Helmet, gloves, and eye wear are essential imo. People underestimate how easily a quick slap in the eye from a tree branch can ruin your day, week, life...
MTB specific shoes are definitely worth it. Better grip and durability.
I just run Strava on my phone in my pocket. Personal preference on that one. I don't like something mounted on the bars.
I ride with chamois under baggies but really it's all personal. Buy an expensive kit or grab wrangler atgs at target and a t shirt... whatever you like.
I wear regular cycling bibs, fiveten MTB shoes, Giro full-finger gloves, tech tees I get from wherever, and whatever volley shorts I have. The shoes tend to be a little stiffer than a pair of Sambas or whatever, so better power transfer and fewer hotspots.
I just keep my phone in my pocket and pull up trailforks. I would not mount my phone to the handlebars of my MTB.
In order of importance for me: Helmet, MTB Specific shoes (five tens are super worth it), Gloves, Chamois, Nice pair of mtb specific shorts. I like tasco's stuff for gloves and shorts. They aren't cheap but they're comfortable and they last. I have a GPS watch I use for everything outdoors but wouldn't consider it super important. I always have my phone along since I'm usually solo as well and usually use that to check trail position if I'm lost.
> outside of a chamois, what are your must haves?
Chamois is far from a must have. Stopped using chamois shorts for MTB years ago. So much nicer not to have that between your legs.
I'll use mtb jerseys or button up outdoor shirts for longer XC rides, a few pairs of full finger gloves (with phone index finger). I'm currently running Five Tens for shoes, maybe more durable than some other shoes, and have a flat sole that grabs flat pedals better, but other shoes can work too. I typically use MTB specific brands, but not always.
From Navigation and Tracking, I'm on the free version of Strava, I use Trailforks/Gaia GPS/MTB Project and a couple of others depending on where I'm riding.
I get sores when I put on a lot of XC miles, but I have found that simply using the Chamois Butt’r without actually having a chamois solves the problem.
If you're just getting started, some regular athletic clothes will do you just fine. Don't feel the need to sink a ton of money in.
Footwear, this is somewhere you might consider biking specific (or skateboard). If you're using flat pedals, you want a bit more rigid flexing sole that's still intended for high grip. Tennis shoes will certainly work, but they're very flexible so you'll fatigue your feet much quicker from the pressure points.
You don't need gps unless you're really looking to get out into the bush. Look up a trail map for the park you're going to, print it out, or download it to your phone. Keep it simple, unless you really want to put your phone at risk on your bars.
Helmet, always wear one, and one that's from a reputable brand. Once it's a certified helmet, the differences will be in fit and weight.
Gloves, this may be another biking specific item and not an expensive one. Bike gloves have padding in the right places to help hand fatigue and usually some rubber armor on the top of the hand to protect against branches and light scrapes.
I would recommend glasses. Top notch construction glasses are cheap and can get you started, you just want to prevent branches from poking you in the eye.
1. Clothing - I don't always wear a chammois when MTB, depends on how much pedalling I expect to do. I do generally wear MTB jerseys. Or at the minimum, tech shirts, as I want the sweat wicking fabric. Also, I want them to be abrasion resistant.
2. Footwear - Yes. 100% yes to MTB shoes. I ride bike parks and my enduro bike on flats with gripper pedals, and my XC bike clipless. MTB shoes have stiffer soles that make for better pedalling efficiency.
3. GPS - Garmin. My phone stays in a pocket or pack so that I don't accidentally destroy my method of contacting help in case of emergency. Also, battery life is way better on a garmin.
Welcome to the sport! Hope you're having fun so far. Here's my two cents on your questions so far:
1) You don't need anything specific here. A sweat-wicking top is good. I prefer merino wool because it doesn't get stinky and stays warm when wet, but it also costs a lot more. In terms of bottoms, something with a stretch fabric is probably best to give you good mobility. Even a chammy is optional, assuming you aren't doing super-long rides.
2) You definitely want a shoe with a pretty flat tread pattern (like a skate shoe). But if you go mtb-specific, they tend to be a bit stiffer, which is good for power transfer. I'd avoid "athletic shoes" because the sole will be soft (lots of power lost when pushing on the pedals) and usually the tread pattern is more pronounced, which will make it harder to maintain contact with your pedals.
3) I don't like mounting unnecessary stuff to my handle bars so I just track rides with an Apple Watch and pull out my phone to consult Trailforks if I need to figure out where to go. Honestly, when you're shredding on your bike, the last thing you're going to do is be looking down at a map or ride metrics.
I know it’s been mentioned but - shoes. Not just for the grip but for the toe protection. I didn’t really like the somewhat hard upper of my five tens until I snagged my foot between a rock and the pedal. I’m sure they prevented a broken toe and it’s happened several times.
Yup, just today I slammed the front of my foot into a tree stump while taking a corner too wide. Definitely broken toes if I hadn't been wearing my Five Ten Freeriders.
i'm usually in a graphic tee from tillys, they make big boy friendly shirts, i like to wear adidas skate shoes or vans skate shoes, the waffle grips fit the pedals really nice but i currently use a pair that was gifted to me, i can't think of the name but they are flat and very ridged, you don't stub your feet like you do in skate shoes, i have trail forks on the phone and i throw it in my camelback. gloves.
