Beginners Road Bike - what accessories?

Beginners Road Bike - what accessories?

Author
Discussion

PaulR81

Original Poster:

17 posts

146 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Hi, looking for some guidance.

Via (another) C2W scheme, I've ordered one of these, a Pinnacle Dolomite 3.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/dolom...

...which I should pick up on Thursday.

Now, through the C2W scheme credit can be added for basically anything from the bike shop.

So, what bits and pieces would you reccomend as essential to a beginner? Thinking tools / spares / clothing / etc?

Many thanks in advance.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
lovely bike, I think Pinnacle are hugely under rated personally.

I can recommend the Topeak Hexus 2 tool, it has everything you will need, just get familiar with using it before you need to. It has tyre levers and a chain tool built in to it. I like topeak stuff, it just works, I have a topeak master blaster pump which can be attached to the frame. Spare tube and some park tool patches and you are away.

Padded shorts are pretty much essential, good bibs from dhb (wiggle) are worth a look, bibs dont have the elasticated waistband which will dig into your waist when you are riding it. dhb kit is good value and not as garish as other stuff. Altura is also worth a look.

The bike has toe clips which will suffice for a while, until at least, you get thinking about clipless pedals which are in fact, anything but clipless!....

Learn to maintain your drivetrain, park tools website is great for "how to" video guides, dry lube for the dry, wet lube for the wet etc etc, chain ring bolts are worth having as spares, cant think of anything else really. A good repair book is handy too, saves you either having to pay for a shop to do it or finding something wrong the morning of a ride that would otherwise prevent you from riding.

Cateye strada computer is good value and excellent for speed, distance etc, it does everything but record your ride via GPS for which you will need a Garmin Edge 200 for starters...

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Learn how to get your tyres on/off at home smile

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

208 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Padded shorts, a track pump, puncture kit, a few spare tubes, muc-off chain cleaner and chain lube, padded mitts.

Then for autumn, mudguards (try Raceblades for the Pinnacle) waterproof gloves (Endura Strike), long fleecy tights.

marting

668 posts

173 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
PaulR81 said:
Hi, looking for some guidance.

Via (another) C2W scheme, I've ordered one of these, a Pinnacle Dolomite 3.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/dolom...

...which I should pick up on Thursday.

Now, through the C2W scheme credit can be added for basically anything from the bike shop.

So, what bits and pieces would you reccomend as essential to a beginner? Thinking tools / spares / clothing / etc?

Many thanks in advance.
How fars your commute going to be? All well and good people recommending bibs and gloves, but if you're going to be on the bike 10 minutes, its a bit of a waste of money.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Gizmoish said:
Padded shorts, a track pump, puncture kit, a few spare tubes, muc-off chain cleaner and chain lube, padded mitts.

Then for autumn, mudguards (try Raceblades for the Pinnacle) waterproof gloves (Endura Strike), long fleecy tights find your nearest velodrome.... wink

hyperblue

2,800 posts

179 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
pablo said:
The bike has toe clips which will suffice for a while, until at least, you get thinking about clipless pedals which are in fact, anything but clipless!....
I recently took up road cycling and would say ditch the pedals straight off! Start with clipless pedals and shoes, you won't regret it. Toe clips really aren't very good.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Smallest under saddle bag in the shop, two tyre levers, two inner tubes, two threaded 16oz CO2 canisters, CO2 adaptor (the small ones are the size of your little finger bent at a right angle, set of Allen keys.

Track pump, padded shorts, chain lube (dry, or Phil Wood's Tenacious oil if they have it), helmet, sunnies, mitts, spare tyre, a couple more spare inners, a couple more CO2 canisters. Possibly a chain closer/opener tool, and a spare quicklink.

bingybongy

3,858 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all


Ready for dark evenings.

VinceFox

20,566 posts

171 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
tax disc.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

208 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
bingybongy said:


Ready for dark evenings.
Oh yes, good point.

Smart R2 rear light, preferably two of (so if the battery dies in one, the other is still lit). And look on EBay or DealExtreme for "Cree bike light" for the front.

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
VinceFox said:
tax disc.
Apparently he won't need one from October - JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER F**KER ON THE ROAD.

He's already paid the annual VED charge for a zero emissions vehicle. The sum total of F**K ALL.

