What Does My Kid Actually Need for Mountain Biking?
Your kiddo wants to join CNY West. Awesome! Maybe they’ve already been ripping around the neighborhood, or maybe mountain biking is completely new to your family. Either way, you start looking at what they might need and suddenly there are hydration packs, padded shorts, special shoes, gloves, tools, spare parts and bikes that cost more than your first car. The good news is that your rider really doesn’t need all of that to get started.
At CNY West, we’d much rather see a kid arrive with the basics, get out on the trails and discover that they love mountain biking before their family spends a small fortune on gear. So, what do they actually need?
Start with the bike
Your rider needs a mountain bike that's suitable for riding real trails, fits them properly and is in safe working order. If you already have a mountain bike at home, don't assume you need to replace it. It may be absolutely fine.
If you do need a bike, our biggest piece of advice is this: go to a bike shop before you start shopping online.
CNY West recommends Mello Velo in Syracuse. Go see Steve, tell him your kid is riding with CNY West, and let him help you figure out what they actually need. Bike sizing matters, particularly for kids, and buying a bike that's too big because they'll "grow into it" can make it much harder for a new rider to confidently control their bike on the trail.
Get them a mountain bike helmet
A helmet is non-negotiable, and we'd recommend buying an actual mountain bike helmet rather than just grabbing any bike helmet. Mountain bike helmets typically provide more coverage around the sides and back of the head than traditional road-style helmets. They're designed with trail riding in mind, where falls can look a little different than they do when riding down the street. Most importantly, the helmet needs to fit your rider properly. It should sit securely and comfortably on their head without moving around. Again, this is something Mello Velo can help with. Your kid can actually try helmets on and get the right fit rather than you ordering three different sizes online and hoping one works.
They need water and a snack
Every rider should arrive at practice with plenty of water. A bottle on the bike is absolutely fine if their bike has somewhere to carry one. Hydration packs are also popular with mountain bikers and can be really useful because they give riders somewhere to carry water, a snack and their repair kit.
They don't need a fancy sports nutrition strategy. Just send a snack they like and will actually eat. Mountain biking takes a surprising amount of energy, particularly when you're learning, and hungry kids don't generally become more enthusiastic or easy to handle!
Regular athletic clothes are fine
Your child does not need an entire mountain bike wardrobe. Comfortable athletic clothes that allow them to move freely are absolutely fine. Check the weather before practice and send an extra layer or lightweight rain jacket when appropriate. Mountain biking also involves dirt, mud and the occasional tumble, so this probably isn't the occasion for their favorite brand-new white T-shirt. Padded cycling shorts can make longer rides more comfortable, and mountain-bike-specific clothing has some advantages, but those are things you can add later if your rider wants them.
Closed-toe shoes are all they need to start
Mountain-bike-specific shoes are great, but they aren't necessary for a new rider. Comfortable, secure, closed-toe athletic shoes paired with flat pedals are absolutely fine.
As riders progress, they may eventually want flat-pedal mountain bike shoes with grippier soles. That's another purchase that can wait until they know they're going to keep riding.
Gloves are worth having
One extra piece of gear we do recommend is a pair of full-finger mountain bike gloves. They help riders grip the handlebars, particularly when hands get sweaty, and provide some protection for one of the first things that tends to hit the ground when somebody falls: their hands. They don't need to be expensive. They just need to fit properly and be comfortable.
Bring a basic bike repair kit
We do ask riders to bring a basic bike repair kit to practice. Most importantly, that kit should contain a spare inner tube that actually fits your rider's bike and tires. Yes, even if their bike is set up tubeless. A spare tube can still be used to get a tubeless wheel rolling again when a puncture can't be repaired on the trail.
A basic kit should also include tire levers and a small bike multi-tool. As riders spend more time with us, they'll learn what these things are, how they're used and how to become more self-sufficient on the trail.
If you're currently reading this thinking, I have absolutely no idea what size inner tube my kid needs, please don't guess. Go see Steve at Mello Velo!
Take the bike with you. Tell him you need a basic trail repair kit for your CNY West rider and let him make sure you've got the right tube and the right basics for that particular bike. Don't waste money buying the wrong thing on Amazon. There are different wheel sizes, tire widths, valve types and tools, and it's very easy to end up with something that looks right online but is completely useless when your kid has a flat tire three miles into a ride.
You really don't need everything on day one
Mountain biking can look like a gear-heavy sport from the outside, and there's always another piece of equipment you could buy. But that's very different from what your child actually needs.
For their first practices, focus on a safe, properly fitting mountain bike, a properly fitting mountain bike helmet, water, a snack, comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, gloves and a basic repair kit with the correct spare tube.
If you're unsure about the bike, helmet, repair kit or anything else, go see Steve at Mello Velo and tell him you're with CNY West. We'd much rather have families ask questions and buy the right thing once than spend money on gear they don't need.
Get the basics right. Get them riding. The rest can come later.
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