Which Cycling Gear Is Essential?

When a person takes up cycling as a sport or activity, they will need at least some cycling gear to keep them safe and comfortable during the ride. There are a number of brands that focus just on cycling gear for both professionals and beginners. What you'll find is that the gear available is either suited for mountain biking, road cycling races, or just casual riding. Once you know what purpose you will have for the gear, then you can begin finding what you need.

So aside from the fact that you need a bike, what is some other gear that a beginner should purchase?

All cyclists need biking shorts, plain and simple. Biking shorts can either make the ride comfortable or miserable for the rider. Until recently, they only were only available in tight, spandex material that is rather revealing for both men and women. These biking shorts have panels in them so that they fit the person's body very precisely, but also have padding so that the person's buttocks do not get as tired when riding.

Some may be under the impression that wearing biking shorts underneath a normal pair of shorts would be fine. The problem however is that baggy shorts eventually begin to ride up. The pinching will cause discomfort, despite having a pair of padded shorts on underneath. For those who don't want a tight fitting short, manufacturers have created baggy shorts that have a built-in girdle to provide enough support. It's similar to wearing a pair of underwear with padding typically seen with conventional biking shorts.

A helmet is another essential, though some might tell you that it isn't. Accidents do happen, no matter how cautious you might be. And if they do occur without you wearing a helmet, then you could get severely injured. Some areas do have laws that require cyclists to wear one. When you buy one, make sure that it fits well.

You will find that sunglasses are all but a necessity to shield and protect your eyes from the sun and debris that might come up from your tires.

To stay hydrated, have one or two water bottles on hand. We tend to only drink when thirsty, but it's important to take a drink every 15 minutes when your thirsty or not to avoid dehydration. Being dehydrated during your ride is going to hurt your performance.

I would also recommend getting a pair of gloves. It will help you get a better grip when your palms are sweaty, plus it adds protection in case of a fall.