smorrgg

Hey guys, sorry to be that annoying beginner asking obvious questions, but I was told this was a good website for questions!

I've settled on a bike I'm going to buy later today, and I was just wondering what you guys would recommend for those necessary accessories. The obvious ones are; helmet, lights, locks etc. But are there some more 'tricks of the trade' items I'm forgetting, and would find myself dearly missing mid-ride?

Any help would be great,

Thanks!
Sam

Up North

Welcome Sam, a new bike is always an exciting time. What type of riding are you expecting to do? Have you considered the clipped in option, pedals and shoes? They will allow you to get maximum efficiency out of your pedal stroke and energy used. Other than these items and items you listed, the only thing your leaving out is a road kit - generally an under seat bag with spare tube, patch kit, tire boots,co2 inflater and a few tire levers. This will get you going if you flat out on road. A good pair of cycling shorts will make rides comfortable. The computers and other toys can come later if you get addicted like rest of us.

Ride safe and enjoy!

10 Wheels

What bike and what riding do you plan to used it for?

canam73

Water bottle and cage are nice.

smorrgg

Thanks for the advice! Yeah I'm going to go with clip in, the idea of the zero mile an hour fall doesn't sound too appealing but the pros outweigh the cons I think. I'm on a budget so I'm going with the Mekk Pinerolo AL ZR 2300, I've heard and read that you get a lot of bike for the price you're paying. I plan on casual road cycling, probably no racing/track or anything like that.

10 Wheels

Nice bike.

Get a 12/30 Cassette for hills.

Get a rear rack for it. Add a bag and carry rain gear.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-pinerolo-al-zr-2013/

Dudelsack 

Be able to change a flat tire.

pgjackson

Invest in good shoes and bibs. Thin riding gloves are great for preventing blisters and hot spots. Don't waste a lot of money on a fancy helmet. A good floor pump is a must.

dave1442397

Yep, you need (or should have) a couple of spare inner tubes, two tire levers and maybe a patch kit for worst case scenarios.

If you don't want to spend too much time pumping a tire after a flat, get a CO2 inflator and some cartridges.

This is a CO2 inflator - https://www.amazon.com/Portland-Desig...co2+cartridges

Homebrew01

From the information given, you know what gearing he/she needs ? Impressive !

10 Wheels

I have 3 bike similar to his.

Homebrew01

But do you have hills similar to his ?

10 Wheels

smorrgg

Thanks very much for all your help guys, taking it all on board.

smorrgg

One more question!

Are the lock in pedals/shoes universal across brands? Or are there different types of mechanisms?

seymour1910

there are several different brands of clipless pedals. if you choose to go with road pedals most, if not all of them will fit three hole shoes.

if you go with MTB pedals then you have to be sure to get the correct shoes for those.

canam73

Just to expand on what Seymour said, the pedal will come with a 'cleat' that attaches to the shoe. Most pedals meant for road biking use a roughly triangular shaped cleat that attaches with a 3 bolts pattern. But even though they look similar, each brand of pedal uses a unique cleat.

Some road cyclists opt for mountain bike type shoes and pedals as they can be easier to walk in if that is a concern. The most common system is the Shimano SPD for which many other brands make compatible parts. The cleat is small, metal, attaches with 2 bolts and can be recessed into the shoe.

A third option is the Speedplay system for which you need a shoe with a compatible 4 bolt pattern.

Less common for road but still used some is the egg beater type pedal. The cleats attach with the mtb 2 hole pattern but the cleat is different from the SPD one.

Phil_gretz

I'd say that clothing will really matter once you ride for longer distances and under wider weather conditions. So, the ability to wick moisture away from your upper body and shorts area counts a lot.

Cycling shorts hold things where they belong and give some moisture/chaffing protection.

For colder weather, it's nice to have a wind break layer on the outside. Look for jackets that have long enough arms and tails for bike riding. Also, fit begins to matter at speed, because loose clothes flap around.

Finally, I'm a big fan of wool socks, even thin ones. They're expensive, but comfortable even when wet. In the winter, they're the cat's cheese...whatever that might mean.

Homebrew01

If you decide to get clipless shoes & pedals, as a newbie, I suggest buying shoes from a local store(s) so you can try various brands and sizes. The best brand of shoe is the one that is most comfortable on your foot.

lsberrios1 

+1. You will spend a few months in a trial and error phase in which you will probably end up with much different gear than the one you started with. I highly suggest a place like REI where you can try the equipment and if it doesnt work for you, you can always return it and get something else until you find what suits you. REI pretty much as an unconditional return policy. So you can even try it for a few weeks and if it's not for you, go back.

spdoran

I just recently started out myself and I will tell you first hand that you need to get shorts before almost anything else. You don't have to spend the money on cages now if you just get a jersey that can hold 2-3 bottles on your back.

Of all the things I have found I really need pump, pedals (nashbar has deals on shimano road pedals and sales every day right now), shorts, jersey, get a pair of thin, full-finger gloves if it is cold that you'll be able to wear when it starts to warm up too, socks are a game changer in your shoes for the first few times when you will be getting used to pushing on a rigid surface anda good pair of shoes - get fitted at your LBS for these even if you don't buy them there because your size will be a little different from what you normally wear and they won't stretch like your other shoes.

All in all it is a little bit of an investment to get started and maybe just go bit by bit and see what you need we can't really know your exact needs on the forums, but you can for sure talk to the guys/girls at your bike shop and figure out anything we're missing.

good luck

Darth Steele

Depending on how expensive of a bike that you buy I would not even bother with a lock. There is no way that I would leave my bike alone so I would not chain up my 2013 SuperSix Ultegra. Just the thought alone makes me nervous

cleansheet

Of course you will need a spare bike as a backup.

halfspeed

You didn't answer the question.

cleansheet

If you are going to climb with that much stuff attached to your bike, of course you will need a different cassette.