Accessories

To complete your purchase.
So you've bought your shiny new bike. Does that mean you're ready to ride? Well, not quite yet. There's some essentials you need to purchase to make the ride really rewarding.

Helmet:
There's no more valuable piece of equipment than a properly sized and adjusted helmet. Yet probably all bike shop employees have had people who just bought a bike say, "Oh, I'll get a helmet later." To which sharper shop employees may ask, "So when did you plan on having your first head-slamming crash?" No one ever plans to crash, but the fact is, you will and they will save your life, or keep you from serious injury.
It's important to note that once a helmet has taken a heavy impact, it has served its purpose and should be replaced; it may not hold together or provide adequate protection next time. Most helmet manufacturers offer crash replacement policies for �15-�20. Since you can't warranty your head, you better take advantage of it.

Gloves:
Many consider gloves to be a comfort item, and to some degree they're right, a nice pair of padded gloves make riding much easier on the hands, as well as absorbing moisture for better control. But their real value is in protecting the palms in a crash. For mountain biking, there are full coverage gloves that protect the fingers from branches and nettles.

Water bottle and cage/water carrier:
Another purchase not to put off for later. Riding is exercise and exercise requires rehydration. Even a half-hour spin can be too long without water. Those first few rides for someone not used to exercise can be strenuous and uncomfortable enough without having to go thirsty.

Bike shorts:
Ever ridden in jeans? On anything but a short ride that thick denim seam is sure to cause problems "down under." Nearly the same can be said of gym shorts, or jogging pants. No, we don't wear bike shorts just to look funny. Nothing can take the place of real bike shorts with the padded liner sewn into the seat and crotch. Bike shorts are meant to be snug to prevent chafing and are worn by themselves with no underwear. Wearing undies will only cause the very problem that bike shorts are designed to prevent: bunched-up fabric that can cause irritation and restriction of movement. For those who feel self-conscious about appearing in public in figure-revealing Lycra, there are a number of looser fitting shorts available. Most look like regular casual shorts but still have that ever important built-in liner.

REPAIR AND FIRST-AID EQUIPMENT
To carry all your gear, there are a number of seat-mounted bags, "fanny packs" (pack belts), and even small backpacks that have compartments and tie-downs for all your equipment. Some even do double duty as water bladder carriers.

Frame-mounted pump:
One of the most essential items to carry. Most can be easily changed to work on either presta or schrader valves by unscrewing the end and flipping the plastic fitting inside. Try it first at home to be sure you know how to use it. Don't count on CO2 cartridges � they're great for races where the main advantage is speed. But most riders will only carry a cartridge or two. What will you do on your third flat? It happens.

Survival kit:
You wouldn't drive your car on a desolate dirt road without a spare tire and jack. Why would you ride your bike miles from the nearest assistance any less prepared? Flats are a fact of life. You are going to get flats. You may as well accept it now and learn to fix them and deal with them. There will be other breakdowns, too. But flats are the most prevalent. There is no bike equivalent of the Auto Club, so self sufficiency is the key. Your survival kit should consist of the following items:

At least one inner tube: Don't count on only a patch kit. Tubes are often ruined beyond repair.

Patch kit: A back up to spare tubes. Check the glue occasionally, since once the tube is opened the glue tends to dry out quickly.

Tire levers: For removing the tire's bead from the rim to get at the offending leaky tube inside and for reinstalling the tire after putting in a new tube or patching the old one. Using a screwdriver is only asking for yet another perforated tube.

Multi-tool: It has the three most commonly needed Allen keys; a 4mm a 5mm and a 6mm, a Phillips (cross head) screwdriver, a chain tool, an adjustable wrench with narrow jaws that will work on pedals, a spoke wrench and a socket for crank bolts. There are other lighter models of multi-purpose tools like Giro's Pocketshop and Ritchey's CPRs. But the original Cool Tool still has the most functions and is the easiest to use.

First-aid kit: It doesn't need to be anything extensive. A few bandages, some aspirin, a few disinfectant towelettes, and a pair of tweezers can be a big help.

A few punds in change and at least one 20p coin:: You never know what can happen on a ride. Money to get a bite to eat, buy a tube or bike part sure is handy. The 20? You may someday need it for a phone call. "But I'll reverse charges," you say. That's fine, but what if the party on the other end (a business, for example) won't accept?

