The Unspoken Rules Of MTB Fashion

Mountain biking is pretty cool regardless of how you dress, but there are some things that can be considered faux pas. Blake Samson shares some top tips on keeping you looking as rad as possible while shredding out on the trails. Rules are meant to be broken, especially in MTB but ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, even if it doesn't complement your outfit.
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:00 - Intro
0:12 - Jeans
1:09 - Cotton Tee
1:59 - Large Jewellery
3:20 - Helmet
4:29 - Overdressing
5:43 - Eye Wear
6:24 - Headphones
7:22 - Excessive Accessories
8:14 - The Gap
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[@bionic909]

Just wear what you want.

[@Jojo-Machete-Mode]

Agreed, just ride!

[@dropbaran]

What if I want to dress appropriately and clicked on the video to make sure I don't wear red sweatpants to funerals just because I didn't know better? ;)

[@fastemx]

Including dinosaur costumes

[@paddyotoole2058]

No. I’m sick to the back teeth with seeing idiots on the trails. Follow the rules.

[@ousqa]

​@paddyotoole2058 lmao if what they're wearing is enough to bother you maybe you should work on yourself a little bit

[@Evitax09]

Wearing goggles with open face helmet is perfectly fine and pretty convenient in my opinion

[@gmbn]

Each to their own 🤷‍♂️

[@harimathur2191]

​@@gmbncheck Si from GCN😮

[@iamdustin12]

NERD

[@zwingler]

Enduro glasses and full face helmets are the best. No fogged up lens, just clear vision and nice air flow.

[@jan-mtb]

sadly no crash protection - i had the experience ...

[@guitarlessonsnow3431]

I remember trying to pass a rider who was wearing earphones. I was yelling and practically buzzing his back tyre, (he was going glacially slow). Very annoying!!

[@nickwooden2103]

I have worn glasses and a full face. Be a rebel… and its definitely not an unspoken rule it’s definitely been said😂 Love your work Blake ❤❤

[@DirtlovR]

I wear gogles with an open face because I'm a rebel...with a bad eye sight so it's gogles over glases or dirt in my eyes.

[@Montytobin]

@@DirtlovR i think half/goggles is much better than full/glasses

[@rinky_dinky]

There's that one American guy in tour de ngar that wore ff with glasses , I thought he was cool af ps: went back to the film and found his name RYAN RADRIGUEZ

[@luffyluck]

I wear prescription sunglasses with my full face because I have no choice. I'd rather see.

[@DirtlovR]

@@luffyluck Why do you have no choice? I wear full face with gogles over glasses. Leatt (among others) makes OTG gogles.

[@metaltrashcan]

Once I realized how much nicer glasses can be with a fullface on a hot day I started easing up on these (silly) fashion rules. Function before fashion!

[@gmbn]

Rules are made to be broken! 🤷‍♂️

[@MTBr-of-SoCal]

100% fact. This is why I myself said screw "fashion". If I'm riding on a 80+ degree day in the direct sun, I don't give a crap about being fashionable. Glasses keeps a much cooler than goggles.

[@winklertribe5268]

Blake is so sweet:”I take the risk wearing my wedding ring because it’s so special to me.” Love that!

[@harraldsmit2390]

Always fullface with work/safety glasses and I ride in old workboots. I get some looks, but it´s what I´m most comfortable with.

[@jonnymorrisuk1]

Old workboots are probably as good or better than many of the overpriced MTB shoes.

[@aryota4871]

I’ve hoped on my bike with a pair of wedge work boots. Crazy grip!

[@wolfrikvonschwarzblut3921]

A guy in my local trails broke his toes against a rock. Those nylon-cap workboots aren't such a bad idea.

[@MTBr-of-SoCal]

Personally, I don't give a crap what people say I should or should not wear out on the trails. Sometimes I'll sport a full face with goggles, sometimes with mtb shades. Sometimes I'll wear a long sleeved T, sometimes I'll wear a skin tight UnderArmor shirt. Cargo shorts with 5Tens? Sure, I'll do that too!

[@justinfournier1285]

I’ve done the after work shuttle in my 5Tens, cotton tee and cargo shorts more than once.

[@MTBr-of-SoCal]

@@justinfournier1285yup! I'm with you

[@andrewince8824]

I frequently ride in a wife-beater vest, cargo shorts and a full face with sunnies during summer flow days. Fuck da fashion police.

