| WHAT Do I NEED TO ENJOY A SAFE RIDE?
Helmet: Never Ride without one! Can you say Ben Roethlisberger? If you appreciate your brain (and dashing good looks!) then buy the best helmet you can afford. Before you buy, try the helmet on and make sure that the helmet fits properly. Too loose, too tight, DO NOT BUY, no matter how COOL it looks! On the Street, Track or Trail; a high quality, properly fitted helmet is the single most important piece of safety equipment that you can buy. So please buy one and always wear it.
Goggles or Face shield: Eye protection is a good thing. No eye protection is stupid and miserable. Don't believe that, try putting a few grains of sand in each eye and then hit the road, track or trail. You will be amazed at how much more you can see, do and enjoy on your Xtreme Machine when you don't have dirt, dust, bugs and tree limbs in your eyes! Eye protection is a must; not just for the track, but for every ride and every rider.
Elbow and Knee Pads: Save You from uncomfortable injurys when you fall. The pads that are sleeved are most comfortable, many styles are available to fit a wide range of riders. Pads with straps can cut off blood flow a bit and contribute to arm pump. Arm pump is when blood does not flow properly and your arms get numb, weak and sometimes shake. Good Knee and Shin pads can save you from a world of hurt if you crash or someone bangs into you on the track. If they go down your shin far enough, they can even save you from a painfull pipe burn.
Gloves: High Quality Gloves are a must, they protect your hands and allow a firm, sure grip on the bars. Riding without gloves can leave you with painful blisters on your hands, how much "FUN" is that? Better gloves come with extra padding and knuckle protection if you're prone to clanking your knuckles.
Boots with Ankle support: Riding boots are a great addition to your gear. The biggest advantage to a Good boot is ankle support and protection. Your ankles take a beating on the trail or the track so why not give yourself all the help you can. Steel toes are recommended for the ultimate in protection.
Chest & Rib Protection: If you're racing in any format, a High Quality chest or "roost" protector is a MUST! But a good chest protector can help you even more on the trails. You never know what is going to fly up and hit you square in the chest. A chest protector can sometimes also help in cushioning your ribs in the event of an accident. When you are comfortable on the trail or the track you can ride better.
Riding Pants: Good riding pants are a real plus, much cooler and lighter than the old pair of jeans. Riding pants are made of lightweight but heavy duty fabric to protect you. Many styles offer extra padding and even pockets for knee/shin protection built in. Depending on your preference You can get pants that tuck into your boots, or over the boot pants (sometimes called freestyle pants). Freestyle pants allow more movement but can catch on limbs and other bikes. There are also pants that can be zipped off to make shorts and there are also just riding shorts. Depending on your riding climate you might want to consider pants that are vented to let air in when you ride.
Safety: A safe and comfortable ride is the best kind. You can't imagine the fun you can have when you are not worrying about your eyes,knees, feet, ankles,hands and your head. Ride hard, have fun but "first of all" ride safe!
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