chadbryant

I'm going to be purchasing the following items soon and just looking for any suggestions on brand, what to look for and avoid, etc. Just basic accessory stuff.... some of this is easy, but just putting my list on here anyway. You never know what helpful tips people might have even for simple stuff!!

1. need basic tools and repair kit for changing flats etc and a way to carry this stuff

2. water bottle cage and water bottle

3. I guess a tire pressure guage to check air pressure in tires. I assume my car one won't work?!

4. lube for chain (and I guess other parts of the bike that need to be lubed)?

5. computer, thinking wireless.

6. jersey (have shorts but thinking the jersey might be a good idea to have too. I have running shirts made of the good wicking material but a jersey might come in useful)

I think that is it. I have a pump attached to my frame, so I assume that is good enough except it takes up a spot where I could put another water bottle. Somehow 1 seems insufficient, but so does 2 on a long ride so not sure what most people do here.

Thanks!

ryanhulce

1. I got a saddle kit that included bag, and everything needed to change a tube. Also nice for holding my cell phone and id.

6. You will be sorry if you wear running shorts on a bike! You will want (need) Bike Shorts cause they are padded and are built to keep you dry. (Also no underwear with the biker shorts or you will be even more sorry) Jersey is nice cause they breath well and also have pockets in the back to hold stuff.

1 bottle of water is not enough for any ride over 10 miles I would say I think alot of the guys here who do century's end up drinking 2 and filling them up again. Keeping yourself hydrated is very important. You can dump the pump and get a C02 kit which is what I believe most here will recommend.

caloso

1. At a minimum (and someone will disagree with this), you need to carry a spare tube or repair kit, tire levers, and a multi-tool. I like the CrankBros multi-tool personally. Oh, and you need a saddle bag to carry it.

2. Yes, and yes. Basic will do.

3. Consider buying a floor pump. They're much easier to use than frame pumps and they have built in pressure gauges.

4. Lots of opinions on chain lube. Personally, I use Pro-Link.

5. Yes. They're worth having.

6. Zipper, fit, wicking material, pockets in the rear. All good things.

What else?

7. A decent lock.

8. If you're going to ride when it's dark, you need a light, blinkies, and reflective stuff. Check the commuting forum for ideas. I like Cateye and Planet Bike blinkies.

9. If you're going to ride when it's wet, you ought to get fenders. If you have no attachment points, you can still use RaceBlades.

KevinF

1) Get a saddle bag. They attach via velcro straps to the rails on your saddle. Find one big enough to stash a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers and whatever else you feel like carrying. I always carry an foldable allen wrench set as well. Some people carry lots of stuff. Remember -- tools aren't useful unless you (or the person you're riding with !) knows what to do with them. Practice at home before you're stranded a long ways from home!

2) I've used a bunch of different bottle cages. I really don't see the need to pay a fortune for the fancy ones. I've never had a bottle shake free from the simple plastic ones. You do want two bottles for any kind of longer ride. The pump-mount kits I've seen that attach to the water bottle bosses leave enough "bolt room" to attach a water bottle cage as well. If not, you should be able to get longer bolts from your shop. If you're going a really long ways, you can get seat-mounted bottle cages as well, etc. Most supported longer rides have regular rest stops for refilling bottles, replenishing food supplies. If you're heading into the boonies on your own, then you'll have to get creative about carrying water.

3) Tire pressure gauges? You can get them for bike tires, but virtually every floor pump has one. You really need a floor pump; top off your tires before every ride and then you won't have to worry about the gauges.

4) Lube. This is a religious issue for many cyclists. You can find somebody who swears by virtually everything out there. Some work well in dry conditions, some work well in wet conditions. Probably best to discuss your riding habits with your LBS and get a suggestion from them. Personally, I feel it's more important to use whatever you want regularly then it is to find the "right" one.

5) Cateye, Sigma Sport, Vetta... They all make good ones. Go to the manufactuer's websites and find one that has the features you want. I agree with many posters here that having a cadence feature is truly wonderful.

6) The only difference between your running wicking shirts and bike jerseys is that bike jerseys have back pockets which can be handy for carrying food or other "extra" stuff.

ryanhulce

doh sorry i read running shorts not shirts ingore me

caloso

Sorry, I have to disagree. Jerseys have zippers, which you don't usually find on running shirts. More importantly, they are cut to fit properly when riding. Running shirts usually have loose sleeve cuffs and hems so they flap in the wind. And jerseys are longer in the back.

chadbryant

Wow, excellent points and advice. Thank you!

KevinF

Thanks for correcting me.

JayC

1 - Go to your LBS and ask them to put you a kit together. You need a CO2 inflator, spare cartridges, tube(s), levers and something to put it in. I personally carry a CO2 inflator, 2 spare cartridges, 2 spare tubes, a patch kit and tire levers.

2 - Unless youre after OCP points, a cage is a cage pretty much. I have seen some magnesium cages that I think are nicer than carbon fiber cages. I removed my carbon cages after I broke on one a ride and replaced them with two light weight stainless steel cages. Bottles, well, the Polar is probably the best. I just use whatever.

3 - Go to your LBS or check online

4 - LBS again

5 - Depends on what you want. I have a Polar CS200CAD on my road bike and a Cat Eye Astrale on my mountain bike. The Polar is awesome and I mainly chose it because I wanted heart rate monitoring and I saw some complaints about the Cat Eye heart rate strap. Polar is the defacto standard for heart rate monitoring so the choice wasnt too hard.

6 - Go to your LBS and try them on. There is not even a semblance of standards in sizing for jerseys. I wear large t-shirts, XL jerseys in some cuts and freakin XXXL in others. I have a 45 inch chest so that doesnt make matters any easier.

Hambone

I disagree on the CO2 pump unless it is one of the ones which also pump when the canister is out.

Floor pump is must have! And you will quickly learn what the correct pressure feels like. (Check that your valves are Schrader (like a car) or Presta (narrower and made of metal) before you go pump shopping.)

Patches/spare tube

agree on two bottles. (Esp in South Carolina!)

On the saddle bag, I have a Copper Canyon one which has a quick release. I can pull it off the bike in a second. I like this a lot!

If you are going to be locking it up... a good chain and lock. (Get that liquid rubber and dip the last two or three links of each end of the chain in that. It will protect your paint.)

Cadence on the computer is awesome. If money isn't tight, you can get a heartrate monitor/computer all in one.

Other things for your bike/saddle bag. A copy of your driver's license and insurance card. Make notes of allergies/issues/etc. I leave a twenty in a fold. A Patch kit and spare tube.

JayC

Yea.. I probably should have added I also have a Road Morph on my bike as well as the CO2.

chadbryant

Excellent advice. Again, thanks everyone. I'm headed to my LBS today and stocking up!!!