What gear to buy?

[PandaAttack1]

Hi all,

So the time is nearing to buy mountain bikes for myself and my GF. We will mostly be doing cross country and some trail mountain biking.

Where do we start with clothing? I've read a bit and have some inputs, but there are still quite a bit of options available out there.

Bibs, cycling shorts, mtb shorts, jerseys, special socks? Where do you guys recommend we start? To keep this entry an enjoyable hobby, I want us to be as comfortable as possible from the start. If we're going to need it soon, might as well buy it now.

Start with bibs, cycle shorts, cycle shorts with exercise shorts over them? What's the most comfy for longer distance mountain biking? Normal pants (I already know this out)? Start out with loose technical shirts, tight shirts, cotton shirts? Are all bibs the same? All technical shirts the same? 🙈

Is one bib enough? They are quite pricey. We have a holiday coming up where we can basically cycle every day. Cycle, handwash/rinse and use again the next day? How hard wearing are these bibs? Hard to research... Use Mr Price cycle shorts for the 30-40min rides, use the bibs for the hour+ rides?

Both of use are starting out with flat pedals. Are tekkies okay for a start? Where do we go from there?

Luckily the clothes are not as committed as the bikes, but it is still a couple hundred to 1k -2k per item. 👀

Any thoughts or inputs will b appreciated.

 

[ChrisF]

Anatomic cycling, if you can get to their shop.

 

The single biggest complaint about all clothing manufacturers relates to sizing ....

 

Large in one brand is XL in a few others, is XXL in yet more.

[Ozzie NL]

See my 2c below. Enjoy the riding

Bibs, cycling shorts, mtb shorts, jerseys, special socks? Where do you guys recommend we start? To keep this entry an enjoyable hobby, I want us to be as comfortable as possible from the start. If we're going to need it soon, might as well buy it now.

Start with bibs. Main benefit of proper jersey is back pockets but as long as you do not go out for longer than 3 - 4 h you can solve the storage in other ways

Start with bibs, cycle shorts, cycle shorts with exercise shorts over them? What's the most comfy for longer distance mountain biking? Normal pants (I already know this out)? Start out with loose technical shirts, tight shirts, cotton shirts? Are all bibs the same? All technical shirts the same? 🙈

In terms of value for money I would recommend Monton bibs. If you are in JHB, you can cruise past Northcliff cycles, if elsewhere order on line. I would not go too cheap on this as crappy bibs can cause havoc on your @ss.

Is one bib enough? They are quite pricey. We have a holiday coming up where we can basically cycle every day. Cycle, handwash/rinse and use again the next day? How hard wearing are these bibs? Hard to research... Use Mr Price cycle shorts for the 30-40min rides, use the bibs for the hour+ rides?

I would recommend getting two each as the shammys take quite long to dry and you do not want to ride on a wet one (makes skin soft and thus can more easily result in saddle sores). Do not use a cheaper one for shorter rides as 30 min on a crap shammy will still result in bum issues 

Both of use are starting out with flat pedals. Are tekkies okay for a start? Where do we go from there?

Tekkies are fine. Can then progress to SPD cleats once comfortable on the bike
 

[JayLow]

I am very happy with my ciovita cargo bib (https://ciovita.co.za/products/mens-cargo-commuter-bib-shorts), it has a good shammy and the pockets mean I can use any shirt with them, so I just use one of my running shirts (sleeveless on a hot day). Don't need special socks but longer socks look better and makes you feel like more of a cyclist. Ciovita also has a nice trail jersey with a back pocket and a lappie to wipe your glasses. I pair this shirt with one of my el cheapo bibs, for shorter rides.

My critical gear list:

• Bicycle to ride
• Helmet/lid to protect the asset
• Bib or cycling short with shammy. Good quality (ciovita) for rides longer than 90min and el cheapo from Mr Price for short rides (shammy cream every day even if I don't ride)
• Quick dry shirt - normal running shirt if my bib has pockets or I take a backpack, cycling jersey with back pockets if not
• Sunscreen on face, arms, back of neck if I ride between 7am and 5pm
• Gloves: Still trying to find the right gloves, I have a first ascent pair and a ciovita pair, both are better than bare hands.
• Socks: Long Versus socks are lekker, if it matches your bike or frame you get 5W extra power (understudied physics loophole)
• Shoes - Clipless for efficiency, being able to pull for power makes your pedalstroke more efficient, but not essential for fun times
• Sunglasses - with Se7en (Temu) and Sophie Moda (Takealot) you can now get dark, medium, transition lenses which helps for different light conditions. Plus it can be extra 5W if it matches your helmet, bike, or outfit. Main benefit of this is eye protection (dust, stones, bugs), so even clear lenses would be advisable.
• Puncture repair kit (plug, CO2, inflator, etc) (I have never broken a chain in 6 years of hard riding, so I will be fetched by my SO if this happens)
• Water bottle with water/electrolytes only for short rides and nutrition (some carbs/aminos) for long/hot rides. Flavour helps.
• Bike Computer (Garmin watch) because if it's not on Strava it doesn't count
• Phone for photographs and to phone my SO when my chain breaks

