When deciding to start cycling, most people dump a huge pile of money on equipment that you will never use. Furthermore, they postpone the start of cycling until they load up on everything and anything they have seen or heard about. This is a wasteful approach, for a very good reason:
The bicycle doesn't ride itself!
Look at all the other stuff you have laying around your house gathering dust.
![]() |
Mountain Bikes for Sale by Rudolph. A. Furtado (Wikimedia Commons) |
Don't spend money unless you are certain the stuff you bought won't be collecting dust in a corner.
Here is a summary of what you'll need in terms of equipment, sorted by priority. Please note that i'm assuming that the readers do not want or are able to spend a lot of money on equipment.
- Bicycle - you aren't talking about cycling if you don't have a bicycle first. Whatever type of bicycle you choose, make sure the dimensions fit you. In terms of cost, the beginner cyclist should avoid the super-expensive bicycles. Choose an aluminium frame bike, and look at bicycles with a price limit up to $600 - $700. If you get serious about your cycling you'll be able to upgrade to a better bike later, and you can sell the old one easily since it falls in the affordable bikes category . Make sure you get a bell with your bike and avoid folding bikes, they tend to break at the joint welds (as did mine when I was a kid).
- Bicycle lock(s) - the harsh reality of the world is that bikes get stolen. A lot. And then some more. Invest in a good bicycle lock or more than one. I would suggest a U-Lock from hardened steel, or a hardened steel chain with hardened padlock. If you live and plan to ride in a low-risk area, you can go with a cable lock. I would suggest both a cable lock and a U/chain lock for rides where you plan to leave your bike for unsupervised for an extended period of time. Thread the cable lock through both wheels and the frame, and use the U/chain lock to secure the frame and back wheel to the locking post.
- Pump - get both a large hand or foot pump to keep at home and a small portable pump. The large pump pumps much faster and can bring the tires to a higher pressure. The small portable pump is slower, more difficult to use and does not support high pressure pumping, but is a life saver if you get a flat while cycling. ALWAYS carry the small portable pump attached to the bike, it has saved me from pushing my bike home on several occasions. Personally, I get away without a large pump, but there is a bike shop next to my house so I borrow their pump once a week.
- Fenders - Great for rain/wet conditions. If your bike doesn't have fenders as standard equipment, I would suggest detachable plastic fenders, so you can be more flexible. Some bicycles (usually road bikes) do not have sufficient clearance between the wheel and the frame or the wheel and the fork for a fender. Investigate fender options when choosing the bike. You can always decide that you won't be using the bike in wet conditions and ignore fenders altogether.
- Helmet - your safety on the bike is crucial. There is a lot of debate in the scientific community whether helmets actually help or not, but the currently accepted theory is that helmets increase safety. Even more so, a lot of local laws now mandate the use of a helmet while cycling. So even if you dispute the effectiveness of a helmet, use it, it will save you some traffic tickets.
- Eye-wear - You don't have a windshield when cycling, so insects, particles and rain can fly into your eyes. Choose eye-wear with several interchangeable plastic lenses (at least clear and dark pair) and frames which have rubber padding on the nose pad and the temples, so they don't slip as your skin starts sweating.
- Front/Rear Light - lights are another safety element, especially in low visibility conditions. If your bike didn't have lights as standard equipment, aim for low consumption lights (LEDs are good) which can be detached (no need to carry the front light in daytime). If you plan to ride in the dark, invest in a front light that will provide good visibility at night.
- Gloves - cycling gloves provide better grip, sweat collection and comfort on longer rides. They also keep the hands warm on cold days, since the hands are always exposed to incoming airflow. Choose a good fit gloves, they should fit snugly around the hand, so they don't slip or create uncomfortable creases when cycling. As you expand into winter cycling, invest in a second/third pair of winter cycling gloves.
