Gear up: MTB

May 2020

Contributed By The Be Rad Team

Whether you are new to the sport of mountain biking or are progressing into another season on your mountain bike, we all enjoy a good Gear List! The Be Rad Team emptied the contents of their bike gearboxes and trail packs to provide you with a list of mountain biking tools, gear, nutrition, and more to help you be comfortable on the trails!

Gear List:

1. A well-tuned mountain bike.  Please visit your local bike shop to make sure everything is tuned and ready. For most of our events, we suggest a dual suspension cross country or all-mountain bike for a more comfortable ride, but front suspension only bikes work fine also. 

2. A pair of flat pedals for use with flat-soled shoes.  They will make it easier to learn and practice.  If you are very comfortable getting in and out of clipless pedals and prefer them, feel free to use them. 

3. Dress for the weather

4. Cycling Helmet 

5. Cycling Gloves

6. Water - Bottle and/or Hydration Pack

7. Snacks

8. Any medications you require

9. Sunscreen and Insect Repellent

10. A spare tube

11. Basic riding tools - don't worry if you don't have them yet, your coach will carry extras

12. Community face mask - for those moments we can’t stay 2m apart

TO WEAR

Please use this list as a general guideline for the mountain biking gear our Team has found to be of use over the years. We encourage you to check out your local bike shop, and get to know which brands you like!

• Chamois + MTB Shorts

  • You'll want to invest in a few pairs of cycling chamois - we are talking about padded shorts here, not to be confused with the goat-antelope native to the mountains in Europe! Jump in your chamois without your underwear or you'll risk the chafing! Some swear by the chamois butt'r, but we only recommend it for long days on the road bike. Throw a pair of "baggies" on top. These shorts are enforced fabric that won't get snagged up like spandex if you do take a spill, and could save some skin. For those cold days, we either add high "ski" socks or a layer of thermal pants.

  • Brands we like: Pearl Izumi, Shredly, Fox, Sugoi, Chromag, Patagonia

• MTB Jersey

  • Choose a jersey that is comfortable and will wick away sweat. Living in the Maritimes, we will often start a ride with a long sleeve jersey, and end up stuffing that in our trail pack to opt for the short sleeve jersey we had on underneath. Colourful jerseys will help keep you visible on the trails. On cold days, we will add a thin down or "puff" jacket, or a softshell jacket.

  • Brands we like: Chromag, Shredly, Fox, Sombrio

• Buff or Fabric Mask

  • This season, you'll likely need to prepare to have a mask on. While our fabric masks are being made, we've been using buffs to keep that exhale to ourselves.

  • Brands we like: Trailwrap, Buff, Lululemon

• Gloves

  • Ideally, pickup a pair of full-fingered gloves. Should you need to touch rock or dirt due to a fall, you'll be happy you protected that skin!

  • Brands we like: Chromag, Dakine

• Socks

  • To help keep your ankles safe and happy, pick up some socks that go up over your ankle and roll them up high. The funkier the better! Tip: spray your socks with insect repellent.

  • Brands we like: Sock Guyz, Darn Tough, Smart Wool

• Footwear

  • Choose your footwear based on the type of pedals you're using. For clipless pedals, you'll need a pair of cleats. For flat pedals, you'll need a pair of "flats". You can definitely use your sneakers on flat pedals if you're not ready to invest in a pair of MTB-specific shoes. Just keep in mind that your sneakers might not grip onto the pedal spikes as well as a pair of "flats".

  • Brands we like: RideConcepts, Shimano, Five Ten

• Armour

  • When we ride enduro trails at Keppoch or Sugarloaf Bike Park, we opt for the full knee and elbow pads. They can also be useful in technical terrain like Rockwood, White Rock, or MVP. Having armour might just help your mental game.

  • Brands we like: GForm, RaceFace, Sweet Protection

• Helmet

  • Get a helmet that fits you. They are not one size fits all. We recommend picking one up with Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) for their innovative approach to protecting your precious melon - look for the yellow dot. We would recommend a full face helmet for riding at Sugarloaf Bike Park or Keppoch Mountain.

  • Brands we like: Giro, POC, Fox

• Eyewear

  • Whether for the dirt, wind, or sunlight, your eyes need protection too. Choose a pair that won't fall off your face when you move your head around, or you'll end up giving them away on the trails!

  • Brands we like: Sam really likes the enhanced colours of the Oakley Prizm and Greg is definitely a polarized lens endorser. Lydia highly recommends Knockarounds!