What To Do

Categories

Social Bookmarks

Feeds

Cycling Gear: Beginner Equipment

Bottom of Page

1 to 6 of 6

  1.  
  1.  
    butterflygirl

    I'm just starting an interest in cycling.  I really don't know where to get started.  I haven't riden a bicycle since I got my drivers license many many years ago.  I can already tell things are much different.  I feel stupid asking such basic questions, but I don't even know what kind of bike I need, or clothes, or equipment for my bike.  I have a mountain type of bike because that's pretty much all I can find. When I see other cyclists, they have what looks like a 10 speed bike but i know they don't make those anymore. 

    Can anyone point me in the right direction? Right now I'm just looking into the fitness aspect but if I really enjoy it, I might like to get into racing.  I haven't decided yet.

  2.  
    davecundiff
    Specialized brand as far as bikes are concerned have a very good selection of a number of different styles.  I personally like their HardRock model, but that is for mountain biking as well.  They have any type of bike you could want, and some fairly decent prices.  As for clothes I would recommend just wearing comfortable workout clothes to start with.  Nothing too loose you don't want a pant leg getting caught in the chain, but if you aren't racing there really isn't the need for the super aerodynamic gear either.  I would recommend a good comfortable saddle and good gel gloves starting out as well.  The saddle will allow you to ride long and slowly build up the ability to sit on a bike seat for that long.  Just starting out you want it all to be about comfort, you want to enjoy what you are doing so that way you'll stick with it for the long haul.  Happy riding.
  3.  
    BlueAndGold57

    The best place to start is to decide how you want to ride. If you will be riding on trails and paths, you would be better off with a mountain bike. If you plan to ride mostly on pavement, you'll be much happier with a road bike; those are the ones that look like the old 10 speeds with the drop handlebars. There is also a hybrid combination of the mountain bike and the road bike, known in various circles as flat-bar road bikes or fitness bikes. Basically, it gives you the stability of a mountain bike's upright riding position with the gearing and wheelset of a road bike.

     I've been riding a mountain bike mostly on the road for about a year and a half, and just this past weekend got my road bike. On my first ride, my speed increased about 3 miles an hour, just because I was on the right ride. Decide how you will be riding and test ride several different brands and styles. You will find that the bike will tell you it's the one you want.

     Good Luck

  4.  
    ziggyrottie
    BlueAndGold57, did you have to change the tires on your MTB to ride on the streets? I have a MTB but I want to do a tri with it do I have to change the tire type to a slicker one? My bike is not that old and I don't have the money for a new one. Also I was looking at trainers and was wondering do they have one just for MTB? I am looking at what I need to do to fix this problem I am having between making my MTB a tri bike! Thank you for your help
  5.  
    jljohnson922

    ziggyrottie,

    Depending on what type of tri you're interested in and how competitive you want to be, you may or may not need to modify your bike. If you're doing a sprint tri (shortest distance) just to get a feel for the sport (i.e. not really racing), go ahead and try it on your bike as is. If you're doing a longer distance and/or want to be faster/more competitive, swap out your tires for a narrower, smoother set. This will make you faster, but if you find you really like doing triathlons, a road bike will make you even faster and more comfortable, leading to more enjoyment (and hopefully success).

    That said, I've seen many people even on hard century rides trucking along on a true mountain bike, and they seem to be perfectly content. So do what fits you (and your budget), and have a great time doing it. Good luck!

  6.  
    x894565256

    IMHO Trek has a really great hybrid (the 7 series) that is great for keeping up with people on the nicer road bikes.  It has little 23 cc tires (fairly standard on road bikes) and a lightweight aluminum frame, but a more comfortable upright position.  They start just under $500 and run up to around $1300.  Two nice things about Trek for beginners are that they have a fairly high resale value and they come with a lifetime warranty.  If you aren't sure whether the bike is right for you having a great resale value is key.  And when it turns out to be the right one you want it to last forever.  If you find yourself thinking you might want to race, I'd reccomend that you go straight to the top, and buy the nicest bike you think you would get.  You'll spend more money in the long run if you end up buying several bikes along the way to getting the best bike you can.  And again, if you desire an upgrade, go Trek.  The Madone series is so sweet.

    Hope I helped

    JR

1 to 6 of 6

  1.