jair101

So, I bought a new trek 1.5. As it happens, you always buy a bike at least 10% more expensive than you can actually afford. As it is my first road bike I still lack many of the useful accessories as much as I lack money. All i have is a semi decent computer. I plan to get all these things in the next few months, but I have troubles figuring out which one should come first.

Here is the ranking the way I understand it, let me know if I am missing something or if you think the priority should be different.

1. saddle bag+mini pump+multi tool+patch kit+spare tube. This one is obvious, you cant go riding without it.
2. bottle cage + bottle. Unless the ride is shorter then 30 min i guess, which I dont plan mine to be.
3. Chain lube, etc for cleaning and keeping the bike in shape after a ride.
4. Decent pump at home, with pressure gauge. Right now I have a lame old one, which still kinda works, but definitely needs a replacement.
4. clipless pedals + shoes. Initially i think i will settle with cheap platform pedals.
5. Shorts, maybe with bibs.
6. Jersey, hmm, maybe should be before shorts?
7. Something I am missing?

Let me know!

tFUnK

saddle bag + spare/pump/tools, home floor pump, water bottle + cage, helmet, clipless pedals + shoes, jersey, shorts/bibs, gloves, chain lube, cycling computer, in that order.

gettingold

These are not options; they are all necessities if you are going to do longer rides as you indicated (except the computer). Take out a loan.

RJM

Mini pump/spare tube/tools - stick these in the pockets of your jersey you will be purchasing. You can save by not buying a saddlebag or patch kit.

You need a bottle cage and bottle. You will get thirsty. The wire ones and plastic bottles are not expensive.

You can skip clipless pedals for now, just stick with the platforms and save up.

Get a pair of shorts, they make a difference.

Chain lube - well, you can do old school and use a small amount of motor oil.

You could use your new mini pump instead of a dedicated one, but it will be a pain.

lazerzxr

I think you have it about right. Do yourself a favour if you are on a budget and learn to patch repair rather than change tubes every time. I see people throwing money away because they wont patch because "they will come off". They spend $10 per puncture, i spend 10c and no - they never come off - also its quicker and you look like a cyclist not a noob

You dont metion a helmet. This should come above all else. I wrote my Allez off this weekend through no fault of my own and I would be dead if it wasnt for my helmet.

irwin7638

Based on my forty years experience,I see no use for shorts, bibs, jersey, clipless pedals (making special shoes optional)or computer. Other than that you've got it nailed.

Marc

byrnemm

LBS charge a lot for saddlebags. If you get a jersey you can stick that stuff in the pockets. And honestly, you can always walk home. Especially since you don't have clipless pedals...

For safety reasons, consider the following as necessities:
1) Helmet
2) Water

and, with all due props to Marc for being a 'hard ass' I would not want to ride more than 10 minutes without bike shorts.

So, basically, I think you need a Helmet, a water source, and bike shorts. And if you want to ride again tomorrow you'll need a pump. (Do what I did and borrow your friend's)

ColinL

Buy puncture resistant tires, ensure they are properly inflated for your weight. (NOT max pressure unless you are a very heavy rider-- read Sheldon Brown's site.) I never carry tubes, patches, inflators or pumps. I never walk. Yes, a Continental GP4000 is very expensive, but YES there are durable tires available for less. They just aren't as light/fast/grippy/uber but they'll work fine.

If your bike came with puncture resistant tires, bonus! Mine did-- Schwalbe Lugano.

I agree that cycling computer is the lowest priority. If you have an android or apple smartphone you can probably use a training app to log your workout duration, path, speed, etc. At any rate you don't need instantaneous speed, heart rate or cadence as a starting rider.

Bicycle pump at home is your #1 priority. You've got to check your air pressure before every ride. It takes 60 seconds or less.

Don't be afraid to shop for deals online. HOWEVER-- do not go to the LBS and get info, then walk out and buy on Amazon. That is a bullsht move for accessories. (For a whole bike, if you can save hundreds or more.. well, then.) It's the right thing to do to either use the LBS' time & expertise and buy from them, or to not waste their time and instead research here and other online sources if you're going to buy online.

DScott

BF approved list:




HTFU?

bonz50

nobody wants to walk home 8-10 miles... use the phone to call for help... personally, I do not have a spare kit yet ($$$)... my list right now includes, in no specific order, floor pump, clipless pedals/shoes, jersey/shorts, cyclocomputer, bottle/cage, wedge pack for cell phone/keys/wallet... at the moment my longest loops are 20-30mi, if I have a problem i can call someone... that will change when I go on organized rides soon and I'll need a spare kit/etc to carry along... until then, cell phone is my go to 'tool' for roadside emergency... YMMV

tagaproject6

All you need is a bike and a healthy dose of HTFU! Everything else is just to make the ride safer or more convenient. The importance of these other accoutrements are based on individual needs and comfort or to which breakdown you are most paranoid.

billykmd

Well you do need a helmet... everything else is gravy.

chasm54

Here we go. You don't need a helmet, nobody wore them twenty years ago and the number of head injuries to cyclists was no greater then than it is now.

billykmd

You can talk about it when you took care of people with head injuries after bike accidents. Do you wear shoes? there are many cultures and people for centuries who don't wear shoes... what kind of argument is that nobody wore them 20 years ago... sheesh.

