Mountain Bike Clothes

Mountain Bike Clothing is more than Just a Fashion Statement

While most mountain bike clothing may look very bright and fashionable there are far more reasons to wear the appropriate clothing while riding your bike at full speed down the side of the mountain in the woods. There are several different approaches to choosing the right kind of clothes to ride in and none of them are incorrect, it depends on the individual and the type of riding they plan to do.

For many people mountain bike clothing brings the image of tight fitting Lycra shorts that hug every contour and feel like a second skin, in many cases these are what the professionals are wearing. These form fitting shorts are designed to breathe allowing the air to help keep the sweat buildup down. This in turn reduces the amount of chafing that occurs as a result of a day's hard pedaling. Most of these shorts, such as the ones offered by the Shimano Mountain Bike manufacturer also have padded areas where the rider sits on the saddle. This padded area is designed to help reduce the shock from the trail and provide a little more comfort.

Shirts can be form fitting as well, as long as they allow the rider's body to breathe and wick away the sweat that occurs with vigorous riding. Since most mountain bike riding is done in warmer weather, the clothes need to be designed to keep the rider as cool as possible. Recently the trend has been more towards a loser T-shirt type top for many riders; these allow for more comfort and still help keep the rider cool. Baggy shorts with pockets have become popular as more riders tend to make a day out of their ride and carry snacks and other odds and ends along with them.

There are of course many different levels of riding a mountain bike; clothing should be picked that is suitable for the type of riding being planned. For those who want to do the extreme style of mountain bike riding with lots of speed over rough terrain like the riders from Rock Shox mountain bike team then you need to make sure that you choose clothing that is relatively form fitting to avoid it getting snagged on branches as they stick out into the trail. When your clothing gets snagged it can throw you off balance and cause a wipe out or worse yet a bad snag can actually pull you of the your bike. Form fitting clothing is a must for this type of riding.

When compared to the clothing associated with riding a mountain bike, BMX riding requires a completely different approach. This type of riding can be split into two categories that both require similar gear. The BMX track riders are riding on a dirt track full of jumps and turns as well as other riders; here the clothing tends to be looser to allow for the rider to wear protective gear underneath. This protective gear usually includes chest protectors, knee and shoulder pads. In the BMS stunt competitions the choice is usually shorts and a T-shirt that allow for maximum mobility while performing a set routine of tricks.

Choosing the right type of clothing for your mountain biking needs should always be based on the type of riding you are planning to do, most of it is designed with safety and comfort in mind. Much like any other form of sports clothing it is made to protect your body first and foremost.