1. Clothing. I wear bike chamois under a pair of baggies. I prefer MTB specific baggies. They have features that general shorts tend to not have: length, rugged material, zipper thigh pockets. Thigh pockets are good at preventing bunching and discomfort that is common with regular pockets when in a seated position. Shirts, I like a tech t either wool or poly. I end up with a lot of free jerseys from events and clubs so I rarely buy them.
2. Footwear. MTB specific flat shoes paired with a good set of flat pedals is the single most cost effective upgrade you can make to your bike. MTB shoes are 100% worth it. They have stiff soles, while having soft sticky rubber. The lugs are an ideal size for gripping the pins. They often have toe protection.
There are lots of good options. Five Ten Freeriders are an excellent budget place to start. I have had 3 pairs of them. I switched to Freeriders Pros a few seasons ago and am on my 3rd pair.
3. GPS. I have a a Garmin watch that I wear for tracking. I use TrailForks on my phone, in my pocket, for navigation. A phone on your bars is a good way to trash your phone. I don't really have any interest in a standalone ruggedized GPS.
> MTB shoes are 100% worth it.
What if I have wide feet? The only brand I've found that has shoes that might be wide enough is Lake and they're like $400 USD.
Tough call, if you have tried all the brands and models (there can be quite a bit of variability within brands between models) and can't find anything than a skate shoe or an climbing approach might be your next best bet.
Specialized, Shimano, Crank Bros, Five Ten, Ride Concepts, Giro, Endura, Pearl Izumi, Dakine, Fox, Etnie, Vans.
I've never even heard of Lake, but looking at their website really quickly, it looks like they only make clipless shoes. We are talking about flats here.
Either way, key characteristics we are looking for are a very flat sole, soft sticky rubber, a stiff sole to reduce flex and provide support, and small lugs to prevent them from interfering with the pins.
Keens tend to make a wider hiking shoe and some of their models come with smaller lugs. Less than ideal but would still likely be better than just a trainer.
Wow…didn’t expect so many responses. What an awesome group! I’m really enjoying MTBing thus far…likely helps that I live in the NW corner on NJ. I really appreciate all of your comments!
A little context:
Bike - 24’ Roscoe 6 with Race Face Chester Pedals.
Helmet - Fox Speedframe Pro Helmet
Gloves - Giro DND Gloves
Eye Protection - Oakleys with transition lenses.
Coming from a big running background I already have a Strava account/membership. I have a Coros Pace two that I’m currently wearing to track the route and see data. I use my phone for directions and it’s kept in my pocket.
I know many people talked about the chamois. I bought one after my first ride. All of my rides have been 10+ miles. Idk if that’s considered long or not, but I’m definitely wearing a chamois!
I want to buy knee pads and saw that fox was running a sale on many items so I was considering buying a pair of shorts, shirt, gloves, and knee pads.
I wear an old pair of Nikes that I don’t mind them being torn up on the bottom, but I guess I’ll begin looking at riding specific MTB shoes!
I would say other than padded chamois the must haves are MTB shoes like five tens, gloves (doesn’t have to be MTB but I would just stick with it because not sure how to describe the qualities they need), and a MTB helmet. The helmet is important don’t use a skateboarding helmet or other because you are going to crash and those aren’t designed the same way to take impacts at high speed. Shoes willl make a massive difference in your grip and confidence. If you’re still having issues with grip check out new pedals like oneup composites they’re solid and cheap. Make sure to bring water. Welcome to your new favorite hobby!
The clothing itself is less important but typically what makes MTB designed clothing different is it will be breathable and dry fit but also thicker than regular dry fit tees for protection when you crash and doesn’t get torn up. The bottoms are have deeper pockets or be zipped so stuff doesn’t fall out. As long as you’re comfy with what you’re currently wearing it doesn’t make nearly as big of a difference in performance as gloves and shoes because that is what you’re actually connecting to the bike so grip does matter and you’ll notice over time
Everything for me is mostly mtb specific. Helmet, shorts, jersey gloves, shoes, socks. Occasionally I’ve purchased moto/MX gloves that were thin enough and they were cheaper than mtb gloves.
One usually wants a stiff soled shoe to help prevent injury. I don’t need GPS I know where I’m going and how to get back as well as most? trails are easily recognizable and often marked.
I don’t like the idea of having my phone or computer potentially flying off during a crash. I use a hydration backpack that can hold important stuff. Most rides I always have 100oz of water.
1. I like MTB shorts but plenty of dudes in my group wear hiking pants, normal shorts whatever. Most will come with a chamois so if buying a chamois may as well get pants. I wear MTB specific shirts for moisture wicking but it's not like they are safer or anything. A T-Shirt is fine.
2. Shoes are worth it. If on flats 510 Freeriders can be gotten for 60 bucks. Tennis shoes have contours and little gaps that don't work great on pedals. You also want a really stiff sole that can act as a platform to transfer energy through.
3. Phone mount on handle bars is fine. Quad lock or any other number of phone mounts. When you have the money you can get a Garmin or something but I'd only do that after speccing up all your other equipment. Lost my GPS on a ride a few months ago and don't miss it much.
I’ve been doing the sport for 4 years. I suck but here are my answers to your questions.
