There are many different ways for people to get fit. Some people go swimming and build up their cardio that way. Other people rely on a strength workout for their fitness routine, developing extra muscle as they go.
As the health and fitness world continues to evolve, companies are even finding new ways to put our bodies to the test with the help of the right equipment. Tools like the Assault Bike may surpass all other fitness machines for anyone searching for cardio-based, cross-fit style exercise.
An Assault AirBike is one of the most versatile machines in the gym industry. However, it's also extremely accessible. If you have a joint injury or a hip strain, the Assault Bike will maintain muscle without injuring.
Today, we're going to introduce you to the low-impact world of the AirBike and how it may give you some of the best exercise routines.
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What Clothes Do You Need For Mountain Biking?
Although you can wear your favorite activewear when riding, mountain bike clothing can go a long way in making your ride more comfortable and safe.
Like dressing for any occasion, you should pick your clothing based on the weather, temperature, and environment. For example, if you're heading off in the mountains, you should wear or pack heavy-duty clothes and warm socks for the cold. But if you're doing a short ride, you can get away with a simple t-shirt and shorts.
Mountain Biking Jersey
Many people write mountain biking shirts as expensive t-shirts. While it's not technically wrong, mountain bike jerseys, or MTB jerseys, are made specifically designed for mountain bikers, giving you tons of benefits for the price you pay.
For one, they are usually made with advanced quick-drying synthetic materials. This keeps you cool and happy no matter how hot the weather or how long the ride is. Not only that, but they are also typically tighter, so they don't get caught on things along the way.
MTB jerseys come in different sleeve options to cater to your ride. On colder days, you might want to opt for ¾ sleeves or long sleeves to keep yourself warm. The sleeves on these special cycling shirts are made to be larger so as not to restrict your movements. Long-sleeve jerseys also offer sun and crash protection.
MTB Shorts
Although you can wear a regular pair of pants, they might hinder your movement and end up causing muscle fatigue or cramps. So when choosing the best mountain bike shorts, you must consider what cycling style you want to do.
For cross-country bikers, you'd want a pair of baggy shorts for maximum ventilation and movement. However, if downhill riding is more up to your speed, you should choose shorts made of durable material with bigger leg openings for your knee pads.
Like MTB jerseys, MTB shorts are made of breathable synthetic materials. Not only that, but it also offers just enough room for easy leg movement without getting caught in your surroundings.
The padded section of your bike shorts is the most critical part of MTB shorts. Also called a chamois, this padded crotch liner is made with foam of varying density to cater to different rides. Besides alleviating pressure in your nether regions, it also provides a friction-fighting fabric with antimicrobial properties to prevent chafing and bacteria.
Some padded shorts come with removable chamois so that you can sub in a thicker or thinner one, depending on your ride. They also ride higher at the back to cover your butt when you're riding.
Socks
As a general rule of thumb, your cycling socks should be thin enough to fit into your shoe and long enough to protect your legs from trail hazards. It would be best to opt for socks made of merino wool, nylon, or polyester since these materials wick away sweat and moisture.
Besides looking cool, mountain biker socks might have extra features that amp up their sweat management and thermal balance properties. Cycling socks also tend to be thicker than normal ones, which makes them ideal for colder temperatures. Not only that, but some socks have anti-micro bacterial properties that prevent your feet from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria.
The most important thing is comfort and fit. Your socks should be snug since you don't want to cut off your blood circulation accidentally, but anything else is up to you and your cycling needs.
Shoes
Any comfortable shoe that you use for running and hiking would work for mountain biking. But if your love for mountain biking grows (and it probably would), it's better to invest in a pair of good mountain biking shoes.
Beginner mountain bikers often start with flatter and stiffer MTB sneakers with a sticky rubber sole. This gives you more comfort and security since the shoe sticks to the flat pedal and allows you to dab your foot a little when things get wild on the trail.