[@TooMuchBike]

"Noob Gap" is harder to overcome because bike shorts are getting shorter. I ordered some recently and come to find out they had a 9" inseam. There's no way to pull the knee pads up high enough to compensate without making them "thigh pads". Ketl Mtn, I am looking right at you....

[@gmbn]

Padded undershorts should help fill that gap! And protect your hips.🤘

[@TooMuchBike]

@@gmbn Even those are shorter now! I use to get padded shorts from Performance Bike and they had some length to them. Now the only affordable ones come from companies that think thighs are 6 inches long. It's really difficult to find any that go past mid thigh. If anyone has any recommended brands with some length that don't cost a fortune, I'm all ears.

[@ricardoandreu5107]

Such snobs, wear whatever is comfortable and protect whatever you don't want to injure. I don't care about the fashion opinion of anybody not paying my bills.

[@dvpemberton]

I always ride in cheap cargo shorts in warmer weather. Good length on them - side pockets for snacks, and it doesn't bother me if they get torn if I have a fall.

[@TooMuchBike]

@@ricardoandreu5107 Good response! ✌

[@OscarDelta013]

EXTREMELY SUPPORT AND AGREE especially with the last point. It looks absolutely awkward and NOT STYLISH with such an AWFUL GAP between knee pads and shorts

[@gmbn]

Would create some interesting tan lines as well!

[@dennispikephotography]

Full face and glasses is the hill I will die on. That is the best combo. One summer riding in southern California and you will get rid of your goggles, too. WAY too hot.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

The hell with that lol. Half shell and glasses or full face and goggles (you don't need them on the climbs anyways or at a bike park on the lift) I'm also in socal!

[@Flux_Flow]

Great show Blake. Your team helped promote a couple of blokes in Asheville, NC recently and that's where I am from. You should find Syd and Macky or April and Kyle. They are also really great bikers and would make great content.

[@BodieMTB]

I rock the noob jab to show off my sick quads

[@Frorideism]

As a Fashion designer & mountainbiker, got to say we don't need these hierarchies in the MTB field... .. On the other hand, Hansel - so hot right now.

[@deadkennedy5559]

That was fantastic ... Especially the last part with the "gap". Amazing video, Blake! Cup of tea?

[@gmbn]

☕️

[@deakon7984]

if you like music while you ride, openrun makes the bone induction so you can hear music etc.. and hear your surroundings. Love those things

[@Milessongs]

OpenRun are from the company called Shokz, and yes - they are awesome.(But I still never ride with music. Need to hear the trail/woods/bike!)

[@gmbn]

The beautiful sounds of nature and a screaming freehub is my music!

[@AdamMannProductions]

You can get silicone rings, so if you want to you can swap out your wedding ring for a silicone one

[@suvakshaacharya6900]

Blake ! Yak attack is the hardest mountain bike enduro race which take place at the high himalayas region of Nepal . The trail is quite technical . and the distance is long . Can you accept the challlange and take part in this event + it would be a great documentry video for the channel

[@ddsgardening7437]

Who cares what you wear as long as your out there mtbing that's all that matters ,its not a fashion parade for god sake🤨

[@Kenshiken]

I ride in Enduro full face helmet and MTB riding glasses. I mostly ride in city and local park (not a bike park) and they offer much more ventilation/cooling, than goggles. Of course I bring goggles when I go to ride Bike park and my DH helm with me.

[@9livesMtb]

I agree goggles for real wet, loose stone conditions, but i also like like full face helme with polarized work safety glasses 😂😂, protection for eyes..no steaming up..extra ventilation 🤙🤙

[@Jojo-Machete-Mode]

I always wear glasses on my full face helmet. I can see better. And I wear my knee pads outside my pants! Haha

[@gmbn]

Interesting 🤔

[@Jojo-Machete-Mode]

@@gmbn I’m joking of course, but the thought has entered my head. It would be a lot easier to get the knee pads on and off. Haha.🤙

[@onthea.t.wtheriordanbrothe5673]

100 % agree with the no headphones! the amount of people ive been stuck behind because they cant hear me is insane. The only other thing i would add to your list in no blue tooth speaker. No one wants to hears your playlist. lol.

[@Umijaky]

I do wear a goggles with my endure helmet from time to time in the winter season. I don't want to wipe mud from my eyes. :D

[@user-bf9qr8ty9r]

Have been riding “THE gap” shorts and knee-protection while riding bmx and it was ok ✅

[@gmbn]

It's not easy being steezy!