ColinL

I sure hope you're trolling. If not...

Statistically the odds of an accident/crash with head impact are low, yes I agree. However the SEVERITY of head trauma in such an accident is very high. We're not talking roadrash on your hands and legs, this is life-changing stuff.

Will I crash today? Let's say less than 1% chance. If I crash and hit my head, what is the chance of brain trauma or death? With helmet, again less than 1%. Without-- um, easily 20%. Many, many times higher.

Bicycle, motorcycle, dirtbike, skateboard, whatever-- wear a helmet. If you don't give a damn about your brain, it's likely that one of your family members does.

runner pat

I tried a pair similar to these years ago. While not as good as clipless, they are a big improvement over bare platform pedals.

joe_5700

I agree with this order. I would add 2 water bottle cages/bottles for longer rides and a $3 rema patch kit. To Marc, I cannot imagine doing my riding without shorts with chamois or clipless pedals. You will appreciate them on longer rides. To those of you who are not carrying an extra tube...WHY wouldn't you? Amazing. ColinL, every 700x23 tire unless it is a race day only tire offers puncture protection. Even Michelin Pro Race 3's offer some puncture protection.

tagaproject6

OH NO, you didn't! This is why I wrote "make the ride safer".

What have you done?!?!

Oh well, might as well break out the :

pixelharmony

You should buy all this stuff at once. Get a minimum of two spares, and tire levers.

1. saddle bag+mini pump+multi tool+patch kit+spare tube. This one is obvious, you cant go riding without it.
2. bottle cage + bottle. (Always get a bottle, hydration is so important even if your ride is 30 minutes. I have a 20 minute commute and drink about 400 ml)
3. Chain lube, etc for cleaning and keeping the bike in shape after a ride.
4. Decent pump at home, with pressure gauge. (One of the most important things I bought)
5. Shorts, maybe with bibs.


clipless pedals + shoes then Jersey is last.

chasm54

You miss the point. The point is that when nobody wore them, people didn't get head injuries more than they do now. Therefore, helmets don't seem to have made us more safe.
ColinL, I am not trolling. Where helmets have been made mandatory they have not resulted in the expected reduction in injury. They are a triumph of marketing, because it seems obvious that "something is better than nothing". But it ain't necessarily so. It isn't just a matter of it being unlikely that I'll hit my head, it is that bike helmets as currently designed may be very poor at preventing serious brain injury.

Anyway, this is peripheral to the thread. If you want to debate it I'd suggest the "helmets cramp my style" thread in advocacy and safety. I only mentioned it because I get tired of people asserting that "you need a helmet" when they haven't a clue about the data.

tanguy frame

You gotta differentiate between nice-to-have and must-have.
everyone has their own list.
Basically, screw the HTFU attitude, get what you need to make yourself comfortable and independent on a long ride. Everybody gets to define comfort and independence to suit their own tastes.
I could tell you what's on my list, but I'm not you and it probably isn't relavent.
If you need something and you don't have it, you will have experience so you can make these decisions yourself in the future.
For me, the must haves are helmet, water, tire repair, shoes/cleats/pedals (couldn't help myself!)
for chain lube, mix 4 parts oderless mineral spirits with 1 part synthetic motor oil.
-edit- also, shorts

billykmd

Who cares about the data when it's your head or your loved-one's head. Sure, a helmet is not going to make you fall or get hit by a car, but when you do have an injury, they can prevent a devastating injury to the head... Like I said, when you do a craniotomy on someone when had a bad head injury for not wearing a helmet, give me a call... otherwise you are just blowing smoke... "clue about the data?" gimme a break.

chasm54

So you have a clue about the data? Tell me about it. I ran a neurosurgical unit, and after that a teaching hospital, for years. Why don't you give me a break, you patronising, ignorant little twerp.

ColinL

Not gonna bother to go to the referenced thread-- been through this debate before with motorcyclists. (I might be new here, but I'm not new to forums by any means.)

It's an utterly pointless debate. You want your freedom, your appearance and style, and you underestimate or devalue the risks. Odds are overwhelming that nothing will happen to you. But it's not a risk I would suggest anyone to take.

chasm54

You are mistaken, and it has nothing to do with motorcycles. Were you suggesting that people cycled in motorcycle helmets, that would make more sense. Your position is based on the assumption that bicycle helmets afford significant protection, and they probably don't. But I agree that minds are unlikely to be changed by argument, prejudices and assumptions are too deep-rooted.