Proper Gear For Staying Healthy While Mountain Biking
A big plus to your health is cycling. That is a common place observation. There happens to be a variety of mountain bike gear that has be designed specifically with health and fitness in mind.
If you are going to be riding for over an hour, you should have a pair of padded shorts. Try to find a pair of shorts that do not have a seam running down the middle. Both of these attributes will make for a healthier ride.
You will soon find that padding will minimize sores that tend to occur at the 'sit points'. (This is a portion of the pelvis that contacts the seat). Seamless padding not only reduces chafing but maximizes comfort, particularly for women. Remember that a comfortable ride is a healthy ride. Seamless shorts will have less of a chance to split down the middle.
To make your experience of mountain bike riding as healthy as possible, you want to make body temperature another important aspect of making your ride healthy. If you ride in hot weather, you should have a pair of shorts that are loose but ones that also provide excellent wicking. What exactly is wicking? This word refers to technical fabrics which move perspiration away from your skin and lets it go to the fabric's outer surface where it evaporates. As a matter of fact, that issue is more important in cold weather.
Overheating, even in the winter, is common particularly on cold rides. With a snug shirt and jacket, heat can easily build up close to the skin. This can often cause heat rash, an elevated body temperature and excess bacteria buildup all of which are unhealthy conditions.
When you take a ride on rainy days you should have good moisture control. Mountain bike riding is often done in mountainous terrain. The weather can be fickle in those areas. Summer storms that can leave a valley dry will often drench a hill.
Moisture control on the outside is important during those rainy rides. Mountain bike riding is, like the name says, often done in mountainous terrain. In those areas the weather can be fickle. Summer storms that leave valleys dry will often drench a hill.
The answer is to waterproof.
If you want to have a healthy ride, then you should consider getting a windbreaker which is a perfect piece of apparel. With the windbreaker you what to get one that offers good air flow and wicking is a must. You can see that the same thermal control issues are evident, but now they are made more critical by higher external moisture level. High humidity will make the body lose more heat much slower.
Even if you are riding under perfect weather conditions, there are several items that will maximize your health.
First on the list is a heart rate monitor. All athletes, no matter what discipline they are doing, want to keep an eye on this very important number. However, it can be tricky doing this on a moving bike rather than some other activity. You should have a large, easy-to-read display. Imagine that you are trying to read your tiny cell phone screen while your head is bouncing from the motion of your legs pumping.
Last, but not least, you should consider all of those fluids and backpacking snacks that are essential in a sport that often overlaps with mountain biking. You should consider carb-rich granola bars, a good sports drink, trail mix and other food and drink items. These should be considered as healthy gear, too.
Optimizing your health and having fun doing it goes hand in hand. Have a great ride!