Every sport has its accessories, and mountain biking is no different. But many of these accessories are designed to save, if not lives, then certainly unnecessary aches and pains.

There’s more to mountain biking than just getting a cool bike. Mountain biking can be a dangerous sport – as is any sport where you’re heading downhill at speed.

The younger generation has a tendency to think it is invincible, and so will not bother with the common sense safety gear that could save them from unnecessary bumps, bruises, cuts or breaks.

Bike helmet

The helmet is not really an “accessory,” is an essential part of the mountain biker’s gear. Make sure you purchase one which fits properly.

Eye protection

Second only to the helmet, eye protection such as goggles are a must. Going downhill at speed, it’s easy for your tires to kick up rocks or dirt that, if they get in your eyes, will blind you and cause you to run off the trail and into a tree, as often as not. Once you’ve got the helmet and eye protection out of the way, everything else can safely be classified as “accessories,” which would definitely be nice to have but are not mandatory.

Trail repair kit

Of these types of accessories, perhaps the most important is the trail repair kit. You may be able to ride your entire life on the streets of your city without getting a flat tire, but when you’re going cross country or down mountains, the chance of getting a flat tire rises exponentially. You don’t want to get stuck on the trail – so make sure you have a repair kit underneath your bike seat.

Gloves

It is more comfortable to ride any bike with gloves than without them. Mountain bike gloves ar specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions under which they’re used, and not only will they save you stress in just gripping the handlebars, but they’ll also prevent any nasty scrapes should you take a header.

Hydration system

A hydration backpack also fits the bill – all this is is a specially fitted backpack with liquid of your choice in various containers, fitted so that they feel almost weightless.

Shoes

For many types of biking, your average tennis shoe will work just fine. But for mountain biking, shoes made specifically for the sport are pretty nice to have. You want them to be comfortable, durable, and suited to t heir purpose – which is to keep your feet safe and injury free while you ride. They come with stiff soles for better efficiency while pedaling, and you can get them for clip or clipless pedals.

Shorts

Padded shorts are a must for any type of biking! It increases the comfort of the ride no end (along with a gel-filled saddle!).

Also, check out my other guide on mountain bike parts and bike parts accessories.