Sports Participation is Good for Kids

The Safety Equipment Your Need For Single Track Mountain Biking

by Alexa Hamilton

Whether you have a top-of-the-line downhill mountain bike, or a run-of-the-mill single suspension bike, single track is a blast. Single track mountain biking is becoming very popular and you can often find ski resorts that are designing fun courses for riders at every level. As you would think, single track often requires riding in tight spaces, in between trees, and often with bushes brushing past your ankles. Many people do not know what to expect before their first single track experience and they end up coming unprepared. This article explains the best safety equipment for single track mountain bike. These pieces of equipment are as equally important to first time riders as they are to experts.

Shinguards and Knee Pads

You should start off by protecting your knees and shins. After all, these are the body parts that are probably going to the ground first if you fall off your bike. But, even if you don't fall off your bike, knee pads can be very helpful when you are taking sharp turns. Often, you'll become very close to putting your knee on the ground. If your wear knee pads, you'll be thankful to have your skin in tact instead of leaving it on the dirt. Shinguards are equally important because not all tracks are perfectly maintains. This means loose branches and drugs could creep onto the track. You don't want these to hit your raw skin as you are bombing down the hill. You can wear separate shin guards and kneepads, but you should consider renting or investing in a combined piece of equipment. Having the knee pad and shin guards attached offers more protection.

Helmet With Ear Guards

Single track mountain biking requires that you wear more than just a normal bicycle helmet. Even if you have a top-of-the-line road bike helmet, you should consider wearing a helmet with ear protection. This protects the side of your head much better. When riding single track, you have to be weary of running in to trees or sliding out. The head injury risks are definitely different than when riding your bike around the street, so you should protect your head accordingly.

Elbow Pads

Last, but not least, you should also wear elbow pads and a long sleeve shirts whenever riding. You can safely laid on your bike without hurting yourself if you have a hard shelled elbow pad to protect your arm. Contact a business, such as the Sarasota Cyclery Inc, for more information.   

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