Hey guys, I purchased a new bike for christmas and have been out 3 or 4 times now. I'm still new to cycling and want to know what accessories are "essential" and what you ride with?

Flat kits? Tools? Bottles and Cages? Lights? Bags? etc.

I've about spend all my money on the bike, so I'm not about to go out and buy it all. What do ride with?

flat repair would be high on my list.

I see people with saddle bags, and some with cans that fit into bottle cages. What do you use and what do you have in your kit, bt?

Essentials are:

-spare tube; ($5)
-tire irons; (cheap)
-pump or CO2 inflator ($20-35)
-patch kit; ($3)
-a few Allen wrenches to adjust "stuff";
-a seat or frame bag to stow it in ($15-35).

You will very soon want:

-bike shorts;
-clip-in pedals and shoes ($$)
-N+1 bike

I got a good deal on some Ultegra pedals and some shoes, so I'm love'n those.

I don't know if I want a pump or CO2? Is one better? or is this another long debate?

You'll want a pump for daily use. CO2 for roadside emergencies.

For fixing roadside flats, your options are either a frame-mounted little pump or CO2 cartridges and an inflator head thingie. I prefer the frame-mounted pump. My experience with CO2 is very limited, but I don't like being limited to just a couple inflations. I do long rides (40-60 miles) in the country and multiple flats can happen, or one flat where you don't find the offending thorn or whatever and it gets you again. Plus CO2 cartridges- or at least the ones I've used- only get you up to 60-70 lbs of pressure.

Then in the fullness of time you'll want a floor pump with a pressure gauge.

Get some lights....Bright Ones.

This is my day bike.

That's awesome. Lights will be on my list for sure. I'm in northern Utah and it gets dark pretty quick for half of the year.

good day Fred, what lights are those? do you have links?

I was frustrated by how much a bike costs after buying a bike. Proper helmet, extra tubes, co2 cans and nozzle, rear and front lights, bike pump with guage, bike lock, saddlebag for co2/tubes, a general bike tool kit (has been great, able to clean, maintain everything on my bike so far, true wheels, Nashbar kit), lots of grease and chain lube. Then I bought new handlebar, stem and upgrades :/

OP...this can be expensive but if you shop smart you can outfit yourself for decent prices. I personally shop around for anything. I have had good luck with genuine innovations Co2 inflators. They even carry them in Wally world now. Co2 cartridges, get the generic ones from amazon in bulk and you can get them for less than a buck each. The hand pump I use is a crank brothers with gauge https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1#ReviewHeader if you read the reviews it has one good one and two bad ones but it's obvious the two bad ones are user error. I can inflate to 100 psi with this any day.

I buy tubes six at a time off ebay for $4.16 each https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-NEW-700-x-...item20d8ea95ba

tire levers are cheap at the bike shop, bottle cages can be cheap unless you want very light and strong. if you just want strong, they can be really cheap. I use Lezyne flow cages ad they hold the bottle very well https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lezyne-Flow-...item51b1f5d46a

After that though…it is pretty cheap to use. Having other various hobbies in the past…almost all of them require constant cash flow to do…for me, bikes aren't like that.

Really, start with flat kit. Then shorts.

A small patch kit; multi-tool; yes water bottle and cages a necessity; I use a seat post light which is a Korg Blinder 4V that is insanely bright; carry at least one extra tube; tire lever but this is sometimes a part of certain multi-tools; extra chain links for any incidental damage that can occur; I probably forgot something but others will add.

^^this is a great start!!! also, learning how to change a flat is invaluable. having this stuff with ya, and no knowledge of how to use it is worthless. Any decent lbs will either have a class, or probably be glad (when they're not too busy) to teach you how.

Beat me to it.

I have a full size frame pump that fits nicely under the top tube.

You need at least a repair kit (spare tube, mini pump, tire levers) at the very least so you won't get stranded or have to walk home (go on youtube to learn how to replace your tube). Some people also brings patch kits. It's a preference thing and I personally don't carry one. To carry your kit, you also will need a saddle bag. You can buy cages (assuming the bike didn't come with one) for cheap if you just need one. Same thing for bottles. You can get those from Wally World. If you want cages and bottles that look better, go back to your LBS. Helmet will cost you $30 or more. The recreational ones are around $30 and road ones are 50 and higher. Again, if you just need a helmet, go to Wally World or Target. Finally bibs and jersey are all for comfort.

I didn't buy any lights just because I will never ride in the dark.

I hear you, but a BRIGHT red blinker is your best buddy at least in some riding conditions. Talking DAYLIGHT use here.

Put it this way. I'll never know that the distracted driver who would have made my wife a widow and my children orphans instead had his eye GRABBED by my bright red blinking taillight and didn't hit me. He'll just drive on by, instead. But it's worth $50 to buy that particular insurance.

^
Totally agree. When I'm alone, I always have my red blinker on regardless of day or night. Many of these lights have several modes such as always on and blinking. I typically having it on blinking as it should attract more attention than just a red light that's on.

Other than that, everyone else has made some good suggestions for items to carry. I would like to add that a good pair of bibs or shorts goes a long way in the enjoyment of this sports. It's something that I've found worth splurging on. My first pair of shorts were from the clearance rack at Performance Bike and while they were okay (and I still use them on the trainer) the chamois started to get flattened after a few months of riding.