Does it have to cost a small fortune to live the Mountain Bike Lifestyle? With the advent of the information age's assault on privacy, I find "articles" popping up on sidebars that are seemingly tuned to my interests through what is being viewed on my connected devices. With the old adage of keeping one's friends close and enemies closer, a little time has been taken as of late to view what the enemies have to say. Wading through the seemingly countless "articles" that are really just thinly veiled advertisements, the amount of shills claiming to have the answer for the best gear to ride in and on is staggering. Not only do I find it staggering, but it's also amusing in a sad kind of way. With all of the current discussion on "inclusiveness", one might think that there must be a better way for the socioeconomically disadvantaged to access the Mountain Bike Lifestyle. There is, but the shills and their financiers don't seem to want a largely ignored portion of the population to know this.
Your Bike
Mountain bikes can cost a small fortune nowadays, but they don't have to. The availability of used bicycles through local online marketplaces or local bicycle cooperatives can be a gold mine for the budget-minded, if one knows what to look for. What do you want to look for? Basically the only things you need to look for are the integrity of the frame/fork (frameset) and serviceability of all components. Frame design is not crucial, but a compact design hardtail is preferred as the sloping top tube provides much better stand over and handling than traditional road bike geometry where the top tube is parallel to the ground.
Shock, or no shock? Most vintage suspension forks only add weight instead of performance, especially with the proliferation of "flow trails" in this day and age. A well made rigid fork can provide the precise handling that even modern suspension forks will never match, especially at speed on the aforementioned flow type trails. If you find that hard to believe, take a close look at forks in the BMX world where pump tracks and BMX race tracks (a big part of what flow trails were derived from) are prevalent. Last but certainly not least, a rigid fork will teach you how to ride a mountain bike in lieu of "riding on" a mountain bike. If you out grow your budget bike and have a fatter wallet to advance your skills beyond the limitations of your bike, the basic skills gained should be amplified nicely in the transition.
Protective Gear and Clothes
I find the term "kit" being used to describe what one wears to mountain bike in as just another marketing ploy. I've been riding in regular clothes and shoes for around 20 years now and it's never hindered me. Sure, some of the clothes can be of technical nature and they are, however they don't have to be bicycle specific or even a brand name to work well. The two exceptions I use are a bicycle specific helmet and cycling socks.
Helmets? First and foremost, find one that fits your noggin properly. A poorly fitting helmet will not be comfortable right off the shelf. The best way to buy a helmet (or any bicycle safety gear) is to try it on in a local bike shop, which is where one should purchase any of their bicycle specific gear. The primary reason some helmets cost so much more than the less expensive is the number of vents they have to keep your head cool.
Gloves? Go to your local auto parts store and pick up a pair of mechanic gloves. You can try them on right in the store, so you know they fit properly before buying. All of those expensive and over-engineered bike specific gloves are not much better, especially for entry level riders on a budget.
Shirt? In dry climates with warm weather, Cotton is King and you can wear any old (or new) t-shirt. For warm and humid climates, a tech t-shirt will work fine. For cooler or cold climates, layering properly with a wicking tech base next to the skin works well. Truly for the layering, one really only needs the tech layer next to the skin and a shell to slow down or stop the wind. Everything in-between the base and shell layers can be almost whatever. Yes, even cotton can work in-between the base and shell. The tech base layer and shell can be found new and on the cheap just about anywhere online, or even in a local thrift shop or sporting goods secondhand store.
Undergarments/Shorts/Pants/Knickers? After quite a few years of riding in bicycle specific shorts, I grew weary of the pad/chamois in them. I don't remember being in diapers, but imagine that's what they felt like. The wicking properties of a good pad/chamois are too crucial to ignore, so I found an alternative in wearing wicking technical underwear as a base for shorts, knickers or pants. That was about 20 years ago as well. Shorts, look for something somewhat light and durable that will be comfortable to you when in a bicycle saddle. That may take some hit or miss work, but it's worth it in the long run. Knickers/Pants, Good 'ol Government Issue camos/cargo are what I ride. Again, available just about anywhere on the planet and too durable to ignore. Extra added bonus points for double-knees, which have prevented multiple strawberry scrapes for me. If you know someone handy with a sewing machine, just about any pants can be turned into knickers. I had Specialty Outdoors modify a couple of sets of GI pants into knickers and they are better (IMO) than anything being made for mountain biking as far as knickers go.
Shoes? With the re-advent of flat pedals in mountain biking, just about any sneaker will do. Comfort and pedal grip are primary concerns, followed by design. Most light hiking shoes will also work well, though for those inclined to ride longer rides or weigh over 200lbs should use a light hiker with a 3/4 internal shank in the sole for foot support. I've ridden everything from slip-on sneakers, to steel-toed boots.
Is that all? Yes, really that is all one needs to ride a mountain bike. This is especially true at the entry level when one does not plan on venturing very far out into the backcountry. The availability of municipal parks with practice tracks and trails is increasing constantly and any emergency trail gear that may be needed could be close by, especially since so many of these parks have maintenance stations right at the trailhead. I'll follow up later with bare minimum trail essentials (including food and water) for those who wish to venture out further and have the piece of mind that they can self-sustain safely enough within reason. Of course, Mountain Biking is an inherently dangerous undertaking and like The Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects some of the things that can and will happen out there.
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