As you become a better rider, you might want to consider clipless mountain bike shoes. These shoes have cleats that clip onto your clipless pedals, keeping your feet in place while you're bouncing on the trail. This gives you a great deal of comfort and security even on the roughest terrains.
What Type Of Protective Gear Do I Need To Have?
If you're just starting, you'd need all the protection you can get. Wearing the right mountain bike gear for a suitable climate and path can go a long way in ensuring your safety. Not only that, but once you put your protective equipment on, you'd instantly feel more confident and comfortable.
Helmet
About one in seven mountain bikers experience some form of head trauma at one point, so protect your head at all cost!
Mountain biking helmets come in three distinct styles: XC half-shell, trail, and full-face. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses in terms of safety, aerodynamics, and ventilation to cater to different cycling styles.
Also known as XC helmets, cross-country helmets look the most similar to their road counterparts. Many bikers prefer this type since it offers the most ventilation and aerodynamics.
Trail helmets, on the other hand, come with a visor that offers more protection and coverage. Not only can you shield your eyes from the elements, but you can also protect yourself from flying objects like stones and branches. However, they tend to be heavier and hotter to wear.
A full-face mountain bike helmet provides the most protection and is most often used in shuttled downhill riding where the conditions get gnarly. Besides protecting your face from everything, they also tend to have better pierce resistance, which will save your life in the event of a horrible accident. The downside is that they're not practical for long rides, given how heavy-duty they are.
And then there are full-faces with removable chin guards, giving you the best of both worlds. With this convertible helmet, you can enjoy a breath of fresh air when you're ascending and protect yourself when you're going downhill.
No matter which type of head protection you choose, you should always make sure that it uses some kind of impact-absorbing technology. MIPS technology or Multi-directional Impact Protection System is the most popular system in bike helmets nowadays. This includes a low-friction layer inside the helmet, which rotates it by 10-15mm on your head during a crash.
However, there are many other impact-absorbing technologies on the market, so the decision is really up to you. You should pick the helmet that feels the most comfortable and safe for you at the end of the day.
Gloves
It's no secret that mountain biking is extremely tough on your hands. Without protection, you'll get calluses, blisters, and scratches no matter how careful you are.
Mountain bikers generally wear full-fingered gloves since they provide a decent line of defense from obstacles on the path and dampen the vibrations from your bike. Besides that, they are also warm and comfortable-perfect for colder climates or longer rides.
However, some mountain bikers prefer wearing fingerless gloves because they are more breathable and ventilated. These mountain biking gloves also typically have more palm padding while being cheaper than their full-fingered counterparts.
Some gloves feature an absorbent wipe around the thumb so you can quickly dab off sweat while riding. You can also get gloves with additional armor or padding for downhill riding. Other than that, you don't have to get top-of-the-line gloves to reap the most benefits.
Knee Pads
Do you know that your knees are the second most commonly injured body part? (Hands are the first).
Whether you're a beginner or seasoned pro, crashing is a natural part of mountain biking. Nobody likes scraped knees, especially not when you're tearing downhill at an average speed of 30mph. Knee protectors are the only thing standing between your knees and the ground when things go south.
There are knee guards of all shapes and sizes on the market nowadays. Depending on what you need, you can choose a more comfortable lightweight design or heavy-duty knee/shin pads that protect your entire calf. If you're on one of your maiden bike trips, you should choose the latter for extra security.
You should also consider if you want slip-on or velcro straps. Although it's easier to get the perfect fit, velcro straps can trap extra heat in your knees and quickly make you uncomfortable. The seams and bits might also cause friction burns on your legs.
Ultimately, comfort and fit are the most important features for a pair of knee guards. You want to wear them each time you go mountain biking, so pick the ones that feel the best.
Sunglasses
Cycling-specific glasses have convenient features like interchangeable lenses that allow you to see in all light conditions. They're also tight and snug on your face, so they stay put even in the harshest environments. Some high-end glasses even have specially designed lenses that enhance your vision on the track.
