All You Need To Know About Gear

Let’s talk about the gear you need to ride.

You need a bike. And it normally can’t be a “big-box” bike. It needs to be durable for hard riding across multiple seasons. A well built bike that fits and is maintained should last a rider many years. These bikes do not have to be top of the line. We will provide some recommendations at the bottom of the page.

• Type:

  • A cross-country (XC) mountain bike is ideal. These bikes are designed for speed and efficiency on varied terrain. You could also ride a trail bike just fine. An enduro style bike gets into more difficult pedaling. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, come talk to a coach.

  • Hardtail (front suspension only) or full-suspension bikes are both suitable. We do recommend that riders start on a hardtail as they are more efficient and teach you better bike handling skills. Hardtails are also lighter, cheaper, and easier to maintain.

• Wheels:

  • 27.5-inch or 29-inch wheels are common. 29-inch wheels tend to offer better rolling efficiency, which is advantageous in XC racing.

  • Tires should be knobby and at least 2.2 inches wide for good traction.

• Dropper Post:

  • Nice to have, not required. However, having a dropper will give a rider much more confidence on descents.

• Gears:

  • A wide range of gears is crucial for climbing and descending.

  • Most bikes will come with a 1x12 drivetrain which is perfect for our type of riding.

  • 2x10/11, or even 3x7/8 are ok as well.

• Brakes:

  • Reliable disc brakes (hydraulic preferred) are essential for safe and controlled stopping.

• Frame Size:

  • Proper bike fit is paramount. The frame size must match the rider's height for optimal comfort and control. Come talk to a coach or local shop (Trek AF, Utah Mountain Biking, Ari, etc.) and they can help you.

Essential Gear:

• Helmet:

  • An ANSI or CPSC certified mountain bike helmet.

  • It should fit snugly and securely.

  • See Virginia Tech’s Helmet Ratings for more safety info

• Gloves:

  • Mountain bike gloves (full-finger recommended) for hand protection and grip. Not all riders like gloves and that’s ok. If you don’t wear them and you go down expect some cuts and scrapes.

• Eye Protection:

  • Sunglasses or protective eyewear to shield the eyes from debris and sunlight.

• Hydration:

  • We train in the heat. You will want 2 water bottles for most practices.

  • We will NOT ALLOW a rider to ride without water.

  • A hydration pack (CamelBak) is also great.

• Repair Kit:

  • A small repair kit including:

    • Spare tube

    • Tire levers

    • Multi-tool

    • Mini pump or CO2 inflator

    • Plugs (if riding tubeless)

    • Small first aid kit

• Clothing:

  • Cycling shorts with a chamois for comfort.

  • Moisture-wicking jerseys.

  • Appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.

Additional Recommendations:

• Bike Shoes:

  • Cycling shoes designed for use with clipless pedals can improve pedaling efficiency.

  • It is not required to ride with clipless pedals.

  • Even without clipless shoes a good stiff shoe will offer more grip, efficiency, and protection. Crank, 5:10, and Ride Concept are great shoes for flats.

  • As a UHSCL sponsor, PEARL iZUMi Factory Store, Park City, UT, offers a 20% discount on your entire in-store purchase, plus 30% discount off MSRP on our new, full-priced cycling shoes. No code needed. Trek also offers discounts on shoes and helmets.

Please please check your bike often. Do things like:

1. Check your chain and cassette often. Replace your chain before it wears out your cassette.

2. Ensure you have sealant if using tubeless.

3. Service your suspension at regular intervals.

4. Ensure your shifting is working correctly.

5. Check your brakes and pads regularly. Do a brake bleed at least every year.

6. Make sure your tires aren’t worn out

7. No creeks or loud noises.

8. Make sure your wheels are spinning well and are true.

Local bike shops like Trek and Utah Mountain Biking can help you out and offer service discounts.

Remember, bikes can be expensive. $1000 on a bike is a ton of money but bikes can be over $10,000. Alternately, you can normally find a perfectly suitable used bike on Facebook Marketplace or KSL. See a coach for help.

It is important to note that there are bikes with serious downsides like (e.g. SRAM SX drivetrain). Always talk to a coach and we can help you.

We do recommend to buy local unless you are confident to work on the bike yourself and are willing to deal with warranty hassles. I can say from personal experience that having a local shop like Trek, Utah Mountain Biking, etc. that will backup the bike they sold is a huge positive.

Now onto the bikes!

Solidly spec’d bikes and with your 25% discount not too badly priced. The Roscoe has good suspension, good drivetrain, a dropper, tubeless, hydraulic brakes, and great geometry. Solid bang for the buck. And…it’s not too heavy!. The bigger tires will help new riders develop confidence on the trail.

Good bike with a dropper, air fork, hydraulic brakes, etc. The only downside is the drivetrain. Expect to upgrade to a SRAM GX derailleur after the SX that comes with this bike breaks on a ride.

Trek also offers high-end bikes like the SuperCaliber. Go talk to the Trek AF shop close by. Trek is also a huge supporter of the team.

All NICA riders received 5% off complete bikes, parts, and service through Jibe Cycleworks. Discount can be applied to non-Jibe brand products as well. Can be used in-store or on the Jibe website with code: UTNICA25

Jibe also has a great writeup on recommended bikes for NICA riders.

Go talk to Mike at Utah Mountain Biking. He offers discounts to NICA riders and is extremely knowledgable and skilled on all things biking.

Sometimes sites like Backcountry, JensonUSA, etc. will have great deals. Normally that’s the fall/winter. Come talk to a coach if you have questions.