- Specialized clothes - there is a whole bunch of clothes for cycling. The main function of cycling clothes is to remove sweat from the body and to provide comfort on longer rides. If you achieve regular longer rides (more than 20 kilometers), start thinking about specialized clothes, since cotton shirts will keep the sweat close to the body, and make the ride uncomfortable. Also, shorts padding feels weird at first, but I challenge you to use padded shorts for a month and then stop using them :) There are jerseys, cycling shorts, base layer shirts, leg warmers and winter jackets. Prices can vary wildly, eg. from $30 to over $500 for bib shorts. Start with a single set, and always look for clothes with silicone grips on the lower seams so they don't slip upwards when you lean into the handlebars. They should be tight fitting, to better collect and remove sweat from the body. Buy more sets as your cycling gets more frequent and you find that you need a second set while your first set is in the washing machine.
- Portable toolkit and spare tubes - The bike is full of moving parts, which can fail at the most inconvenient moment. If you plan to ride into the countryside, you should have some basic tools to keep your bike in rolling condition until you can reach help. There are many different toolkits available, so you need to choose one that has the tools to match you bikes' bolts. Always include tire removal tool, tube repair kit and extra inner tube and a chain breaking tool to fix a broken chain link. I also find it useful to carry some wet wipes so you can wipe off the grime of your hands. Oh, and if possible, make a dry run of using these tools on old bike parts at home, so you actually know how to use them.
Apart from this priority list, there is a ton of extra equipment that you can add to your set, like clipless pedals and shoes, bags, speedometer and cadence meters, heart rate monitors, specialized self-sealing inner tubes etc. These can all be useful if you are a dedicated rider, but take your time before investing in them, they are far from essential.
What is your priority list of cycling equipment? Tell us in the comments!
Excellent post full of good advice. That's a well-composed list.
ReplyDeleteI have been very fortunate for most of my commuting years to be able to park in a fully secure location. I've avoided the need to carry a heavy lock. Other than that I can agree on most of the rest of it.
I prefer steel frames, despite the rust issue. Long-standing habit, I guess. Aluminum theoretically has a limited fatigue life, but any frame will crack if ridden long enough.
For the tool kit I use separate tools rather than an all-in-one multi-tool. That way I don't have to disassemble and reassemble it like a puzzle. And some multi-tools don't easily allow for using two tools together. Check carefully when purchasing.
Although I agree with your list of essential equipment, I would rearrange your order of priorities. I wouldn't dream of getting on a bike without a helmet, because I would be dead now had I not been wearing a helmet in an accident three years ago. You didn't mention anything about the colour of the clothing: I always wear bright yellow, and I can't understand why so many cyclists wear black or another dark colour. I do agree that it needs to be made from a modern synthetic material that doesn't stick to your body. Gloves: I prefer weightlifting gloves, which give a better grip on the handlebars than standard cycling gloves. Sunglasses: I wear high-tech Oakleys, because the optical quality is precisely what I need in bright tropical sunlight.
ReplyDeleteLots of great suggestions! I put a pretty high priority on shorts, especially for longer rides, but even for the shorter ones too. I think a lot of people are scared off by the spandex, and then miss out on how comfortable they can be. There are less 'dorky' alternatives out there. Also, I second Dennis on the use of non-cycling gloves, mine are multi-purpose outdoor gloves that have full fingers; they keep my hands cool in the summer and toasty in the winter.
ReplyDeleteExcellent and simple explanation to beginners on the simple and easiest way to healthy living and commuting, the " CYCLE". Glad that my "Wikepedia Commons " photo of a cycling shop c in Switzerland is a caption for this article. I have personally been a life-long cyclist since my youth and a model of the fact that daily cycling has kept me fit and agile.The future is unpredictable but i can guarantee the fact that cycling is the best, cheapest and simplest form of exercise for the human body although dangerous on the heavy traffic roads like Mumbai, my home city..
ReplyDeleteExcellent and simple explanation to beginners on the simple and easiest way to healthy living and commuting. http://kquotes.com/
ReplyDeleteBeginning cycling can get lavish rapidly.There's a lot of advice on-line about purchasing bikes and you might as of now have a bicycle.Whichever way you ought to get along to your local cycling shop for some face-to-face obtaining advice or,importantly to get old bikes serviced.
ReplyDeleteKathy Brooks.
I love cycling.. this is very informative... thanks for all the tips. I will keep these things in mind.
