Outfitting myself for my new road bike - help with my list, please!

Hi! Using the search function on these forums has been a great help in steering me toward a Specialized Ruby Compact Sport (which I still need to test ride, so that's not solid yet). Last year I bought a Specialized Crossroads hybrid which was great for putting along the bike trail and stopping to sniff the flowers. Toward the end of the summer, I found myself going on 20+ mile rides and loving it - except for pushing that heavy bike not designed for such rides.

So, my style is not about speed, it's more about spending my time and energy efficiently. I plan on going on a 20-40 mile ride about once a week on a paved bike trail that is relatively flat. I have no interest in racing.

I'm trying to figure out my costs on everything, so I'm looking for some advice as to what I should be looking for beyond the bike itself. Here is what I have so far:

Helmet - I notice a huge range in prices, what should I be looking for?
Bike shorts - I'd love a bike short/skirt, but non-sore butt is more important.
Water bottle holder
tools - I have an allen wrench set - what else do I need?
spare tubes
bag for my tools/spare tubes

Am I missing anything?
I'd love suggestions for the helmet and bike shorts.

Thanks so much! I'm so excited about getting a new bike!! I bet it will feel like I'm flying on the trail after pedaling my current heavy bike!

Unfortunately, the two things you are specifically asking about... helmet and shorts... are two of the most individual-specific items to buy. With the helmet, you need to try different brands because they all have a little bit different shapes and your head will most likely feel best in a certain brand. For example, my head shape fits Giro best... now within that brand I have a lot of options. Every helmet is required to meet a standard. The pricier models do not protect your head any better. What they do is give better ventilation. So, once you've found the brand that fits your head best, then you can determine how much money you want to spend to keep your head cool. :)

Shorts, again... very specific. Some brands fit one body-type better than others. You need to try them out. Unfortunately, that means you may spend some money finding the brand that is for you. I find that Louis Garneau and Assos shorts and bibs run a little more snug that other brands. Remember when trying them on to simulate riding to make sure the waistline is comfortable (lean over in them, etc.). Sore butt is included with the price of gaining time in the saddle. No matter what you wear, you'll be sore for a few weeks when first starting out. Nothing to do with saddle and everything to do with conditioning. Don't assume a pair of shorts is not good out of the gate - wear them in, use some chamois cream if necessary and then decide after a little bit.

For your tools, make sure they are metric - the hex/allen set you'll want at least 4mm - 8mm as the most common sizes. Remember that the Ruby is a carbon bike, so you don't want to make adjustments on anything that touches the frame without a special torque wrench. You can over-torque and break the frame.

Good luck with the new bike. I'm sure you'll feel like you are flying on a road bike. Though, don't make the novice mistake that one road bike will make you faster than another. Within just a small margin, once you are on a road bike, you'll be just as fast on one as you will be on another. Road bikes are not in and of themselves fast... YOU are fast. Find one that you feel most comfortable on, even if that is not the brand/model you want the most. Happy riding!!

You'll also want a frame pump, tire levers and the knowledge of how to change a tire in case of a flat.

Make sure you have room somewhere (in a bike bag if not your pockets) for ID/insurance card and some snacks, which you'll probably want on your longer rides.

Agree with Velo, NY Biker, and Murienn.

Helmets need to be tried on your head because different shape heads feel differently with a variety of helmets. Some people like having a visor to their helmet to block sun. Others say the visors block visibility, especially seeing traffic lights ahead. Most people like being able to have the ability to adjust the helmet tightness which most but not all helmets have.

I don't like bibs because I pee a lot and bibs are annoying. I like the brand Aerotechdesign better than my much more expensive Pearl Izumis.

As for the bottle holders, I like the ones that are shaped like wings. I hated the ones from Specialized which made it hard to pull the water bottles in and out. I like my Podium Ice bottles, but since they are slightly wider due to the insulation, you might want to check how they fit in the bottle holders in your bike. Also, I had to get the shorter/smaller size because I have a 48cm bike and the smaller ones barely fit on my bike.

As for the bike bag, I like the ones that can unzip to enlarge if you want to. I also recommend trying the bags on the bike because saddle bags hang slightly differently on every bike. I would also try stuffing whatever you want into the bike bag to decide which size to get. Some people are minimalists, where they just have one tire tube and a cannister of air and 1 tire lever. Other people want room to place extra energy bars, bike tools,Motrin, bandaids/abrasion neosporin sprays, tubes, air cannisters, maybe even squash in a thin pocket-sized rain jacket.

