Things a cyclist should have
 

I’ve biked my whole life, but it wasn’t until a month ago I started biking in biking shorts and long tights (it’s cold here). What a difference! And why didn’t I think of it before?! I was almost disappointed that no one had noticed my passion in riding and told me that I should get those items to enjoy the riding even more.

So my question is of course: What more have I missed? What are the essential items in a cyclists wardrobe? What’s the big advantage with a jersey over a regular t-shirt? And so on... (and not only clothes) I feel like reborn as a cyclist...

I know that in the winter time I need my skull cap. It is polypopelene (sp?) and fits snug on my head under my helment. Makes it nice for those cold days. Removable arm and leg warmers are convient also.

(SP) Polypropylene :beer:

T-shirts get wet and soggy; cycling jerseys made of synthetic material wick moisture away from your body, keeping you dryer and more comfortable. They also have pockets at the back, which is particularly useful because there are no pockets in bike shorts.

Coolmax socks will keep your feet dry and free of toe-jam.

Proper cycling shoes have rigid soles and transfer power more efficiently to the pedals.

And ditto the polypropylene cap or balaclava... I was out riding today in snow squalls and a temp around 0C... Kept my ears and head toasty warm.

A couple of years ago, after crashing heavily on a patch of gravel, I discovered it's always a good idea to have a first-aid kit! After that, I always made sure I had one.

Things I wouldn't want to ride without today that didn't even exist 30 years ago:

-Clipless pedals (and SPD sandals in the summer)

-Coolmax Headsweats

-Take-a-Look glasses-mount mirror

-Bib shorts and cycling jersies made of lightweight wicking fabric

-Fleece and stretch fleece winter cycling clothes

-Integrated shifting/braking

RichC

I like the thread swekarl :cool:

I would say synthetic clothes, windstopper jackets, spd pedals, hydrapacks and the good old cotton baggy pants :D

And this is all very usefull WITH a cycle ;)

Swekarl,
Jerseys are great. The big pockets are very handy. It gets very hot and humid here so I always wear a snug-fitting coolmax t-shirt under my jersey. Yes it's an extra layer, but it seems to help with moisture wicking. I definitely feel more comfortable with than without. I have a very lightweight fleece headband/ear warmer that I wear year round on my morning commute. In cool weather I can pull it over my ears; in warm weather it goes with the ear cover parts up and makes a great sweatband. For my sunny or rainy ride home I wear a cycling cap under my helmet. It keeps the sun or rain as well as sweat out of my eyes. If you are not already using them, good padded cycling gloves make a big difference like padded shorts. Gloves are worth paying more for good ones. A pair of inexpensive ones I had worn only a few times came apart when they got soaked by rain. A pair of Pearl Izumi White Lines I bought over a year ago still look almost new after washing.

If you want coolmax t-shirts, don't pay $30 for them. Check sierratradingpost.com and campmor.com for closeouts. You can sign up for their email specials, but I also check periodically. Fabrics like Thermastat, Varistat, Varitherm, and Hydroduct are practically the same as coolmax and to me work just as well. I have some of each. Campmor has some very nice Varitherm long-sleeve black undershirts for $7.97 and one of them has sleeveless coolmax undershirts for $5.97.
FWIW,
Raymond

Well it seems I have most things you mention. :)

Shopping list
More jersies
Polypropylene cap
Coolmax socks
SPD sandals!!!

+ a windstopper jacket that’s sooo coool! (will post pic after I’ve bought it, like after next payday)

several things that i really like that make riding in a wide range of temps/conditions more comfortable include:

knee warmers/arm warmers
undershirt(defeet or craft)
smartwool wool cycling socks
a 'wind front' vest with a mesh back.
glasses with changeable lenses.

My fav cycling jersey is a Paramo Mountain Shirt. It is so much better than my old polypro jersies. Combine this with a Buffalo Teclite cycling jacket and you can ride comfortably in just about any cool to cold weather .
My Ron Hill tracksters are great cycling leggings. They even have zipped pockets for keys and tissues.
Leather palmed gloves really come into their own when you take a slide. When your palms are de-skined you find out who your best friends are.
Still looking for the ultimate windproof top. I have a 20 year old poly-cotton one that is so much more breathable than any modern cycling windproof.

Some of my kit is quite expensive, some is mid-priced, but it all seems to be very good value. I wear it every day and haven't worn it out.

2 strong well toned legs !! :p

Never forget to take a highly developed sense of humour.

