Apart from a bike.....what else MUST I have?

[GrumpyGregry]

I'd put gloves above anything else beceause even at low speed tarmac can make a mess of your hands, followed by pump & patches/repair kit (or spare tube) & levers, foillowed by multi-tool (but all useless dead weight if you don't know how to use them.)

Everything beyond that is optional imo/ime.

 

[I like Skol]

All my MTB tyres ever, my kids 14" wheeled bike, 20" wheeled bike and 24" wheeled bike and my Hybrid with 2 different sets of rims have all come off by hand. I am ashamed to say, even after 6 months of ownership I have not needed or tried to remove a tyre from my skinny wheeled road bike but I do have a set of levers in the skinny saddle bag for when I do

 

[davester65]

as well as everything listed above you WILL need at least two large bottles of motivation and the biggest bag of enthusiasm you can lay your hands on

Go for it and ENJOY!

 

[Maylian]

I guess it really depends on what you're planning on doing, just pootling along quiet paths then I would just go with: gloves (protection and warmth), pump, inner tubes, tyre lever, lights, water bottle and a bike tool. I have tried repairing exactly one tube and couldn't be bothered after that so just replace all mine (no I'm not made of money).

If its longer rides then you might want to buy padded shorts, depends on your body type but I've never needed them since I don't suffer from soreness. If trails then mudguards if it doesn't have it already can save some nasty washing.

 

[Hebe]

You WILL have a puncture at some point so prepare for this. An inner tube, pump and any tools needed for your bike (spanners and tyre levers?) and make sure you practice the routine of swapping an inner tube in the comfort of your own home so that when it happens on a dark, wet, windy and cold day you know exactly what to do with the minimum of fuss.

+1. Says the girl whose husband has just given up trying to patch the previously functional, now split inner tube after my first attempt.

I would also add a bottle cage and water bottle.

 

[snorri]

I guess it really depends on what you're planning on doing,

We got to Post 19 before someone asked for the essential information required before the question can be answered properly.

 

[Ethan]

Genuine must haves on my road bike for me:
Spare tube and puncture repair kit (Carry both as its easier to just change the tube - But if that goes tits up too I can repair it.)
A minipump if your far from home, or a c02 thingy
Tire leavers - Noone likes fighting with a tire, might as well use some weaponry to make it a little easier!
A decent multitool.
A decent lock
A decent set of lights for winter (I dont have mine on the bike in summer at all)

I carry all the repair stuff in a saddle bag, and dont go anywhere without them.

Other must haves (aka stuff I want but dont genuinely need to ride) include

Good set of gloves (Dont underestimate a decent set of gloves! Makes riding so much easier on the hands.)
Good set of shorts (Yep - Lycra )
A good light jersey (I dont use true under layers in cold weather. I wear my cycling leggings with my castelli shorts over, my castelli jersey with a cheap long sleeve jersey jobby under it and waterproofs over it.)
Decent water proofs - Top, bottle, shoe cover.
A good set of stiff shoes with cleats
Bottle cage
Spare batteries for the lights in winter
Number of bikes I own + 1
TT bike
A track bike
Sorry, getting carried away here

 

[Bluenite]

And this.

May not make you go faster, but you will look awsome.

 

[TheDoctor]

Padded shorts (or undies if riding in civvies)
Pump,lock, multitool, spare tube(s) and puncture repair kit - these all live on the bike.
Gloves.
It's worth having a track pump at home.

And get down to Lidl sharpish!! You can get that little lot for about £30 at the moment...

 

[Bigsharn]

MUSTS I would say are:
A toolkit - at least a basic one including allen keys, an adjustable wrench and tyre levers.
2 spare inner tubes or some patches - I have both, just in case the patches fail.
Quality* mini pump - *will go to a high enough pressure to get you home/to an LBS safely.
Decent** Lights - **To be seen with, rather than to fall within the law.
Lock - Decent D lock, two if you're on Quick Release wheels.
First aid kit - Mine consists of baby wipes, gauze and some bandage, add/remove where applicable.
Gloves - Not for warmth, if you fall off it's a good form of protection.
Glasses - Again, for protection. I've had a stone chip fly up off a bike in front and wearing glasses probably saved my sight.
Luggage - Something to carry everything above in (be that panniers, backpack, rack bag, whatever suits you)

Note: I have omitted helmet because it's not something I use, a lot on here would reccommend it, but remember that's a personal choice rather than a compulsion. IMO it's not a "must", but if you want to wear one for protection, include it in this list.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Helmet is quite definitely optional.

But many would say essential

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Talking clothing, gloves etc, Aldi shoud have their cycling specials on v soon and rreally good for the price - Don't touch the Lidl ones - they're doodoo

 

[sean8997]

The bike buying is the cheap part, its all the extras that you buy afterwards that all add up

 

[vickster]

Not to mention the n+1 or even the n+2

 

[Cyclopathic]

And this.

May not make you go faster, but you will look awsome.

Perhaps cyclists should go completely hairless. Why don't the shavers in the community apply the same logic (and wax or whatever) to their noggins (Noggin means head round our way in case you were worried)