Buying new kit - advice

mezzanine08

I only got into cycle the past few months and just recently bought my first road bike. Now I'm in need of some kit - a jersey, shorts and a helmet (maybe shoes too) but I don't know whether to save up for expensive ones (such as a Gabba) and buy them over the course of a few weeks or buy a cheaper brand and get them all in one go.

What do you guys think? My reasoning is that I'll probably replace the cheaper stuff in the future so I might as well get the better ones now. But at the moment I really do need a helmet and let's just say the "seat" is not comfortable once I cycle over 10km or so (lol).

triggermortis

Aldi and Lidl often do specials of cycling gear and a lot of people start off with gear from there ( I did).
I'd definitely get a pair of padded shorts to start. You can wear extra tracksuit trousers or whatever over them in the cold if you dont want to buy full length leggings or leg warmers at the start.
Branded cycling gear can be very expensive so most people build up over time

07Lapierre

When it comes to shorts...buy a decent pair!
I like Santini. There not cheap, but they are good quality and well worth it. They last forever too. I have one pair for over five years now.

Macy0161

mezzanine08 wrote: »

What do you guys think? My reasoning is that I'll probably replace the cheaper stuff in the future so I might as well get the better ones now. But at the moment I really do need a helmet and let's just say the "seat" is not comfortable once I cycle over 10km or so (lol).

You'd probably get by with a cheap helmet at this time of the year. Safety wise, they're all at the same standard, you're really paying for ventilation in the more expensive ones, which isn't as important at this time of year. Well that's my logic on delaying my own helmet upgrade anyway until I spot a bargain on one I like the look off!

For what it's worth, I've done 60km+ in my aldi bib shorts without issue.

spudbike

Cheap and cheerful kit from aliexpress.com in China. I have some for over a year and IF you get the sizing right, its every bit as good and hard wearing as the expensive branded kit at fraction of price. Get good shorts - that's a must.

brownian

Not so sure about the Ali stuff myself. Got a couple of pairs of 'castelli' shorts off them last year - great for the first ride, but after a wash they were destroyed, and returned the favour in ways I'd rather not remember.

I find DHB and Funkier are both pretty solid brands that aren't as stupid money as some others...

Alanbt

brownian wrote: »

Not so sure about the Ali stuff myself. Got a couple of pairs of 'castelli' shorts off them last year - great for the first ride, but after a wash they were destroyed, and returned the favour in ways I'd rather not remember.

I find DHB and Funkier are both pretty solid brands that aren't as stupid money as some others...

I bought some funkier shorts a couple years back for my first shorts and they are still going strong. Good value

Cee-Jay-Cee

I have several jerseys and bib-shorts from Aliexpress and can't fault them. The fit is absolutely perfect and the two pairs of bibshorts I have are my 'go to' shorts for my regular evening spins, they've been washed countless times and are still in near perfect condition. They're hard to pass at less than €20 delivered.