Mountain Bike Accessories
Written by: ljpasion
Mountain Bike shops offer several accessories for your bike and there are so many of them that sometimes it can be overwhelming. You don’t need all of them, however. In this section, we will briefly discuss the functions of several Mountain Bike Accessories. It’s up to you to tell what you need.
Trail repair kit
This is a small toolbox that contains various tools necessary for bike repairs while on the trail. It may contain a small pump, a patching kit for tire punctures, a spare tube, some spare nuts and bolts, and other stuff. It may also contain a multi-tool, a Swiss-knife-like device that has several small tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, and tire levers.
Lighting system
This is a must-have for night Mountain Biking. This includes a bar-mounted headlight for lighting the path where the handlebar is pointed, and a taillight for riders to see you from behind. It can also include a helmet light to illuminate the area where your head is pointing. These lights are equipped with rechargeable batteries that can run for several hours at a time, depending on whether you use them on high or low beam mode.
Locks
Use these to lock your bike to a bike rack or other things to prevent it from being stolen. Bike locks can either be cable locks (made up of wound-up wire with a lock to secure both ends), or U-locks (which look like big padlocks). They can either be combination locks (which require a number combination to open) or key locks.
Fenders
These are arc-shaped coverings for the upper part of the wheels. Fenders are used to shield the rider (and those behind him) from mud sprays from the wheels when riding in wet conditions.
Repair stand
This is used to mount your bike for repairing or cleaning. It has a clamp on which to secure the bike frame to, and an adjustable stem to raise the bike for a more effortless repairing process.
Bottle cages
A bottle cage is attached to the frame of your Mountain Bike to hold your water bottle. If you don’t have a hydration system, this is useful so that you don’t have to reach for your water bottle from your backpack.
Grips
These are essential in improving your gripping power while mountain biking. Grips come in different levels of softness, design, and even color to match your needs. There are also grips available in the market that are designed especially for female mountain bikers.
Computers
Think high-tech gadgets have no place on your mountain bike? Think again. With all the advancement in technology, surely Mountain Bikes shouldn’t be left behind. Now a lot of electronic companies are making computers solely for use on bikes. These feature speedometers, lap timers, cadence, and even GPS device.
These are just some of the many Mountain Bike Accessories available in the market today. It depends on you to tell which of these you need. But it is recommended for all mountain bikers to carry a trail repair kit at all times, since bike-related accidents like flat tires are very unpredictable. A security lock and repair stand are also nice to have around. The rest is pretty much optional.
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