Essentials for a road bike.

[MrAdaam]

Looking to get a start in the world of cycling with an intermediate-level road bike and I'm wondering if anyone can offer me some pearls of wisdom with regards to what the 'essential' purchases would be for someone who is going to mainly be commuting ~10 miles a day with a longer ride over the weekends.

List is looking like:
- bike!
- locks
- clip-in pedals (and practice with them)
- shoes
- helmet

Would I miss not having some bits on me like an inner tube (or 2), pump and bits like that I've no doubt not even thought of?

[S10GTA]

Bib Shorts

[cst]

GPS tracker app, such as Strava on your phone.

Its great for recording your progress and trust me it makes you go faster.

[cst]

Also lights and always carry a spare light/battery if there is a possibilty of you riding in the dark.

[MrAdaam]

Shorts - great idea. Strava - potentially horrible idea! Have the running one, it's brutal.

[scottri]

I like to wear gloves. Comfortable and reduces gravel rash if you end up using your hands to brake.

Water bottle and cage.
Spares like you said, inner tube, gas canister or pump, tyre levers.
Multi tool.

I personally don't agree with the need for bib shorts and all the road specific clothing.. No one wants to see me in that gear and I'm happy getting about in normal shorts/t-shirt/hoodie. I like to think of it more as a courier look - i'm sure plenty of people think i look like a tit tho.

[anonymous-user]

If you're riding on shared pathways or in parks then get a bell - and ignore people that tell you not to.

[numtumfutunch]

Commuting???
Id say mud guards and somewhere secure to keep it at work are the prerequisites here
My work is pretty secure but Id never leave my P&J in the (card access) card park
You will also develop signs of madness if you try and reliably fit clip ons to a full on road bike, although Crud Racers are very very good

My leftfield suggestion is a 100 quid special from the second hand market with full guards as a commuter and intermediate minus £100 as your 'bestie'

Enjoy

[garrykiller]

Saddle bag to put spare inner tubes, tyre horns, multitools etc in. Glasses sun and clear, you don't want bugs in your eyes!

[scubadude]

scottri said:

I personally don't agree with the need for bib shorts and all the road specific clothing.. No one wants to see me in that gear and I'm happy getting about in normal shorts/t-shirt/hoodie. I like to think of it more as a courier look - i'm sure plenty of people think i look like a tit tho.

IMO you do need cycle shorts of some type (the ones with the big pad) be these Bib shorts or MTB shorts, you can wear bibs under "normal" clothes if you like- either way padded shorts makes big difference.

Do enough riding and you'll look ok in Roadie gear :-) I suppose it does look odd perhaps but its like that for a reason- breathable, lightweight, easy to wash, doesn't flap about in the wind and usefully located/sized pockets.

Everyones mentioned all the obvious stuff you need, I would recomend a cheap cycle computer to backup your iphone/strava etc, nice to see your speed all the time and an odometer can make good reading after a while :-)
I got a cheap Cateye with a cadence sensor (how fast your feet are spinning) have found its a great tool for staying in the sweet spot to ride longer without your legs protesting!

[scottri]

As it happens I do have a pair of the padded undershorts but wouldn't bother with them unless I was going to be out riding for 2-3 hours or more. Perhaps I just have a mega hard arse or something but for a 10 mile ride I wouldn't bother. I managed the coast to coast without any special gear.

Not saying anyone else is wrong. Just my 2p.

[okgo]

Zipp 404's

[TheInternet]

None of this is essential:

Bib Shorts
GPS tracker app, such as Strava
Water bottle and cage
Cycle computer

If you're commuting you presumably need to complete the journey in a timely fashion so would suggest an inner tube, levers and pump. Do puncture repairs another time. You'll need at least one pump that'll get you to high pressures.

If it's going to be in the dark I'd suggest 2 x front and 2 x back lights, and if it's going to be wet then mudguards work well, but neither are essential.

[scottri]

The OP said longer rides at the weekend so I'd say water bottle and cage is important. Given how cheap they are I can't see why you wouldn't have one.

[JQ]

Track pump with pressure guage for home. Trying to regularly keep your tyre pressures in check with a small hand pump becomes very tiresome very quickly.

[JEA1K]

okgo said:

Zipp 404's

Yup!

[timbob]

JQ said:

Track pump with pressure guage for home. Trying to regularly keep your tyre pressures in check with a small hand pump becomes very tiresome very quickly.

This, and a thousand times this!

I picked up a £25 Bontrager track pump from Evans cycles with an integral gauge. I've found that tyres at 100psi need pumping up before every ride, and fiddling with a tiny hand pump and separate gauge was a fiddly nightmare!

[agentnomad]

One of these

http://www.yellow-limited.com/baase_ftp/Pictures/P...

[bakerstreet]

My List

Lights (Cateye are good value)
track pump
shoes + SPDS (these made a massive difference for me)
helmet
jersey + bib shorts (Can be had from Sports Direct or not a lot of money)
cycle computer (As others have said, it can be a nice distraction when you get a bit bored)
spare tubes
tyre levers
multi tool
saddle bag
bike pump (can go in pocket or on the bike.

Nice to have, but not essential:

jacket (windproof is good. Full waterproof keeps you dry, but you get very hot)
water bottle + cage (I commuted for 4 months with out one)

[joe58]

Heck if your on a budget or starting out. A £9 trackpump from Wilkos will do the job. It certainly has me.

http://www.wilko.com/bike-accessories/wilko-track-...