Beginner’s Cycling Gear Tips …
To go faster and farther
Don’t be intimidated by all the industry marketing. You don’t need any exotic cycling gear to begin your journey to health and fitness fun.
As a beginner, you’ll be better served spending your time training rather than shopping. As we coaches say, “It’s about the engine, not the bike.”
When (or even if) you become a bike racer, then your gear selections will lead to marginal gains. But when you’re starting out, most equipment choices matter little. A good relationship with your Local Bike Shop (LBS) does matter …
So get friendly with your LBS by exploring there are six cycling gear tips — they’ll set you off on the right pedal stroke.
Get a Bike Fit
When you buy a new bike at your LBS, ask for a proper bike fit analysis. They should do this for minimal or no extra charge.
Even if you’ve picked up a used bike from Kijiji, eBay, or Craigslist, take it to your LBS. Pay for a full tune-up and ask for a professional fit. It’s more than worth the investment of your time and money.
Case in point: I had aching low-back issues that physio wasn’t fixing. So, I paid for a bike fit and the back issues were solved!
I selected a combined Specialized Body Geometry and Retül Vantage 3D bike fit. Chances are, you’ve got an LBS certified to do both too. An optimized bike position will let you ride injury-free with your best power output.
The most important point to remember is that the bike should fit the rider, not the other way around.
The handlebar stem is one component that’s easy to change and can make a huge difference in riding comfort. An LBS should have a variety of stem lengths and rises (angled up or down relative to horizontal) to try. If the stem on your bike is in good condition, the LBS should take it as a trade-in for your new one.
Get a Seat That Fits Your Unique Butt
Your seat is the most important contact point on a bike.
As a beginner, don’t fool yourself into thinking that a wide cushy model is the most comfortable bike seat. It might work for a 5 minute coffee shop ride. It won’t work for a 5 hour ride.
If you’re on a used bike, its seat probably isn’t right for you either. When you’re buying a new bike you don’t have to settle for the seat that’s supplied. Feel free to ask to try a different one.
During your LBS fit analysis, inquire about their bike seat demo program. Most bike seat companies have a selection of demo seats that you can try for a few days before making your commitment.
Men and women, in the very least consider a seat with a cut-out center. This helps get your weight distributed onto your sit-bones, where it should be.
Specialized has a gel pad measuring device that your LBS might have. You sit on a memory foam/gel pad that leaves an impression of your sit-bones. (In fact, you can do this yourself if you have your own memory foam pillow. Measure to the deepest two parts of the impression you leave.) That impression measures the width between those bones. Then you can match the width of your sit-bones to a proper width saddle — from any manufacturer, not just Specialized.
Don’t Wear Underwear!
Buy a pair of cycling shorts and go commando! No joke!
You don’t want to be sitting on any seams between you and your new bike seat. That’s the whole purpose of a chamois (pronounced SHA-mee) in your cycling shorts. It’s designed to be a smooth padded surface for your skin to sit on. With a proper snug fit, you’ll minimize chaffing and developing dreaded saddle sores.
When you’re at the LBS, buy at least 2 pairs of cycling shorts. You’ll need to have a clean pair ready for every ride.
Think About Cycling Shoes …
Cycling shoes aren’t strictly a necessity, but your arches will eventually thank you.
Imagine pressing down on your pedals – stroke-after-stroke – and you can see the frowny curve your running shoes will make. Their soles aren’t stiff enough to keep the sole of your foot flat and well supported.
On the other hand – pun intended! – cycling shoes have a stiff sole that doesn’t flex. They’re not great for walking around in, but that’s not their purpose.
When you stick with your cycling long enough, you’ll eventually want to get a set of clipless pedals. For those you’ll need cycling shoes that accept cleats.
So, either start right away with clipless pedals and shoes to match. Or get a pair of cycling specific “urban” shoes with a stiff sole. Be friendly to your feet!
Get a Helmet
You have no excuse not to wear a helmet. This is another vital piece of equipment you can buy at your LBS.
Head injuries account for 60% of cycling-related deaths. It makes no sense to take that risk when the helmets we have today are so light and well-ventilated. You’ll hardly even know you’re wearing one.
Most municipalities now have mandatory helmet laws for children. Regardless of where you live, make sure your children wear helmets. Make sure you do to. Children will copy what they see their parents doing.
And fasten the frickin’ chinstrap! I see too many people riding around with their chinstrap flapping about. If the strap is undone, you’re not wearing a helmet. Any tumble will send the helmet flying off your head, leaving you as unprotected as if you hadn’t even put the damn thing on.
Helmets are also mandatory for most gran fondos, charity rides, and certainly every organized bike race. Every pro-racer wears a helmet. You should too.
Use a Bike Computer to Track Your Rides
You will need a bike computer to help manage your training rides. Look for something that provides at least speed, distance, cadence and elapsed time. Wahoo makes a brilliant gizmo to plug into your smartphone, making it a full-functioned cyclocomputer.
The next upgrade to consider is something that gives you Heart Rate. Your Heart Rate is a key metric to start monitoring when you train more seriously.
A Power Meter is the gold standard of riding metrics. But it’s a hefty investment. In a few years you might consider one because they make your training scientifically accurate and repeatable.
Now Get Out There and RIDE!
With your gear basics covered, there’s nothing holding you back.
When you’re almost set to ride, check out my helpful beginner’s road riding tips. You’ll start out miles ahead of the other beginners!
[LINK] Click here to read the riding tips