[@uldi1s]

Am I the only one that really dislikes the feeling of tech-cloth? like especially as a Jersey... hate the way it sticks to your skin and feels cold immediately, as if I was wearing nothing. Horrible feeling when sweating. Much prefer cotton 😎

[@squeeler9421]

Does the same rule for roadies apply to MTB'er, regarding eyeglassses, shades, fitover shades, should the handle be worn inside or outside of the helmet strap?

[@steveherring8494]

hi blake i live in arizona and i wear a BDU, that's a battle dress uniform shirt always when i ride. it's got lots of pockets to put stuff in.

[@davetbassbos]

What's the latest on helmet use and risk compensation? you always hear different things, I guess depending on what you want to hear.

[@robertgraham3559]

Being underdressed for a winter ride can be the last mistake you ever make. Yeah, on a hot day err on the side of too little, but this approach can be fatal when riding alone in the winter. The typical hypothermia symptom of shivering doesn't happen when we are doing heavy exercise. One should sweat a bit going up long hills.

[@ShutUpSceneKid69]

Do they make a full length knee pad so i can wear my daisy dukes on the trail?

[@SugoDiGatto]

I've worn cotton tees for a while, getting drenched in sweat, steaming hot, exhausted; one day I put on a random sporty plastic tee I had around, and oooh man the difference it made! I was no longer drenched, incredibly cooler, and especially I wasnt getting exhausted as easily!

[@Jake_Towne]

It doesn’t matter what you wear, Wear clothes that make you happy and your comfortable in. I just have my “riding clothes” separate from my normal clothes

[@brianjones3245]

I knew most of those as a new rider. But didn't know about "The Gap" thank you for that one. Now I know. Lol

[@DoughtyWolf]

Thanks for the video Blake, cheers mate! How can I get those knee pads/protection you wear at the end?

[@gaelan.gustavsson]

Love the vids

[@rcfanaticdublin]

My Bike...I'll hang as much stuff as I like on it!!! Beside's Bag's and Bar End's help when you fall off. I'm with you all the way on Safety Equipment though.

[@mtb_daniel]

not gonna lie i just got some of this insane merch for a we gift for myself. cant wait for it to arrive!

[@pewsician2388]

Blake...buddy. get yourself some silicone wedding bands. I bought some for the lake years ago. I only wear my metal ring if im dressing up now. The risk for additional finger injuries is eliminated as well.

[@DavidSinanan]

Bone Conduction headphones are a very reasonable compromise. I've got a set, and even with the music fairly loud I can hear the sounds my bike is making and traffic noise more than clearly enough. If you're totally zoned out, you're zoned out. It doesn't matter if you're listening to music or not. In your context of calling out to someone to pass them on a trail, bone conduction sets will absolutely allow you to hear that. Personally, when training, music keeps me going. From one of your other videos, I'm a combination of a Trail Guide/Unfit. (Unfit is being unfair, I'm just out of shape for me, I used to play AAA baseball and swim provincial club, but I look like the unfit dude in your video, I sweat a lot. But I'm Army trained in NAV and have experience in maps, plus enjoy being decked out for zombies..../playing) But I agree that not being aware of others around you is annoying, so I'm not disagreeing on your point, just pointing out that there is a tech to compensate for the issue if you're like me and need the tunes for motivation. (If you haven't tried them, you should, mine are even rated for swimming, so Tri-ready).

[@withneilw9146]

I like how a bit of jewellery turns Blakey into Sam Pilgrim's surfer dude 😎💀😆

[@the.mermaid.scientist]

I cut some old scrub pants into mtb shorts this summer because it's what I had available. They're not too loose, have several pockets, and are not hemmed.

[@AntonyLD]

Great fun vid. I do wear glasses and full face because I need prescription sports glasses and cant get them with goggles. Headphones... You can wear them if they are bone conduction so you can hear any voices too.

[@nicholastyler8177]

I love that he’s still wearing those 2 rings 😂

[@SpecializedP2Ler]

Everytime I broke my rear mech I was wearing headphones. Needless to say I haven't broke one since I stopped wearing them, now I hear those sticks getting stuck in the there!

[@rethridermtb3262]

In the winter when our temperatures get well below freezing, I will wear goggles with an open face helmet. Of course, I'm usually wearing a balaclava or other face covering also.

