Have you recently decided that you are going to take up cycling? Perhaps you have a few friends who go out on a cycle to the local park each week or maybe you want to try out some exercise.
Cycling is a lot of fun but when you are just starting out, you will have quite a lot of things that you will need to buy.
It isn’t just about purchasing the right bike for you; you’ll also need a good helmet and other important accessories.
Below, we’ll tell you a bit more about what you’ll need so you can use our guide as a checklist!
The Right Bike
Firstly, you will need to have a bike to really get out there as a cyclist. This might sound obvious, but you need to understand that there are tons of different types of bikes. Will you invest in a road bike, a mountain bike, a hybrid bike or a folding bike?
The type of bike that you need to buy will depend on where you will be riding it and your cycling experience. Test out a few options and get advice from the experts before you make that purchase.
The sizing is also important so don’t just buy one online without checking how tall it is first!
A Safety Helmet
Safety comes first and it is important that you remember that cycling is dangerous. Anything can happen when you are on the road and by having a helmet on your head, you can protect yourself from serious injuries.
Safety Helmets come in all shapes and sizes with some more stylish than others. Try to avoid choosing a helmet simply for the design on the outside as the safety elements are crucial. As long as you can lock it in place and it fits properly, you’ll know you have the right helmet.
A Bike Lock
When you start to take your new bike out on the road, you might need to leave it outside to go into a store. This is fine, as long as you are able to lock up your bike and protect it from any thieves who are in the nearby vicinity.
Before you take your bike out for the first time, you should invest in a bike lock that is sturdy and won’t easily be broken off. Even those who live in the safest towns in America need to invest in a bike lock – trust can only go so far.
Cycling Insurance
Another thing that you might not have considered as a new cyclist is the insurance cover that you can invest in. With the right cycling liability insurance coverages, you can protect your bike and yourself if something were to go wrong.
For example, if you got in an accident on the road with a vehicle or another cyclist, you could rely on your cycling liability insurance coverages to deal with any legal fees. If you don’t have this cover, you might need to pay the fees yourself.
Reflective Gear
If you are planning on cycling in the dark, you need to make sure that you have some reflective gear. This way, you can make yourself known to any other cyclists or drivers who may be coming near to you at night.
Even if you don’t want to cycle in the dark, reflective gear can come in handy as you never know what might happen. Think about reflective jackets, patches on your helmet and other gear that might help you get noticed on the roads.
A Water Bottle
Have you thought about bringing a water bottle with you on your cycles? This is something that you might not have considered but if you are new to cycling, you could find that you get tired out quickly on the road. You need to stay hydrated to ensure you can make it back home without any worries.
Some bikes come with sections that you can place your water bottle in while you cycle but this isn’t always the case. Look into this and you can make sure that you are staying hydrated at all times.
A Bike Pump
Finally, you should invest in a bike pump that is designed to keep your wheels inflated. It can be easy to get a puncture on your bike, especially when you are going off-road.
So, with the right equipment, you can keep those wheels inflated and avoid any serious injuries or accidents. You’ll probably want to keep this at home, but it doesn’t hurt to buy it early on.
Now that you know what you need, get prepared for your first trip with these accessories. Once you have everything you need, you’ll be cycling with your friends before you know it.