Safety gear and proper road bike accessories play a crucial role in the road cycling experience, especially for beginning cyclists who are just starting out. Acquiring road cycling essentials is a must when getting started – especially safety cycling essentials. My husband got into road biking about three years ago. Since then, I’ve been given a steady education in all things road bike! But not steady enough that I can write a post all on my own so The Hubs has helped prepare this road bike essentials gift guide to direct you to the most necessary pieces of beginning cycling gear that suits your needs and budget.
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Recently, The Hubs completed a huge milestone – his first 100-mile bike ride, the Tour de Rock, organized by our local CARTI. It was a proud wife moment for me – even though I did think the idea of riding 100 miles on a bike in half a day was absolutely insane! I’m not sure I’ve ridden 100 miles on a bike in my entire life.
Important Safety Cycling Essentials for Beginning Cyclists
In this section, we are focusing on safety cycling essentials rather than road bikes themselves. Hopefully, you have already found the perfect beginning road bike and are ready to start adding to your safety cycling essentials! The Hubs has already cycled through several road bikes since he started this process. (See what I did there?)
If you’re new to road cycling, as my husband was a few years ago, or if you are searching for a gift for a cyclist, you might be wondering what kind of road bike gear might be needed to get started. The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank to get started with cycling gear. With a few key pieces of equipment, you can hit the road and start enjoying the many benefits of cycling. We suggest making safety gear your top priority!
Having the right gear can make all the difference in terms of comfort, safety, and performance. As a beginner cyclist, it can be overwhelming to navigate through the many safety cycling essentials for beginning cyclists available in the market.
Also, there is a definite difference between mountain biking and road biking. Sometimes as a beginner cyclist looks through lists of gear, products for the two different bike types can get muddled together, making it even more tricky to choose the right items. This post will specifically zone in on gear needed for road bikes.
Road Bike Helmets for Beginning Road Cyclists are Non-Negotiable
One of the most important pieces of gear for any cyclist is a good helmet. A helmet can protect your head in the event of a fall or collision, and it’s essential for staying safe on the road. Look for a helmet that fits well and meets safety standards, such as those set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Helmets vary in price considerably from $20-500 or more. You can use a mountain bike helmet for road biking, but some cyclists prefer to have separate ones for each use. These adult road bike helmets come in a variety of colors and work for both men and women.
Padded Cycling Shorts for Cyclists Help Prevent Soreness
The next most important piece of cycling gear is 1-2 pairs of padded cycling shorts. Padded cycling shorts, which are typically tight spandex with padding in the area that makes contact with the seat/saddle, will help protect your rear end from soreness. The soreness is quite common as many road bikes have small, uncomfortable bike seats/saddles. You can easily find men’s padded cycling shorts and women’s padded cycling shorts.
Cycling shorts are sometimes rated from a lower number to a higher number. The higher the ranking, the better the padding. A cyclist that only rides 5-10 miles might be fine with lower rated cycling shorts, while a cyclist planning to ride a 50-100 mile ride will prefer the higher rated shorts. Padded cycling pants are also available for riding when there are cooler temperatures.
Add Water Bottles to Your Safety Cycling Essentials
Water bottles are definitely important safety cycling essentials. Most road bikes have at least one, but sometimes two, water bottle cages. Bicycle water bottles are generally pretty inexpensive, while the more expensive ones are insulated, providing cooler water longer into a ride, especially if prepared the night before the ride. Some riders will freeze one of the two bottles.
Some riders also utilize water tablets to the water to provide electrolytes. It is recommended to stay well hydrated while cycling, especially when it is hot or during a long ride. Many organized rides offer aid stations to refill water bottles.
Cyclists Need Protective Eye Gear
Eye protection while cycling is very important as well. Many riders are very selective with eyewear and prefer specific brands. As you will see throughout this article, cycling glasses vary considerably from $20-$500 or more. I suggest finding something that fits you and your budget. You might consider glasses with frames that can be swapped out from sunglasses to clear or yellow for riding when it is darker. These men’s cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses can be used for different purposes and these sports sunglasses come in a variety of colors for women or men.
