Thinking of starting a healthy and good hobby? You might be referring to biking, aren’t you?
Biking is a great activity and exercise. At the same as you will enjoy the ride and will sweat a lot. It can be done alone, with friends or with your family.
But before you finally decide to go biking, you must know some of the must-haves, so you will be set up before you pedal to your first destination.
Cycling Must-Haves to Prepare
1. Bicycle that Fits You
Biking is only biking with the bicycle itself. However, it is more than knowing that you need a bike. You should also know what kind of bike you will need. When choosing a bike, consider the reach and seat height as this is important to pedal and manoeuvre the bike. Probably you are an experienced biker, but when doing it as a hobby this time, you would have long rides, and you would not want to be uncomfortable riding your bicycle just because it is too big for you.
Also, to know if you have a bike that fits you, you must consider the saddle. A saddle plays a significant role in making you endure a long ride. A cushioning saddle that is wide and curved with padding is one of the most commonly used saddles because of its comfort.
2. Helmet
This is important for any two-wheel vehicle, like a bicycle, because your balance might easily get lost. You do not know when accidents will happen, and you do not want to risk your head as this is the most vulnerable part that can kill us if severely damaged, so buy the necessary helmet.
3. Right Clothing
With all the long rides and hours of pedalling, cyclers sweat a lot, so clothes that help manage sweat are essential. Also, Cycler's clothing is more comfortable to wear than regular ones as they do not have excess fabric, and the fitting is just suitable with no spaces left for air irritants to get in your body parts. Especially for men, it keeps their most important body parts in place.
4. Other biking Gear and Kits
Aside from the most important ones mentioned above, other overlooked biking must-haves shout for your attention as they might be helpful in specific situations.
Gloves- Sure, you wouldn’t mind wearing gloves or not, but to tell you, it’s important too.
Imagine having your grips to the bike handles while manoeuvring it for hours; your hands might get calluses. Also, You are sweating, so there’s a tendency for your hands accidentally slips when holding the handles, so gloves will ensure that even though your hands are wet, they will still be able to bike for hours with no hassle.
- Cycling Glasses - Most of the time, bikers pedal in the morning when the sun is up and too bright. Thus, any biker might be distracted by the sun. To keep pedalling despite getting directly hit on the face by sunlight, glasses specially designed for biking are a must.
- Bike Pump - Let’s say you are biking with people you just met, and you are in the middle of a road where no gas station can help you put some air into your deflated tires. No! That is a nightmare. Thus, better be prepared ahead of time. Make sure that you have with you a bike pump that not just saves your tires but also saves time.
- Stand for Bike - When you need to pump some air into your bike’s tire, it’s a hassle when you lay your bike to put its tires back to life, and when you need to check if they have enough air already, you will have to make it stand on its own. Oh! Gravity must pull it down!
- Thus, buy a bike stand for DIY repair and air pumping.
- Water Bottle - Sweating too much might dehydrate anyone, and when dehydrated, you can’t pedal anymore unless you are in a competition. Thus, to satisfy one’s thirst, bring with you a water bottle.
- Cage for Water Bottle - you cannot hold a bottle of water while riding a bicycle, right?
Unless you have at least 3 hands, you need something to hold the bottle, A bottle cage attached to your bike.
5. Biking Buddies
Like any other hobby, biking alone is already fun, but it will be more exciting when doing it with friends or even with people you don’t know who are also into cycling. You may join a group of cyclers near your area, so you can ride with them. Also, they have regular schedules, usually on weekends, so you wouldn’t need to plan biking yourself. Lastly, joining a group will surely earn you new friends and buddies.
Final Words
Doing something fun that benefits your health is hitting two birds with one stone. You get to release stress, enjoy and get fit. However, to finally start this hobby, prepare first the must-haves mentioned above, and you are good to go. Good luck on your first ride.