Duct tape: Wrap a long section around one of your tire levers. Its uses are limited only by your own ingenuity. We've seen it used to keep broken spokes out of the cogs and to boot a cut tire sidewall

Razor blade: Use it to cut up a T-shirt to make an emergency bandage, cut debris from your derailleur or spokes. You never know how many uses you might find for it.

Chain links and/or Shimano pins: When it comes to fixing a broken chain on the trail, there's nothing that can replace a link. Yes, you can simply remove the damaged links from the chain, but with a shortened chain you run the risk of damaging your derailluer or frame should you inadvertently shift to the combination of big chainring and big rear cog. It's better to take out the offending links and replace them with the same number of fresh links. Those using Shimano equipped drivetrains should also carry some of Shimano's special link pins. While it's sometimes possible to repair a chain with the pushed out pin, it's not something that can be counted on.

The Basics
Plan on taking these essential items with you
A helmet.
Extra clothing, such as a windbreaker. You never know when the weather might turn bad, especially if you're riding in the mountains.
Sunglasses. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun, but from insects, debris and other flying objects.
Extra food. Take more than you think you'll need; you never know when you may get lost or when a ride may take longer than you anticipated.
Extra water. For the same reasons you need extra food.
Pump and patch kit or spare tube. Count on needing them.
Basic tools. A multi-tool with standard sized Allen wrenches, box or open-end wrenches, spoke wrench, chain tool, flat blade screwdriver and Phillips head screwdriver will take care of most problems. Know how to use them!
Map. If you're riding in unfamiliar territory, a map is a must. Even if you're riding a familiar route, a map can be handy if you run into road closures or other problems.
First-aid kit. The farther from civilization you ride, especially if you're mountain biking, the more self-sufficient you need to be.
Some kind of identification. It's a good idea to carry a Xerox copy of your driver's license and medical insurance card along with a few dollars, as well as any allergies or other medical conditions you may have. Also, have your blood type written down on the information.

PERSONAL TOUCH
Did you bring water and snacks? You need to keep hydrated during your rides to replace the fluids you sweat out. Consider that a law of the saddle.
In the snack department, you want to bring something that is high in carbohydrate, such as any one of the several sports bars that are available today. There are also sports gels and drinks that can be consumed quickly and easily, and which digest quickly. If you have a low tolerance for high fructose corn syrup or other added sweeteners, you may want to take along dried fruits, such as apricots, as they are high in potassium.

Do you need to bring a bike lock? Will you be stopping somewhere that you'll need a lock? Do you want to avoid taking turns doing guard shifts at a store or restaurant? The lock's the answer.
Did you bring all your riding gear? At the risk of sounding dumb, we have to admit we've gone on more than a few rides where we've loaded up the car, driven to a meeting place and discovered that we've forgotten helmets, gloves or riding shorts.
As one suggestion to help eliminate forgotten items, we offer this: between rides one rider we know attaches his gloves (via the wrist strap Velcro) to his helmet strap, and also loops his headband through the same straps. It then becomes one thing to remember instead of three.
Are you bringing additional clothes? An extra windbreaker, or maybe tights, are always nice to have along with you. Driving somewhere and discovering that the temperature is much warmer or colder is never really fun, but if you're unprepared, it can be miserable.

POST-RIDE
Is your bike wet or muddy? After a particularly wet or muddy ride, it's always a good idea to give it a quick cleaning while it's still wet. Another quick spray of lube on the chain and derailleurs should displace most of the water and prevent any rust from forming. Giving the rest of the bike a quick wipe down with a soft cloth should keep things looking good.
If your bike is particularly muddy, it's always much easier to clean before the mud hardens. If the muck is thick enough that you have to use the garden hose, try to avoid spraying directly into any areas with ball bearings, such as the headset, hubs, bottom bracket, and pedals.
Pre-ride reminders for next time. If there was an annoying mechanical problem during your last ride, write yourself a note to fix it before your next trip out. Or if you used your spare innertube, write a note to remind yourself to buy a new one. It's not uncommon to find Post-It notes on the seats or handlebars of our bikes.