even be an avid road bike rider, clocking some serious miles on paved roads. Even if you are an experienced biker, complete with a unitard for speed, you need to start from scratch when it comes to mountain or off-road biking. That is, it is a completely new discipline that has some serious differences. Most importantly, you need to have the right clothing and equipment for the ride. This article explains what pieces of clothing are essential when it comes to mountain biking.

Shoes

Many road bikers wear clip-in shoes. These are efficient and fast. However, when it comes to mountain biking, you probably won't use a clip-in system. First of all, your bike tour probably doesn't have rental bikes with clip-ins. Anyways, you probably don't want to risk using a clip-in system if you aren't an experienced mountain bikers. Most freestyle mountain bikers don't use clip-ins because the aggressive riding style often requires that you use your feet to negotiate turns and obstacles. Simply put, wearing clip-in shoes is more dangerous when mountain biking. Clip-in systems are only really used by professional mountain bikers taking part in long distance races. The best shoes to wear are skate (very common) or mountain biking shoes (very rare). These are just flat soles with very grippy rubber.

Pads

It goes without saying that you want a helmet. Invest in an ASTM or CPSC certified helmet for the ultimate protection. But, in addition to a proper helmet, you should also come equipped with pads. First of all, wear a long sleeve shirt because your elbow might be the first thing to hit the dirt when you fall on a hard turn. Knee pads are probably the most important pad because you can help break your fall and slide out without getting injured if you have knee pads. For the most protection, wear your knee pads directly over a comfortable, soft, stretchy, and breathable pair of long pants. Shin guards are also very helpful for more intense, single track rides. Your shins can take a beating, even if you never fall from the foliage around the trail. There are specialized biking shinguards that attach directly to knee-pads for a more seamless, protective, and less restrictive leg protection.

If you go on your mountain bike tour with all the right equipment, you will enjoy it that much more, be able to go a little faster, have a little more fun, and stay safer at the same time.  To learn more about bike tours, contact a company like Bootdoctors.