Don’t Forget Cycling Gloves for Road Bikes
An important piece of cycling gear that is sometimes not thought of is a pair of padded cycling gloves. Padded cycling gloves provide cushion and better grip while sweating. They also provide protection during a fall or collision, as many people use their hands to protect themselves. Gloves can easily be replaced if damaged, but damage to your hands could last several weeks if they aren’t protected.
Essential Cycling Shirts for Road Bike Cyclists Help with Visibility
Additionally, many riders prefer to wear bright colored cycling shirts to help with visibility with other users, primarily vehicle drivers. Men’s cycling shirts range in price considerably and generally run small in sizing, so if someone wears a large t-shirt, a cycling shirt in extra large would probably be a better fit, however, if there is an opportunity to try one on, it would be best. The same goes for women’s cycling jerseys.
Cycling shirts generally have a zipper in the front and pockets in the rear. The pockets are great for a cell phone, snacks (discussed later), or other riding essentials. Some shirts are short sleeved and some are long. Many riders prefer to wear short sleeve shirts and wear a tightly fitted undershirt that can be removed if they get too hot. The undershirt can usually fit in the rear pocket of the cycling shirt.
I am not going to lie. The first time The Hubs strutted out of the bedroom wearing his first bright cycling jersey, I thought he had lost his mind. Those shirts are loud and busy and completely not his typical style. But once I realized these shirts are important safety cycling essentials, it all made sense!
Cycling Lights for Road Bikes are Safety Cycling Essentials
Many road cyclists are also interested in cycling lights for the front and rear. These lights are not usually intended for cycling at night or when it becomes dark. They are primarily intended to make your bike and yourself more visible to other users to include vehicles, walkers, and other cyclists. Most cycling lights are small and commonly have a few different display options. The light in the front is white, while the light in the rear is red.
Cycling lights vary in price considerably from $20-500. The cheaper lights are generally just lights, while the more expensive lights provide other options including radar and video. The bicycle radar with camera and lights can provide notifications of vehicles or other riders up to 150 yards behind the rider, which makes the riders feel more at ease. The video option is a bit more expensive, but comes with the radar. The video records from the rear of the bike. My husband has an acquaintance who was nearly hit from behind by a reckless driver, and the video was able to record enough of the car for his needed records. My husband recently purchased the Garmin bicycle radar/light and it is one of his favorite cycling accessories.
Bike Headlights Offer Safety After Dark
Many cyclists prefer to ride when it is dark, whether it is before sunrise or after sunset, and prefer a dedicated cycling headlight rather than the small light mentioned above. A dedicated headlight will be able to provide a lot more light during low light conditions.
Spare Tube Gear for Beginning Cyclists is a Must
Another part of men’s and women’s cycling essentials is a spare tube, tools to change the tube, and a small bag to carry it all inside while riding. Flat tires are a common occurrence on the road, and having a spare tube can save you from being stranded. Make sure to choose a tube that fits your bike’s tire size, which can usually be found on the sidewall of the tire.
Additionally, make sure to have the correct length Presta valve tubes if the bike has deeper wheels. A small bike pump or CO2 tire inflator with inflator cartridge refills is helpful changing a tube while out riding. With a spare tube and a few basic tools, you’ll be able to change a flat tire quickly and easily, so you can get back on the road in no time.
Last year for Christmas, I got The Hubs these tire levers. They make great stocking stuffers!
Having a spare tube has saved The Hubs multiple times when he has had blow outs on bike rides far from home.
More Road Cycling Gear for Beginners
Now that we have the safety cycling essentials out of the way, let’s talk about other helpful road cycling gear for beginning cyclists.
Track Your Rides for Performance Goals
Once you have been riding a while, you may become interested in tracking your rides. Many cyclists track their mileage, heart rate, cadence, and specific routes. There are many different ways to track this information including smart watches like an iWatch or Garmin, smartphone apps like Map My Ride or Strava, or a cycling computer like Garmin or Wahoo.
Many cyclists prefer a live speed tracker versus a GPS speed tracker, which is generally delayed a few seconds. A live speed tracker generally has a device on the wheel to track rotations. A fairly inexpensive bike speed tracker can be purchased for $25-100, but it likely won’t offer options for tracking other things like heart rate, cadence, or specific routes.