ReplyDeletePackers and Movers in Pune
ReplyDeletePackers and Movers in Hyderabad
Packers and Movers in Bangalore
Packers and Movers in Gurgaon
ReplyDeletePackers and Movers in Delhi
Packers and Movers in Mumbai
Packers and Movers Hyderabad
ReplyDeletePackers and Movers Gurgaon
Packers and Movers Bangalore
Packers and Movers Pune
Want to know regular updates of Euro Cup 2016????
ReplyDeleteGet Euro Cup live Streaming,Euro Cup 2016 Schedule,Euro Cup 2016 Fixture,Euro Cup 2016 Live Streaming,Euro Cup 2016 Live Stream,Euro Cup 2016 Live Score.
Venue-France,From 10th june-10july. 24 teams,10 stadiums. Stay updated. Watch England vs Slovakia Live Streaming.
I really enjoy the post. It is really awesome. Thanks for sharing. Watch Wales vs Belgium Live Streaming
ReplyDeletePackers and movers pune
ReplyDeletePackers and movers Bangalore
Tech Support Number
ReplyDeleteSage Tech Support Number
Sage Technical Support Number
Quicken Tech Support Number
Quicken Technical Support Number
QuickBooks Tech Support Number
QuickBooks Technical Support Number
QuickBooks Support
QuickBooks Tech Support Number
QuickBooks Support Phone Number
QuickBooks Pro Support Phone Number
QuickBooks Tech Support Phone Number
QuickBooks Payroll Support Phone Number
free classifieds
ReplyDeletefree classifieds site
free classifieds india
9apps
ReplyDelete9apps download
Quickbooks Tech Support Number
ReplyDeleteQuickbooks Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Tech Support Number
Quickbooks Support Number
Quickbooks Technical Support Number
Quickbooks Tech Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Customer Service Number
Quickbooks Customer Service Phone Number
Quickbooks Customer Support Number
Quickbooks Customer Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Help Desk Phone Number
Quickbooks Help Desk Number
Website Design in Gorakhpur
ReplyDeleteWebsite design Company in Gorakhpur
Seo company in Gorakhpur
Packers and Movers
ReplyDeletePackers and Movers in Pune
Packers and Movers in Mumbai
Packers and Movers in Gurgaon
Packers and Movers in Noida
Packers and Movers in Delhi
Packers and Movers in Chennai
Packers and Movers in Hyderabad
Packers and Movers in Bangalore
Packers and Movers in Ghaziabad
Packers and Movers in Faridabad
Movers and Packers
ReplyDeleteMovers and Packers in Pune
Movers and Packers in Mumbai
Movers and Packers in Gurgaon
Movers and Packers in Noida
Movers and Packers in Delhi
Movers and Packers in Chennai
Movers and Packers in Hyderabad
Movers and Packers in Bangalore
Movers and Packers in Ghaziabad
Movers and Packers in Faridabad
Movers and Packers
ReplyDeleteMovers and Packers Delhi
Movers and Packers Mumbai
Movers and Packers Bangalore
Movers and Packers hyderabad
Movers and Packers Chennai
Movers and Packers Gurgaon
Movers and Packers Pune
Movers and Packers Faridabad
Movers and Packers Ghaziabad
Movers and Packers Ghaziabad
Quickbooks Technical Support Phone Number
ReplyDeleteQuickbooks Help
Quickbooks Support
Quickbooks Support Number
Quickbooks Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Tech Support Number
Quickbooks Tech Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Technical Support Number
Quickbooks Technical Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Customer Support Number
Quickbooks Customer Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Customer Service Number
Quickbooks Customer Service Phone Number
Mcafee Antivirus Support Phone Number
ReplyDeleteMcafee Antivirus Tech Support Number
Mcafee Antivirus Technical Support Number
Mcafee Antivirus Tech Support Phone Number
Mcafee Antivirus Technical Support Phone Number
Webroot Antivirus Support Phone Number
Webroot Antivirus Tech Support Number
Webroot Antivirus Technical Support Number
Webroot Antivirus Tech Support Phone Number
Webroot Antivirus Technical Support Phone Number
Kaspersky Antivirus Support Phone Number
Kaspersky Antivirus Tech Support Number
Kaspersky Antivirus Technical Support Number
Kaspersky Antivirus Tech Support Phone Number
Kaspersky Antivirus Technical Support Phone Number
Bitdefender Antivirus Support Phone Number
Bitdefender Antivirus Tech Support Number
Bitdefender Antivirus Technical Support Number
Bitdefender Antivirus Tech Support Phone Number
Bitdefender Antivirus Technical Support Phone Number
Nice Post;
ReplyDeleteaol customer care
aol technical support
aol mail customer service
aol customer support
aol customer care phone number
aol mail phone number
aol mail customer service number
contact aol customer service
aol mail contact number
aol customer support number
aol email customer care
aol email customer care number
I really enjoy simply reading all of your weblogs. Simply wanted to inform you that you have people like me who appreciate your work. Definitely a great post.
