Hello!

[Andy Lister]

Hi guys and girls!

I'm just looking at taking up cycling and looking at getting a bike in the next couple of weeks. I've read through quite a bit on here and I'm likely going to go for a road bike straight off. I'll take a look through in terms of brand / model, but I'm guessing that a lot of it has to come down to personal taste and how the bike feels??

Couple of questions which have come up however,

If I'm buying a road bike, do I assume that the saddle / peddles that it comes with (I presume they will come with something as standard) will do to get me going, or is this something I need to factor in as an extra cost to the bike.

What do I need to look for in terms of gearing. This seems to be totally different to the "more is better" days of when I last bought a bike at the age of 12.

What are the key things to look out for in terms of helmet, clothing, shoes? Is this all comfort based? I'm guessing that wearing a helmet is a pretty essential thing, but is it a legal requirement?

Thanks in advance everyone, I'm sure this will all become clear eventually. It's just a fairly pricey hobby to get in to!

Cheers

Andy

 

[Pjays666]

Hi Andy, right where do I start. Firstly are you intending getting a new bike or second hand and what sort of budget are you looking at (and is that for the kit as well). The helmets are not law however I would not go out without mine whereas some people won't wear one so it comes down to you really but needless to say it is safer with one. I tend to get most of my kit from aldi or lidl when the sales are on and have found it fine. I have only been cycling since September last year and this is only my opinion but I'm sure others will be along soon. With regards to gearing I have 24 but a lot of them are very similar and I know a lot of newer road bikes come with 18. Whatever you decide will be a personal choice but I have found a lot of really helpful people on here so your in the right place and good luck with your new found obsession lol

 

[vickster]

Does your work run a cycle to work scheme? Might be worth asking, tax benefits

I would say, if you are wanting a new bike (whatever type - drop bar road, flatbar road or mountain) and have no kit at all, you probably need £400-500 to get yourself started - entry level bike, helmet, lights, couple of pairs of padded shorts, some sort of jacket, mitts, glasses, water bottle, rack.

Decathlon is a good place to start if you have easy access to one. Simple flat pedals will be fine to start with, saddle is a difficult one - your backside will hurt to start regardless of the saddle, need to toughen it up, decent padded shorts are essential IMO

However, if you start to ride instead of driving or taking to public transport, you should save some pennies in the long run (allegedly )

Have a fun with the new hobby

 

[guitarpete247]

Hi Andy and .
Another of the team Aldi/Lidl here. Aldi are having a cycling gear sale starting July 7th. Don't know what they've got this time but their jerseys are good. I'm hoping they've got some bib shorts coming up (doubt it though if I'm honest).
I wish I was in the market for a new bike. Finance and up and coming summer holidays is stopping that. Do you have a job with access to the bike2work scheme or similar? If you do that could be worth looking into.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Saddle, yes, that will almost definitely come with the bike. (You may want to change it though.)
Pedals may come with the bike but they're there just to get you out of the shop. Budget extra for the pedals you want.
Gearing: there are purists who like the simplicity of single gears but personally I like enough gears to get me up whichever hill is facing me. In my case, that means a lot of gears, not because it's hilly just because I'm atrocious on hills.
Helmets: no legal requirement unless you're going to be racing. However, there have been some reports of lawyers attempting to mitigate dangerous or careless driving by citing ''not wearing a helmet.'' Part of the reason I wear a helmet is to ensure that no incompetent driver will ever get off because of that. There is a separate sub-forum about helmets on here and little consensus.
Clothing: think first of your bottom. Padded shorts/tights really help. The rest is mostly not freezing or overheating. Road or MTB shoes will be a later choice if you decide that clipless is best for you.
Pumps and puncture repair stuff are pretty essential, and lights too if you're going to be riding in low sun/night/bad visibility conditions.

 

[Sandra6]

If you're buying from a lbs ask them what they'll throw in in terms of accessories for free - most will give you 10-15% of the cost of the bike, with that you could get an upgrade on pedals. They will be able to advise as to what they stock.
You may be able to get a good deal on a helmet or clothing too.
I would always wear a helmet for on road riding, but it's not law (yet).
As for clothes, you can ride a bike in any clothes, but jeans tend to rub after a few miles, and they turn your saddle blue.
Cycling can be as cheap or as expensive a hobby as you choose to make it.