That being said, you don't really need fancy sunglasses with tons of advanced features. Instead, you can use a pair that protects your eyes from harmful UV rays and hazards like stones, branches, and debris.
What Should I Pack When Mountain Biking?
At some point in your journey, you'll realize that there are two types of mountain bikers. The happy-go-lucky riders rely on other riders for emergency supplies and doomsday preppers who have things you didn't know you needed.
Spare Tube And Patch Kit
Punctures are the most common mechanical problem that mountain bikers face. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, you're almost guaranteed to have a flat tire at one point in your life. When that happens, your patch kit will save you from cutting your trip short or waiting for rescue.
You can use various types of patches for your punctures. Glueless patches are a great quick fix, while a vulcanizing set lasts much longer. Besides that, you can also use tubeless sealants and tire plugs to repair small punctures without taking out the tire.
An excellent flat kit should include at least one spare inner tube and an inflation device. You can either pack a compact hand pump or a CO2 mini pump to inflate your tires. Since mountain bikes typically have tight tires, you should include a tire lever to pry the tire off your rim.
Multi-tool With Built-In Chain Tool
With enough mileage and bumps, you're bound to encounter mechanical issues that you have to fix on the fly. Sometimes, something feels off with your bike, and you need to make some much-needed adjustments. That's why you should always make sure that you have an excellent multi-tool on hand.
At the bare minimum, you should make sure that your multi-tool contains a built-in chain breaker, Allen keys, a flat-head screwdriver, and a wrench. While they can't replace your standard toolbox, these tools allow you to do quick fixes like adjusting your derailleur and removing broken links from your bike.
First Aid Kit
No matter your experience level, scratches and scrapes are inevitable when you're mountain biking. Especially as a novice mountain biker, packing a well-stocked first aid kit would make or break your trip. After all, you don't want a low-hanging branch to cut your trip short.
A basic first aid kit should contain some gauze, bandages, and antibiotic ointment to handle a wide range of injuries. Another benefit to bringing a medical kit on the trail: you'll become a hero when you come across injured bikers.
Hydration Pack
Most road bikers prefer bringing a water bottle on their rides since they don't need a bulky hydration system. However, mountain biking takes up a lot more labor, and even a few hours of riding under the sun will deplete your body with electrolytes, which is why a hydration pack is imperative.
Hydration bladders offer a lot of advantages to mountain bikers. With the pack on your back, you can keep your hands free and focus on riding. It can also contain between two to three liters of water to keep you hydrated.
Many water backpacks are made with well-placed pockets to help you organize your biking essentials. They also typically have enough storage space for a jacket, snacks, and an extra change of clothes.
That Sounds Like A Lot...Do I Really Need Everything?
We designed this list to help you make sure that you have all the mountain bike accessories you need, but it's not an exhaustive list. Like any outdoor adventure, you should consider the following:
- How close are you to the nearest road?
- Can you ask for help if something bad happens?
- What is the weather forecast?
- How long is your ride, and how hard would it be?
- What's the proximity to civilization and wilderness?
You'd need different things depending on the factors above and your biking demands. The most important factors in packing and dressing for an MTB excursion are safety and comfort. It's OK to have a less conventional list as long as these conditions are met. Furthermore, the more you bike, the more you'll know what setup works best for you, so just keep the rubber side down and happy riding!
Where Can I Buy Mountain Bike Gear?
Mountain bike gear can be costly, especially if you buy exclusively from your local bike shops. Not to mention the high initial cost of gear that you have to fork out when you get into this exciting hobby.
Amazon is an excellent source of high-quality and affordable mountain bike gear. Not only is there a massive selection on the platform, but you can also stalk the deals section daily to save more money on the item you want. The reviews section tells you everything you need to know about the item from people who actually bought and used it.
Alternatively, you can also check out the Facebook marketplace or other online platforms for second-hand bike gear. People often sell their preloved items because they're upgrading, which means high-quality bike gear for you at a fraction of the price.