Equipment
Every rider is expected to be responsible for having the right equipment to participate. See below for a list of required and recommended equipment. Anyone riding with the team must wear a helmet, ensure your bike ready to ride, be prepared with water, food and any additional safety gear and clothing to match weather conditions and complete rides.
Required
Mountain Bike (From a bike store, not a big-box retailer)
Tire, size 26", 27.5" or 29" (1.75" min. width)
Handlebar end plugs & stem cap
No kickstands, no bar ends (Handlebar extensions)
No single-speed bikes
Helmet
Close-toed shoes
Water bottle or hydration pack
Team Jersey (Required if racing)
Recommended
Eye Protection (For singletrack)
Gloves (Full or half finger)
Portable Tire pump or CO2 cartridges
New inner tube (correct size / correct valve stem)
Multi Tool ( suggest small and simple)
Tire levers, set of 3
Clip-in shoes (We recommend all riders complete skills in flats and new riders use flats the 1st year)
Large bandage or gauze and gauze tape (Yes, it's mountain biking!)
ABCDE Pre-ride Checklist
Make sure your bike is ready to ride by performing an ABCDE bike check (Air, Brakes, Chain, Derailleur, Everything Else). See below for some helpful content that will help ensure a safe and fun ride!
Air
Check your air pressure and tires for wear before practice. Your tires are the first part of your suspension and tires with not enough air can lead to flats or potentially a hike-a-bike situation back to the trail head if you can't fix it in the field. Check and set your tire pressure before ech ride.
Brakes
Not having your brake levers in the right position for your grip can be dangerous and lead to crashes. Make sure to adjust your levers for your grip. Check the brake levers for a solid and consistent pull every time. You should have a consistent feel as the brake contacts the rotor.
Chain
Maintaining your chain is important to make sure your bike is ready to ride. Cleaning and lubricating your chain after rides helps ensure proper shifting. That said, chains do wear out and replacing them helps minimize wear on the rest of the drivetrain.
Derailleur/Drivetrain
Inspect your derailleur for damage and make sure your bike shifts correctly between all gears. Use this video to learn more about your drivetrain and if your not up to making the adjustments or repairs, take your bike in for service before attending practice.
Everything Else
There is a lot to a modern mountain bike and it takes time to learn all the things. A few additional items for your pre-ride check list would be that your front and optional rear suspension has enough air and rebounds correctly. Make sure your wheels are secured to the bike and aligned correctly. Check any Quick Release wheel levers are tensioned correctly, and spin your wheels and make sure things look straight and you have no loose spokes.
Enjoy your ride!