Beginner

[Inthecup]

Hi all,

New to the forum & first post. I do a bit of mountain biking and found myself doing more road stuff of late so I've jumped ship and testing a cannondale synapse 2300 on Monday.

Being a road bike Virgin, what's the basic kit I'm going to need and advice that will help me on my way?

Cheers

 

[Biker Joe]

Hi and
I suggest you take some time and have a good look through the forum.
Many questions will be answered and there's lots of other stuff that will interest you.
If you still can't find what you're looking for then I'm sure someone will help you out.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Inthecup as @Biker Joe says have a good look around.
and

 

[jo_e]

I'm a newbie to road cycling too (8 weeks), and you won't really *need* a lot of kit, but you'll suddenly *want* tons of the stuff.

So far I've bought:
Bike*, clipless pedals* (plenty of threads on here about types, all down to personal preference), shoes*, seat bag, track pump* (to get those pressures nice and high), cycling shorts*, cycling tights, spare tubes, an iphone holder, bottle cages, 3 jerseys, & 2 jackets.

*my essentials

I'm on the lookout for lights and a CO2 pump, and bought a ton of winter cycling clothes from Aldi yesterday.

I thought this hobby would be cheap once I paid off the bike. Hah.

 

[BAtoo]

What you need and what you will want are very different...

You need - a bike, a good pump, spare inner tubes, basic tools, puncture repair kit, water bottle
You should have - helmet & something high viz, lights if you ride after dark or around dusk/dawn
You will benefit from - padded shorts, a decent saddle, gloves and waterproof jacket, something to carry the tools etc in.
You will probably get clip-less pedals and shoes

You will also probably get lots of other things as well that in all honesty you don't need but will acquire

 

[Tcr4x4]

Think Ive spent more on "stuff" than I did on the bike, and I only bought it in July!

This time of year, I'd say needs are good warm clothing and some lights if you intend on riding in the late afternoon/evening.
Everything else is just nice to have, except the essentials like pump, tubes and tools mentioned earlier.

 

[Inthecup]

Cheers guys. It seems a whole different world from mountain biking!

I've got helmet, pump, repair kit, gloves etc that I use for my mtb. Once I purchase the bike I'll have to just pick away at the other bits n bobs like clip less pedals and so on once the budget / wife allows it!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm a newbie to road cycling too (8 weeks), and you won't really *need* a lot of kit, but you'll suddenly *want* tons of the stuff.

So far I've bought:
Bike*, clipless pedals* (plenty of threads on here about types, all down to personal preference), shoes*, seat bag, track pump* (to get those pressures nice and high), cycling shorts*, cycling tights, spare tubes, an iphone holder, bottle cages, 3 jerseys, & 2 jackets.

*my essentials

I'm on the lookout for lights and a CO2 pump, and bought a ton of winter cycling clothes from Aldi yesterday.

I thought this hobby would be cheap once I paid off the bike. Hah.

Thats where it all went then

What you need and what you will want are very different...

You need - a bike, a good pump, spare inner tubes, basic tools, puncture repair kit, water bottle
You should have - helmet & something high viz, lights if you ride after dark or around dusk/dawn
You will benefit from - padded shorts, a decent saddle, gloves and waterproof jacket, something to carry the tools etc in.
You will probably get clip-less pedals and shoes

Think Ive spent more on "stuff" than I did on the bike, and I only bought it in July!
I know I have spent more on other things than the bike maybe, I do have a D.B. showing such things but 2,000 miles in two months takes its toll on a bike so a lot of that £20 a week is spent on maintenance let's face it its what gets you out and home and you have to relay on your bike, and my bike is more reliable than it was a a year ago.
This time of year, I'd say needs are good warm clothing and some lights if you intend on riding in the late afternoon/evening.
Everything else is just nice to have, except the essentials like pump, tubes and tools mentioned earlier.

You will also probably get lots of other things as well that in all honesty you don't need but will acquire

Everything I have is because it's needed, well 95% of the time, trust me have any of you tried running this hobby on £20 a week

 

[jo_e]

Thats where it all went then

And most of it is going back there in the morning. Most just poor sizing and realised that I look a right prat in a pink jersey.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

And most of it is going back there in the morning. Most just poor sizing and realised that I look a right prat in a pink jersey.

I would wear pink given a choice, just never found anything the right size at a point I could afford it ( so I end up in hi-vis yellow), I did look at the female shirts in aldi but the pockets on the back were poor in size as are the mens compared with the women's in the summer, which I do have as I didn't like the mens mainly black.

 

[Inthecup]

Just been out and purchased a Norco Valence A3. Can't wait to get out and try it!