Welcome to Cycling
Cycling differs from running in that a lot of equipment is necessary. You may feel that this fact alone could keep you away from getting into cycling. You may question why you should spend so much money on all of this equipment when you could simply lace up some sneakers and strap on a Garmin to go running. The amount of equipment may seem overwhelming at first, but I encourage you to look beyond that and to give cycling a shot.
The most important piece of equipment is obviously…
The Bike
If you are just testing the waters with cycling, we’d recommend getting your hands on any old bike you can. You really don’t need anything fancy to start with. If you find that you enjoy biking and could see yourself continuing on in the sport of cycling, then we would highly recommend going to a local bike shop to be fitted for a bike. Be sure that you will be doing it for the long term before you invest in a bike. If you do decide to invest in a better bike, it is extremely important that the bike fits you properly–that’s where the experts at the bike shop come in!
Keep in mind that bikes are expensive. In our opinion, we recommend buying a decent bike from the get-go. You don’t want to buy an expensive bike that you are going to have to upgrade in a year. It’s better to spend the money now or you will just end up spending more money in the long run.
In addition to the bike, there are plenty of other important pieces of necessary equipment….
Helmet- Don’t ever ride without a helmet. Helmets can range from under $100 to a few hundred dollars. If you are new to cycling, we think that any basic helmet will do its job.
Water Bottles- You will definitely be needing water once you start doing some longer rides. Get water bottles along with a cage that attaches to your bike. You should probably think about getting two water bottles with cages. You may surprise yourself with how much you drink on a ride.
Pump/CO2 tank- You always want to be prepared for a flat. There are many options here. You can purchase small CO2 tanks that will inflate your tire or you can purchase a small portable pump to attach to your bike. There may be other options available but those are the two that we are familiar with. A floor pump is convenient to have at home as well.
Repair Kit- Along with the pump/CO2 tank, you should always carry a patch kit, spare inner tube, 2 tire levers, and a multi-tool for bikes. You can carry all of these items in a small bag that attaches to the back of your seat. We will admit that we do not carry a multi-tool for our bikes…or a patch kit.
Gloves- When we first started cycling, we did not purchase gloves. So if you are looking to save a little money for the time being, you can delay buying gloves. Gloves are necessary in that they absorb shock from the handles and thus make your ride more comfortable. Most importantly, if you crash, the gloves offer your palms protection.
Bike Computer- Although bike computers are not completely necessary, we would not want to be without one simply because we enjoy knowing the distance, pace, and time of the ride. We both have basic computers, but some of our friends have crazy Garmin computers that are pretty awesome. We wouldn’t recommend buying a Garmin until you are really into cycling. Knowing the pace, distance, and time is good for us, but other computers can tell you cadence and other kinds of information.
Glasses- We find these necessary. Not only to block the sun but also to block bugs and other debris from your eyes. Sure, they probably make fancy cycling glasses, but truly any sport glasses will do (i.e. Oakley’s).
Shoes/Pedals- You may decide to get these right away or you may wait a little bit. We say if you are going to spend the money on the bike, you might as well just get the shoes and pedals while you’re at it. You will be buying them eventually and they are pretty necessary for riding.
