MTB accessories - what you really need

In order to choose the right MTB accessories, you should first understand how you want to use your mountain bike. Mountain biking is a complex sport with an incredible number of disciplines. Downhill, cross country or freeride are only three of them. Here you will find an overview of the different MTB disciplines that will help you find the right accessories for you.

The most sensible mountain bike accessory is a sensible helmet that is designed to protect the head in the event of a fall. Mountain bike helmets usually have a special design that protects the skull and temple area better than a standard bicycle helmet. We recommend that you look out for the following when buying a helmet:These are the advantages and disadvantages of the different helmet types:

The MTB helmet with visor is used in most disciplines and is the most commonly used. MTB helmets without visors are mainly used when less trails are ridden or the helmet is also used on the road bike.

Unlike bike racers, mountain bikers cultivate a comfortable and cool look. For the novice, it may look like just a loose garment, but in fact there is plenty of high-tech behind the stylish clothing. Good mountain bike clothing is breathable and stretchy, so you can enjoy maximum freedom of movement on your bike. In addition, MTB clothing is especially reinforced in places that are subject to frequent wear and tear and generally has a high level of tear resistance. However, loose clothing is not worn everywhere in the mountain bike universe. Especially in cross country, clothing from cycle racing is worn more often. Regardless of this: Your next mountain bike jersey should definitely fulfil these points:

• Breathability! For this we recommend not to buy cotton products
• Freedom of movement
• no chafing seams
• Tensile strength
• Material that allows the wearing of a backpack

The following reasons can speak in favour of a tight-fitting cycling jersey:

• more pockets for bars, gels, mobile phone or keys
• Front zip that can be opened for extra ventilation in high temperatures and long climbs
• Aerodynamics. Everyone who has ever finished a MTB race one second behind their training partner knows that: Every second counts!
• You also want to use the jersey for road cycling

The following reasons may speak in favour of buying a loose MTB jersey:

• more space for protectors
• Looser fit, which many consider more comfortable
• You always ride with a backpack and don't need bags

Basically, if you like it loose, you will usually go for the casual MTB shorts. If you prefer a cycling jersey, you will prefer a bib tight (with straps).If you want to buy a bib tight, you should consider the following:

• the trousers must fit and feel good
• the central feature of tights is the seat pad.
  
  In very simplified terms, the following should be noted:

• Rule of thumb: The longer the tour and the more inexperienced your butt, the denser the padding should be.
• Definitely buy a gender-specific tight
• A good cushion is flexible and has different densities in different places

If you want to wear loose MTB shorts, you should consider these points:

• Trousers must fit and feel good
• Should be made of functional material and offer maximum wearing comfort

You want to design your own mountain bike clothing? Click here to go to our configurator where you can create your own mountain bike shirt.

In mountain biking, the shoes are one of three contact points and thus contribute significantly to control and performance. Whether you are a mountain bike beginner or an ambitious biker, there is a wide range of shoe and pedal options. Similar to helmets, these are used in the different MTB disciplines. So again, it depends on which discipline you are riding.The basic rule is: first choose the optimal pedals and only then look for the matching shoes.

Click pedals vs. flat pedals

The perfect MTB shoe

Shoes perform an important task when cycling: they protect the entire foot from injury. When mountain biking, you ride on uneven surfaces and there is rough contact with the surroundings. The midsole area is crucial for power transmission to the pedals. In order to generate as little power loss as possible when pedalling, the sole should be stable and robust. MTB shoes should guarantee sufficient grip even in wet weather and poor ground conditions. A good tread is therefore essential. When buying MTB shoes, make sure that the heel does not slip out and that there is enough room for the toes. When it comes to fasteners, you have the choice between a Velcro fastener and a twist fastener. The twist-lock versions are usually a bit more expensive, but offer much more stability and easier handling.

