Beginner cycling gear

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Hey guys. Firstly thanks to all the people who in the earlier thread helped me with the bike choice questions, you were all very helpful.

Now to business. I think I have the bike fairly sorted, now I'm looking at gear. I will be doing a charity cycle for work in about two months time so I will need to start putting some miles on the bike pretty sharpish. With that in mind I was wondering what type of gear I will need. I've compiled a bit of a list of the things which I thing I need. Can anybody point out things I have missed, or things which I don't need if you would be so kind?

Padded shorts
Gloves
Cycling vest/top things
Jacket
Tights
Helmet
Front and rear lights
Lock
Saddle bag (need it for my commute)
Puncture repair kit with mini pump
Bottle and holder
Sunglasses with switchable lenses

Thanks guys and gals, this forum is great, a real fountain of knowledge.

jinkypolly

Tyre levers and spare tubes, repair the punctures at home.

mrcheez

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Cycling vest/top things
Jacket

These two can be combined. Get a good reflective jacket (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Altura-Vision-Jacket-Yellow-YELLOW/dp/B00AYBWAXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391696174&sr=8-1&keywords=altura+jacket) or (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Altura-Night-Vision-Evo-Jkt/dp/B00CJBCPWY/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1391696174&sr=8-8&keywords=altura+jacket)

The latter can be worn as a normal jacket (i.e. not blaringly obvious that it's a cycling jacket) so that's the one I'd recommend.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Forgive the ignorance but do you then just wear a normal t shirt under the jacket? And the repair thing has tyre levers with it. I'm going to get some spare tubes with the bike too. Thanks guys.

Carpenter

I have altura tops and find them great they are about 40 euro each and I find co2 better than a mini pump (Pumping can be as hard as the cycle)

lighterman

Carpenter wrote: »

I have altura tops and find them great they are about 40 euro each and I find co2 better than a mini pump (Pumping can be as hard as the cycle)

Sorry to high Jack the thread but where would you get the puncture repair kits including levers and pump and spare Tubes. Preferable online shop as I won't be around shops for a while.

Do I also just buy a saddle bag and store them in this. Where would the pump be kept on the bike.

Sorry again for the high jack

Cee-Jay-Cee

Wiggle
Chainreactioncyes
Evans
Merlin
Bike24
SwimCycleRun


There are many other online shops but the above are the most commonly used and biggest. Check between them all for best prices. Chainreaction (CRC) offer free shipping in all items. Wiggle offer free shipping when you spend more than €50. You'll find absolutely everything you need in them.

mrcheez

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Forgive the ignorance but do you then just wear a normal t shirt under the jacket?

nah, get the tshirts that wick away moisture

gerrowadat

Any ALDI or LIDL I've been near the last month or so has had bags of cycling undergear and jackets, they're grand for most purposes, I've been doing a 40km commute in temps down around freezing in them, not a bother.

Oh, and add overshoes to your list if you're cycling in this weather.

diomed

Prendas.co.uk is good. I like Santini cycling clothes.

kencoo

For the charity cycle, as the 2nd poster mentioned, just get tubes - forget the puncture repair kit. (fix it at home if you want later.)
Removable arm warmers are a god sent.
Speedometer- get a cheapie for €10 on line if you are not sure.
Small toolset or minimum set of allen keys.

The next step is proper cycling shoes - but runners are fine either if you are just starting out.

red face dave

kencoo wrote: »

Small toolset or minimum set of allen keys.
.

Any recommendations for a toolset. Also looking for a good cheap pair of gloves

If cheap and good can go in the same sentence

mrcheez

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Front and rear lights

oh yeah, don't forget the compulsory bike cam

Can get a range of decent cams on ebay for €50 upwards

cormacjones

mrcheez wrote: »

oh yeah, don't forget the compulsory bike cam

Can get a range of decent cams on ebay for €50 upwards

Not really essential now, is it?

WillyFXP

red face dave wrote: »

Any recommendations for a toolset.

Topeak Hexus II
http://www.topeak.com/products/Mini-Tools/hexus2
This can basically strip/rebuild the entire bike with exception of removing the pedals, chainset or cassette. I have one and it's fantastic quality.

Allabaah

For the t-shirts / undergarments avoid any material i.e. cotton that will soak the sweat that keeps it close to you body. When you stop you will immediately notice the effect. Therefore try and get something that will wick away the moisture. I bought a Skins compression short sleeved top on CRC for €16.50 recently. I should have gone for the long sleeved one!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/skins-a100-short-sleeve-top-navy/rp-prod115397

There is nothing more uncomfortable that being sweaty and then cold!

mrcheez

cormacjones wrote: »

Not really essential now, is it?

Imho yes, but the op didn't ask about "essential" gear, just what we recommend

mrcheez

Allabaah wrote: »

For the t-shirts / undergarments avoid any material i.e. cotton that will soak the sweat that keeps it close to you body. When you stop you will immediately notice the effect. Therefore try and get something that will wick away the moisture. I bought a Skins compression short sleeved top on CRC for €16.50 recently. I should have gone for the long sleeved one!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/skins-a100-short-sleeve-top-navy/rp-prod115397

There is nothing more uncomfortable that being sweaty and then cold!

Just a note on this, u don't need to buy cycle-specific shirts, any cheap running shirts or football shirts will do.

I find the ones targetted at cyclists are overpriced although 16.50 isn't too bad

Allabaah

mrcheez wrote: »

Just a note on this, u don't need to buy cycle-specific shirts, any cheap running shirts or football shirts will do.

I find the ones targetted at cyclists are overpriced although 16.50 isn't too bad

Absolutely correct on this. Gear targeted at cyclists is usually padded in price. It was just for illustrative purposes.

New2bike

I was in Aldi in Blackpool in Cork earlier and they had a load of the pro cycling range reduced down to nothing think base layers were 4.99 and bib tights 9.99 can't remember the jackets might have been 14.99 I got some of this gear from family at Xmas and it's good stuff much better than that gear they had around last summer much better quality well worth it for spares or extra layers ect

tacklemore

New2bike wrote: »

I was in Aldi in Blackpool in Cork earlier and they had a load of the pro cycling range reduced down to nothing think base layers were 4.99 and bib tights 9.99 can't remember the jackets might have been 14.99 I got some of this gear from family at Xmas and it's good stuff much better than that gear they had around last summer much better quality well worth it for spares or extra layers ect

What's the padding in the bib tights like? My legs went into battle with hailstones last night and they weren't too happy about it!!

New2bike

Must admit I wear my Dhb bib shorts underneath the Aldi tights but still for that price they are great leg Warmers!

Jabel

The padding isin't the thickest but it's still comfortable.
I wear mine every day and am more than happy with them and I paid €34.99!
At less than a tenner I'd snap them up if I were you.