[@markg0410]

MTB mechanic wardrobe - cartoonish socks, Vans or some sandals, cut-off cords or utility shorts or rolled-up, VERY tight jeans, a t-shirt that was a freebie from a bike/component manufacturer, a trucker hat (again free from a manufacturer), and facial hair (best if left unkempt). Also, a diet consisting of small branded coffee, local microbrews, and spicy Tex Mex.

[@cbenson513]

These are fun, but I do like breaking a rule here and there. It's good to have a bit of your own flavor out there!

[@gmbn]

Which rules do you break?

[@cbenson513]

@@gmbn 1) being old out there and 2) sometimes wearing a bit of my roadie gear on the trails or mentioning heart rate or watts 😱

[@alstuart8801]

i wear glasses and full face as my glasses are perscription oakleys

[@bicepusmaximus]

Blake is pure gold 😂

[@grahambell6834]

Glasses and full face is fine

[@BlindingSun_]

Cargo shorts, flannel shirt and 90’s Troy Lee edge and Oakley Juliet X-Metal

[@niuniezpolska4683]

My friend was riding in a wedding ring. When he fell he planted hand flat on surface. Then ring got stuck and turned 90 deg cutting his finger. And this was in gloves.

[@xSimplyP]

I cant even ride my bike if i cant hear my bike rolling over the trail.

[@DougieFresh13]

Yeti rig. Air Jordan 5lab3, Bauer Kevlar socks. Calvin's Fox ranger pants covered by Fox defender pants. Yeti merino long sleeve, Royal jersey. Cashmere Rag and bone hoody. Pearl Izumi black jacket covered by Yeti turque jacket. Troy lee A3 lid and Unit Command glasses. At the current moment. Lake Champlain N.Y near Vt and Montreal Ca.

[@DougieFresh13]

Yeti turq gloves covered by Poc Enduro gloves... lol. Im off!

[@TrailingThroughLife]

My wedding ring skinned my finger good once too. I was playing the strong man hammer game at an arcade. Got the high score but almost got stitches.

[@ANTheWhizkid]

Aren’t troy lee helmets designed to be able to wear headphones? 😉

[@MrGraduswijnands]

Hilariously the best 😂

[@DougieFresh13]

On my ride, I wish I could send a picture of how beautiful the Lake and the islands are right now. Where i'm sitting

[@stug45]

I tend to wear just one colour in many different shades

[@ProfeTa6]

When squatting on the bike I get the "gap" but not when standing. What can I do?

[@Hipp0campus_1]

Don't squat. But seriously, who cares. Just do your thing.

[@ProfeTa6]

But fashioooon. 😂

[@skaarlaw]

Mmmm Zim in short shorts 😍

[@bumpsahead]

I break the first 2 rules all the time 😂

[@bobsmythe9949]

I break last rule coz in Oz it's just plain f%ucken hot although boardies are fairly close to the knee.

[@JimEckhardt]

That over dressing.... Come to South Africa in winter. You start your ride in low (-2 to 5 degrees) and 2 hours in its pushing 30 degrees. You have no choice but to take a bag and wear at least a compact jacket so you don't get all cold and stiff. And in summer, it can be over 30 degrees, but you can be hot by a thunder shower out of the blue.

[@chrismcdeed544]

I'd like to see more colour! Black etc especially at night, early morning or dusk is hard to see.

[@gnarlyd0rk]

What brand are those glasses? (not the goggles) Thanks!

[@RobHill00]

I wear glasses with my full face!🤷🏼‍♂️ use goggles on bike parks etc but if I’m riding some distance at a trail centre in summer I’ll sweat like a pig in goggles!🐷

[@andrewburrows7711]

I wear my bmx clothes when I ride my normal bike which consists of denim baggy jeans and a oversized tee

[@karomac]

My personal favorite: E-Bike riders with mirrors. Best Accessory!

[@spitroastjerry]

Do you guys xover this topic every 6 weeks at this point?

[@communityprepper6153]

Newb here! Guilty of the cotton tee.

[@ylana4444]

Blake is so creative …..😂😂😂

[@MultiGolonka]

As far as accessories on bikes go - I do need my phone on my bar, it acts as computer (I'm broke so I do not have Garmin or even cheap speedometer) and navigation, so there's that. Apart from the phone I only have lights attached.

[@PaperKiller79]

Sweatpants and a t-shirt for the win!