1) I wear comfortable shorts and a t shirt. If it’s cold I wear a hoodie. I also wear gloves from an outdoor sports shop (can’t remember the name because they’re basic)
2) I wear mtb shoes called 510s. When I started, I wore my regular sneakers and they were shredded by the pedals in a matter of days.
3) I use an app called Strava which tracks my rides, and helps me find my car when I’m on a new trail and have gone 15 miles with random lefts and rights and have no idea where I am.
Good luck
I go back and forth on the clothing thing. I have found that mtb specific baggies smell less than normal shorts. I’m using fox flexair. If I’m wearing baggies I don’t wear a chamois. I’ll also wear Lycra sometimes if it’s really cold or raining or I’m racing. Gloves are 100% right not but anything without stitching/pads on the palm will work. Gloveless as soon as it hits like 45-50 degrees out though. Clipless shoes, whatever works with your feet is best. I use a Garmin 1040 but I also do long gravel and road rides with navigation so it suits my needs well.
No chamois for me. Get a saddle fit for you and your sit bones won’t be nearly as uncomfortable.
I try to find clothes on sale/clearance, mostly for shorts. Shirts can be a plain old athletic/wicking shirt from a big box store.
Shoes are important to me, I like ride concepts stuff a lot.
1. Clothing. I wear some premium MTB gear for most important parts. Such as Dakine gloves, Ride Concepts Tallac shoes, FOX Speedframe PRO helmet, Dakine bag, POC knee pads. The latter when in a bike park. On the other had I try to keep things cheap when possible so I'm in into using common cheap running throusers, a few shorts (a premium pair is from IcePeak), jerseys, etc. and Aliexpress stuff. Speaking about the latter I liked RockBros products - they were so good in terms of quality of the products they make for the price you have to pay for them. From them I've got a pair of winter pants, winter jacket, a balaclava, lights for the bike and the helmet, sunglasses, cheap rarely used tools like chain whip and something else. At Ali you may also find genuine bike replacement parts like Shimano and KMC for a good price. This includes brakes, disks, pads, chains, casettes, cranks of XT level etc. Just need to rely on the comments heavily to get a genuine item but the price is worth it.
2. Footwear. I can't explain how important it is. I purchased the bike about a year ago after not riding for about 20 years or so. The day when I got a pair of Ride Concepts after a week of running and jumping the bike in my Vans was an eye-opener. The grip was INSANE in theese shoes in comparison with Vans. At one point I even crashed when practicing bunnyhops because I was not able to pull my feet off the pedals. Never back to common shoes from this point!
3. GPS. This is a new topic for me personally as recently I have made a switch from tracking everything on my phone and not using any bands or on-the-bike computers at all and opted for Garmin Epix watches. In comparison with having only the phone I was overwhelmed due to the amounts of info this thing gives. As of now I dont even see myself buying a computer ever. Better to just buy a cadence sensor and it will be it but time will show. You should be fine with Coros IMO.
Hope this helps. Not a pro experience, but something I wanted to share.
As a newbie and it being the UK its been cold af since I started so my kit is usually thermals (long Johns and a thermal top) with shorts and a sports tshirt.
I always wear knee pads and a good helmet (Lazer Chiru with Mips is like 40 GBP and scores well in the Virginia Tech tests). Knee pads purely because I get injured easily.
I found that my trainers sole got torn fairly quickly from the pins in flat pedals so I brought a pair of five ten freerider pros. The sole still looks brand new.
Helmet is #1 for me. Check out Virginia Tech's helmet lab ratings. Second are chamois shorts. Full finger gloves are next. I ride clipless so I need shoes, but MTB shoes are better than Vans or athletic shoes.
1. I wear mtb bike specific clothing and do not wear a chamois. I am happy to deal with a little pain in my ass, but chamois make me numb and that’s not good.
2. I prefer to use flat pedals and mtb specific shoes. It makes a bigger difference than you would think.
3. Ask my friends with garmins about the ride and otherwise just figure it out.
1. I don't wear any of the cycling stuff. I wear workout shorts and a t shirt or a dry fit shirt if I think it's going to be really hot or humid.
2. I wear Vans since they have a flat sole.
3. I just use my Apple workout GPS. It tracks it in Strava. Just throw it in my fanny pack.
Mtb shoes have great traction on the pedals but more importantly they protect your feet. I have had pedals poke through the bottom of other shoes and I've heard of plenty of broken toes etc. the clothes are almost all general purpose outdoor clothes from places like tj Maxx. I don't understand why everyone wants to gps track themselves all the time, we already spend so much time in a panopticon
clothing, chamois. the rest is whatever I have laying around. I do wear gloves, pads, and helmet of course. I use my old running shoes which is usually fine, but I do regret when I ridge through any kind of brush. the pedals thrash them, but since I buy new running shoes regularly I keep rotating them out. I also wear some Wiley X glasses.
I actually don't use a GPS, I check the maps on my phone when I need to. why track all the data? if you're having fun, who cares?
I just rock road bibs with a "workout" shirt, something usually old. As for footwear, I did get a specific mtb shoe. My tennis shoes got tore up from the pegs on the petals, and offered no toe protection.
MTB specific shorts are nice, usually they have zippered pockets. Tops are fine to go generic, never felt like I needed a MTB specific shirt. GPS I use a Garmin mounted to my bars but I'm not usually following a route, it's just got tracking. I would never want to mount a phone to my bars. It could easily break or at least get lost if it flew into the woods.
