What to Wear Mountain Biking

A mountain bike looks very different from a road bike, so it only makes sense that the rider would, too.

There’s no law against wearing clingy road shorts or baggy hiking shorts when you ride beyond the pavement. But you’ll enjoy time on your mountain bike a lot more if you have clothing and protective gear that fits what, how and where you ride.

Mountain Biking Shorts and Padding

Like their road counterparts, mountain-bike shorts offer stretch for easy leg movement and a padded crotch liner to reduce friction and wick moisture. Padded liner shorts and shell shorts can also be purchased separately.

For most styles of mountain biking, aerodynamics is rarely a concern, so your shorts can have a baggy fit. However, if you race or ride a cross-country bike, you’ll likely choose shorts that are tighter fitting and more aerodynamic. And some fitness riders prefer form-fitting shorts because they provide muscle support.

Most mountain biking shorts have sturdy fabrics and plenty of pockets. As your need for abrasion protection increases, so should the weight of the fabric and the length of the shorts. Downhill riding shorts, for example, should be thicker and longer than shorts worn for other riding styles.

Mountain Biking Jerseys

Generally, mountain-bike jerseys don’t differ too much from road styles. In order to efficiently wick away sweat, they will be close-fitting, but perhaps a bit looser than road-bike jerseys. For more gravity-oriented riding styles, the fit can be even looser. Longer sleeves provide additional coverage from brush and branches.

If you plan to wear a pack, rear pockets won’t be needed. For packless rides, pockets are handy for stashing keys, food, a tire-repair kit, a phone and cash.

A ventilating front zip is nice to have when you’re pushing the pace or climbing hard, so many cross-country riders look for this feature.

Arm/Leg Warmers and Hats

Arm warmers, leg warmers and a cap or headband are versatile layering options because they’re easy to put on and take off as conditions change throughout your ride.

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Hangzhou SOBIKE Sportswear Co., Ltd.

Mob: +8613588741492

E-mail: info@sobike.cn
Add: Room 1304, Yinfeng Mansion, #1505 Binsheng Rd. Hangzhou, China