 

[Bike Dewing]

Good Bib shorts.. start there.. 

baggies over(fox/leatt/puma/nike)

recommend leatt for flat pedal shoes.. get a pair of Lake shoes if you going the cleats route..

Saddle measured correctly.. 

from there the world is your oyster as to what you want to wear and whats comfortable for you..

best advise is just get out there and do it for yourself.. what works for us might not work for you🤷🏼‍♂️.. 

[Ispeed_V]

Another (often overlooked) option for Bibs is Panda Sportwear.

Affordable (R1200) and the gel pad is supper comfy

Plain Black Bib (Elite) – Panda Sportswear

 

[PandaAttack1]

Thank you so much for all the inputs! I am much more comfortable now and don't believe we've missed anything. 

It seems the most important is at the very least one good quality bib and protection against the sun.

@JayLow thanks for your list!

Edited November 19 by PandaAttack1

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, Ispeed_V said:

Another (often overlooked) option for Bibs is Panda Sportwear.

Affordable (R1200) and the gel pad is supper comfy

Plain Black Bib (Elite) – Panda Sportswear

 

 

Thats in the same price range as Rapid Sports, and a couple of other local producers.  You can only buy directly from them ... thus no mark-ups on mark-ups ....  There are so many decent products on the bike shop shelves, but after too many mark-ups to get to that shelf the price no longer makes sense.  

 

I have costly Assos Bibs ... sure, it is a nice product.  But I still use my Rapid Sports products 99% of the time, for a quater of the price.  BUT, you have to fit these garments to know what size works for your body shape.

 

 

With cycling tops, I use XL in most brands.  With Ciovita (which makes the tops for the charity I support) I have to use the XXL.  Surprisingly, not (just) because of my tummy, but because of my upper arm and chest measurements.

 

Can say this for Ciovita - their sizing charts, for their tops, are spot on !!  You just have to check EVERYONE of their parameters.

[eddy]

Helmets. Everything else is optional.

[ChrisF]

14 minutes ago, eddy said:

Helmets. Everything else is optional.

 

Very wide range of decent helmets from R900 ....

 

Do consider MIPS technology, or similar from various brands.

 

I was more than surprised by the price range available at Specialized bike stores.

 

 

 

Not all heads are shaped the same .... some helmets just dont fit, others just work.

[patham]

Best helmet you can afford, full finger gloves. After that it all varies, with both personal preference and over time and to suit your riding styles. 

For example, I started on flat pedals and takkies, after about a year moved onto Shimano SPDs. Started with sunglasses, and after moving to an area where trails have forests have ditched them. Started with a water bottle, then to Camelbacks for the long Spruit rides, now back to a single bottle.

if you do do long rides, I do concur with puncture kits, inflation gear and a multi-tool. I have snapped 2 chains in 9 years, so I would chuck a quick-link in the kit.

I was awarded the red badge of courage multiple times when I started out (I.e. I fell over a lot). A clean handkerchief to wipe away the blood came in handy (another reason to carry enough water) and when I taught my son to ride I would carry a very small first aid kit (gauze, etc) in the Camelback for the scrapes and grazes. And a mobile to call Mom for a casevac if it was a crash that could not be walked off. This is an aspect of learning MTB that does not get talked about much, is that learning does not come without risk or some pain. The trick is to just crash slowly in the early days. But at least one person I know started out in MTB, got fed up with the learning curve, then went into road cycling. 
 

On that dour note, the rewards are immense, I am only a weekend amateur, but I can’t not imagine a world without a MTB in my life, and my son is even more attached to it than me. So enjoy!

 

Edited November 19 by patham
Spelling

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, patham said:

Best helmet you can afford, full finger gloves. After that it all varies, with both personal preference and over time and to suit your riding styles. 

For example, I started on flat pedals and takkies, after about a year moved onto Shimano SPDs. Started with sunglasses, and after moving to an area where trails have forests have ditched them. Started with a water bottle, then to Camelbacks for the long Spruit rides, now back to a single bottle.

if you do do long rides, I do concur with puncture kits, inflation gear and a multi-tool. I have snapped 2 chains in 9 years, so I would chuck a quick-link in the kit.