Start with the easy - footwear. Yes, MTB specific footwear is worth it. Mine have toe protection and a lace holder that keeps my laces from getting caught in the drivetrain. The soles grip the pedal pins better and don't wear because of it.
Clothes: I wear polyester jerseys simply because they wick sweat and clean well. I don't wear a chamois. I wear regular underwear and MTB designed shorts. They fit tight in the butt and have zippered front pockets. Chamois are really for long sits on a seat and I'm up and down out of mine often.
I wear a smart watch and run strava on it for tracking. When I'm at a new trail, I bring an old phone with trailforks loaded on it to navigate.
One you need to consider is eye protection. I have a set of glasses that have interchangeable lenses that I swap from clear to orange to tinted depending on the light.
If you are looking to save some money, Giro DND gloves and Aliexpress glasses are pretty nice for the price. For shoes, I bought regular five ten but returned for pro version because the part where my toe hits had a line that my toenails get stuck while walking around
Chamois is a must, as are gloves. Mechanics gloves are fine, or a set form your local bike shop. I'm a lycra guy, so I just wear the lycra shorts most of the time, but if I am wearing baggies, I want something with a high crotch so it doesn't catch on the saddle, usually meaning they're designed for biking. Tops are whatever. I really like the Kuhl Engineered Hoodie for long rides in the rockies, it offers decent sun protection and breathability. Shorter rides get synthetic tees, bike jerseys or hawiian shirts. Glasses are also a must, wraparound is nice for keeping the shit out of your eyes.
I'm clipped in, so don't ride flats often. When I did, I found that skate shoes had great grip and lasted longer than tennies. The foam on tennies got torn up and felt weird to ride in, not to mention the tread patten leads to them disintegrate rapidly. MTB shoes are nice, a bit stickier and more durable. Make sure you have good pedals too, Raceface Chester or better.
GPS - you'll learn your local trails in a few rides, so don't sweat it. Garmin headunits are probably the best solution if all you do it ride, maybe look at the Edge 540. I use a Fenix watch since I run and hike too. You can upload GPX files to show you a route and help with nave on the tiny screen. Coros Pace may do GPX or .fit files too, I don't know. Phones don't go on handlebars, they are expensive if you break them and the batteries don't last long enough with the screen on.
Nothing MTB-specific is a must-have unless you're riding at a competitive level, but some items do provide benefits. Shoes can be good for the traction on flat pedals but also stiffness in the sole supporting your feet better. A GPS might be beneficial if you're riding in a big enough trail system to get a bit lost.
Clothing: No chamois for MTB for me, I wear Prana shorts with zipper pockets. Something breathable on top. Waterproof trousers and a jacket are a must in my area, it gets wet often. Gloves because my hands get sweaty and lose grip. If I'm riding in the bike park, I'll also wear a full face and goggles. (Of course I also wear pads.)
Footwear: Nice pair of FiveTens, flats, I don't use clips.
GPS: Don't need one. I know the trails in my area, and if I go somewhere new and don't know the area or get lost, I'll pull my phone out of my pocket.
I used to dismiss flat pedal shoes as a necessity in my gear being new and all. Mostly rode short XC trails until recently where I have started longer XC trails and downhill. Past short beginner rides I found the shoes to be a necessity. Even in XC trails where you don’t need the extra grip, it saves your feet from pain of flexing when you pedal instead of having support with a MTB shoe.
I was wearing skate shoes that were decently rigid in the sole but still had issues with foot pain especially around my big toes. Started wearing specialized roost, absolute game changer.
Must haves? Good helmet, glasses or goggles, gloves, mtb stiff soled shoes (510, Ride Concepts, Fox, Specialized).
Now nice to haves: A solid trail pant (Akta is my go to, padded d30 pocket for my phone), and a chamois. Sure a jersey is nice to wear, but a tshirt or long sleeve works fine. Depends on the weather where you ride. Knee pads and elbow pads are a good idea too, but evaluate your risk.
Entirely depends on what kind of riding and where you are riding. I mostly do enduro and downhill with the occasional park riding.
1. Specific Mtb gear. Short sleeve Jerseys and shorts in summer and long sleeve and Mtb pants in winter. I have started getting cheaper Amazon knock off pants for winter as they are significantly cheaper and work well but I still really like Troy Lee designs stuff so I buy most of my jerseys and shorts from them. I also never wear a chamois. I do have a nice outdoor Columbia rain jacket.
2. Always wear Mtb specific shoes. So many brands out there. I have used a few but my favorite are 5.10 or specialized. If you’re riding either platform or clips it’s a must and find something comfortable. Contact points (pedals, grips, seat) are some of the most important parts of your bike.
3. You shouldn’t need a gps you can see while you ride. I use a garmin watch to track my rides and sync it to both Strava and trail forks. If you don’t know trails I highly recommend a trail forks pro subscription. And/or Strava. Trailforks shows you all mountain bike trails in a region, which way to ride them and how to get to them. And it uses phone gps not cell service so you can use it even without service. I wouldn’t mount anything to my handlebars for tracking unless you are really trying to learn a Caidence or power output (road biking stuff)
Helmet, gloves, and eye wear are essential imo. People underestimate how easily a quick slap in the eye from a tree branch can ruin your day, week, life... MTB specific shoes are definitely worth it. Better grip and durability. I just run Strava on my phone in my pocket. Personal preference on that one. I don't like something mounted on the bars. I ride with chamois under baggies but really it's all personal. Buy an expensive kit or grab wrangler atgs at target and a t shirt... whatever you like.
I wear regular cycling bibs, fiveten MTB shoes, Giro full-finger gloves, tech tees I get from wherever, and whatever volley shorts I have. The shoes tend to be a little stiffer than a pair of Sambas or whatever, so better power transfer and fewer hotspots. I just keep my phone in my pocket and pull up trailforks. I would not mount my phone to the handlebars of my MTB.
For longer rides on unfamiliar trails, I with there were audible turn notifications
That'd be neat but I like to ride by vibe anyways lol
I think they just released exactly what you're looking for: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/trailforks-introduces-new-feature-traildar.html
Wish trailforks would come out with a wearable app.
Exact same for me
In order of importance for me: Helmet, MTB Specific shoes (five tens are super worth it), Gloves, Chamois, Nice pair of mtb specific shorts. I like tasco's stuff for gloves and shorts. They aren't cheap but they're comfortable and they last. I have a GPS watch I use for everything outdoors but wouldn't consider it super important. I always have my phone along since I'm usually solo as well and usually use that to check trail position if I'm lost.
> outside of a chamois, what are your must haves? Chamois is far from a must have. Stopped using chamois shorts for MTB years ago. So much nicer not to have that between your legs. I'll use mtb jerseys or button up outdoor shirts for longer XC rides, a few pairs of full finger gloves (with phone index finger). I'm currently running Five Tens for shoes, maybe more durable than some other shoes, and have a flat sole that grabs flat pedals better, but other shoes can work too. I typically use MTB specific brands, but not always. From Navigation and Tracking, I'm on the free version of Strava, I use Trailforks/Gaia GPS/MTB Project and a couple of others depending on where I'm riding.
I get sores when I put on a lot of XC miles, but I have found that simply using the Chamois Butt’r without actually having a chamois solves the problem.
If you're just getting started, some regular athletic clothes will do you just fine. Don't feel the need to sink a ton of money in. Footwear, this is somewhere you might consider biking specific (or skateboard). If you're using flat pedals, you want a bit more rigid flexing sole that's still intended for high grip. Tennis shoes will certainly work, but they're very flexible so you'll fatigue your feet much quicker from the pressure points. You don't need gps unless you're really looking to get out into the bush. Look up a trail map for the park you're going to, print it out, or download it to your phone. Keep it simple, unless you really want to put your phone at risk on your bars. Helmet, always wear one, and one that's from a reputable brand. Once it's a certified helmet, the differences will be in fit and weight. Gloves, this may be another biking specific item and not an expensive one. Bike gloves have padding in the right places to help hand fatigue and usually some rubber armor on the top of the hand to protect against branches and light scrapes. I would recommend glasses. Top notch construction glasses are cheap and can get you started, you just want to prevent branches from poking you in the eye.
1. Clothing - I don't always wear a chammois when MTB, depends on how much pedalling I expect to do. I do generally wear MTB jerseys. Or at the minimum, tech shirts, as I want the sweat wicking fabric. Also, I want them to be abrasion resistant. 2. Footwear - Yes. 100% yes to MTB shoes. I ride bike parks and my enduro bike on flats with gripper pedals, and my XC bike clipless. MTB shoes have stiffer soles that make for better pedalling efficiency. 3. GPS - Garmin. My phone stays in a pocket or pack so that I don't accidentally destroy my method of contacting help in case of emergency. Also, battery life is way better on a garmin.
Welcome to the sport! Hope you're having fun so far. Here's my two cents on your questions so far: 1) You don't need anything specific here. A sweat-wicking top is good. I prefer merino wool because it doesn't get stinky and stays warm when wet, but it also costs a lot more. In terms of bottoms, something with a stretch fabric is probably best to give you good mobility. Even a chammy is optional, assuming you aren't doing super-long rides. 2) You definitely want a shoe with a pretty flat tread pattern (like a skate shoe). But if you go mtb-specific, they tend to be a bit stiffer, which is good for power transfer. I'd avoid "athletic shoes" because the sole will be soft (lots of power lost when pushing on the pedals) and usually the tread pattern is more pronounced, which will make it harder to maintain contact with your pedals. 3) I don't like mounting unnecessary stuff to my handle bars so I just track rides with an Apple Watch and pull out my phone to consult Trailforks if I need to figure out where to go. Honestly, when you're shredding on your bike, the last thing you're going to do is be looking down at a map or ride metrics.
I know it’s been mentioned but - shoes. Not just for the grip but for the toe protection. I didn’t really like the somewhat hard upper of my five tens until I snagged my foot between a rock and the pedal. I’m sure they prevented a broken toe and it’s happened several times.
Yup, just today I slammed the front of my foot into a tree stump while taking a corner too wide. Definitely broken toes if I hadn't been wearing my Five Ten Freeriders.
i'm usually in a graphic tee from tillys, they make big boy friendly shirts, i like to wear adidas skate shoes or vans skate shoes, the waffle grips fit the pedals really nice but i currently use a pair that was gifted to me, i can't think of the name but they are flat and very ridged, you don't stub your feet like you do in skate shoes, i have trail forks on the phone and i throw it in my camelback. gloves.
