Top to bottom, here is what I recommend our clients wear mountain biking. Proper gear will help you perform better, have more confidence on the trails, and more confidence in your life!
Helmet
Mountain bike specific helmets have more coverage than road bike helmets, and are typically thicker. Road bike helmets are a distant second in terms of safety.
Visor, the visor is just a bonus, but super helpful to keep the sun out of your eyes.
Straps should make a “v” shape right below your ears. You don’t want the straps covering your ears and you don’t the “v” of the strap lower on your neck. The strap should be tight enough under your chin so that when you yawn, your chin touches it, not tighter, not looser.
Circumference should be tight enough that when you unbuckle the straps you can turn your head up-side-down without it falling off. Test this with your hand ready to catch your helmet! Most helmets have an adjustment at the back of the helmet that you can spin to tighten or loosen the circumference.
The helmet should cover your forehead, with it resting just above your eyebrows. If you look in the mirror and can see your forehead while wearing your helmet, you are looking at the executive function part of your brain. You will want to cover that, immediately, with a new, well designed helmet.
Modern, meaning purchased in the last 3 years. All bike helmets become less effective over time thus reducing their effectiveness.
Sunglasses
More than looking cool, these protect your eyes from any dirt, bugs or dust when you are riding.
Sport sunglasses have plastic lenses, this is to protect you. Sunglasses with glass lenses are hazardous for mountain biking.
Glasses that wrap around help to keep glare out of your eyes, especially when the sun is lower in the sky and perpendicular to you.
You can find glasses with transition lenses if you are riding in variable light conditions
Jersey
3/4 sleeve jerseys are great because you protect your upper arms from scratches and sunburn but still get airflow to stay cool in the summer. I happen to have super cute ones you can buy.
3/4 sleeve jerseys are great when you are wearing elbow pads, you avoid the pad/sleeve gap, which is not stylish. It’s not dangerous though!
Pockets in the back of your jersey can be helpful if you aren’t going to ride with a pack. Most riders are trending toward wearing a backpack or hip pack versus having pockets in their jerseys.
Mountain bike jerseys are longer than normal shirts, so that when you are in your riding position, your jersey doesn’t ride up and expose the skin on your lower back.
Gloves
Full-finger cycling gloves protect your hands and finger tips, particularly in case of an accident. You can find lightweight gloves so that you can stay cool, even on the hottest days.
Shorts
Mountain bike specific short or "baggies". These shorts offer more protection than just a chamois pad. They are made of stretchy and durable material so they withstand much more than lycra alone.
They should fit you fairly close. If your “baggies” are baggy, they will get caught on your seat and will fall down easily. Wearing fairly snug baggies seems like an oxymoron but it’s actually a good idea!
Chamois
Some people like to wear a chamois under their baggie shorts for longer rides.
There are chamois that are integrated into underwear now, so you don’t have to wear full lycra shorts under your baggies.
This is optional, some of our coaches don’t wear them on shorter rides
Socks
Synthetic socks
5” cuff to protect your ankles and look good!
Shoes
Mountain bike specific shoes, they have stiff soles so your power goes directly to the pedals and they have sticky rubber with tread so you can walk your bike when needed on the trails.
Note, these are the opinions of the author.
Written by Erica Tingey, February 2020
Park City, Utah