Any other use(full)less suggestions, or are you already leaving? Winston Churchill, 1936, and all that wink

VinceFox

20,566 posts

171 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
VinceFox said:
tax disc.
Apparently he won't need one from October - JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER F**KER ON THE ROAD.

He's already paid the annual VED charge for a zero emissions vehicle. The sum total of F**K ALL.

Any other use(full)less suggestions, or are you already leaving? Winston Churchill, 1936, and all that wink
whoever had seventeen minutes, please come up and collect your prize.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
VinceFox said:
tax disc.
Another member of the UrbanSports/ jimbop1 wk circle of 'tards outs themselves.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
A Lezyne 'loaded' saddle bag. I have the small version and it holds a tube, CO2 & adaptor, money and all the bits it comes with (levers, mini tool and puncture kit).
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-loaded-caddy-saddle...
A pump. I went for the Lezyne Road Drive.
Cages and bottles.
Spare tubes.
Lights if you're riding in the dark.

Those are the bike essentials.

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
PistonHeads cycle jersey with three pockets to put all the sh*t you've been recommended above in :-)

Shorts
Gloves
Helmet
Then keep the rest to a minimum, its abit daft to buy a road bike then put 5kilos of tools and bags on the back...

VinceFox

20,566 posts

171 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Greg66 said:
VinceFox said:
tax disc.
Another member of the UrbanSports/ jimbop1 wk circle of 'tards outs themselves.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Cycling Shoes
SPD Pedals
Helmet
Gloves

Saddle Bag
Spare tubes
Tyre levers
Watter bottle + Cage
Track Pump (Don't spend a fortune, mine was £20 and it does the job fine)
Mini pump
bib tights and a couple of cheap jerseys
Cycle app so you can track your progress

You will find lots to spend your money on in the future.


Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
VinceFox said:
yellowjack said:
VinceFox said:
tax disc.
Apparently he won't need one from October - JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER F**KER ON THE ROAD.

He's already paid the annual VED charge for a zero emissions vehicle. The sum total of F**K ALL.

Any other use(full)less suggestions, or are you already leaving? Winston Churchill, 1936, and all that wink
whoever had seventeen minutes, please come up and collect your prize.
laughhehe

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Gruffy said:
A Lezyne 'loaded' saddle bag. I have the small version and it holds a tube, CO2 & adaptor, money and all the bits it comes with (levers, mini tool and puncture kit).
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-loaded-caddy-saddle...
A pump. I went for the Lezyne Road Drive.
Cages and bottles.
Spare tubes.
Lights if you're riding in the dark.

Those are the bike essentials.
I'm with Gruffy on this one (mostly).

The Lezyne kit is ace. I bought the 'S-Caddy' but (silly boy) I grabbed one without the tools. Don't. Buy the 'loaded' version and simplify your life (ie: it'll all fit where it's meant to). Another recommendation for the 'Road Drive' pump too. Comes with a bracket to fit on the bottle cage boss, behind the cage, or by itself. The spares tubes are a good idea too, and carry at least one in the saddle pack. If you puncture in the rain/dark/both, let's face it, you won't be in the mood for finding the hole and patching it.

Cages and bottles. I'd thoroughly recommend 'Camelbak Podium' bottles (available 'plain' and insulated to keep drinks cool) and Elite 'Custom Race' cages. Various colourways are available in both bottles and cages, so you can match them to your bike wink

Lights, again, an obvious one to any sane cyclist if you intend to ride anywhere near the dark hours. I continue to soldier on with some AA battery powered front lights, but I'd love to get some rechargeable lights with 'proper' output.

Then it's clothing. If you don't have any, a decent pair of padded shorts is almost essential. A 'proper' Lycra or Merino Wool jersey will be far more comfortable, and significantly less 'moist' than a cotton t-shirt. A helmet (if you want one, consider the risks and decide for yourself) and glasses of some kind (I'd say these are essential) will protect head (possibly) and eyes (definitely), and wear gloves/mitts if only to protect your palms from gravel rash should you come off. Beyond that, if you want to ride all year, then it's windproof and waterproof (yeah, right!) jackets to stay as comfortable as possible.

Shoes and pedals? You can ride the bike in trainers on flat pedals, or with toe clips and straps just fine. But most people will recommend so called 'clipless' pedals with proper cycling shoes and cleats. I'd recommend them, too, but as a beginner they're not absolutely necessary. I managed with toe clips/straps for twenty years just fine (although I wouldn't go back to them now).