There is an endless list of accessories that you can adorn your mountain bike with, but only some of them will really improve your mountain biking experience.
Whether you’re riding downhill or cross-country, there’s always some enticing new technology being introduced, promising to save weight, time and maintenance – but not all of them live up to their claims.
Here are five must-have accessories, selected by our team of mountain bike techs…and five you can definitely do without.
You can hear his in-depth reasoning in the latest BikeRadar Podcast, but we’ve put together the following list for the visual learners among you.
5 MTB accessories you need in your life
1. Fenders
If you have to live with wet and muddy roads in the winter months, mountain bike fenders they are essential.
Fork-mounted fenders have become a common sight on mountain bikes, particularly in the UK. Despite their modest size, they do an excellent job of keeping your body dry and your glasses free of mud.
It almost goes without saying, but the longer the guard, the more protection there is because more of the debris from your tires is intercepted.
Less common are the rear fenders, which provide greater protection from the elements of the ground, but are often avoided due to their unappealing appearance.
2. Waterproof socks
Waterproof socks are one of the best remedies for cold weather riding and can add all-season capability to your summer. mountain bike shoes.
A membrane in the sock keeps water out, while the insulation built around it should keep your toasty little pigs warm even on the coldest day.
tea the best waterproof socks keep your feet warm and dry, while allowing sweat to escape, avoiding dampness caused by condensation.
DIY versions can be done with varying success, but our favorite iteration involves slipping your pre-socked tootsies into a plastic bag before pulling on your shoes – although we’re not to blame for any Stink Foot development.
3. Winter gloves
If you can’t already tell, this article comes at the end of a pretty horrendous winter, so wet and cold wrinkles are very much at the top of our tech team’s collective mind.
Keeping your extremities warm in the winter can be difficult, but a good pair of winter cycling gloves should keep the chills at bay.
Nothing is worse than cold hands when you are out on a run. With numb hands, braking and shifting become monumental tasks that require a high level of mental toughness.
tea the best winter cycling gloves keeps you warm, without limiting your dexterity.
Waterproof gloves, like waterproof socks, can keep your hands dry even on the wettest days on the trails.
4. Quality tools
Doing your own maintenance saves a lot of money, but there is a balance to be struck when considering the price of tools.
While it may make sense to buy cheaper tools in the short term, they can sometimes cause more damage than they’re worth.
Imprecise hex keys, for example, can round off bolts, not only ruining your components, but leaving you begging with an unhappy bike mechanic—a fate worse than death.
The principle of “buy cheap, buy twice” definitely applies to tools, in particular multi-toolwhere cost-cutting can leave you with a long way home.
Quality tools are also more pleasant to use, they make tasks easier and faster, which may make you consider doing more maintenance.
5. Specific cycling shoes
One of the first upgrades to your riding kit should be the shoes you wear.
Skate shoes and hiking boots may provide some grip or protection when you hit the trails for the first time, but they are no match for proper walking. mountain bike shoes.
Bike-specific flat shoes are designed to generate the most traction from the pedal interface, with soft rubber soles that wrap around the pins for added safety.
These shoes also have built-in safety features such as reinforced toe boxes and ankle support to avoid injuries associated with mountain biking.
5 MTB accessories you definitely don’t need
1. Carbon handlebars
While carbon fiber components promise weight savings, increased efficiency and resistance to rust, we think that their aluminum counterparts are often just as effective and are a fraction of the cost.
Carbon fiber components can often be too stiff, with handlebars that transmit too much from the trail below, which can add discomfort on longer rides.
This is not the case with all carbon handlebars, with manufacturers like One Up building flex into their bars for added compliance.
The jury is out on whether carbon bars are more prone to snapping than aluminum bars, but many riders still fear it because the damage is harder to identify.
2. Coal wheels
As with carbon handlebars, carbon wheels are not something you really need for mountain biking.
There is no doubt that they save weight, making them the desire of many cross-country runners, but for trail and enduro, this is less of an advantage.
Coal mountain bike wheels they’re much stiffer than aluminum equivalents, resulting in a more direct feel under power, but a tougher ride over rough terrain.
While carbon rims may be stronger than aluminum rims, when they fail, there is little you can do to fix them.
Aluminum, on the other hand, can be bent into shape, giving you a couple more months of riding before changing the rim.
3. Tire inserts
Tire inserts in theory allow you to run low tire pressurewhile protecting you from pinch bites.
In reality, there is very little that can be done to avoid pinch punctures if you do not use a gravity-spec sidewall, and the inserts can go up in a false sense of security, leading to tearing the tire on janky rocks.
If you have ever installed an insert, you also know how difficult it can be to place the bead once it is in the tire – and imagine dealing with that on the track.
The best way to limit punctures is by using gravity tires with strong sidewalls, such as Maxxis’ Double Down protection.
4. The super-technical suit
We are lucky enough to have access to some of the best clothing on the market, often made from exclusive fabrics with high levels of waterproofing and breathability.
While these clothes may look and feel good, they all end up worn down after a season of riding, with pedal pins cut into pants and waterproof jackets delaminating.
If you are going for a pedal in the forest, you may be better to accept that you will be wet and dressed to keep warm.
We are torn waterproof trousersBecause riding in a wet chamois brings on a kind of early diaper nostalgia that most would like to forget.
5. Strava
Tracking your walks can be useful if you’re training for an event, or even if you’re curious about how many miles you’ve covered in a year.
But lining up at the top of your local enduro trail like it’s the World Championships isn’t necessary, and we think it kind of kills the vibe of what mountain biking is all about.
You can also finish the doxing paths, which the builders who have put their time in making, could be kept secret.
