So got road bike- what other kit???
Discussion
After quite a long time deliberating, picked up my 2014 Cube Peloton Pro from LBS at weekend, having done all my biking on a Cube hardtail for last few years.
Weather was pretty rubbish- so only managed one 12 mile ride- but initial impressions really positive- fast, more comfortable than expected & virtually double the mileage for the same amount of effort vs MTB on road- so all good!
Biggest change is using clip-ons, certainly takes some getting used to, but makes total sense in terms of efficiency.
Went out wearing baggy MTB shorts, a couple of t shirts and a fleece on top. Stopped off en-route to show my new bike to a friend and he very politely commented that I looked rather 'special' in my gear with shoes...
So- before splashing out- what do I really need? Are there real benefits to wearing lycra? Bib shorts or normal? Lycra on top? Best value brands? Ones to avoid? Recommendations on where to buy?
I am not so into it that I need to be colour co-ordinated with the3 bike just yet!
Any pointers much appreciated.
Cheers
Weather was pretty rubbish- so only managed one 12 mile ride- but initial impressions really positive- fast, more comfortable than expected & virtually double the mileage for the same amount of effort vs MTB on road- so all good!
Biggest change is using clip-ons, certainly takes some getting used to, but makes total sense in terms of efficiency.
Went out wearing baggy MTB shorts, a couple of t shirts and a fleece on top. Stopped off en-route to show my new bike to a friend and he very politely commented that I looked rather 'special' in my gear with shoes...
So- before splashing out- what do I really need? Are there real benefits to wearing lycra? Bib shorts or normal? Lycra on top? Best value brands? Ones to avoid? Recommendations on where to buy?
I am not so into it that I need to be colour co-ordinated with the3 bike just yet!
Any pointers much appreciated.
Cheers
Bib shorts are the most comfortable for road riding. DHB (from Wiggle) are excellent value for money. No need to spend more...at least until you want something flashier such as Castelli, Assos or Rapha.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-pro-cycling-bib-...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-pro-cycling-bib-...
nammynake said:
Bib shorts are the most comfortable for road riding. DHB (from Wiggle) are excellent value for money. No need to spend more...at least until you want something flashier such as Castelli, Assos or Rapha.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-pro-cycling-bib-...
What he saidhttp://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-pro-cycling-bib-...
As someone who for a long time just rode in Ron Hill Tracksters, or running shorts, and then went through the early Lycra phase buying the very cheapest padded shorts possible, I'd say "don't do it!"
Go out and buy a half decent pair of bib shorts straight from the off. Your tender bits and following traffic (think builders' bum
) will thank you for it.
No pair of Tesco/Sports Direct/Aldi/Lidl 'El Cheapo' shorts ever cut it, really. Oh, I persevered, don't get me wrong, and I've ridden up to a couple of 100 milers in that sort of kit, but boy, would I have enjoyed that time on the bike so much more wearing properly fitting, quality bib shorts!
Essential kit? Helmet choice is yours to make, but I wear one all the time. Whilst I would consider not wearing a helmet, I'd never go riding without glasses (eye protection - you only get the one pair) and gloves or mitts to protect your palms in the event of an 'off'. Clothing-wise I'd recommend some 'base layer' tops (Nike Pro Combat are the ones I use) and a short sleeved Lycra top as a minimum. Then add a packable water/wind-proof lightweight jacket for colder/windier rides and you don't need too much more. Again, though, I made the mistake of buying cheap, and regretting it later. If you can afford to spend the cash, get good quality stuff from the start. I'm nowhere close to splurging on Rapha etc, but I like to be comfortable on the bike, and a little extra spent buys you better fabrics and a better cut, more suited to the job in hand.
Ultimately, you can ride a Pinarello in oilskin trousers and a donkey jacket if you want to, don't be pressed into going full-on Lycra warrior if it's not what you want to do. If you do decide to go the 'cheapest' route, Aldi and Lidl regulary do cycling kit in their 'weekly specials' and it's almost cheap enough to be disposable. It isn't the best, but it's way better than a lot of similarly priced garbage, and for the price you do get a lot of value-for-money.