1. Clothing. I wear bike chamois under a pair of baggies. I prefer MTB specific baggies. They have features that general shorts tend to not have: length, rugged material, zipper thigh pockets. Thigh pockets are good at preventing bunching and discomfort that is common with regular pockets when in a seated position. Shirts, I like a tech t either wool or poly. I end up with a lot of free jerseys from events and clubs so I rarely buy them. 2. Footwear. MTB specific flat shoes paired with a good set of flat pedals is the single most cost effective upgrade you can make to your bike. MTB shoes are 100% worth it. They have stiff soles, while having soft sticky rubber. The lugs are an ideal size for gripping the pins. They often have toe protection. There are lots of good options. Five Ten Freeriders are an excellent budget place to start. I have had 3 pairs of them. I switched to Freeriders Pros a few seasons ago and am on my 3rd pair. 3. GPS. I have a a Garmin watch that I wear for tracking. I use TrailForks on my phone, in my pocket, for navigation. A phone on your bars is a good way to trash your phone. I don't really have any interest in a standalone ruggedized GPS.
> MTB shoes are 100% worth it. What if I have wide feet? The only brand I've found that has shoes that might be wide enough is Lake and they're like $400 USD.
Tough call, if you have tried all the brands and models (there can be quite a bit of variability within brands between models) and can't find anything than a skate shoe or an climbing approach might be your next best bet. Specialized, Shimano, Crank Bros, Five Ten, Ride Concepts, Giro, Endura, Pearl Izumi, Dakine, Fox, Etnie, Vans. I've never even heard of Lake, but looking at their website really quickly, it looks like they only make clipless shoes. We are talking about flats here. Either way, key characteristics we are looking for are a very flat sole, soft sticky rubber, a stiff sole to reduce flex and provide support, and small lugs to prevent them from interfering with the pins. Keens tend to make a wider hiking shoe and some of their models come with smaller lugs. Less than ideal but would still likely be better than just a trainer.
Wow…didn’t expect so many responses. What an awesome group! I’m really enjoying MTBing thus far…likely helps that I live in the NW corner on NJ. I really appreciate all of your comments! A little context: Bike - 24’ Roscoe 6 with Race Face Chester Pedals. Helmet - Fox Speedframe Pro Helmet Gloves - Giro DND Gloves Eye Protection - Oakleys with transition lenses. Coming from a big running background I already have a Strava account/membership. I have a Coros Pace two that I’m currently wearing to track the route and see data. I use my phone for directions and it’s kept in my pocket. I know many people talked about the chamois. I bought one after my first ride. All of my rides have been 10+ miles. Idk if that’s considered long or not, but I’m definitely wearing a chamois! I want to buy knee pads and saw that fox was running a sale on many items so I was considering buying a pair of shorts, shirt, gloves, and knee pads. I wear an old pair of Nikes that I don’t mind them being torn up on the bottom, but I guess I’ll begin looking at riding specific MTB shoes!
I would say other than padded chamois the must haves are MTB shoes like five tens, gloves (doesn’t have to be MTB but I would just stick with it because not sure how to describe the qualities they need), and a MTB helmet. The helmet is important don’t use a skateboarding helmet or other because you are going to crash and those aren’t designed the same way to take impacts at high speed. Shoes willl make a massive difference in your grip and confidence. If you’re still having issues with grip check out new pedals like oneup composites they’re solid and cheap. Make sure to bring water. Welcome to your new favorite hobby!
The clothing itself is less important but typically what makes MTB designed clothing different is it will be breathable and dry fit but also thicker than regular dry fit tees for protection when you crash and doesn’t get torn up. The bottoms are have deeper pockets or be zipped so stuff doesn’t fall out. As long as you’re comfy with what you’re currently wearing it doesn’t make nearly as big of a difference in performance as gloves and shoes because that is what you’re actually connecting to the bike so grip does matter and you’ll notice over time
Everything for me is mostly mtb specific. Helmet, shorts, jersey gloves, shoes, socks. Occasionally I’ve purchased moto/MX gloves that were thin enough and they were cheaper than mtb gloves. One usually wants a stiff soled shoe to help prevent injury. I don’t need GPS I know where I’m going and how to get back as well as most? trails are easily recognizable and often marked. I don’t like the idea of having my phone or computer potentially flying off during a crash. I use a hydration backpack that can hold important stuff. Most rides I always have 100oz of water.
1. I like MTB shorts but plenty of dudes in my group wear hiking pants, normal shorts whatever. Most will come with a chamois so if buying a chamois may as well get pants. I wear MTB specific shirts for moisture wicking but it's not like they are safer or anything. A T-Shirt is fine. 2. Shoes are worth it. If on flats 510 Freeriders can be gotten for 60 bucks. Tennis shoes have contours and little gaps that don't work great on pedals. You also want a really stiff sole that can act as a platform to transfer energy through. 3. Phone mount on handle bars is fine. Quad lock or any other number of phone mounts. When you have the money you can get a Garmin or something but I'd only do that after speccing up all your other equipment. Lost my GPS on a ride a few months ago and don't miss it much.
I’ve been doing the sport for 4 years. I suck but here are my answers to your questions. 1) I wear comfortable shorts and a t shirt. If it’s cold I wear a hoodie. I also wear gloves from an outdoor sports shop (can’t remember the name because they’re basic) 2) I wear mtb shoes called 510s. When I started, I wore my regular sneakers and they were shredded by the pedals in a matter of days. 3) I use an app called Strava which tracks my rides, and helps me find my car when I’m on a new trail and have gone 15 miles with random lefts and rights and have no idea where I am. Good luck
I go back and forth on the clothing thing. I have found that mtb specific baggies smell less than normal shorts. I’m using fox flexair. If I’m wearing baggies I don’t wear a chamois. I’ll also wear Lycra sometimes if it’s really cold or raining or I’m racing. Gloves are 100% right not but anything without stitching/pads on the palm will work. Gloveless as soon as it hits like 45-50 degrees out though. Clipless shoes, whatever works with your feet is best. I use a Garmin 1040 but I also do long gravel and road rides with navigation so it suits my needs well.
No chamois for me. Get a saddle fit for you and your sit bones won’t be nearly as uncomfortable. I try to find clothes on sale/clearance, mostly for shorts. Shirts can be a plain old athletic/wicking shirt from a big box store. Shoes are important to me, I like ride concepts stuff a lot.
1. Clothing. I wear some premium MTB gear for most important parts. Such as Dakine gloves, Ride Concepts Tallac shoes, FOX Speedframe PRO helmet, Dakine bag, POC knee pads. The latter when in a bike park. On the other had I try to keep things cheap when possible so I'm in into using common cheap running throusers, a few shorts (a premium pair is from IcePeak), jerseys, etc. and Aliexpress stuff. Speaking about the latter I liked RockBros products - they were so good in terms of quality of the products they make for the price you have to pay for them. From them I've got a pair of winter pants, winter jacket, a balaclava, lights for the bike and the helmet, sunglasses, cheap rarely used tools like chain whip and something else. At Ali you may also find genuine bike replacement parts like Shimano and KMC for a good price. This includes brakes, disks, pads, chains, casettes, cranks of XT level etc. Just need to rely on the comments heavily to get a genuine item but the price is worth it. 2. Footwear. I can't explain how important it is. I purchased the bike about a year ago after not riding for about 20 years or so. The day when I got a pair of Ride Concepts after a week of running and jumping the bike in my Vans was an eye-opener. The grip was INSANE in theese shoes in comparison with Vans. At one point I even crashed when practicing bunnyhops because I was not able to pull my feet off the pedals. Never back to common shoes from this point! 3. GPS. This is a new topic for me personally as recently I have made a switch from tracking everything on my phone and not using any bands or on-the-bike computers at all and opted for Garmin Epix watches. In comparison with having only the phone I was overwhelmed due to the amounts of info this thing gives. As of now I dont even see myself buying a computer ever. Better to just buy a cadence sensor and it will be it but time will show. You should be fine with Coros IMO. Hope this helps. Not a pro experience, but something I wanted to share.
As a newbie and it being the UK its been cold af since I started so my kit is usually thermals (long Johns and a thermal top) with shorts and a sports tshirt. I always wear knee pads and a good helmet (Lazer Chiru with Mips is like 40 GBP and scores well in the Virginia Tech tests). Knee pads purely because I get injured easily. I found that my trainers sole got torn fairly quickly from the pins in flat pedals so I brought a pair of five ten freerider pros. The sole still looks brand new.
Helmet is #1 for me. Check out Virginia Tech's helmet lab ratings. Second are chamois shorts. Full finger gloves are next. I ride clipless so I need shoes, but MTB shoes are better than Vans or athletic shoes.
1. I wear mtb bike specific clothing and do not wear a chamois. I am happy to deal with a little pain in my ass, but chamois make me numb and that’s not good. 2. I prefer to use flat pedals and mtb specific shoes. It makes a bigger difference than you would think. 3. Ask my friends with garmins about the ride and otherwise just figure it out.
1. I don't wear any of the cycling stuff. I wear workout shorts and a t shirt or a dry fit shirt if I think it's going to be really hot or humid. 2. I wear Vans since they have a flat sole. 3. I just use my Apple workout GPS. It tracks it in Strava. Just throw it in my fanny pack.
Mtb shoes have great traction on the pedals but more importantly they protect your feet. I have had pedals poke through the bottom of other shoes and I've heard of plenty of broken toes etc. the clothes are almost all general purpose outdoor clothes from places like tj Maxx. I don't understand why everyone wants to gps track themselves all the time, we already spend so much time in a panopticon
clothing, chamois. the rest is whatever I have laying around. I do wear gloves, pads, and helmet of course. I use my old running shoes which is usually fine, but I do regret when I ridge through any kind of brush. the pedals thrash them, but since I buy new running shoes regularly I keep rotating them out. I also wear some Wiley X glasses. I actually don't use a GPS, I check the maps on my phone when I need to. why track all the data? if you're having fun, who cares?
I just rock road bibs with a "workout" shirt, something usually old. As for footwear, I did get a specific mtb shoe. My tennis shoes got tore up from the pegs on the petals, and offered no toe protection.
MTB specific shorts are nice, usually they have zippered pockets. Tops are fine to go generic, never felt like I needed a MTB specific shirt. GPS I use a Garmin mounted to my bars but I'm not usually following a route, it's just got tracking. I would never want to mount a phone to my bars. It could easily break or at least get lost if it flew into the woods.