[@DeluxPlays_]

deaks is the noob gap all year round 😂😂

[@jokermtb]

I actually prefer cotton in the high summer humidity of Michigan. Once a cotton shirt gets 'wet' or 'damp', it stays damp and relieves your sweat glands of constantly pumping out water from your sweat glands, in a feeble attempt to cool the body core - you don't get as dehydrated. Think about a damp cotton tshirt as pre-cooling. And, mtb is inherently unsafe - I prefer to make it even more unsafe by using earbuds. The dreaded 'gaper gap' - it's what we call Texans (it's ALWAYS texans) who, when snowboarding or skiing, somehow maintain a skin gap between the top of their goggles and the bottom front of their helmet......same with those pads....(btw, I dig my Dainese Trail Skins - like having knee air conditioning)

[@oliverbaumhofer4662]

If you need your glasses to see the trail, a goggle is not your friend. At least, if you do like to see anything. Fogged glasses are unfashionable, mate.

[@kalanit2684]

Fullface Kool shades my rule..🤩...Kool Blake love you🤙🏼

[@lee85gavaz]

Blake lekker bike video bro, ek lief en how baie van jou videos, how so aan😎

[@gopro_vlogs]

putting a helmet is just habit to me now. there have been plenty of crashes where I have been happy and greatfulll that I was wearing one

[@charlesdanforth]

What about wearing full roady lycra to the MTB park? I’m guilty of this quite a bit.

[@goldenretriever6261]

My coworker wears camouflage pants to ride his mountain bike to work...in the winter when the ground is covered in snow.

[@robertnorton3047]

Worn out bike shorts under a pair of gym shorts with a wicking workout shirt, old fingerless bike gloves, and a pair of 5/10 free riders.

[@j.s.3945]

I wear tights for running. Super comfortable and breath better than anything.

[@junkandcrapamen]

Other than the helmet thing, just do you. Ride your damn bike and fuck the haters.

[@jesusalbertoguerrerocarden6628]

I wear goggles over my glasses for double protection 😎😜

[@DNDinitials]

As an American, I did not expect Blake to call jeans pants.

[@Jonsi._.fr.]

headphones should only be in one year and goggles are fkn awesome on openfaces

[@MTBPerspective]

Full roadie kit with bib-shorts, knee pads, and a full-face with glasses! Fashion tradgedy!

[@BlindingSun_]

That’s just what French riders wear 😂😂😂

[@tbc_mtb]

Nope, not buying goggles just to use with my full face. My sutros are perfectly fine. And i rock the tshirt all the time. Shits too pricey to go forking out on all the gear 😂

[@SEThatered]

Goggles are for colder/rainy weather. Glasses for hot. Always and only full-face (if you value your teeth). Safety needs no fashion compromise.

[@dominicyuen5794]

Three things. Leaving rubbish on the trail. And faecal matter. Everybody needs to do one, but if you need to do it. Do it deep in the bush. And keep your doggy dos away from the trails. Use a leaf or a sticky if you must to push them off the trails please. Jandals...

[@matty_fez_jones1741]

I wear headphones on low level ... it helps with nerves on the trail.. Other bikes are a bit judgmental if im in someones way they will just have to wait an respect me like i do if there in my way but maybe im just polite 😅

[@FIGHTTHECABLE]

Michael Schuhmacher was wearing a helmet at his fatel ski accident. Look where that put him. 08:05 Noted, get rid of my mum.

[@mtbson]

wearing MTB pants over knee pads or knee pad under mtb pants, also wearing armor under jersey or over jersey =)

[@respond_code3]

Lol. Sun glasses on a full face all day. Older I get worse my vision gets. Oakley gas cans with prescription lenses. Also I live in FL. So it's probably cooler than goggles. However when I make my first trip to NC to ride DH with lift access I will buy goggles. The only thing that sucks is I will need to order a insert from SportRX so I can have a script in my goggles.

[@stefanburchill2488]

Wear wtf your want! Just make sure it includes adequate protection for whatever style of riding. Where's the fun in everyone looking like 101 dalmatians?!?!

[@DavidParathyras]

You should add wearing long socks with shorts out of the fashion list as well

[@mephistophos]

Didn't expect zettai ryōiki to have an evil MTB twin

[@Likelybiking]

I like shorter shorts. Most MTB shorts are way too long #shortshortsgang

[@BlindingSun_]

I just wear speedos

[@V.Dragnev]

:D :D :D this was very necessary video for some dudes :D