Go out and buy a half decent pair of bib shorts straight from the off. Your tender bits and following traffic (think builders' bum
) will thank you for it. No pair of Tesco/Sports Direct/Aldi/Lidl 'El Cheapo' shorts ever cut it, really. Oh, I persevered, don't get me wrong, and I've ridden up to a couple of 100 milers in that sort of kit, but boy, would I have enjoyed that time on the bike so much more wearing properly fitting, quality bib shorts!
Essential kit? Helmet choice is yours to make, but I wear one all the time. Whilst I would consider not wearing a helmet, I'd never go riding without glasses (eye protection - you only get the one pair) and gloves or mitts to protect your palms in the event of an 'off'. Clothing-wise I'd recommend some 'base layer' tops (Nike Pro Combat are the ones I use) and a short sleeved Lycra top as a minimum. Then add a packable water/wind-proof lightweight jacket for colder/windier rides and you don't need too much more. Again, though, I made the mistake of buying cheap, and regretting it later. If you can afford to spend the cash, get good quality stuff from the start. I'm nowhere close to splurging on Rapha etc, but I like to be comfortable on the bike, and a little extra spent buys you better fabrics and a better cut, more suited to the job in hand.
Ultimately, you can ride a Pinarello in oilskin trousers and a donkey jacket if you want to, don't be pressed into going full-on Lycra warrior if it's not what you want to do. If you do decide to go the 'cheapest' route, Aldi and Lidl regulary do cycling kit in their 'weekly specials' and it's almost cheap enough to be disposable. It isn't the best, but it's way better than a lot of similarly priced garbage, and for the price you do get a lot of value-for-money.
^Yeah that, and...
There's now one thing I can't seem to ride anywhere without, on road or off, a cotton cap under the helmet. Bought a few from Planet X for a couple quid each, chuck in the wash once a week or so. Wicks sweat and a sunshade in the summer, keeps yer bonce warm in the winter (when it's not cold enough for a skull cap)
There's now one thing I can't seem to ride anywhere without, on road or off, a cotton cap under the helmet. Bought a few from Planet X for a couple quid each, chuck in the wash once a week or so. Wicks sweat and a sunshade in the summer, keeps yer bonce warm in the winter (when it's not cold enough for a skull cap)
Can't add to what's been said about bibs - a good pair (which needn't necessarily mean expensive), are the first bit of 'proper' bike kit I'd get. In terms of the top half, there was a thread recently on base layers which will be worth looking at, and if you want you can get, *ahem*, 'tributes' to pro team jerseys very, very cheaply from certain Chinese websites. I've got a few from a site called monton cycling (or something like that) for about a tenner each. They take a while to arrive but it's free delivery, there's a massive choice and the quality ain't half bad.
ks.Bib shorts
Jersey
gloves
bottle cages
bottles
spare tubes
pump
tyre levers
saddle bag
helmet
Maybe lights.
That should be enough to get you started. I'd recommend buying every one of those items from Wiggle. Might be enough to get you up to a Platinum member with full discount. Wiggle's own DHB brand is pretty good. I have loads of DHB kit and it works really well
Jersey
gloves
bottle cages
bottles
spare tubes
pump
tyre levers
saddle bag
helmet
Maybe lights.
That should be enough to get you started. I'd recommend buying every one of those items from Wiggle. Might be enough to get you up to a Platinum member with full discount. Wiggle's own DHB brand is pretty good. I have loads of DHB kit and it works really well
I have a cheap pair of padded shorts (£7 or something), they were better than nothing, but today I rode for the first tie in bib shorts and they were so much better. I shove a pair of cheap shorts over the top to save the public from seeing a 18 stone bloke in lycra.
The shorts only cost me £15 in the same (Belkin after seeing a thread on here with a sale).
The shorts only cost me £15 in the same (Belkin after seeing a thread on here with a sale).
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff