Clothing for Mountain Biking

Exercise and recreation are obviously key elements of mountain biking, but an equally important aspect to the experience is the clothing that you wear. Choosing the right clothing to wear when mountain biking not only helps you look good on your bike but also improves safety should you fall. Follow this guide to understand the clothing you should choose for your mountain biking experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Spending budget
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a helmet to wear while mountain biking. The helmet that you choose is the single most important piece of biking gear that you can buy. Try on several different sizes of helmets until you find one that fits snugly against your head and covers the entire crown.

    • 2

      Buy padding to protect you from injury. If you are riding on rough trails with higher chances of falling, you should make it a point to wear knee pads and elbow pads. You may not think these pads have the "cool" factor, but the fact is that they can dramatically reduce common injuries should you fall and help you to keep biking without pain.

    • 3

      Choose the right gloves to protect your hands when biking. A good set of fingerless gloves will help reduce the amount of vibrations absorbed into your arms, making long rides more comfortable. It is also a good idea to select gloves that have firm padding on the palms. This will help prevent injury should you fall and catch yourself with your hands.

    • 4

      Purchase a pair of biking shorts to wear when mountain biking. These shorts are form fitting to prevent chaffing. Many mountain bikers, especially those who ride off-trail, prefer to buy shorts that have padding. This not only reduces the chances of injury should you fall, but also protects your legs from being damaged by greenery slapping them as you ride by.

    • 5

      Obtain a good mountain biking shirt to wear. Mountain biking shirts typically fit snug against the body. They come in both short and long sleeves, depending on the weather conditions you will be riding in. Most shirts typically have a long zipper in the front to help you vent away or hold in body heat. They also have a series of pockets in the back to provide a place to store maps and light snacks.

    • 6

      Consider the option of buying special mountain biking shoes. These shoes are somewhat difficult to walk in, but are perfect for biking because the sole of the shoe contains a special socket for locking into the pedals. This allows you to both push and pull when pedaling up hill, and also helps you maintain your footing when going over a bumpy surface.