New EMTB Rider Help Required To Select Some Kit

[Clad-Hach]

Hi all,

I've recently retired and just bought a new EMTB (my first bike for over 40 years) and need some help selecting some riding gear, for starters I need a decent helmet and gloves.

As for clothing that will have to a bit as I have some weight to loose first...no point in buying twice is there.

Any help is greatly appreciated..!!!

[nordboy]

Get yourself down to a local bike shop, Tredz or if you're lucky enough to have one near you a Decathlon. Try a load on, pick one that fits and is comfortable, the staff should be able to help you. Also things like helmets may look funky in pictures, but then look terrible when you put one on your swede. Gloves the same, ones that are comfy, different makes have slightly different sizings.

[Clad-Hach]

Great help...thanks.

[PushedDover]

What pedals have you ?

I have found the flat soles of the ‘5:ten’ brand (owned by Addidas, to be great. Caution on size - you may need a half size bigger.

Recommend a top tube bag or equivalent with some tools / tube / spare hanger / spare magnet / chain split link / cafe lock too

The Website / Drop shipper of www.Sportspursuit.com can give some great bargains ( and / or be ruinous )

I bought, still have a lot of Endura gear (shorts / gloves).
Don’t scoff at padded pants too.
Winters coming so layers and less mainly but pratical stuff is worth a nod too - (thermal rubber work gloves from a farm shop for example) and then you the world of :
Upgrades
Tubeless
Saddles
Grips
Pedals etc


But - best toy I have bought for a decade plus is my EMTB and use it 4+ times a week

[lancslad58]

Could be worth reading some of the reviews in here

https://road.cc/

[BunkMoreland]

lancslad58 said:

Could be worth reading some of the reviews in here

https://road.cc/

It really wont!

Jump to 1m22



I've vowed never to look at road.cc for anything! If its not crap reviews. Its "rage bait" of stories involving "a car"

[Davie]

It'll also come down to what sort of riding you're doing. I got my eMTB a little over a year ago having ridden council bikes for years, mostly single track /nothing too crazy but having moved to the eMTB, all 28kgs of it, I've very quickly learned that it's ability to go up stuff and down stuff at an elevated pace has caught me out a few times. It ability to go places that my last bikes struggled with has also been an eye opener. I've also learned the bike has way more ability than I do and thus, I've had a few unplanned visits to the ground and thus, I've started wearing knee pads, elbow pads and if it's a bit gnarly, a full face helmet. That and I'm no longer mad of rubber and magic so I'd definitely consider some protection.

I'm not brand loyal and I also don't sway towards the big brand stuff... my trousers are those sort of stretchy water resistant types from Go Outdoors as are my jackets, have a couple depending on the conditions. Adidas 5ten shoes are good, mine have worn well but I paid £40 in a sale rather than the usual £80+ but I also ride in my trainers. Have two helmets, a 7idp full face that I bought second hand, albeit it was brand new in the box and my other is a Troy Less Designs but regardless of brand, get one that covers your ears and back of your head. Gloves are a mix... but Endura stuff is pretty decent for the money and my pads were also second hand.

I'd agree that the likes of Decathlon is good as is Go Outdoors, granted you won't get the big brands / bepoke bike stuff but as winter approaches, you'll find their general hill walking / running type stuff can be decent and at least you can try it on first. No point spending hundreds initially as chances you'll chop and change until you find stuff that suits your needs / riding style etc.

[lancslad58]

BunkMoreland said:

lancslad58 said:

Could be worth reading some of the reviews in here

https://road.cc/

It really wont!

Jump to 1m22



I've vowed never to look at road.cc for anything! If its not crap reviews. Its "rage bait" of stories involving "a car"

Well if you want to try and prove a point with a link to a channel whose sole purpose appears to be to slag things off then that's fine by me

[PushedDover]

Oh and OP,

Earplugs -



to block out manual riders saying you are doing it wrong, cheating, not a cyclist etc....

[Clad-Hach]

Thanks for the tips...

I don't believe half the reviews that are online anyway...most are paid shills or influencers who haven't got a clue.

I went and tried on a few lids and quite liked the ones from Lazer, so I bought a Jackal KinetiCore, now I don't know if Lazer is a good make or not but the lid fitted good and was comfortable.