ReplyDeleteobatmatasilinder.aldotter.com
obatsyarafkejepit99.aldotter.com
ReplyDeleteobatpenuruntrigliserida.idkes.com
ReplyDeleteSemoga informasinya membantu gan dan tunggu info selanjutnya dan salam sehat.
ReplyDeletehttp://obatinfeksikelaminwanita.walatragamat.com/
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
ReplyDeleteI will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed
ReplyDeletereading it, you’re a great author. I will always bookmark
your blog and will often come back very soon. I
want to encourage one to continue your great job, have a nice weekend!
Eyebrow microblading Toronto
Permanent makeup Toronto
A person essentially lend a hand to make significantly articles I’d state.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far?
I amazed with the research you made to make this particular put up
extraordinary. Fantastic task!
porcelain veneers in dubai
porcelain veneers
I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this website.
ReplyDeleteI really hope to see the same high-grade blog posts by you
later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has
inspired me to get my own, personal blog now ��
Thanks for some other great article. The place else could anybody get that kind of information in such a perfect approach of writing?
ReplyDeleteI have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such
information
bellsouth password reset phone number
ReplyDeletereset bellsouth email account password
how to reset bellsouth password
visit here:
https://www.email-passwordreset.com/bellsouth-password-reset.php
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNice post and thanks for sharing this blog.
ReplyDeletedownload aol desktop gold
install aol desktop gold
aol desktop gold download
download AOL Desktop Gold Software
download AOL Desktop Gold Software
download aol gold
install aol gold
download aol gold software
install aol gold desktop
aol desktop gold
aol gold desktop download
install aol gold desktop for windows 10
aol gold desktop download for windows 10
reinstall AOL desktop gold windows 10
aol gold program download
free aol gold desktop 9.7 download
download aol gold 9.7 desktop
Nice Post thanks for sharing with us.... If you have any query related Apple device so contact
ReplyDeleteApple customer care number
Reset Apple ID Password
Apple ID Password Reset
Reset apple password
Apple Password Reset
Forgot Apple ID Password
Recover Apple Password
Change Apple Id Password
Apple ID Password Recovery
I forgot my apple id password
Apple ID Support
if you forgot your apple id password
apple id disabled
how to find my apple id?
lost apple id password and recovery key
Reset Apple ID
Lost Apple ID
I forgot my Apple password how can i get it back
How to recover your Apple ID password
forgot my apple id
Not Remember an Apple ID
Apple Id Not Working
How To Reset Apple Id Password
how to change apple id password
Recover Apple id password
aol.com email login
ReplyDeleteaol email sign in error
aol email login sign in
www aol email login
The process to setup Roadrunner email on a device can be time-consuming and tricky if you do not have a clear idea about how to configure the server settings and what are the correct details that must be added. Do not waste even a single minute and promptly connect to the services of roadrunner support and have a word with the techies to avail all the answers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this information with us your content is really very helpful for all. If you are new to HBO, you can first activate HBO GO at hbogo com activate.
