There are things that you need to have in addition to your mountain bike when planning to conquer long, tough and higher terrains. The things you might attach directly to your bike include water bottle cages, a lighting system, a pump, a lock, toe clips, a “Flickstand,” handlebar pads, fenders, and etc. You can buy a bike from a shop together with the accessories. Just always ask them to attach it for you. Some of these accessories may have also been in your bike before buying it, and that would be great.
If you bought a used bike and you need to put-it-yourself the accessories you needed, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. To protect your bike’s paint, insert a strip of rubber such as a tire patch, between the bike frame and any clamps or brackets.
Essential accessories
You may ride tired or hungry awhile, but do not ride thirsty! Two water bottles (with cages) will make you a well-equipped mountain biker for long rides. Sometimes, it depends on the place. If you are riding near a drinkable water source, one bottle is enough. Just don’t forget to bring one. Go for the quality bottles because they are not that expensive, but avoid black-colored bottles, because they absorb the sun’s rays and will warm your water.
Along fun rides, you might get “caught out” after dark at some point. Sometimes you’ll find night rides as more alluring so you need to have a good lighting system for your mountain bike. For your taillight, you may use “glow in the dark” materials or reflectors. You’re bike is not meant on roads, so those cheap materials will do. You can also put them on your spinning spokes and pedals for added safety in the road. For your headlamp, choose the detachable one that fits on a handlebar-mounted bracket. However, you can use a heavy duty flashlight and a homemade clamp as your headlight and as your camp light. You may consider a generator system for your headlight, but I don’t suggest it for mountain bikes because it adds drag to your wheel and mountain biking is not always safe at nights.
A pump is a must in mountain biking. You don’t want to return from peaks carrying your flat tire, would you? Choose a pump that attaches to your frame. Here are some brands that you can trust for quality pumps:
• Zefal
• Blackburn
• Performance
Quality pumps from them are constructed of alloy or high-impact plastic. Don’t ever bother to try cheap pumps, it may hurt you.
Of course, you don’t want your bike to be stolen. A simple lock will take the worries of parking your bike anywhere you want. Just don’t ever keep it away of your sight in populated places. Shift it into high gear prior to parking it; adding difficulties for thieves to drive it away. Use bungee cords, cable ties, or electrical tapes to secure detachable accessories. And if you will carry valuables, bring it with you than leaving it with your bike.
Optional accessories
Toe clips are optional but strongly recommended. They keep your feet on the pedals and increase your pedaling efficiency. Some branded bikes include them, and if not you can acquire them at bike stores for about $10 or order from this SITE.
You can choose to have an odometer for your biking trips. I don’t use them but perhaps you’d like to have them. They come from the simple ones to the more complex ones. Statistics is very useful sometimes.
Another optional but recommended attachment is an inner-tube protection system. This includes a set of puncture-resistant tires and tire liners. They will keep your tires running in the worst situations. You can acquire them at bike stores or order from this SITE.
A “Flickstand” is the innovation from kickstands. It is more useful because it lessens weight. Besides, you can always put your bike beside poles, trees or walls. What do flickstands do is to make your front wheel straight and sincere. Below is an image of a Flickstand:
Essential accessories
You may ride tired or hungry awhile, but do not ride thirsty! Two water bottles (with cages) will make you a well-equipped mountain biker for long rides. Sometimes, it depends on the place. If you are riding near a drinkable water source, one bottle is enough. Just don’t forget to bring one. Go for the quality bottles because they are not that expensive, but avoid black-colored bottles, because they absorb the sun’s rays and will warm your water.
Along fun rides, you might get “caught out” after dark at some point. Sometimes you’ll find night rides as more alluring so you need to have a good lighting system for your mountain bike. For your taillight, you may use “glow in the dark” materials or reflectors. You’re bike is not meant on roads, so those cheap materials will do. You can also put them on your spinning spokes and pedals for added safety in the road. For your headlamp, choose the detachable one that fits on a handlebar-mounted bracket. However, you can use a heavy duty flashlight and a homemade clamp as your headlight and as your camp light. You may consider a generator system for your headlight, but I don’t suggest it for mountain bikes because it adds drag to your wheel and mountain biking is not always safe at nights.
A pump is a must in mountain biking. You don’t want to return from peaks carrying your flat tire, would you? Choose a pump that attaches to your frame. Here are some brands that you can trust for quality pumps:
• Zefal
• Blackburn
• Performance
Quality pumps from them are constructed of alloy or high-impact plastic. Don’t ever bother to try cheap pumps, it may hurt you.
Of course, you don’t want your bike to be stolen. A simple lock will take the worries of parking your bike anywhere you want. Just don’t ever keep it away of your sight in populated places. Shift it into high gear prior to parking it; adding difficulties for thieves to drive it away. Use bungee cords, cable ties, or electrical tapes to secure detachable accessories. And if you will carry valuables, bring it with you than leaving it with your bike.
Optional accessories
Toe clips are optional but strongly recommended. They keep your feet on the pedals and increase your pedaling efficiency. Some branded bikes include them, and if not you can acquire them at bike stores for about $10 or order from this SITE.
You can choose to have an odometer for your biking trips. I don’t use them but perhaps you’d like to have them. They come from the simple ones to the more complex ones. Statistics is very useful sometimes.
Another optional but recommended attachment is an inner-tube protection system. This includes a set of puncture-resistant tires and tire liners. They will keep your tires running in the worst situations. You can acquire them at bike stores or order from this SITE.
A “Flickstand” is the innovation from kickstands. It is more useful because it lessens weight. Besides, you can always put your bike beside poles, trees or walls. What do flickstands do is to make your front wheel straight and sincere. Below is an image of a Flickstand:
Figure 2. Flickstand
Handlebar pads will also add comfort to your rides. Mountain biking requires lots of cycling hours so you need to have a comfortable hands on the bars too. Spenco-made gel pads are very durable and comfortable. However to save money, you can obtain a refrigerator insulation tubing from an appliance store for free of for mere change, cut the length to fit, slit one side lengthwise, slide it onto your handlebars, and secure it with tape.
Mirrors, horns, fenders, and a safety flag are entirely optional. They are maybe useful in special situations but I don’t suggest them.
Now that you have your accessories ready, be sure to enjoy your rides!
Mirrors, horns, fenders, and a safety flag are entirely optional. They are maybe useful in special situations but I don’t suggest them.
Now that you have your accessories ready, be sure to enjoy your rides!