Need Some Cycling Equipment!

Cathy_22

I have just been introduced to cycling and planning to go on a short ride next weekend. Can anyone recommend any helmets, pads and headphones that you have used?

magicbastarder

helmets are a very personal thing, in that your best bet is simply to go shopping and find one that's comfortable; some brands suit some head shapes and not others. where do you live? someone here might be able to recommend a bike shop near you which stocks some.

CramCycle

As Magic says, helmets are personal. Get to a local bike shop and see what ones are comfy and you like the look of. Don't get fobbed off with one that isn't comfy or doesn't look nice as if you feel its necessary, you'll just stop cycling.

Not sure what you mean by pads? Some people wear padded shorts, no one bar BMXers and MTBers wear pads elsewhere except for maybe padded gloves (for shock absorbance) but if its only a short spin, I wouldn't worry about that just yet.

Headphones are a contentious topic, I don't bother anymore as it just invites snide remarks from people but I could always hear fine. Don't get noise cancelling ones or ones that fall out easily. Most commuters I see tend to have those cheap bluetooth ones that hold well but it not a big cost if they fall out. Again, get ones that are comfy, secure and make sure they don't interfere with your helmet going on.

mh_cork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058250606/need-some-cycling-equipment

I use bone-conducting headphones (Aftershokz). They dont go into your ears, so you can still hear surrounding traffic. The disadvantage is that you can still hear surrounding traffic :-)

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119215908#Comment_119215908

I use Sennheiser in-ear earbuds. I never have an issue hearing ambient sound. Its hearing my music over all the ambient sound that's the problem! ;)

DaveyDave

In terms of earphones, I use a set of wireless Sennheiser CX 350bt, they're around €50-60. Not fond of those EarPod style ones, knowing me I'd lose one.

I usually only cycle with one in on my left side but if I'm out walking it's convenient that they're connected by wire so I can just take one ear out and let it hang if I'm in a shop. I don't even notice the little battery portion of it sitting on my neck as they're super light.

If you're just getting into it don't break the bank. Go to Decathlon and buy cheaper stuff, shorts, jerseys, gloves etc can get very expensive. Basic stuff does the job and if you end up spending loads of time on the bike then you can pick and choose what to upgrade as you go along.

Seth Brundle

Forget the headphones - go out and listen to the birds, etc.

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119214838#Comment_119214838

I live in Edinburgh and last weekend I went inside a shop I looked at helmets but I don't know how to choose one.

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119215422#Comment_119215422

OK, I would go to the shop for a comfortable helmet.

Yes! It's the gloves for shock absorption and the arm and knee pads for the phone joints. Do you have any good recommendations?

I'm a bit hard on headphones because I have small ears and wearing most headphones feel hurts and wearing in-ear headphones for long periods of time triggers tinnitus. Its really bothers me.

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119215908#Comment_119215908

Yes, my friend uses this brand headphones, but they tend to fall off during exercise and Openrun can't be used underwater, and the other ones that can are not Bluetooth enabled. I am looking for a headset with both Bluetooth and MP3 modes that can be used for a variety of outdoor sports.

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119216634#Comment_119216634

Unfortunately I get tinnitus with my in-ear headphones for long periods of time, it's so disturbing!

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217342#Comment_119217342

Yes I think so, so get to know them before buy the basics. I'll know which equipment really want later on when riding for a long time.

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217386#Comment_119217386

It's a good idea, but sometimes still need headphones when you go to outdoors :)

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119226039#Comment_119226039

I wouldn't be getting arm or knee pads unless going off road as it will inhibit your movement.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119226015#Comment_119226015

mainly just down to comfort and budget really. ventilation can be a factor if you're going on longer rides.

regarding budget - often with more expensive helmets, what you're paying for is them meeting similar standards as cheaper helmets, but managing it with less weight, more ventilation etc.; and quite often cheaper helmets are made in fewer size variations, whcih could make getting the best size for you more difficult.

lochdara

Helmet wise I go with something ventilated and comfy, I do like vents just big enough I can get my finger in so i can scratch my head 😁. I currently use Kask Protone.

Headphones I never use on the road but I love my Skull Candy Ink'd+ for everyday listening. Saying that I have a Garmin Varia rear radar and it is awesome on the back roads so I could get away with headphones while cycling but I prefer not to have them in.

The cheap cheap gloves tend to slide up my fingers while cycling so I pay a little more for those. After 50km + the Galibier or Enduro FS260 shorts are grand.

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119227403#Comment_119227403

😀Thanks so much for the detailed recommendations, I'll go through them one by one on amazon!

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119229272#Comment_119229272

You'd get good advice in any decent local bike shop. Find one within walking distance of home or work and build up a relationship there.

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119229272#Comment_119229272

I don't find Amazon great for the majority of cycling stuff. I tend to use Bike Discount or Bike 24

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217386#Comment_119217386

If you can hear the birds, your cycling too slow. ;)

Cathy_22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119229850#Comment_119229850

Sounds great! Will do

Cathy_22

I saw a Naenka headphone review that looked so good that I decided to buy this one to try it out :)

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/reviews/naenka-runner-diver-headphones-review-24251623

ARX

OP, as you're in Edinburgh, you might want to check out the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative (which should really be called the Edinburgh Bicycle Coöperative, but that's a discussion for another thread).

ARX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217386#Comment_119217386

Says Mr Thrash Metal 😃

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119260649#Comment_119260649

In fairness, the diaeresis is all but obsolete in modern English. I'm not sure if many people would pronounce cooperative as if there was a housing for chickens at the start of the word.

Kudos for the pedantism, though...

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119260658#Comment_119260658

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119260815#Comment_119260815

why not combine the two concepts, a coöperative is just a metal version of a cooperative. it's an umlaut, not a diaresis.

anyway, i would have thought it would be co-operative?

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119261028#Comment_119261028

Nah, it's a diaeresis. It's different from the umlaut in that in tells you that the two vowels are pronounced separately, (i.e. not a diphthong), rather than changing the stress on the vowel (which is the umlaut's job).

All three versions of the word are considered acceptable usage.

magicbastarder

ah, i know it's a diaresis, i am proposing changing it to an umlaut to make it more metal.

cletus

😂😂😂