Are you interested in starting mountain biking but unsure of where to begin? Mountain biking is a thrilling and demanding sport that combines speed, skill, and adrenaline, offering an exhilarating experience. Here at My Ride, we’re here to help you get out there with some useful tips and essential items that you will require to get out there have fun and feel comfortable when hitting the trails.

BIKES

First step is picking the right bike. The two main types of mountain bikes are what we call Hardtail and Full-Suspension.

Hardtail

Hardtail mountain bike has a front suspension fork, and no rear suspension. Hardtail mountain bikes are known for their simplicity, low maintenance, and durability. Due to having no rear suspension generally are lighter than a full suspension bike, making them a popular choice for cross-country riding. Overall, they’re perfect option for riders of all skills, from casual riding with the family and kids to serious racers where every second counts.

Full-Suspension

A Full-Suspension Mountain Bike has both a suspension fork and rear frame suspension. Meaning both the fork and rear triangle of the bike are equipped with shock absorbers to provide a more comfortable and controlled ride over rough terrain. Depending on the type of riding you’re doing there are specific dual-suspension bikes for different disciplines; the main styles are cross-country, trail, enduro and downhill.

Cross-Country (XC):

Cross-Country mountain bikes are designed for fast and efficient riding over smooth to moderately rough terrain. Available both in hardtail and dual suspension options, these bikes are typically lightweight and feature a short travel suspension (100 – 120mm) resulting in an efficient and responsive ride. Comes in a variety of materials, including aluminum and carbon fiber, and a range of price points to suit different budgets.

Trail:

Trail bikes are the most popular mountain bikes on the market, offering a versatile bike that can be used for a wide range of riding conditions, from smooth single-track to technical descents. Having a mid-range suspension (130-160mm) and are built to handle most rough terrain, you throw at it but still having the capability to go uphill. Like XC bikes, they also come in a variety of different materials including aluminum and carbon fiber, and a wide range of price points.

Enduro:

Enduro mountain bikes are designed for a very specific type of racing, called Enduro racing. Which generally involves timed stages that include both up and downhill sections. Enduro bikes are designed to be versatile for different types of terrain, including steep climbs and narly technical descents. Typically running suspension in the range of (150mm-170mm) of travel. Providing the rider with a smooth and comfortable ride with improved traction on rougher terrain. Being a popular choice for riders who ride technical trails and want a bike that can handle a variety of terrain, not just for Enduro racing.

Downhill:

A downhill mountain bike is designed for one thing and one thing only to go downhill! Built to be extremely durable, resulting in a bike that can handle anything you throw at it but comes at the cost of being a heavy bike, but that doesn’t matter when you’re bombing down a hill. These full-suspension bikes have very long suspension travel, typically somewhere between 200mm – 250mm, providing the rider with maximum comfort and stability on high-speed steep descents. Like other models, they come in a range of materials and price points to suit different budgets.

It's important to understand the type of riding that you plan to be doing before investing your hard-earned money on a new mountain bike. If you’re unsure or need a friendly face to explain in more detail, head into your local My Ride store and chat to the team!

Helmet

Now that you’ve got your bike sorted - you’re ready to hit the trails, or are you? Have you got a helmet? A quality mountain bike helmet is critical as it can prevent or reduce the risk of head injuries in the event of a crash occurring. Mountain biking involves riding on challenging terrain with obstacles, rocks, and steep descents, which can increase the risk of falls and crashes.

Many of our helmets feature the latest MIPS technology for extra protection. Standing for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, used in many helmets to help reduce the rotational forces that occur during certain types of impacts. By allowing your helmet to rotate slightly around your head upon impact, reducing the amount of force that is transmitted to you head.

It is important to wear a properly fitting helmet that meets safety standards and is designed for mountain biking. If your helmet fits loosely, it may not stay on during an accident and do its job; on the other hand, if your helmet is too tight and small it will result in the helmet being uncomfortable. Helmets come in a range of head diameters, measure your head diameter which will give you an idea of the size range your head fits into. We recommend heading into your local My Ride dealer and trying on a few different models (from brands Giro and Scott) to make sure that your helmet fits properly and is comfortable.

CLOTHING

Jerseys

Essential for a comfortable ride is the correct clothing; a basic cotton t-shirt may seem to be fine but does not provide the breathability, wicking capability and comfort a proper cycling top does. Specific mountain biking jerseys are made of moisture-wicking fabric that will help keep you cool and dry during hot and wicking away sweat in winter to make sure that you stay warm and comfortable. While keeping the rider comfortable mountain bike jerseys are often made of durable materials that can withstand the wear and tear of off-road riding. Offering some protection against scrapes and scratches from branches or other obstacles on the trail. As well as offering bonus protection mountain bike jerseys generally come with pockets or storage options that can be useful for carrying items like energy bars, a phone, or any small item required on your ride.

