Gear - What are the essentials to get started?

[Reefcat]

I'm also a beginner, one thing I have found very inspiring is the ability to record my rides & look at improvement in fitness over time. I am only four months in, but can already see significant improvements in my ability to get up hills and slowly building up distance. Far from being essential, but a good GPS with heart rate monitor has added lots of interest to my cycling. I now look forward to plugging it in at the end of each ride to see where I might have improved.

I went for the Garmin 520 in the end as it was on special offer. I can also plan routes & download to the GPS for some basic navigation. I upload to Strava & Ridewithgps, it's great to look back with satisfaction at your progress.

 

[MontyVeda]

apart from a puncture kit and a pump and maybe some water, all you need is the...

You don't need lycra.
You don't need a polystyrene hat
You don't need lights*
You don't need padded shorts
You don't need sat nav
You don't need a first aid kit
You don't need most of the things you might take with you... *apart from the lights, especially at this time of year.

 

[Citius]

Essentials:

1 - a bike
2 - the will to ride it

 

[sidevalve]

Glasses [no not sunspecs cool is ok but you need to SEE - safety specs are cheap and cheerful and nobody actually cares what you look like when on the bike anyhow]. I have hit things with my eye's and it HURTS.
Gloves - if you come off you hit the road with your hands and that HURTS too.
Other than these it's up to you

 

[mjr]

You don't need most of the things you might take with you...

Amen: I am forever pulling stuff back out of my bag. Most of it is "nice to have", like a mini backpack in case I pass a fruit+veg stall with particularly good-looking salad or fruit, but it soon adds up to a right boat anchor.

 

[Tin Pot]

So I'm coming back to riding after a long break. I've never been a serious rider and I've only ever had MTB's.

I've order a Specialized Allez and aside from a helmet and perhaps lights, what do you consider being essential to start riding?

Initially, I'm looking to do some short rides a couple of times a week to build fitness followed by a longer ride on the weekend.

I look forward to your recommendations.

From a previous post:

Forget water until it's the height of summer.

Forget spare clothes, check the forecast.

Backpacks bad for your back when riding, imho.

I didn't take anything on leisure rides only had one problem in two years: when the crank fell off!

Commuting, where I don't really have a backup plan and time is of the essence, I set off early enough to cope with a puncture with everything in my jersey back pockets;

1x inner tube
2x levers
4x emergency patches w. sandpaper bit
1x chain tool
1x pocket pump
1x emergency lock
Allen key set
Section of spare chain
Smartphone, charging cable, cards, keys, ID

The really important advice is to change a tube at home, maybe you'll find it easy, maybe you'll snap five levers like I did. Either way, you're better off with the practice

 

[mjr]

Commuting, where I don't really have a backup plan and time is of the essence, I set off early enough to cope with a puncture with everything in my jersey back pockets

A puncture sealant canister is my solution to such emergencies (I'm really bad at setting off early - I know my routes and journey times too well ), but isn't it strange how cyclists generally plan for how to handle breakdowns and motorists don't? Velouria mused on this at http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/plan-b-for-bicycles.html

 

[Nigelnaturist]

A puncture sealant canister is my solution to such emergencies (I'm really bad at setting off early - I know my routes and journey times too well ), but isn't it strange how cyclists generally plan for how to handle breakdowns and motorists don't? Velouria mused on this at http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/plan-b-for-bicycles.html

I used to, and I fixed many a problem on the road side, including a crank/camshaft chain issue, however with modern cars there are too many variables to go wrong, and besides motorists have always had AA/RAC to fall back on if needed.

 

[mjr]

however with modern cars there are too many variables to go wrong,

Yes, so why doesn't that mean motorists make even more contingency plans?

and besides motorists have always had AA/RAC to fall back on if needed.

...which often takes blooming hours, in my experience. Some cycle insurance includes similar get-you-there cover, or there's often taxi-vans and trains - expensive but rarely needed.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Yes, so why doesn't that mean motorists make even more contingency plans?


...which often takes blooming hours, in my experience. Some cycle insurance includes similar get-you-there cover, or there's often taxi-vans and trains - expensive but rarely needed.

As far as I understand the cycle rescue thing is quite a modern thing.
What more contingency do you need other than breakdown/recovery, most people can't fix cars and some can't fix bikes however whilst you can push a bike on your own its difficult and a little dangerous on your own, on the point of simple brake downs on cars i.e. tyres I once had occasion to brake the bar I was removing the wheel nut due to it being put on so tight, and as I have decades of transport experience what chance do many have to even just change a wheel. I can if the wheel comes off without to much of an issue change a wheel in 10mins or so same with a bike flat.
You can't put a car in a taxi or most trains, but if your broke down you will hardly get it on those trains that can with out some external power, in terms of delay waiting for breakdown I guess its the increased use of the motor vehicle that's possibly a primary cause (or profits by selling the extra cover) as most insurance companies as you pointed it out regarding cycling insurance, many car insurers have it in their policies, in my day it never was an option you bought yourself.

 

[Enjoyedincubus]

I went and bought a jacket, cycling trousers and some gloves from Sports Direct. Total was less than £40, which I thought was a bargain.

I now have all the gear and pretty much no idea. Haha.

 

[GuyBoden]

I think that a bit of good bike maintenance knowledge/know how is very good gear to have at hand......