I mentioned earlier that there are 3 categories of bike gear:
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Must Have
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A Good Idea
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Would Be Nice
We covered the Must Have list; now it’s on to the other 2 categories.
A Good Idea:
#1 Along with your cycling shorts, it’s a good idea to have a couple cycling jerseys.
#2 While you’re at it, you going to want a bike computer, which monitors things like how fast and how far you are biking. They range from $20 – $100, depending on what you want it to do. I would suggest you get a wireless bike computer. A more expensive version might have a heart-rate monitor function.
#3 Unless you have a pick-up truck or van, you’re going to need a bike rack to transport your bike. You may also need a bike chain and bike lock for times when you do a bike-run training session away from home.
#4 You will need a couple water bottles to put on your bike. I suggest you also use Cytomax on rides longer than 90 minutes.
#5 Adding aero bars to your road bike is also a good idea.
Here are some tips when making your decision to use aero bars.
#6 Reflective wear and bike lights are also a good idea as longer bike rides are likely to sometimes stretch out into late afternoon and evening hours.
Would Be Nice:
#1 Most people store their bike in the garage. Get yourself a couple S-hooks, and hang your bike from the ceiling in your garage. This is a good way to do it in order to prevent it from being knocked over by your 7-year-old daughter, run over by your car, or clipped by the lawn mover.
Here’s how to hang bikes from the ceiling. Remember, I said your garage ceiling, not the tree in your front yard.
#2 Many serious cyclists have indoor trainers. It’s great to have in cases of inclement weather, and to build cycling skills.
#3 A lot of your bike training is going to be out on the roads, and many cyclists like having a mirror to see what’s going on behind them. Speaking of riding on the roads, I encourage you to review these cycling safety tips.
Okay, I’m going through withdrawal with all this talk about bike gear. Just get a bike and start riding the frickin’ thing!
Here’s the deal… you can have the best gear money can buy, but it’s going to eventually come down to this: How bad do you want it?
I’m over 40 years old, but I don’t give up easily. It wasn’t too long ago that I was exploring the idea of doing my first triathlon. If I can do it, you can too! I'm proof that with a little determination and training, you can get a great deal of fulfillment participating in marathons, triathlons… even ultramarathons.
