| Mountain bikers need only two things when they | | | | So take some time after purchasing those tools |
| go biking - a good bike and a good helmet. But | | | | to work with them and familiarize yourself with |
| there's dozens of other pieces of equipment | | | | the methods necessary to fix the various things |
| which riders should stock up on to increase their | | | | that can go wrong with your bike. |
| enjoyment of the sport. | | | | Bike accessories |
| When you're out on your mountain bike, the only | | | | What kinds of accessories can you get on your |
| things you really need to have, apart from a bike | | | | bike? There's such a thing as rear view mirrors, |
| suited to the terrain over which you're writing, are | | | | although these are more popular among road |
| a helmet and goggles. Everything else can really | | | | cyclists than mountain bikers. The same goes for |
| be considered accessories, although they're the | | | | horns or bells to let people know you're behind |
| type of accessories that it also important to have. | | | | them. Also available are bike lights, powerful ones |
| But let's consider mountain biking equipment from | | | | for use when you want to tear down the trail at |
| the ground up. | | | | night. |
| Bike storage | | | | Bike clothes |
| Where do you keep your bike when you're not | | | | Road cyclists normally wear tight fitting cycle |
| riding? If you live in an apartment where space is | | | | shorts and a tight fitting jersey, whereas |
| at a premium, it's always best to hang the bike in | | | | mountain bike riders do have a tendency to look |
| a hall, either on the wall or suspended from the | | | | a bit baggy. The more clothes a mountain biker |
| ceiling. (Anyone remember seeing that bike | | | | wears the better, actually, as they can serve to |
| hanging from the ceiling in the classic Seinfeld | | | | cushion falls. Rather than depending on those |
| television series?) | | | | clothes, however, you can also stock up on knee, |
| If you're fortunate to have a garage, there's | | | | shin, leg, arm, and elbow guards. Gloves are also |
| plenty of places to store a bike, but since chances | | | | an essential, as they'll protect the hands from |
| are you don't have a kick stand on your mountain | | | | road burn, not to mention increasing the grip on |
| bike, the best thing to do is have a bike stand in | | | | the bike. |
| which to place it. Placing bikes in a stand also | | | | Bike security |
| simply makes the garage look neater. | | | | We live in a world where unattended bikes will |
| Bike tools | | | | quite often disappear. That may not be much of |
| Do you want to do your own bike repairs? If so, | | | | a bother if its only a $20 "beater", but when it's a |
| it'll make it a lot easier on you if you not only | | | | mountain bike worth hundreds of dollars the loss |
| have the small tools made for the purpose, but | | | | stings a bit more. Sturdy bike locks are a must. |
| also a large tool - to be exact a truing stand, | | | | It's possible to put transponders into bikes so that |
| which will help you true your wheels on occasion. | | | | they can be tracked if they're stolen. Police use |
| When you're out on the trail you may have a flat, | | | | this with "bait" bikes. However, various companies |
| so of course you'll want to bring a bundle of tools | | | | are working towards making GPS tracking devices |
| with you. But it's not enough for you to have the | | | | to put on real bikes. They'll probably be on the |
| tools - you also have to know how to use them. | | | | market in a few years. |