1) windstopper jersey
2) lycra padded shorts
3) lycra tights
4) spd or look shoes (depending on your needs)
5) halogen lights (15w+10w just like daylight):D
6) kevlar beaded foldable tyres
7) anything made of carbon fibre
8) camelbacks
9) sports drink powders, make your own
10) prescription sunglasses, just bought a pair finally

What a fantastic sport, a simple bicycle has so much technology created around it.

CHEERS.

Mark

Speaking of SPD sandals, does anyone know a source for some reasonably priced ones? The $70 Shimano sandals are too much for me.

One item never mentioned is something that has served me well for many years. The "handle" for the water faucets that are used at schools, businesses and industrial parks. Out on long rides, usually weekends, I have filled bottles from all of these places. Buy them at hardware stores.

Arm warmers (and leg warmers) are great for giving you a little extra warmth of a morning, and weigh very little.

Richard

Reflective.

i have and use most of the items thus far mentioned (except the SPD sandals - never tried that)

also would add to essentials:
* pump, spare tube, patch kit
* multi-tool w/ chain tool - the Alien is my favortite, but Park has good ones too
* red LED blinker
* adhesive reflectors on Helmet, seatpost, packpack, etc.

and then just to give a list of most of what i have/use for MTB, commuting, touring and road:
* windproof long jersey/jacket - windproof in front but not on back or back of arms or armpits -- my new purchase this year!
* windproof vest
* short-sleeve jerseys
* long-sleeve jerseys
* wind/rain jacket with venitilation (Burley) - pit zips and front/rear ventilation
* lycra padded shorts
* leg and arm warmers
* basic tights (i buy cheaper running tights are wear over my cycling shorts b/c you don't need 2 pads and then you can take the tights off and still have padded shorts if it gets warm - plus smaller in your pack)
* windproof tights but they're so warm i only wear in temps below 35F(2C)
* windproof fleece headband
* neoprene shoe covers for cosld/rain
* normal cycling socks, plus warmer synthetic or wool mix socks for winter
* Camelback water bag
* short padded cycling gloves
* long non-padded gloves for MTB (wear over short padded gloves)
* poly-pro liner gloves to wear under short padded gloves in moderate temps
* fleece gloves for cold
* snowboard gloves for very cold
* removable fenders - for rain/mud on the MTB - short half fender for front wheel, removable plastic fender for rear
* heart-rate monitor for training
* cycle computer with altimeter - new purchase end of last year - i love it!
* glasses with changeable lenses although i almost always wear the almost clear yellow tint
* clipless pedals - i love the Speedplay Frogs
* rigid sole SPD shoes - i also use for road
* rack and Ortlieb panniers for my commuter bike
* Bob trailer for touring
* poly-pro underwear --- OK, i know most people just wear their bike shorts, but i like the pol-pro under because 1) i think i get more wicking so i stay dryer, 2) things stay in place and don't shift around like with just bike shorts, 3) my more expensive bike shorts last longer b/c i wash them less by wearing them 2 or 3 times and just changing the underwear

heh, seeing the last post made me think of something, since he listed "bike computer" and "interchangeable lens glasses" right next to each other... won't it be cool when they have a bike computer and glasses that have a HUD? :D

Yeah man!!!
For people in the dark, a HUD is a Heads Up Display. Military fighter aircraft have them so that the pilot doesn't have to look down at computers and stuff during combat. The display is placed so that when the pilot is looking forward out of the cockpit he looks right through the HUD. Most of the data he needs is in the little display. For people have watched Top Gun, you know when Maverick is trying to get locked on for a shot at a bad guy??? That green circle thing that turned red when Mav was "locked on" was part of the HUD.

I use Shimanos myself, but a little seaching turned up these:

http://www.bikepro.com/products/shoes/shimsd50.html

and these:

http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/eshop.asp?...SPD+MTB+SANDAL

However, I can't recommend the Shimanos more highly than I do. They're well made and (for me) comfortable for all-day wear -- more comfortable than any other sandal I've owned, cycling aside.

RichC

I was also thinking of it because i just saw a special on the apache on the discovery channel. On the apache, the guy actually straps this thing to right eye, which has a reflective surface to look at the night vision camera, but he is also able to see thru it. it's pretty bulky(big cord coming off it), but it's feeding a whole picture to the pilot. something that just has a few LED digits could be much smaller, maybe intergrated into the temple of the glasses, with a small radio receiver. cool idea huh?

One of William Gibson’s characters has a clock operated into her retina. She just has to look down and to the left to see it, otherwise its hidden. I also think she was the one with mirror shade lenses that covered the whole eye, can you picture that!

Sally Shears/Molly Millions?