I was awarded the red badge of courage multiple times when I started out (I.e. I fell over a lot). A clean handkerchief to wipe away the blood came in handy (another reason to carry enough water) and when I taught my son to ride I would carry a very small first aid kit (gauze, etc) in the Camelback for the scrapes and grazes. And a mobile to call Mom for a casevac if it was a crash that could not be walked off. This is an aspect of learning MTB that does not get talked about much, is that learning does not come without risk or some pain. The trick is to just crash slowly in the early days. But at least one person I know started out in MTB, got fed up with the learning curve, then went into road cycling. 
 

On that dour note, the rewards are immense, I am only a weekend amateur, but I can’t not imagine a world without a MTB in my life, and my son is even more attached to it than me. So enjoy!

 

 

@patham makes a good point, it really is worth it to invest in some training, especially when starting out in MTB.

 

Sure, as we push the limits you do go over the edge of the berm, thats part of learning.

 

But a ton of scrapes and bruises can be avoided by basic skills training.

 

Enough riding buddies out there that can give you a 30 minute session before heading out onto the trails.  Then session a few bits of the trails to hone in those basic skills.

 

 

Also, fatigue is a blood thirsty monster .... my stupidist and potentially worst accident was after 3 hours on the trails, HOT, tired, foggy ... actually stopped to pour water over my head, but just a bit as I had to keep the rest for drinking.  Shook it off and about 1km further I went airborn over an A-frame ....

 

DONT ignore these near heatstroke symptoms ... in fact, the hotter, the earlier you start sipping water, regularly.

[michaelbiker]

On 11/19/2024 at 1:25 AM, PandaAttack1 said:

Hi all,

So the time is nearing to buy mountain bikes for myself and my GF. We will mostly be doing cross country and some trail mountain biking.

Where do we start with clothing? I've read a bit and have some inputs, but there are still quite a bit of options available out there.

Bibs, cycling shorts, mtb shorts, jerseys, special socks? Where do you guys recommend we start? To keep this entry an enjoyable hobby, I want us to be as comfortable as possible from the start. If we're going to need it soon, might as well buy it now.

Start with bibs, cycle shorts, cycle shorts with exercise shorts over them? What's the most comfy for longer distance mountain biking? Normal pants (I already know this out)? Start out with loose technical shirts, tight shirts, cotton shirts? Are all bibs the same? All technical shirts the same? 🙈

Is one bib enough? They are quite pricey. We have a holiday coming up where we can basically cycle every day. Cycle, handwash/rinse and use again the next day? How hard wearing are these bibs? Hard to research... Use Mr Price cycle shorts for the 30-40min rides, use the bibs for the hour+ rides?

Both of use are starting out with flat pedals. Are tekkies okay for a start? Where do we go from there?

Luckily the clothes are not as committed as the bikes, but it is still a couple hundred to 1k -2k per item. 👀

Any thoughts or inputs will b appreciated.

 

You haven’t mentioned if you are already a cyclist or not. If you are just starting out then no bib short / saddle / shoe combo is going to shield you from suffering on the bike. It’s kind of a right of passage. There are things you can do to help - good shorts, bike fit, bike that fits, shorter rides etc but at the end of the day you need to build time in the saddle and be quite consistent about it. It gets better though and more fun with putting in time. A bit like any hobby really. I would estimate it takes about a year of consistent riding to get good legs. 
 

If you are coming from road to MTB then you’ll be fine. Maybe do a skills clinic if certain bits of trail scare you. Most importantly though, ride as much as you can. Otherwise the bike and equipment will end up on the classifieds here and someone will get a bargain. 

[mikkelz]

9 hours ago, eddy said:

Helmets. Everything else is optional.

Underwear too, please. 😜

[ChrisF]

14 minutes ago, mikkelz said:

Underwear too, please. 😜

 

 

Do we have to wait till Friday to reply .... 🤣🤣

[MORNE]

9 hours ago, eddy said:

Helmets. Everything else is optional.

Yes, all this bib talk…i rode bikes for 25y before i got my first one. They help for longer rides, but good fit/saddle is more important and it’s not a must. A bib wont do anything if the saddle is wrong. I ride without one often.

OP, if you are relatively new to riding bikes for longer periods of time…it WILL hurt the first few weeks, even in a bib. There is no replacement for time in the saddle.

Edited November 20 by MORNE