billykmd

I do appreciate the ignorant twerp statement considering running a unit and being a surgeon are two different things... You are obviously a big boy. I'm not here to say that a helmet law or something is mandatory, but helmets should be on the top of the list of things you need. Feel free to ride without a helmet. I'll be happy to cut on your head.

ColinL

LOL, I can't resist one more post. What don't they offer significant protection against? A car tire driving over your head? Agreed, a bicycle helmet weighing 250-300g does not help. Your skull will be crushed.

Falling at low speed (I consider 30mph and less low speed) and hitting your head on the curb or road? Strongly disagreed. A bicycle helmet dramatically helps. You will likely suffer no life-threatening injury. Smashing your face is cosmetically undesireable but rarely fatal.

CoyoteEatsGirl

OMFG. Are there seriously people arguing that a helmet is unnecessary and won't be dramatically beneficial to saving your life in the event of an accident?

These are probably the same people that argue that smoking doesn't cause cancer and that Elvis isn't dead.

Right Said Fred

I bought my first road bike on July 1 and have put over 350 miles on it so far this month. The first weekend I rode it over 50 miles in workout shorts and sneakers. Since then, here's what I have decided I needed, in this order:
1. Water bottle and cage-dehydration sucks
2. Bike shorts-made a bigger difference in comfort than I expected
3. Air pump-using my shop air compressor was a PITA and this has been a great purchase
4. Tire tools and repair kit--after walking home with flats three times in a two-day period, I decided these were mandatory.
5. Clipless pedals and shoes-could have lived without them for a long time, but they are nice to have. Makes riding out of the saddle a lot easier, and much safer and convenient for around town riding with stop lights than toe clips.

I use an iPhone app but am looking around for a cheap computer with a cadence function. A cycling jersey is pretty much last on my list, although I did buy a couple of workout shirts one size smaller than normal. The jersey would be convenient for carrying the tire repair stuff on a long ride.

joe_5700

Nobody on here can prove exactly how much protection a bicycle helmet offers. You should however try showing up to a local charity ride, duathlon, triathlon, USA cycling event or even a local group ride without one.

jair101

Thanks for the replies. Patch kit(tube, mini pump, levers, etc.), water bottles+holders and decent floor pump will be the first batch of purchases.

Don't wanna take part in any helmet talks, but you feel free to commence the scuffle

jsutkeepspining

think of it this way, say you don't want to have a kid, you could just pull out (no helmet) or you could wear a condom (wearing a helmet) and reduce the risk, even if it's only 5%. in my mind if i helmet would allow me to survive an extra 3 pounds of pressure in a crash then i will wear a helmet.

Brimstone_

Must have:
1. Home: pump w/ gauge and lube
2. Water bottles/holders
3. mini pump/tube
4. Shorts/bibs

Nice to have:
5. helmet
6. clipless pedals/shoes
7. multi-tool
8. jersey
9. CO2

I will go with the helmet as "nice to have" since I went for 15 years with only a cycling cap. Today I wear one every time I ride, but it is still a choice.

tagaproject6

This needs to go to A& S

DScott

Helmet arguments are easy, if people are being honest, and can be resolved by answering one simple question: Would you let your kids ride their bikes without one?

As to the OP, seriously, consider what it takes to complete your ride, and plan accordingly.

For me, that includes comfort gear (i.e., bibs, jersey, socks, clipless pedals, etc.), safety gear (helmets, gloves, hydration/nutrition), and "what-if" gear (Road ID, driver's license, phone, tube/patch kit, pump, tools, cash, etc.).

andrewluke

Helmet is first, period. Mine saved my life when it took an impact at 40mph. Water bottle, cage, saddlebag, tool, tubes, and a pump are necessities. A pump at home is optional if you have a good portable one on the bike (Topeak Road Morph is good).

Next would be chain lube unless you want to pay a shop to do it. Then the rest as you see fit. Good shorts will make the rides feel better as will clip less pedals. A home pump is a lot less work but either can get the job done.

radshark

Judging by how often I use stuff ... I'll temper my list with probabilities. I'll assume your biking 20 miles or less starting out.

1. Floor pump and lube.
2. Bibs and jersey.
3. Clipless pedals and shoes (Look).
4. Bottle and cage (needed if biking longer than 20 miles).
5. Kit (saddle bag w. tube, co2, co2 pump, tire levers, and multi-tool). (should carry but can chance riding without it for a bit)

Cheers,

heckler

I would want my child to have a helmet on at all times, but the bike would not cease to function if they didn't put it on, hence it is not a need. I think people get confused about what needs are sometimes.

I like everything on Dscott's list I use everything but the drivers license since it is somewhat redundant with the road ID.
As mentioned before, you will however need a helmet for all group rides, so if you plan on doing them or any events it bumps it up the prioity list.

BikeMech

There ya go. And fyi,saddle bags are gay. That's what jersey pockets are for.

BikeMech

Helmet are a NEED. Yes,the bike may function without one but when you crack your head open,you won't function. Riding a roadbike without a helmet is just stupid. Simple as that.

jsutkeepspining

An example of a fantastic parental figure. I want my kid to wear a helmet, but if he doesn't there's nothing i could do. I would hope you teach your kids to wear a helmet any time they're on a bike. nothing worse than becoming a vegetable.

lazerzxr

On the helmet debate, read again post #5

I was very glad of my helmet last weekend. I suppose i cant really say what would have happened without but when you get up from an accident and see car paint smeered across the shell and bits of gravel stuck in it, it makes you glad you had it on.