As for gloves I ordered a pair of Endura Windchill Long Finger Cycling Gloves, again no idea if they are good or not...only one way to find out.

Anyway I think I did well with the bike though, its a Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Comp Alloy in blue it just felt good, kind of like once you've ridden a Honda Sports Bike nothing else has the same feel...if you know what I mean.

[Steve_H80]

As said above go to your local bike shop.
In addition to helmet and gloves you'll also want some padded shorts (believe me, you'll want them), some kind of cycling shoe and a cycling jacket, preferably in a high vis colour.

[Clad-Hach]

PushedDover said:

What pedals have you ?

I have found the flat soles of the 5:ten brand (owned by Addidas, to be great. Caution on size - you may need a half size bigger.

Recommend a top tube bag or equivalent with some tools / tube / spare hanger / spare magnet / chain split link / cafe lock too

The Website / Drop shipper of www.Sportspursuit.com can give some great bargains ( and / or be ruinous )

I bought, still have a lot of Endura gear (shorts / gloves).
Don t scoff at padded pants too.
Winters coming so layers and less mainly but pratical stuff is worth a nod too - (thermal rubber work gloves from a farm shop for example) and then you the world of :
Upgrades
Tubeless
Saddles
Grips
Pedals etc


But - best toy I have bought for a decade plus is my EMTB and use it 4+ times a week

What do you mean by pedals..???

[Clad-Hach]

PushedDover said:

Oh and OP,

Earplugs -



to block out manual riders saying you are doing it wrong, cheating, not a cyclist etc....

Hahaha...I've had it already of my mate "what's wrong with a normal push bike you don't need and electric" but he's dying for a go on it all the same.

[Clad-Hach]

Steve_H80 said:

As said above go to your local bike shop.
In addition to helmet and gloves you'll also want some padded shorts (believe me, you'll want them), some kind of cycling shoe and a cycling jacket, preferably in a high vis colour.

Thanks...but things like this will have to wait till I've lost weight, I am not shelling out for any clothes till then.

Why a cycling shoe do the have hardened soles etc.

[PushedDover]

Clad-Hach said:

What do you mean by pedals..???

Bikes dont tend to include pedals. They are throuwn in by the bike shop.
What have you got? (or have you not had this discussion with them)

I assumes something like Burgtecs' or V12s? Flat pedals with spike/allen key pegs?

They tend to rip up fairly quickly a conventional trainer. As above the 5:Ten and alike shoes have superb soles to last, and grip the pedals (not so good for pushing the bike in mud though)


Also on the list : Glasses.
I tend to just by a few pairs of bolle safety glasses like : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bollé-Silpsi-goggles...

good for debris, flies, rain, and foliage

Are you set up for tubeless? Need a repair kit adding to the list too

[BunkMoreland]

lancslad58 said:

Well if you want to try and prove a point with a link to a channel whose sole purpose appears to be to slag things off then that's fine by me

Do you work for road.cc?

PNS (yes the e and i are missing) is a stupid brand but if you believe road.cc you'd think they were the best out there. As they said £190 for a long sleeve and it doesn't fit well and isn't good thermally. Thats not a 7/10 score!

I've listened to a few of the Cade Media podcasts recently. Not hearing much I disagree with. Maybe its not them that's the problem...

[missing the VR6]

My perspective with MTB kit is spend money on the shorts as they’re tougher than shorts from Nike/Adidas etc, any wicking top as they’re all made of the same stuff, so why pay for overpriced MTB kit that will tear the same if/when you crash.

Spend money on protection if desired, wouldn’t ride without knee pads myself. 510 shoes are well worth it if riding flat pedals, usually deals on last seasons colours to save some money.

I’m fussy about gloves, so tend to stick with what’s comfortable regardless of cost.

[Steve_H80]

Clad-Hach said:

Thanks...but things like this will have to wait till I've lost weight, I am not shelling out for any clothes till then.

Why a cycling shoe do the have hardened soles etc.

Yes, they will have harder soles than a regular set of trainers. I've got a pair of Adidas Five Tens, not too expensive and fine for general riding about (about £60 I think).

Your right in not spending much to start with. It all depends how much discomfort you're willing to put up with, go for a few rides wearing your regular clothes and see what hurts.