5 essentials for new cyclists

[Reynard]

Are you saying that you don't use a Sexton and a compass??

Actually, I *do* keep a compass in my bar bag. Not a sextant though, that's a fairly hefty piece of kit.

Local(ish) navigation isn't too much of an issue - as long as I can see Ely Cathedral on the horizon, I can find my way home.

 

[mudsticks]

Flapjacks and crisps if I'm going further afield.

I do all my navigation using a good old paper map. Don't need batteries for that!

Oh yes good snacks always - for the win.

Likewise with paper maps if I'm going further than say 20 miles from my well known home patch.

Are you saying that you don't use a Sexton and a compass??

On longer trips I take a compass too its very handy for navigating out of cities, the road signs can try to get you onto motorways.

And I might stop off and do a bit of hillwalking along the way, so a compass is handy for that too.

 

[Tripster]

There is a whole section on this forum dedicated to the helmet debate, so I don't intend to get involved here - but this is scaremongering nonsense. If you have an accident so serious as to cause this, then you are dangerously deluded if you think a cycle helmet is going to save you.

Its one of those ongoing arguments isn't it. I don't like cycle helmets and my dad refused to ever wear one, saying he would stop cycling before doing so. I never wore one as a kid growing up line everyone else and have no serious head injuries. My wife on the other hand (not a childhood cyclist) insists on son wearing one (10 year old) and his school make it mandatory if wanting to cycle into school or scoot. The local skate park has rules on wearing helmets too so it looks really hypocritical and bad if I don't wear one. Even the MTB trail centres advise on using one. Against all my feelings I had to purchase one for the road to keep wife happy and son...... younger generation see helmets as the norm but older don't.
Essential kit, definitely not but then again I look a knob in a cycle cap too.... no win situation for me.
I do think that the beauty of cycling is once you have the gear you personally want or feel you need then its a cheap pastime. Some have minimalist and some buy a full on new bike with complimentary bikepacking kit and frame bags. Pack up and set off ! Its what they want for the cycling they wish to do. Quality stuff lasts years and years as you see time and again on here where people have bikes and kit from donkeys years ago still going strong. Wether you wear lycra or pants, a helmet or cap, spd or trainers, if its quality it will last years and make cycling cheap and enjoyable.
Never tried gels or stuff, hate energy drinks, prefer a museli bar, cake and a good brew !!!

 

[biggs682]

I cycled about 5,000 miles last year without helmet, specific cycling shoes, without padded shorts, without GPS, video camera or electrolyte tablets.

I wish people would stop saying you need these things as it makes cycling appear complicated, expensive and dangerous to potential newcomers.

Well said but i do use a helmet and cycling shoes

 

[Dogtrousers]

Gels ... Not completely useless.

Some years ago. About 150 miles into a 200 mile ride I had a bit of a crisis. I think it may have been a sugar crash. I couldn't think straight at all and my legs had gone. I needed to re-navigate around a closed road and I was having difficulty working my phone. I stopped drank the remains of both bottles and ate everything I had left, which was just half a packet of peanuts and a gel that I'd picked up at some event or other and was knocking around in my rack bag.

The gel, plus 20 minutes rest and a motivational chat with the ducks on the pond at Four Elms got me back on the road and the rest of the ride was a breeze. I now take a gel on any significantly long ride just in case. Yes it is vile gloop. But it did come in handy that time.

On the other hand I have funny story of a friend who basically lost his mind during an ironman and ate far too many gels. The result was he spent a lot of time in the bushes during the run. Run being the operative word. He did finish though.

 

[Vantage]

Read the artical. Absolute bollicks.

 

[Profpointy]

Very silly article. Whilst I do usually wear gloves, other than summer, as I hate cold hands, to see them as essential in case you fall off makes me think learning to ride safely might be a higher priority ! Eye-protection? OK you could get an insect in the eye, and admittedly I have, but I've never bothered with eye protection cycling. Special shorts and jackets - well OK they're slightly nicer and more practical than everyday clothes but hardly essential. Admittedly I'm a convert to special cycling shoes and clip in pedals, but again ... not essential. The helmet point obviously doesn't need yet another discussion. "cycling socks" is just silly surely?

 

[fossyant]

Eye protection - essential in my case as I can't see without them (RX inserts) !

I've even got a pair of Spesh 'trainers' with SPD cleats as all my bikes are SPD or Look. They are great for pottering about with the family, without having to balance a normal shoe on an SPD.

 

[matticus]

and I was having difficulty working my phone. I stopped drank the remains of both bottles and ate everything I had left, which was just half a packet of peanuts and a gel that I'd picked up at some event or other and was knocking around in my rack bag.

The gel, plus 20 minutes rest and a motivational chat with the ducks on the pond at Four Elms got me back on the road and the rest of the ride was a breeze.

If the gel and the ducks had such a great effect, makes me wonder why you bothered carrying the peanuts around.

(I'm pretty sure that any food would have sorted you out in that situation. You don't need gels, or magic elven bread, etc ... )

 

[annedonnelly]

Gloves, helmet & shoes that won't slip off.
Whatever clothes I happen to be wearing - unless I'm going a long way.

 

[MontyVeda]

Apart from the bike, I need a small selection of tools to facilitate a puncture repair and a pump... if I don't have that with me, I know I'll get a puncture.

 

[fossyant]

For the MTB's I've got two 'camelbaks' - one for each bike. Old MTB has the smaller pack (decathlon) with waterproof, pump, CO2, 2 x 26" tubes, multi tool and a gel and a cereal bar. I just sling it on an off.

Newer MTB, same kit, except 27.5" tubes and a spare set of disc pads (depending upon weather - I've twice eaten through a set of rear pads in a ride). That rucksack takes a better 'bladder' (genuine camelbak). Occasionally I'll have a cafe lock in it too.

Road bike, I'll actually take one of the camelbaks as it saves re-packing, I just swap out the tubes. It's also a bit of a 'security feeling' for me having padding on my back (having badly broken my spine on a road bike 5 years ago) - I just feel more comfortable with something there, in case I fall on it (as I'm missing a chunk of bone).

I've got a couple of big boxes of gels - bought at a silly price. Handy just having them there in the rucksacks, just in case !

 

[MichaelW2]

Yes a dear freind of mine was horribly incapacitated like this for weeks from going over the handlebars, into the road, downhill ..

Although her poor face took much of the brunt, her hands were pretty mashed up too

She had no gloves on - they might have helped a bit.

As someone who needs her body to be in good working order for both her professions, and being uninsurable (maybe?) for loss of earnings, I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to protective gear worn when cycling ..

I have never been able to replicate a "going ovet the handlebars" crash. All of mine have been sliding sideways or vehicle ind

Actually, I *do* keep a compass in my bar bag. Not a sextant though, that's a fairly hefty piece of kit.

Local(ish) navigation isn't too much of an issue - as long as I can see Ely Cathedral on the horizon, I can find my way home.

You can get a sextant app for android phones which enables you to determine latitude using nothing more than your mobile phone. It doesnt give you Longitude but your mobile phone has a fairly accurate chronometer. As long as you have your mobile phone handy and can see the sun or stars, you need never be lost.

 

[Drago]

Did anyone mention EPO?

Indeed. Jeff Lynne is a keen cyclist.

 

[matticus]

I've got a couple of big boxes of gels - bought at a silly price. Handy just having them there in the rucksacks, just in case !

I used to think that (and I acquire the bloody things for free, semi-regulalry).

But then one exploded in my rack-pack.