Things You'll Need on a Mountain Bike Ride

If you're tired of street riding with the traffic and diesel fumes and pollution and noise - try mountain bike riding. You get to ride off road on trails, maybe up and down hills, where it's quiet enough to hear bird calls and the air is breathable. Mountain bike riding can be an extreme sport with steep, root infested, downhill runs and people flipping their bikes up and doing all kinds of tricks. But for most of us, mountain bike riding is a nice ride in a natural setting. If you haven't tried it, here are a few things you'll need.

• A mountain bike. Mountain bikes are sturdier and have wider, knobbier tires than street bikes. You get better traction and you're not as likely to bend a wheel with a mountain bike.
• A helmet. Yes, there's a lot of controversy about whether helmets are effective or not, but your brain is a pretty important body part, and you want to keep it healthy.
• Cool clothing - but with long sleeves and legs to protect against scratches and scrapes and tics.
• Good shoes that are light, have a stiff sole, but you can walk comfortably in.
• Gloves.
• Eye protection. You can get mud, dirt, bugs and other debris in your eyes when mountain bike riding.
• Plenty of water. Hint: freeze an extra water bottle and you'll have cold water later in the day.
• A portable pump. Nice to have when your tire loses air and you're 15 miles from home.
• Sunscreen.
• Insect repellant. Think West Nile Virus.

Taking a mountain bike ride is relaxing, rejuvenating and it's great exercise.