Required Equipment

Bike

• Suspension: We recommend front-suspension only for a new rider, as it will keep the cost down.

• Gears/Derailleur: We recommend a single chain ring in the front and as many gears as possible in the back within your price range. It's one less thing to have to think about while riding, just a single shifter up and down vs. managing the front and rear gears. Less to maintain and less to go wrong with the bike.

• Wheel Size: We encourage athletes to look at a 29" wheel bike if it is comfortable. For the riding most of the team does, having the 29" wheels will be a better ride on the non-technical sections and you can get a bit more mileage per pedal when cruising around and on straightaways. The correct frame size is best determined by a reputable sales person at one of the local bike stores.

• Brakes: Disc brakes are strongly suggested. If the rider has an older bike it may still have caliper brakes and they don't offer the braking power or responsiveness.

• Older Bikes: Outside of the above recommendations, older bikes work quite well. We recommend that any extras that have accumulated on the bike be removed, like bar-ends (not allowed for racing), streamers, things that make noise on the spokes, etc. Additionally, racing requires removing reflectors as they can become a projectile to injure other riders.

Helmet

• A helmet from a local bike store is required. For optimal safety, a MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) helmet is strongly recommended. If you already own a helmet but are unsure of its effectiveness, please consult one of the coaches for guidance.

Gloves

• You're going to run into a tree. Not if, but when. Gloves will help keep your fingers from getting scratched up from either a fall or from brush on the sides of the trails.

Hydration

• Water Bottles: 1-2 water bottles depending on weather conditions. Even in cold conditions, hydration is very important to sustaining your body while riding.

• Water Pack: A water pack (ex. Camelbak) is often easier to manage vs. a water-bottle as it can't fall of your bike.

Eyewear

• Clear or yellow lens glasses are popular. Sun glasses can be too dark for portions of trail riding and can make things difficult and unsafe for the riders. Eye protection is not required but very strongly recommended because of branches, bugs and other objects that fly around while riding. Eyes are very difficult to heal.

Trail Kit

• Multi-Tool: There are lots of options for these, focus on the tools you need for your bike that you know how to use.

• Spare Tube(s): Even if your bike is configured for tubeless operation, having a spare tube and air pump is key to fixing a stubborn flat and preventing a long-walk. With the spare tube, you will need a pair of tire-levers.

• Air Source: A hand pump works well and is reliable. A CO2 system is much lighter but has a limited capacity. If you are not comfortable with CO2, there are several varieties of light-weight hand pumps.