Gearing Up for Mountain Bike Season
Mountain biking is about more than euphoric memories. Who could plan – or forget – that sun-cracked rear tube hissing like an enraged rattlesnake, caroming off baby heads into a bramble patch, those beautiful moments of misery. Sometimes, mountain biking is more about elevated heart rates than elevated ridgelines. Preparation makes the mistakes tolerable, the lessons survivable. Consider Active Junky the voice in your ear, one muffled by a righteous helmet.
On the tech side, familiarize yourself with your gear. Ask yourself those important questions. Can you remove your thru-axle front or rear wheel to change a flat? What truly needs to be in your backpack when you ride? Here are a few things to keep in mind before you hit the trail:
- Flat repair: Practice removing front and rear tires in case goat heads send you walking.
- Broken chain repair/replacement: Say no to scootering home chainless and learn to repair this common breach – it’s invaluable.
- Pack organization: Get familiar with your bike and muster backcountry essentials including tubes, a patch kit and pump/C02; a MTB-specific multi-tool includes hex and torx heads along with a knife and pliers (some feature a chain tool, too).
- Ask your bike shop mechanic about your bike brand and model: Learn to set-up and adjust your suspension and tire pressure, as well as which key components you should check regularly.
Active Junky Editor’s Picks:
Blackburn Central Front Smart Light: Brainy Beacon
Auto-adjust illumination takes this 195g model from a mellow, pre-dusk 18-lumens to a full-on 500-lumen beam. More for getting to and from the trail than marathon midnight sessions, Blackburn’s under 4-hour USB recharge fits the program. The strobe function is an Active Junky favorite if your trail exit strategy puts you in traffic. Keep an eye on the illuminated fuel gauge to avoid getting caught in the dark.
Best For: Launching and landing early and late rides, doubling-up for commuting purposes
Smith Forefront Helmet: Top-Notch Dome Protection
Active Junky’s not shy about finding great value in gear land. Here’s where spending more equals better performance for casual to competitive MTB riders. Visibility is superior, aerodynamics superb, ventilation and protection unmatched. More full-coverage substance than symbolic brain bucket, Forefront’s ready to match with sunglasses, goggles, lighting or action camera. Spend now and ride hard into the future.
Best For: Tougher trails, sketchy descents
White Lightning Clean Ride: Self-Cleaning Lube
From bleeding brakes to dripping cuts, mountain bikers are no strangers to making a mess. Active Junky’s been a fan of this self-cleaning lube for years, as dirt and grit get pushed away and components shed sticky build-up. Run enough miles in places like Moab, Utah or Chile’s Atacama Desert and you’ll agree; clean is cool.
Best For: Riders ready to shed at least one messy part of an amazing sport
Park Tool Mini I-Beam With Chain Tool: Overcoming Obstacles
Once again, Active Junky’s advocating a proven bike industry brand. Now Park Tool’s genius moves from shop to slope with the Mini I-Beam. This model’s suitability for trailside tuning and emergency fixes includes breaking chains. Between hex wrenches, drivers, tire lever and spoke wrenches, this compact tool (170 grams) goes a long way to getting you home safely.
Best For: Any ride more than a mile from home or the trailhead
Brave Soldier Antiseptic Healing Ointment: Get Back At It
With a sense of humor tied to proven, easy-to-use products, there’s no B.S. here (except for the brand’s initials). Though built to combat road rash, Active Junky recommends Brave Soldier for all kinds of scrapes, cuts and even sunburns. Tea tree oil, aloe and vitamin E are only a few of the ingredients in this all-star mash-up of botanicals and pharmaceuticals. At under $15 for 1oz, we’re ready to call this grab-and-go ointment “Smarter Soldier.”
Best For: Mountain biking and other gritty, athlete-meets-world pursuits
Dakine Covert Glove: Smooth Early-Season Moves
Gloves supply comfort, control and safety. This is an Active Junky tester favorite when conditions are mellow; training and social rides fit the unpadded construction. Wicking, 4-way stretch polyester sheds sweat while the personalized fit grabs bars with confidence. Silicone fingertips command touchscreens while neoprene knuckle flex panels deliver support and minor abrasion resistance. Active Junky recommends you go beefier for tougher rides but start the season with this model.
Best For: Early-season training rides, mellower trails during the summer months
Five Questions Before You Buy
Not all component, accessory and tool upgrades improve your experience. Look to local riders in your area with specific questions. No matter where you ride, consider five questions before you buy.
Does your purchase…
- Make biking safer? Longer-running lights and helmets that overcome impact in all directions are worth the money.
- Keep you running reliably? High-performance lubes, anti-flat tubes and improved shoe-clip systems score high.
- Fit your riding style and trails? Cross-country components are a great start unless you’re climbing and descending extreme terrain that requires more specific upgrades.
- Prepare you for crashes and mechanical failures? Tools, first aid supplies and even gloves are center of the target for wise pre-season spending.
- Make it more fun? Bomber action camera mounts, beer openers and waterproof audio speakers turn wheeling into wonderment.
Brain. Body. Gear. Three elements that make for a faster, stronger start to your 2015 mountain biking season.
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