So you are new to cycling, you’ve seen it on the Olympics, you have friends who keep inviting you out but you’ve never tried it before except other than when you were younger and used to pretend you were on a motorbike as you and your mates pedalled round your local streets.
What should you ride, what should you wear, what type of cycling is for you? Let’s take a look…
A solid all-rounder bike (hybrid or mountain bike depending on terrain)
Choose a bike that is right for the type of riding you will be doing and is suitable for the terrain you will be riding on. If in doubt about what would be best for you and what you have in mind pop down to your local bike shop they will be happy to help and have a look through our business listings for some good shops that may be nearby.
A Helmet
This should be mandatory for all cycling, even though you’ll see many people riding without one it is strongly advised that you should purchase and wear a helmet. For the best fit and advice go to a local shop where you can try them on as not all brands & types will be suitable and will be comfortable. We have some good shops listed on our business listings so feel free to check those out. Many good deals can be had online too but it’s harder to try before you buy when buying this way.
Lights (front & rear)
Not required for all types of riding but especially useful if you ride a lot on roads as they really help with your visibility in low light and just make you more visible to any vehicles on the road. They are also essential if you are riding at night, be that on road or off road. Lights for being visible and for being able to see in dark conditions are very different so make sure to do some research into the options available and as always go down to your local bike shop who can help advise.
Repair kit (tyre levers, spare tube, mini pump)
Having a spare tube, repair kit or tyre plugs is a worthy addition to any bike bag. Sometimes a flat tyre will happen when you are the furthest from your start or end point so being able to fix the issue is key. Also make sure you have a pump or c02 cartridge so you can blow that tyre back up again.
Water bottle & cage
While there are many good hydration options within bags a simple bottle cage and bottle is a classic and will fit on many bikes and be useable at other times too. It’s worth shopping around to make sure which ones will fit your bike as some modern suspension bikes have less room than others.