mountain biking is a very enjoyable sport to do. There are so many trails to ride and see! With the advent of computer gaming devices and the ability to create and ride trails, the population of mountain bikers has exploded.
There are several types of mountain bikes, all varying in terrain specific bikes and gravel bikes. Both types can be used on trails or just around the property for rides. Many riders choose to use a specialized bike as it is more efficient in terrain such as rocky or grassy hills.
Specialized has two main brands: E-Bikes and Mountain Bikes. An E-Bike is more of a normal bike with no special features. A Mountain Bike typically has some sort of feature such as color or shape shocks on the wheels for better terrain handling.
This article will go over some common protective gear needed for both types of bikes, including sizes, recommended shirts/shirts/vests/footgear/ankles/ankles/heels/knee pads/shins/toes.
Contents:
Eye protection
When mountain biking with no protection against high altitude, eye protection is a must. There are two main categories of eye protection: visual aids and actual filters.
With visual aids such as eyepins or filter glasses, you can see better. But because these do not fully remedy the issue of poor eyesight, only very fine details can be viewed.
With true lenses you are promoting an increased risk of keratitis (commonly known as ‘bikkelraad’ or ‘nail polish blindness’), which can easily become a death sentence on a mountain bike.
Therefore, it is important to be careful with how much you wear your eye protection. With proper care and attention to your own eyes, there is never any need for prescription spectacle lenses to use.
Ear protection
Even though ear protection is a basic feature of mountain bike gear, it can be missing in some products. This is due to varying levels of ear protection available on the market.
Most ear plugs are made from two types of material: paper and foam. Paper ear plugs cannot be shaped or folded into a more compact size, so they are usually left out at tracks during riding.
Because foam ear plugs cannot be shaped, they are the default protection type used in ears. Though this can make it difficult to find true foam-ear plug pairs, it can also help protect against certain things such as sound or soundwaves.
Some ears do not respond well to relative strength of protections such as foam ears prevent sound from entering through certain openings such as the nose and mouth.
Nose protection
is another vital part of mountain biking safety gear. Nose protection refers to any piece of equipment that is used to protect the nose and face from rocks, dirt, and other debris.
Nose protection can be a simple pair of glasses or a full nose bridge cover. Many companies offer discounts for buying a pair of safety glasses together, which is a great savings option.
The majority of nose protection products are cheap, plastic types that break easily. These must be protected against accidental Greenland ice pick attacks!
Some products are made out of foam or heavy duty tissue paper, which are much more durable and resistant to cold temperatures or heat damage.
Mouth protection
If you are mountain biking with no mouth protection, then you have a few options. You can buy some sort of gums or mints to place between your teeth and in between your lips to keep them buried. You can also use a chapstick or other moisturizing skin care product to help prevent chipping or bleeding at the edges of your mouth where the bike tire meets your gum.
The first option is better for those who do not ride alone as it will help preserve your personal hygiene. The second option is better for those who do not have very sensitive teeth as the bike tire will not cause too much pressure to spread through the rest of the mouth.
Neck protection
In the age of tech we have introduced to us tech that helps us protect our necks. With high definition cameras and recording software for them, you can now save yourself from having to rewind or replay footage due to poor neck protection.
A camera is a very useful piece of tech. You should buy one that records in high definition and that has a good quality zoom would be an improvement in neck protection. Many today offer this as a feature and are worth investing in.
If you want video but no zoom is better than no video at all! No zoom does more harm than no neck protection.
With edging out the middle of the list is chest protection. This refers to anything that limits or decreases the risk of injury when you get hit by something. It also includes what type of protection gives you more protection!
There are two types of chest protection: undergarments and armor.
Body armor
If you are planning to ride in an urban environment or if you are racing in a bike race, body armor is your best bet. While not expected any time soon, poverty and famine are common today.
Armour has two main components: protection and weight. Weight comes from a belt system that attaches to your pants or shorts, and another that attaches to your jacket. Protection comes in the form of foam pads or blankets which are placed over the skin.
In recent years, news headlines have been dominated by stories of well-known people who have died from injuries caused by attacks with knives, clubs, fists, and/or guns. All too often media reports do not highlight these precautions as required gear.
This article will discuss some tips for looking like a mountain biker when riding in urban settings without much protection is needed. If you are going for criterium races where speed is important, then full protective clothing is needed.
Gloves
A critical element to protecting your mountain bike is wearing gloves. While not a mandatory part of the mountain biking lifestyle, riding through snow or ice is highly recommended.
Mountain biking is very active, so it is important to protect yourself from rocks and sticks. Luckily, gloves are a tasty feature to have on a bike computer.
With mountain biking computers, you can set reminders to wear gloves. On ascent grades and steep sections, you want to be protected from knobbles and small pieces that might get into your hands.
Many glove brands offer their own line of wristbands or tops that are resistant to water and mud absorption. These are great to use as emergency coverup or during maintenance clean-ups.
Legs armor
Finding the right level of protection for you depends on your specific threats, terrain, and conditions.
Low protection usually offers more safety than no protection at all. Some threats are higher level than others, so it is worth considering what level of safety you are looking for.
For example, if you are worried about riding in a car accident or water intrusion, then a less protective bike tube might be the best choice. However, if you were planning on going to a rodeo or sporting event where physical contact with the horse or human is likely, then more protective gear is necessary.
Some threats can turn into opportunities when looking at the exposed areas of a bike rider. While none of us would ever wish for an opportunity attack to happen while riding, it does make sense to protect ourselves from those sorts of things.
This includes protective gear like leathers or thin wool padding around sensitive areas like testes or bladder.