#SPARTAN RACE GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS FREE#

Mountain bikers love gear, and it’s easy to read about high-end components and imagine that they’re necessary or that we’ll ride better if we have them. Check out the local downhill trails, see what types of bikes people are choosing, and look for a bike that fits the type of riding you’ll actually do! Some of us are lucky enough to have a racecourse or a bike park close enough for a day trip, others have to make do with whatever trails are nearby. If you’re like most of us, most of your riding will be done near your home.

As your skills develop you’ll get a better feel for the type of downhill riding you’d like to do and the type of equipment you need, but don’t feel deprived if your first moves into the downhill world are on a trail bike or even a hardtail! If you visit a local downhill race and check out the riders in the beginner bracket you’ll see that plenty of them aren’t riding race-specific bikes. In the real world, your first steps into the wonderful world of downhill riding are most likely going to be on slightly steeper trails and slightly harder lines than you rode before, maybe a trip to the nearest bike park to try some more challenging rides.įor most of these purposes, a trail bike that leans toward the steep side will be a perfectly adequate tool. It’s easy to think that if you’re going to do that, you need that bike. It’s easy to watch a World Cup downhill race or Red Bull Rampage event and think “I want to do that”. For those addicted to the thrill, it’s worth it! Downhill bikes have to be built burly and incorporate more sophisticated suspension and stronger wheelsets than other types and those features do push prices up. Bikes designed for “enduro” or “freeride” all combine similar elements like long suspension travel and frame angles designed for high-gradient stability, and can even serve through the introductory stages of downhill racing. Downhill riding involves high speeds and hard obstacles, and serious injury can occur if things get out of control.įor this list of the best downhill mountain bikes, we’ve taken a liberal definition of “downhill”. We can point you to the gear but you’ll have to develop the skills! We urge you to seek appropriate training, build skills gradually, and extend your limits slowly. When you complete the 2 longer distances, you can collect the three chunks to create a Trifecta medal.THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKEĭisclaimer: Downhill riding requires appropriate skills and appropriate gear. With it you also receive a triangle medal chunk. The medal is a heavy, high-quality round medal. Parking is also 10 dollars per vehicle, so carpool when possible! You should also note that spectators are required to pay 20-25 dollars to watch, and most of the course is not visable from the spectator area.

#SPARTAN RACE GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS FREE#

Since the race is not sponsored, but solely run by Spartan, there are no other free vendors on site. Once you cross the finish line fire jump, you get a CLIF bar, banana and water.

Old, muddy shoes can be donated to charity after the race. Also, wear an old pair of well-draining shoes. Many of the obstacles require hand grip strength, and the gloves really make a difference. I would highly recommend bringing your own water to hold you from station to station.Īnother recommendation is to wear/carry a good pair of gloves. The first water station seemed to take forever to reach and the day was unseasonably warm as well. One area to improve on would be the amount/location of water stations. If you are unable to complete an obstacle, you are required to complete 30 burpees (not as easy as they sound).Ī Spartan Sprint is set to be anywhere from 3-5 miles, and this years race totaled 5 miles.

This can make it difficult to prepare, but the Spartan website provides plenty of training tips and plans to help you prepare.

Part of the Spartan race is not knowing what obstacles you will race until the morning of. NO one is left behind, and complete strangers will help you to complete even the most challenging of obstacles. That being said, don't worry! Spartans are the most supportive, encouraging, and helpful participants. The point of such a course is to truly challenge yourself to rise above and beyond what you thought you were capable of completing. The course is high-quality, challenging, intimidating and even sometimes scary. The caliber of this race is much higher than many other mud run style obstacle courses.

Spartan race gear recommendations