3. Mavic Creek Jacket This bike-specific rain shell is packed with impressive features, most notably the dual zippers on the back that expand the jacket so you can keep your pack dry during a thunderstorm. We tested the Creek on a ride when the sky turned black and the heavens poured and we’re happy to report the top half of our tester was bone dry. $430; mavic.com
4. Helly Hansen Trail Wizard Jersey Put it on at the beginning of the ride when you’re cold, and keep it on until the end of the ride when you’re sweating, because it breathes so well and wicks moisture so effectively. $55; hellyhansen.com
5. Dakine Amp 18L Pack This hydration pack is full of biker-specific features like a tube and pump sleeve, fleece- lined sunglass pocket, integrated rain cover, and exterior helmet carry. But of all the bells and whistles, our tester liked the click out Hydrapak reservoir the most. It allows you to easily separate the reservoir from the hose and pack, making refills at sinks and streams a piece of cake. $90; dakine.com
6. Zoic Opulent iPod Shorts Do you really need to change the song on your iPod mid-ride? Zoic put iPod controls on the outside of the Opulent’s right pocket, allowing you to skip songs, pause, and crank the volume with ease and safety. $120; zoic.com
7. Lake MX 140 You mountain bike all year, so you need a cold weather shoe. Lake’s new MX140 incorporates an eVent bootie, which makes it far more breathable than previous winter offerings, but still keeps Jack Frost off your digits. Our tester also liked the simplicity of the Boa lacing system. $189; lakecycling.com
EXPERT FAVORITES Eric Wever is an endurance biker who blogs about every single ride he takes. He’s also the mastermind behind the mountain bike sufferfests Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race, Double Dare, and The Most Horrible Thing Ever. What’s the one piece of gear he absolutely can not ride without? Time ATAC pedals: “You get a consistent clip in and release despite mud, dust, snow, or ice, with a positive and audible ‘CLACK’ when you clip in or out. Superior bearings too. And they last for years and years.” Time has made some updates to their ATAC pedal, but Wever is loyal to the original design. What does he do when he needs a fresh set of the discontinued pedals? “Ebay.” $169; timesport.fr
