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Gear You Need
Riding, training, practice, and races are all safer and more successful when athletes have the right equipment.
BIKE
A bike that fits the rider and is in good working condition is important. Although 29ers (29″ wheels) are popular, if your rider doesn’t have the height or the leg length, bigger wheels might not be the right choice. 27.5″ and 26″ bikes are totally appropriate if that is the best fit for your rider. A bike that is too big limits a rider in their ability to make athletic moves which means they are limited in their ability to ride technical terrain, sprint, brake, and corner effectively.
STEM
Modern bike geometry favors a shorter stem. Research shows that a long stem can contribute to OTB (over the bars) crashes. Finding a bike with the right cockpit for a rider is important and something a local bike shop can help with.
PEDALS
Flat pedals are an important tool for developing riders because they provide an important safety advantage, help build confidence, and teach good form. Any time a rider is learning new skills, they should be riding flat pedal. Riding clipless pedals can be a training tool during the off-season, but aren’t inherently faster or more efficient, but can build bad habits and limit skill development.
PROTECTION
Safety needs to be the number one priority! If we aren’t being safe, we can’t have fun, learn, or ride again tomorrow!
HELMET
A good, comfortable helmet that fits properly is REQUIRED. Helmets that are in crashes, get banged up in the back of vehicles, or thrown around when not in use can be dramatically weakened and lose their effectiveness. Please consider getting a new helmet after any crashes and every year or two.
PADS
Learning new skills is best done with pads on. Pads especially help protect riders WHEN they fall in the learning process, make sure they can learn skills effectively (crashing is part of the learning process), and build confidence. We highly recommend knee pads when riding, practicing, and training on Grand Valley trails. Knee pads are REQUIRED (and provided if the rider doesn’t have them) during our Tuesday Skills Sessions. Elbow pads are recommended as well. Wearing pads take some getting used to so practicing in them is important.
It can be difficult equipping growing kids. Use the GVYC community to ask questions, swap gear, and buy and sell with the family.
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