On our local trail, I’ve seen quite a few new bikers. Yes they’re easy to spot…giddy as schoolgirls, wearing t-shirts, and no helmets or gloves. I’ve also seen quite a few fellows on higher end bikes, again, with no helmet.
Now, I was new to biking at one time and I know it can be an expensive sport, but traveling at high speeds over rough terrain is just asking for trouble. My first purchase was a helmet and pair of gloves. Two of the most important items, in my mind. I’ve had two concussions, with a helmet on, and don’t want to think about what would have happened without one.
Sure I may look like a dork, but all my brains are still in my head…just shaken, not stirred. Gotta stop watching the Bond movies. But seriously, it doesn’t take more than a couple of feet for you to fall to do serious damage to your head so make sure you’re always wearing it, for peace of mind and to keep your pretty face intact.
My two other accessories I can’t leave behind are my gloves and my glasses. While gloves protect you from blisters, they also greatly reduce road rash during a spill. It’s a pain in the arse to ride your bike with scraped/bruised hands. Also, I sweat a lot and if I don’t wear gloves my hands get slippery. Very dangerous for a mountain biker.  ÂÂ
Glasses, while not essential, protect your eyes from all that dirt your riding buddy will kick up. And if your heading downhill, your eyes can water up from the wind, blurring your vision. I paid a whopping $12 for my shades but they do the trick.
Not lecturing, but just want all of us to stay healthy and safe out there so we can keep on riding and keep on having fun. It’s so damn frustrating being injured(just ask RL) and wearing proper protection is a small price to pay. And if you’re heading out to a trail you know is technical, or if you know you’re going to be stepping up your game, take your pads along. Remember, a happy body makes for a happy rider!
