What to Wear Mountain Biking (If You Refuse to Wear Spandex)

Cris rocking a raglan tee, sweat pants, and Vans. Classic SoCal vibes.

I realized that it’s a common issue for myself day-to-day when I wonder, “Hm, what do I wear?” Not in a diva fashion sense, but how should I dress according to the weather, the agenda, and how I think my day will go.

I bet there are plenty of others who ask the exact same thing, especially when it comes to an activity like mountain biking. What the heck do you wear if you’re a beginner and you absolutely don’t want to wear spandex?

First of all, I know it’s technically called Lycra. Just saying that makes me feel like an elitist. But you will never catch me wearing padded bibs. I’m a casual rider who prioritizes the adventure over the competition. Last September, I completed the Great Cycle Challenge and received an official cycling jersey. I love the sentiment and the cause, but I won’t be wearing it on the trails because I refuse to look intimidating or condescending to other beginning cyclists.

Riding a bike is supposed to be fun, so don’t overthink it. If you’re hitting the dirt for the first time, here is exactly what you should wear.

I'm convinced my Uncle Gabe has been using the same gear since the 90s...

The Top: Keep It Casual

It’s as easy as throwing on a T-shirt. If you want to go the extra mile, throw on a long sleeve to protect your arms from dry brush or falls.

If you want something that looks great and survives the trail, I am a huge fan of wearing what is actually comfortable. A brand like Independent Trading Co. makes a relaxed-fitting premium cotton tee that you can wear all day. We actually print our custom SoCal Biking Tees on those exact Independent blanks, so you can grab one from our shop and rep it on your next ride.

If you’re thinking about the effort you’ll put in and the sweat that will inevitably break out, you can’t go wrong with Dri-Fit material or a "tech tee." Dad and I had some custom SoCal Biking jerseys made a while back using that material. But honestly, if you already have a Reebok or Adidas polyester gym shirt in your closet, throw that on, and you’re golden.

LOVE the casual look here. It just screams that Donnie is here purely for the fun.

The Bottoms: Wear What You Own

Again, you don't need a $150 pair of specialized riding pants. Wear shorts.

There are brands out there that make specific "mountain bike shorts," but I usually just wear basketball shorts. The moisture-wicking material works exactly the same, no matter what category the tag says.

Honestly, any shorts work for a casual ride:

• Dad regularly wears standard cargo shorts.

• Donnie rocks cut-off Dickies.

• Nigel wears generic chino shorts.

  
  

Whatever floats your boat. You’ll be on a bike, so it’s not like you’ll be needing super short running shorts anyway. If you’re looking for extra protection against the brush, just throw on some comfortable athletic pants.

Dad is wearing orange hiking shoes on this particular occasion.

The Shoes: Flat Pedals and Old Kicks

If you are just starting out, grab some hiking boots or old tennis shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Because you will get dirt on them, and it probably won’t come off easily. These will get the job done perfectly for a beginner.

If you ride consistently and are ready for the next step, they do make fantastic mountain biking shoes that still look casual. I love my Crankbrothers Stamp Lace shoes for flat pedals, or my Shimano GE900 GTX shoes for riding clipless (you can check out my full video review of those Shimanos right here).

Alex sporting his sweet TLD jersey and full-face helmet.

The Safety Gear: The Non-Negotiables

While you can save money on your clothes, never cut corners on safety.

• A Helmet: This is the absolute minimum. I’m a big advocate for helmets because I’ve fallen off my bike too many times to count. It’s not even that I’m a bad rider (or maybe I am), but you just never know what will happen on the trail. Helmets save your brain. Wear one.

• Full-Fingered Gloves: They don’t have to be expensive "mountain bike gloves." Baseball gloves, work gloves, or any other padded gloves you have in the garage will work. Because of those aforementioned falls, my hands have some gnarly scars. If I had been wearing gloves, I wouldn't.

  
  

Everything else is just extra. Grab some cheap sunglasses to block out the sun and flying dirt, throw on elbow or knee pads for those extreme downhill days at Big Bear (which I skipped last time but will definitely use next time), or get a full-face helmet like Nigel rocks on every single ride.

Nigel with the GoPro strapped to his chest for content purposes.

Final Thoughts

In this day and age, I’ve seen people (like our buddy Cris) research endlessly before going on their first ride, overthinking everything from their outfit to their tire pressure.

Leave that stress for other sports. Grab your bike, wear what makes you comfortable, take some pictures, and make sure to grab a post-ride meal with your friends. Do it consistently, and trust me, it will be worth it.

Cycle on!