Some cyclists prefer to only utilize a smart watch, while others prefer a display on the handlebars that can provide an assortment of options. The Garmin Edge series offers options from $200-800 This device is capable of tracking speed, cadence, heart rate, and specific routes. The less expensive models are not touchscreen while the more expensive options offer touchscreen.
Cycling Shoes and Pedals are a Nice Touch for Serious Cyclists
Many more experienced cyclist prefer cycling shoes and pedals that clip to the shoes, allowing the rider to pull up in addition to pushing down. The unisex cycling shoes and clipless pedals also allow the rider to increase their cadence. There are a few different types of pedals and shoes that are compatible with them.
Maintenance Cycling Essentials for Self Servicing Road Bikes
The frequency of self servicing a bike varies among cyclists depending on ride frequency, ride length, and ride conditions (rain, dust, dirt, etc.).
Road cyclists generally keep their tire pressure higher than other cyclists, thus the need for an air pump (linked above) is required. Again, there are many options out there, but most prefer a portable hand pump. Some portable hand pumps offer connections for both types of valves – Presta and Schrader. Road bike tires lose air pressure after 2-3 days, so checking the pressure and inflating to the desired pressure is preferred.
Road cyclists have different preferences regarding the frequency of cleaning their bikes. Some will clean their chain, rear cassette, and front sprockets every 2-3 rides. My husband prefers to use White Lightening chain degreaser first and then a separate White Lightening spray and brush cleaner. Once clean, he prefers to lubricate the chain with dry bike lubricant.
Vehicle Bike Racks are Helpful Cycling Essentials When Traveling
If a cyclist is interested in traveling in a vehicle to ride somewhere, there are several options available for vehicle mounted bike racks. The number of bikes the bike rack will hold varies from 1-2 up to 4-5.
There are trunk-mount bike racks that many people prefer.
Some bike racks are designed to fit in the hitch that is used for towing. Many of them are designed to swing away from the vehicle allowing access to the rear of the vehicle. There are generally two types of hitch mounted bike racks. The first type holds the bikes from the tires. The second type of hitch-mount vehicle bike rack, is what we have, holds bikes from the frame between the seat and handlebars. My husband has seen a third type that holds bikes vertically, but they aren’t as common.
Some people prefer roof-mount bike racks. My husband doesn’t care for this type because we drive a full size SUV and he is concerned he might forget about the bikes on top and attempt to go through a drive through or parking deck and damage the bikes, bike rack, and/or vehicle. Cyclist with smaller cars might prefer the roof mounted bike rack, as they might be less likely to have problems with the bikes hitting areas with low clearance.
Bike Storage in the Garage Keeps Things Organized
Most riders prefer some sort of bike storage for their garage or house. There are many different options available. Many cyclists prefer to keep their bikes up off the floor to make more room for other things. We like our garage wall bike mount as it keeps the bikes up high so as not to interfere with our vehicle space. For a rather inexpensive purchase, it makes a big difference!
Additionally, servicing your bike is easier when the bike is elevated off the floor with a bike stand or vehicle-mounted bike rack (mentioned above). My husband prefers to use the vehicle hitch mounted bike rack to reduce the amount of stuff in the garage. If a rider doesn’t have a vehicle mounted bike rack or doesn’t mind the extra stuff, a bicycle floor stand might be the best option.
Bike Organizer Accessories
As far as storage on the actual bike, you might want to consider a bike seat bag to hold essentials (like the self-servicing supplies). A mounted phone holder for a bike with a shockproof phone case makes a great cycling gift, also!
Energy Bars and Energy Gels Help with Endurance
Many riders utilize supplements or snacks of some type to keep energy levels high. There are many different options out there from energy gels to energy bars to bananas or pickles. Many cyclists recommend trying something out on a short ride or even around the house to see how it affects you before using it for the first time on a long ride, as it might upset your stomach.
Hopefully, you found this “guest post” by The Hubs helpful to get you started on a beginning cycling journey! If you have any questions about our road cycling essentials gift guide, please feel free to ask us in the comments!
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