What gear do I need for mountain bike riding?

If you start looking at how much riding gear the professionals use, mountain biking can look expensive and complicated to get dressed for. The good news is that you don’t need all that gear to start having fun. There are some simple, affordable items we think you need before you head out for your first rides:

• Mountain bike helmet – Every mountain biker should have a good helmet. While mountain biking is a pretty safe sport, crashes do happen from time-to-time and a bike helmet is essential protection to keep your brain safe. We never leave home without one.
• Cycling chamois – As cool as full riding outfits may look, the most important part is kept well out of sight – the chamois. This is a layer of padding sewn into a short or undershort (base layer) that helps avoid chafing and irritation from the saddle. A highly recommended investment.
• Cycling shoes – You can ride in pretty much any flat-soled shoe, that is true. We think it is almost always better to ride in a dedicated riding shoe as they have soles designed to grip to pedals and have a rigid platform so your foot is supported as you pedal. If your budget is already stretched, then these can wait a little bit, but if you are able to buy specific mountain bike shoes we would recommend them.
• Cycling water bottle – It is always important to stay well-hydrated when you are doing sport. A water bottle is a cheap, simple addition to your mountain bike that makes sure you always have a drink to hand on the trail.
• A multi-tool and pump – One lesson that mountain biker learn early in their journey is that you can prepare your bike as much as you want, but unexpected things will still happen on the trail. This is why most mountain bikers carry some bike maintenance tools with them. Starting out, a pump and a basic multi-tool with allen keys should not cost too much and are always worth carrying with you just in case.

Mountain biking is a skill-based sport more like rock climbing or snowboarding, rather than road cycling or running that focus on your physical fitness. If you are just starting out or coming from a different sport, it may seem like a lot to take in at first.

Say you are coming from road cycling, there is a lot more to think about with your riding position off-road. On dirt, cornering, shifting and braking all require a little more thought and preparation than they do on smooth tarmac. We wrote a series of technique guides to help walk you through some of the essential mountain biking techniques for beginners.

These guides are just a start to the world of mountain bike skills and techniques. Part of the fun of mountain biking is that you can choose how you want to ride. Maybe you don’t enjoy the skills part, in which case hopefully they will give you a simple foundation to work from so you can get on and ride. Some people may fall in love with learning and these will be a first step in a long, deep journey to master the mountain bike.

Of course, you can only learn so much from an online guide and if you are finding this difficult or want to learn more about how to ride your mountain bike we would always recommend looking for a good local coach. They will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses to help you take your riding to a whole, new level.

We believe that fit is always the most important factor in finding the ideal bike for you, and that is not gender-specific. Our Perfect Positioning System (PPS) is designed to help riders of all body shapes and sizes find a bike that fits them. Whether your name is Jenny Risveds and you are competing on the world stage, or just looking for your first mountain bike, it makes finding right size for you simple

Mountain biking is a community sport – many of our riding spots worldwide are maintained by volunteers. The best way to start riding is to look for the community in your local area. Is there a local bikeshop or trail association? These would be ideal places to ask about where to ride your new bike.

If you are struggling to find the mountain bike community near you Komoot, Strava and Trailforks can help you search for mountain bike trails in your area. You should be aware that these apps don’t necessarily give you trail descriptions, so always be careful and plan ahead before you try a new trail or feature.

There is an old saying amongst mountain bikes – “leave nothing but tyre tracks.” Before you head out for your first ride you need to know a little about trail etiquette. Mountain bike trails are often vulnerable to being closed, so some riders can be very sensitive to how you use the trails. While the rules may vary from place to place and country to country, if you are patient, friendly and respectful of the world around you, you shouldn’t go far wrong. Your local shop or trail association should be able to help you understand the rules in your area.

Safety always comes first, for mountain bikers and that means making sure your bike is in good working condition for the trail. This checklist will help you cover the basics of setting up your mountain bike.

All of our bikes come 80% assembled with all the tools and instructions to be ready to ride. We also offer guides to help you find the right settings. However, if you are not confident in assembling or setting up your bike, we would always recommend checking in with a professional mechanic to make sure.

Ready for the next step in your mountain biking journey? Whether it’s a hardtail, full-suspension, or e-MTB, our mountain bike buyer’s guide has everything you need to choose the right Canyon bike.

If you have got this far, we hope you feel ready to go out and start enjoying the trails. Some people will want to make mountain biking simple, with simple bikes and simple rides, others love the technology, technique and complication. The only thing that really matters is that you are having fun when you are riding. We are just excited to see new people come and try the sport we love so much. We hope you have fun!

Happy trails.