Shorts

Providing you with added comfort, protection, and convenience. Specially designed with the needs of off-road riders in mind. They are typically made of breathable, wicking fabrics that will help keep you cool and dry during rides. Some also feature a chamois to provide extra comfort while riding.

Whilst providing with comfort mountain bike shorts can offer protection against scrapes and scratches from branches or other obstacles on the trail. Another key benefit of mountain bike shorts is durability. They are often made of materials that can withstand the wear and tear of off-road riding, providing you with a product that will last longer and save you some money in the long run.

Coming in a range of colours and design, allowing you express your personal style on the trail!

Jackets

As summer slowly disappears and winter pokes it head out, it’s time to invest in a quality jacket! Providing you with protection from the elements, including wind, rain, and the cold temperatures. Typically made of water-resistant materials that can help keep you dry and warm during the cold and wet days. Unlike a regular rain jacket, bike-specific jackets are designed to allow moisture to escape, which can help prevent you from getting too hot and sweaty during intense rides. Featuring vents and mesh paneling that helps with airflow and increased comfortability.

SHOES

When you’re beginning your mountain bike journey, you can get away with wearing plain old runner, but you will soon want to upgrade to mountain bike specific shoes . The three main areas that come to mind are grip, power transfer, and protection. As a beginner flat pedal type shoes are ideal as they allow you to easily get off the bike in case of an accident when you start getting more experience and confidence in your riding ability you can transition into a clipless system (shoe locks into the pedal) if desired.

Mountain bike-specific shoes are designed with specific tread patterns that offer superior grip on uneven and slippery terrain. Giving you better control over your bike and the ability to navigate obstacles more confidently. The soles are created with a stiff compound consisting of rubber and sometimes carbon fiber. As these soles are stiff, this allows for power to be transferred more efficiently from your legs to the pedals, allowing you to pedal harder for a longer period of time with less fatigue. Made of reinforced toe and heel caps, as well as padding to protect your feet from root, rocks and other hazards on the trail, providing you with a comfortable and injury-free ride.

Pump

We recommend getting yourself a good quality floor pump that you can have at home and a mini pump that you can throw in your pack and carry on your ride.

A floor pump allows for a big volume of air and making it easy to pump up your tyres. We recommend that you check your tyre pressure before each ride. With time you will learn what tyre pressures you like to run front and rear, which all depend on rider weight, terrain, and tyre choice. A good ballpark for a rider around the 80kg weight, running 30 psi on the rear and 25 psi in the front.

Mini pumps aren’t as efficient as floor pumps but are very small and lightweight, making them very convenient to carry on rides and to get you out of trouble and back riding. Some of our favourites are made by Blackburn , Parktool and Syncros .

Lube

It’s super important to keep your bike chain lubed. Not only does chain lube help keep your drivetrain running smoothly, slowing down chain wear and acts to protect your chain against corrosion. Chain lube can be broken down into two basic categories Wet and Dry lube. Wet lube is best used in wet environments, when it is raining, muddy, or there is any chance your drivetrain might be getting wet. It is thicker, stickier, and provides more protection than dry lube, perfect for those winter mountain bike days. Dry lube is best for dry conditions and is intended for summer use. One of the key benefits is that it dries on your chain, which means it its less prone to attracting dirt. There are ton of lube options out there, our favourite choice whether wet or dry is by Muc-off !

Multi-Tool

Compact and versatile multi-tools can perform a wide range of functions, from tightening loose screws and bolts to breaking and re-joining your chain. A good quality multi-tool can become your best friend, helping you with unexpected repairs or adjustments on the fly.

To ensure that your are well equipped for any situation, our recommendation is that you find a multi-tool that has a variety of allen keys, a T25 Tool, a chain breaker, and tyre levers!

Tyre Plugs

If you’re riding a modern mountain bike, chances are that you’re running a tubeless setup, meaning you have sealant inside the tyres instead of a tube. When a puncture occurs, the sealant closes the hole and allow you to keep on riding without any hassle. Sometimes the hole is too large for the sealant to do its job, and this is where you either have to throw a tube in or use a tyre plug to close up the hole.

Tubeless tyre plug kits are small and compact that can be easily carried in your bike bag or backpack. Our favourite is the Muc-Off Stealth Tubeless Puncture Plug that fits into the end of your handlebars and stays there securely till you require it.

With your essentials all sorted its time to get on your bike experience the thrill of mountain biking. Your local My Ride has all the gear and accessories you need to get out on the trails, plus friendly staff to help answer all of your questions! Bikes for life!