Can You Mountain Bike In Jeans? – Learn Why Denim Is Bad
When it comes to mountain biking, you can wear whatever you want. However, your clothing choice will affect your comfort and performance, so can you mountain bike in jeans?
I often see steezy, cool kids riding in vests or Hawaiian shirts and jeans around the bike park. They are usually awesome riders who make big jumps look effortless. On the other hand, people who ride in jeans are often just giving mountain biking a try, and they have no suitable clothing
What Are The Advantages Of Mountain Biking In Jeans?
I suppose the good thing about jeans is that they are usually pretty tough. So when you crash, you stand a good chance of keeping the gravel out of your legs and receive fewer grazes. Jeans would also keep you warm on colder days.
In 2019, World Cup downhill racer Johannes Von Klebelsberg broke the mold by becoming the “Denim Destroyer.” While other racers wore their branded pants, the 2-time Italian Champion rode in jeans in between shifts at his restaurant.
Wearing jeans didn’t hold Klebelsberg back, as he was pretty successful.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Mountain Biking In Jeans?
There are better things to wear than jeans on the trails for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, depending on their cut, your jeans may be quite tight. This tightness would restrict your movement somewhat, preventing you from performing at your best. In addition to this, you may struggle to fit knee pads under your jeans, so you’d have to wear them on the outside, which looks terrible.
Secondly, we all know what walking in torrential rain in jeans is like. Your legs get wet, the denim material takes ages to dry and chafes your thighs. So imagine the discomfort of wet jeans rubbing your legs as you pedal your mountain bike on a cold, wet day.
What Should You Wear Mountain Biking?
There are mountain bike clothes for a reason, and it’s not just to look good on the trails. Proper mountain bike clothing offers comfort and functionality.
In this post, I’ll concentrate on what to wear on your lower half, but you can learn all about other items of clothing in the links below:
Mountain Bike Shorts And Pants
Mountain bike shorts and Pants look great, keep you comfortable, and allow you to perform at your best. Here are some things to look out for when buying them.
Material
Mountain bike shorts and pants are made from technical material that is stretchy, tough, and breathable.
The material’s durability means the shorts or pants last longer and give you some protection in a crash. Non-mountain bike-specific shorts will wear out on the seat area from rubbing on the saddle.
You can buy waterproof mountain bike shorts and pants. These are great if you ride in bad weather often. You’ll be surprised how well they keep your bum dry and warm.
You will notice that some mountain bike garments have a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) coating. This treatment keeps you dry, but you must reapply it, as it becomes less effective over time.
Fit
How comfortable you are depends largely on the fit of your mountain bike shorts or pants. So I recommend you buy some with an adjustable waistband. It allows you to fine-tune the fit without needing a belt, which can be uncomfortable and bad in a crash.
Mountain bike shorts and pants can often be tweaked with velcro straps or a ratchet. If your velcro straps are inside the waistband, ensure they are sufficiently covered up, as velcro can be pretty scratchy against your skin.
Fly
Press-stud fastening is the best method for securing your shorts or pants. The more studs you have, the more secure your shorts or pants will be. Try to buy some with at least two, with an additional strap.
Top tip – For extra ventilation on a hot day….fly low.
Length Of Your Mountain Bike Shorts
If you opt for shorts over pants, it is best to consider how long they are. The Longer shorts protect you against bushes and scrapes when you crash. Also, they fit over your mountain bike knee pads better.
Pockets
Pockets are less important if you carry a backpack, hip pack, or hydration pack. However, pockets give you quick access to your phone and provide you somewhere to stash your lift pass if you need one. Ensure your pockets are secured with a zip so you don’t lose anything on the trails.
Cargo pockets in mountain bike shorts may seem like they would be great for added storage. However, I find that full cargo pockets flap about when pedaling, and if you crash, you will land on whatever is in them.
Ventilation
Some mountain bike shorts and pants have ventilation built into them. This is usually in the form of strategically placed laser-cut perforations or mesh panels. These make a huge difference when riding on hot days.
So, Can You Mountain Bike In Jeans?
Yes, you can mountain bike in jeans. But there are better options in the form of mountain bike pants and shorts. Riding in jeans isn’t a good idea, as they are too hot on warm days and become incredibly uncomfortable when it’s raining