ReplyDeleteI liked your article its a interesting and it attract other peoples to read this article.Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteSeeking Arrangement customer support
Seeking Arrangement customer service
Seeking Arrangement customer care
Seeking Arrangement phone number
To download aol desktop gold software in your system you can either connect with you aol gold support number or you can visit here: - download aol desktop
ReplyDeleteaol gold install
aol desktop gold upgrade
aol gold support number
There are times when people are having lots of trouble while they are planning to download aol gold software in their computer. If you are also one of them, you need first to see whether your system is fulfilling all the requirement which is required for downloading the software.
ReplyDeleteThe process to setup Roadrunner email on a device can be time-consuming and tricky if you do not have a clear idea about how to configure the server settings and what are the correct details that must be added. Do not waste even a single minute and promptly connect to the services of roadrunner technical support number and have a word with the techies to avail all the answers.
ReplyDeleteThe most grateful blog! Great site! It looks very good! Continue in the same spirit! you are a rocker man! But we also provide the WWW HBO Go Com Activate process, if you have any problems, you can contact us.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWhat is the one thing that will help you in accessing your SBCGlobal email account? Yes, you are right; it is your email address and password. If you are not able to enter the correct username or password, then you should immediately reach out to the support team by dialing Sbcglobal technical support.
ReplyDeleteNice Post thanks for sharing with us.... If you have any query related printer device so contact
Printer support number
Printer phone number
Printer contact number
Printer helpline number
Printer support phone number
Printer customer care
Printer customer support
Printer customer service
Printer technical support
Printer tech support
Printer customer care number
Printer customer support number
Printer customer service number
Printer technical support number
Printer tech support number
We provide ultimate virus protection services for laptop and computer. We provide Remote Support or Online Support or On-site Computer Repair Services in the United States.
ReplyDeleteAntivirus support
This is very informative and intresting.Those who need any help regarding SBC global please visit:
ReplyDeletesbcglobal support
sbcglobal helpline number
sbcglobal phone number
sbcglobal contact number
sbcglobal support number
sbcglobal customer care
sbcglobal customer service
sbcglobal customer support
sbcglobal tech support
sbcglobal technical support
sbcglobal customer care number
sbcglobal customer service number
sbcglobal customer support number
sbcglobal tech support number
sbcglobal technical support number
I read this post, your post is very good and very informative. Thanks for sharing this post.But we provide online Wish shopping help, contact our Wish customer service, they will assist you.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, great job and a debt of gratitude is in order for sharing such a decent blog.
ReplyDeleteWww HBO Go Com Activate
hbo now activate
hbo go sign in
hbo gotv sign in
hbogo comactivate and enter this code
hbo gotv code
hbo go app
hbo go account
xfinity hbo go
hbogo com activate
hbogo com/activate
hbogo..com/activate
hbogo/com/activate
hbogo. com/activate
hbogo com activate
hbogo activate
hbogo/activate
hbogo com activate
hbogo activate
hbogo login
hbogo/tvsignin
hbogo,com/activate
hbogo/activate.com
hbogo sign in
hbogo..com/activate
hbogo com/tvsignin
Thank you for posting an informative blog. Your publications are more interesting and informative.
ReplyDeleteWWW Netflix Com
Netflix Activate
Netflix Com Activate
WWW Netflix Com Activate
Netflix Activation Code
Netflix Active Accounts
Activate Netflix Com Your Account
Netflix.com/Activate
WWW Netflix Com login
Firefox is no doubt one of the few such web browsers helping users to access high-speed browsing. However, to run the browser smooth and efficient, users need to Clear Browser Cache Firefox time-to-time. If you are unable to clear your browser’s cache, you must keep in touch with our service executive straight away.
ReplyDeleteI am very pleased with its content, it is very meaningful and meticulous, I hope you have a good article like this for the reader.
ReplyDeleteinstall mcafee anti virus
install mcafee antivirus free
install mcafee free
install mcafee antivirus free download
Good Content.
ReplyDeletecancel tinder gold android
Informative
ReplyDeletedelete match account
there is a whole bunch of clothes for cycling. The main function of cycling clothes is to remove sweat from the body and to provide comfort on longer rides. shareit app vidmate 2017
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips vidmate apk instasave downloader
ReplyDelete