Biking shoes in the high-end price range have high arches to help position your foot.

Keeping your heels from slipping is a vital function of mountain biking shoes.

Blisters are one result of heel slippage, but a worse one could be losing your balance.

A special molded plastic heel gives extra support to prevent heel slippage.

Bike shoes use ties and Velcro fasteners to hold the shoes snuggly to the foot.

High-end shoes may cost as much as $300, although less expensive models are available starting in the $50 range.

Detachable cleats and spikes are included with high-end mountain biking shoes.

Detachable spikes are screwed into the shoes for when hiking is necessary.

Mountain biking gloves improve grip, cushion hands during a fall, reduce blisters, keep hands warm and act as shock absorbers.

Pogies are mountain biking mittens.

Professional racers prefer full-finger gloves.

The thumb has its own single spot in the glove, while the other fingers double up with a buddy.

Both leather and waterproof synthetic materials are used to make mountain biking gloves.

Carpal tunnel syndrome may be a result of the bumps and stress of the sport, so is tendinitis.

That would be the skintight bike shorts.

The main purpose of the shorts is to act as a second skin.

Wicking fabrics draw moisture away from skin -- an important function in both hot and cold weather.

Bike shorts have a chamois panel that reduces friction with sensitive areas.

Extreme mountain bikers, such as downhill and freeriding racers, wear a kind of body armor for protection in a fall.

Duct tape and baling wire are a great fix-all to have on the road.