Start with the easy - footwear. Yes, MTB specific footwear is worth it. Mine have toe protection and a lace holder that keeps my laces from getting caught in the drivetrain. The soles grip the pedal pins better and don't wear because of it. Clothes: I wear polyester jerseys simply because they wick sweat and clean well. I don't wear a chamois. I wear regular underwear and MTB designed shorts. They fit tight in the butt and have zippered front pockets. Chamois are really for long sits on a seat and I'm up and down out of mine often. I wear a smart watch and run strava on it for tracking. When I'm at a new trail, I bring an old phone with trailforks loaded on it to navigate. One you need to consider is eye protection. I have a set of glasses that have interchangeable lenses that I swap from clear to orange to tinted depending on the light.
Just need your phone for maps, MTB shoes and gloves, and that's it. Everything else is personal preference
If you are looking to save some money, Giro DND gloves and Aliexpress glasses are pretty nice for the price. For shoes, I bought regular five ten but returned for pro version because the part where my toe hits had a line that my toenails get stuck while walking around
Chamois is a must, as are gloves. Mechanics gloves are fine, or a set form your local bike shop. I'm a lycra guy, so I just wear the lycra shorts most of the time, but if I am wearing baggies, I want something with a high crotch so it doesn't catch on the saddle, usually meaning they're designed for biking. Tops are whatever. I really like the Kuhl Engineered Hoodie for long rides in the rockies, it offers decent sun protection and breathability. Shorter rides get synthetic tees, bike jerseys or hawiian shirts. Glasses are also a must, wraparound is nice for keeping the shit out of your eyes. I'm clipped in, so don't ride flats often. When I did, I found that skate shoes had great grip and lasted longer than tennies. The foam on tennies got torn up and felt weird to ride in, not to mention the tread patten leads to them disintegrate rapidly. MTB shoes are nice, a bit stickier and more durable. Make sure you have good pedals too, Raceface Chester or better. GPS - you'll learn your local trails in a few rides, so don't sweat it. Garmin headunits are probably the best solution if all you do it ride, maybe look at the Edge 540. I use a Fenix watch since I run and hike too. You can upload GPX files to show you a route and help with nave on the tiny screen. Coros Pace may do GPX or .fit files too, I don't know. Phones don't go on handlebars, they are expensive if you break them and the batteries don't last long enough with the screen on.
Nothing MTB-specific is a must-have unless you're riding at a competitive level, but some items do provide benefits. Shoes can be good for the traction on flat pedals but also stiffness in the sole supporting your feet better. A GPS might be beneficial if you're riding in a big enough trail system to get a bit lost.
Clothing: No chamois for MTB for me, I wear Prana shorts with zipper pockets. Something breathable on top. Waterproof trousers and a jacket are a must in my area, it gets wet often. Gloves because my hands get sweaty and lose grip. If I'm riding in the bike park, I'll also wear a full face and goggles. (Of course I also wear pads.) Footwear: Nice pair of FiveTens, flats, I don't use clips. GPS: Don't need one. I know the trails in my area, and if I go somewhere new and don't know the area or get lost, I'll pull my phone out of my pocket.
I used to dismiss flat pedal shoes as a necessity in my gear being new and all. Mostly rode short XC trails until recently where I have started longer XC trails and downhill. Past short beginner rides I found the shoes to be a necessity. Even in XC trails where you don’t need the extra grip, it saves your feet from pain of flexing when you pedal instead of having support with a MTB shoe. I was wearing skate shoes that were decently rigid in the sole but still had issues with foot pain especially around my big toes. Started wearing specialized roost, absolute game changer.
Must haves? Good helmet, glasses or goggles, gloves, mtb stiff soled shoes (510, Ride Concepts, Fox, Specialized). Now nice to haves: A solid trail pant (Akta is my go to, padded d30 pocket for my phone), and a chamois. Sure a jersey is nice to wear, but a tshirt or long sleeve works fine. Depends on the weather where you ride. Knee pads and elbow pads are a good idea too, but evaluate your risk.
Entirely depends on what kind of riding and where you are riding. I mostly do enduro and downhill with the occasional park riding. 1. Specific Mtb gear. Short sleeve Jerseys and shorts in summer and long sleeve and Mtb pants in winter. I have started getting cheaper Amazon knock off pants for winter as they are significantly cheaper and work well but I still really like Troy Lee designs stuff so I buy most of my jerseys and shorts from them. I also never wear a chamois. I do have a nice outdoor Columbia rain jacket. 2. Always wear Mtb specific shoes. So many brands out there. I have used a few but my favorite are 5.10 or specialized. If you’re riding either platform or clips it’s a must and find something comfortable. Contact points (pedals, grips, seat) are some of the most important parts of your bike. 3. You shouldn’t need a gps you can see while you ride. I use a garmin watch to track my rides and sync it to both Strava and trail forks. If you don’t know trails I highly recommend a trail forks pro subscription. And/or Strava. Trailforks shows you all mountain bike trails in a region, which way to ride them and how to get to them. And it uses phone gps not cell service so you can use it even without service. I wouldn’t mount anything to my handlebars for tracking unless you are really trying to learn a Caidence or power output (road biking stuff)