• waterproof
• Robustness
• reinforced sole
• reflective elements
• Twist lock
• Dressing aid
• Weight
• Sufficient grip
• Fit

MTB gloves are also an important safety factor when biking. In the event of a fall, they protect your hands from abrasions, cuts and scratches. They should also protect your skin from wind and cold. Good mountain bike gloves have additional padding on the back of the hand to better protect the sensitive back of the hand in the event of a fall. You can neglect the padding on the palm. It is detrimental to handling and the resulting loss of control can lead to falls. The palm of your gloves should have a coating that provides optimum grip on the handlebars. When biking, adapt your gloves to the weather conditions: Long-finger gloves for winter, normal MTB gloves for summer.

Even on casual mountain bike rides, don't forget one crucial MTB accessory: A backpack to store a water bottle. Unlike road bikes, most mountain bike frames do not have a bottle cage. Therefore, the MTB backpack is inevitable for most bikers. Nice side effect: If you take a backpack for water supply, you can also stow a healthy meal (e.g. bananas or apples) there.

• Hose length must be sufficient
• Material should be free from harmful substances
• Bite or pull valves? You decide on the comfort yourself
• The content volume varies and should fit your sporting plans

Protective goggles also kill two birds with one stone: on the one hand, MTB goggles look stylish and on the other hand, they protect your eyes from dirt and sunlight. If you fall, the goggles also protect you from stones and dust particles. Apart from UV protection, MTB glasses don't have much in common with everyday sunglasses. They are shatterproof and slightly curved so that they fit under the helmet. Meanwhile, many sports glasses are offered with polarised lenses or photochromic lenses. These have a special protective coating and further reduce glare from the sun's rays. This is what you should look for when buying MTB glasses:

• Good hold. No matter how good a pair of glasses looks, the most important thing is the grip. No one needs glasses that slip while riding! On the nose, the glasses should ideally rest on a nose pad. Behind the ears, rubber lining can improve the hold and, above all, protect against pain.
• Interchangeable lenses, or self-tinting glasses. Depending on the weather, you will need different lenses to maintain optimal vision. Therefore, you should have enough interchangeable lenses and, in the best case, be able to change them without much effort. Self-tinting MTB glasses can prevent you from having to change lenses all the time and are particularly advantageous in unpredictable weather conditions (e.g. rapid changes between sun and shade).

If you don't want to have anything to do with decent bike maintenance and take your bike to the mechanic regularly, all you need is chain grease and some old rags. Most mountain bikers should at least go easy on the wallet now and then and do it themselves. Mountain bike maintenance is certainly part of the passion and gives most riders a lot of pleasure. Below we summarise the most important MTB accessories for successful care and maintenance:

• Chain grease: Ensures smooth shifting. Wipe off excess grease with a cloth, otherwise dirt will accumulate.
• Grease remover: Removes dirt from the chain. The grease remover also keeps the suspension clean.
• Allen key: Most small repairs can be carried out with a set of Allen keys. For saddle and handlebars, Allen spanners help with small adjustment corrections. They can also be used to replace the pedals.
• Torque spanner: If you regularly tighten bolts on your mountain bike, you need a torque spanner so that the bolts fit perfectly. Too little force when tightening the bolts can be the cause of sudden defects and associated falls while riding.

If you've just bought a mountain bike, you can't set off straight away and go on a difficult trail tour. For safety reasons alone, some MTB accessories are important to avoid serious injuries. You absolutely need these MTB accessories for a mountain bike tour:

• MTB helmet
• Special mountain bike clothing
  
• Shoes and pedals
• MTB Gloves
• Backpack and water bottle
• Safety or sports glasses
• Chain grease, old rags and Allen key

Once you have purchased these MTB accessories, you will be perfectly equipped for your next mountain bike ride. There are certainly other MTB accessories that are helpful and enjoyable in many situations. In the sheer confusing jungle of MTB accessories, it is difficult, especially for beginners, to distinguish the really important things from the unimportant ones. Especially in the beginning, you should keep an overview of your MTB accessories. In the course of time, you will find out for yourself which MTB accessories are important for the next mountain bike level.