If nothing else it made a comfortable head rest while i was laying on the road waiting for the ambulance

DScott

And stuffing your pockets full of stuff so you can avoid that "gay" saddle bag is just a little too trailer park for me. Bike stuff goes on (and stays on) the bike from ride to ride. Riders stuff goes in the pockets.

My policy is nothing goes in the jersey pockets that I'd need to have a surgeon extract from my kidneys or pull out of my spinal column if I fall on it.

Not that I plan on falling on my mini-pump or multi-tool, but then it's the same reason I wear a helmet: because I can't always plan when I'm going to fall.

BikeMech

Just curious...is the trailer park bit because i'm from Alabama by any chance? And whatever floats your boat. I don't exactly "Stuff" my pockets. I have a tube and mini pump in one,phone in the other,and keys in the other pocket. Can't even tell i have anything in them.

MikeyBoyAz

something I never head on this site is the liquid sealant. I use the caffelatex and have had multiple punctures, but only found out when I got home, and you can still patch the tube! still keep a spare tube and co2 but small pinpricks don't deflate the tire and cleanup is a breeze. paid a few dollars for the kit and will never look back... why is this not discussed more??

oh yeah, bring a piece of paper/cardboard for tire a band-aid..

bmulls

Don't use motor oil on your chain.... that's a good way to take the life of it down. It's too heavy and won't get down into the rollers, leaving your chain essentially ungreased.

DScott

Just wanted to keep it familiar, that's all. Just funnin' ya.

I ride alot of remote areas, and I was Boy Scout, and now just paranoid, and hate to have to call people for help. Plus I'm kinda lazy, and hate walking.

So I like to have alot of stuff with me. My saddle bag is like a clown car: kinda small, but open it up and out comes two tubes, tire lever, multi-tool, spoke wrench, Presta-Schraeder valve adapter, Co2 inflator and 2 cartridges, stick-on patches, piece of a tire for a boot, 8mm open-end wrench for seat adjustment, back-up cash/ID, car key, and a couple of spare gels. No kidding.

Bike has bottle-mounted Topeak mini-pump.

Pockets hold cell phone, cash/ID/Insurance card/credit card, food for the ride and leaves room for arm/knee warmers/vest, etc. It bugs me to have over-filled/weighted down pockets.

It's just my system so I never forget any of this. I can get the bike ready to go just by adding full bottles, attaching the bike computer and adding a little air. Makes it easy to go on early rides...

I've used all of it at some point, and should probably have a chain-tool, too, but I just draw the line there.

Minion1

Show us your stats. Name, hospital, period of employment.

I ran a Unicorn farm for fairies eating rock dust. This qualifies my expert opinion and justifies me disagreeing with public policy in a number of countries around the world where helmets are mandatory.

EDIT sorry I meant to say MOON ROCK DUST

Minion1

that list looks pretty good, if I were after a start up kit it'd go

Helmet
bottle/cage (you can get one bottle and one cage first and figure out where you can get water from on your routes)
Repair kit and spare tyre
Chain oil - even 3 in one that you can get from the supermarket or hardware store, this one spends a penny to save a pound.
Shorts.

The rest will come as you find your level for enthusiasm for the sport. The more you like it, the more you'll spend, but shoes will probably come next on the list - they'll improve your riding experience the most, probably more than shorts, but aren't as necessary.

Just get out and have a good time, enjoy riding in some nice weather, and if the habit strikes then look at your kit again and go from there. If there would be a number 7, it would be have fun and pick the brains of other riders around you for advice.

noremac

Even if you fall and hit your head without a helmet and the fall doesn't kill you, or cause brain damage, or leave you unconscious, it will definitely hurt more than if you were wearing a helmet. I do not wear one when I commute 4 miles to school or work on low traffic roads but I do wear one when I go out for rides because I ride alone and I don't want to be unconscious and bleeding to death 30 miles from home with no one around to help.

I've noticed noobs don't realise how often tires need to be inflated. You will definitely need a decent pump with a gauge and you'll also want one to take with you in case you get a flat. I figured I could save some money by purchasing a frame pump which inflates up to 140psi. I use it at home and I take it with me in case I get a flat. It is my only pump and it still works great a year after I purchased it. It was $35 +tax and shipping, which might seem like a lot, but I did not have to buy 2 different pumps. Don't skimp on the pump.

Clipless pedals and shoes cost a lot of money, and in my opinion should be one of your final purchases because you will not want to skimp on them. However, I hope when you say you'll use platform pedals you mean with toe clips and straps. I would never ride a bike with just platforms, and toe clips and straps are too cheap to not use. I bought some from ebay for $10 after shipping. You can leave them loose to enable you to take your shoe out, and they will allow you to get a lot more power down quickly, and enable you to climb and descend more comfortably without worrying about your feet slipping off.

Must have:
• helmet
• good pump
• toe clips & straps
• bottles & cages
• tire levers & patch kit

Nice to have:
1. spare tubes
2. chain oil
3. jersey
4. shorts
5. cyclocomputer
6. clipless pedals & shoes