I would like to add to your list:

a frame pump and/or some compressed gas (CO2) cylinderettes and the mechanism to use them
a patch kit
an underseat bag large enough to carry two spare tubes a set of tire levers, you CO2 kit, you patch kit and a small pocket knife along with your tool kit Hex wrenches and assorted screw drivers,(cranbrothers does a nice small one about the size of a pack of cigarettes that has 6 hex wrenches in assorted size, 5 screwdrivers in assorted sizes and a chain break which I know how to use been have been lucky enough not to have had to.)

Regardinng all of the above bear in mind that I usually ride solo and rarely in a group plus I am usually away out in the country, beyond immediate help or rescue, so I have had to learn to be a self emergency mechanic. However even if you ride in a group, you should never be without spare tubes and inflation devices of some sort. That's just common sense and courtesy. You may not know how to do it all right away but at least you be equipped so that someone can help you.

Happy riding.



two bottle holders
two bottles with d\wide mouths so that you can get ice cubes in ( insulated or not your coice) I ride with one insulated and frozen in the summer so that it is at least thawed and coolish by the time I need it.)

This is fantastic, thank you! I'm making a list to take with me to the bike shop, so I remember what to keep in mind while I'm trying things on.

I'm tall and most likely looking at a 54 or 57 cm bike, so 2 bottle holders shouldn't be an issue. I did the same thing as Marni last year with one frozen and one just with ice cubes - worked out great. But, I had a basket that I could toss all this stuff into, so now I have to plan on how I'm going to attach all this stuff. :)

Thanks so much for all of your feedback and personal preferences, it really helps a lot to start to narrow down what will and won't work for me.

My main question on helmets (which has been addressed) was where to start? Why are some $60 and some $250? I'm not going to notice ventilation in the store (or shopping online), but knowing to keep an eye on that, or to ask questions about that, helps me choose. We have hot summers here (lots of days about or over 100°), and while I haven't found myself riding when it gets over 90°, I very much care about ventilation!

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Originally Posted by lor

This is fantastic, thank you! I'm making a list to take with me to the bike shop, so I remember what to keep in mind while I'm trying things on.

I'm tall and most likely looking at a 54 or 57 cm bike, so 2 bottle holders shouldn't be an issue. I did the same thing as Marni last year with one frozen and one just with ice cubes - worked out great. But, I had a basket that I could toss all this stuff into, so now I have to plan on how I'm going to attach all this stuff. :)

Thanks so much for all of your feedback and personal preferences, it really helps a lot to start to narrow down what will and won't work for me.

My main question on helmets (which has been addressed) was where to start? Why are some $60 and some $250? I'm not going to notice ventilation in the store (or shopping online), but knowing to keep an eye on that, or to ask questions about that, helps me choose. We have hot summers here (lots of days about or over 100°), and while I haven't found myself riding when it gets over 90°, I very much care about ventilation!

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Weight is a big one. As they get lighter (and larger vents), there's less polystyrene there, so in order for the helmet to keep its strength, they have to come up with more reinforcing materials, which adds to the cost. I'd go with one in the $80-$100 or so range, if budget allows. I have long thick hair and I need the ventilation. Try on several. Each company has its own mold and even between different helmet models within the same brand, there are differences. If you have an oblong head, stay away from Giro, possibly Bell too.

I haven't read the thread fully yet, so if my recommendations overlap, you'll know it's important.
-Underseat bag large enough to fit at the very least (my personal favorite are the Topeak bags that unzip to expand--I carry everything but the kitchen sink when I ride)
-2 tubes
-patch kit (for road tubes, get the kind that comes with a tube of glue)
-multi-tool of some kind that has a 3, 4, 5, 6 mm allen wrenches and a screwdriver (and learn how to use them!)
-tire levers
-CO2 inflator kit, preferably with 2 cartridges
-frame pump or a mini pump (yes, I carry both.)
-good bike shorts
-water bottle cage (x2)
-Jersey or wicking shirt
-sunglasses if you don't already have them
-insulated water bottles

Oh, and include enough money in your budget to get a new saddle. I always tell people to give the stock saddle a shot--go for some short rides a couple times a week, because it's probably firmer than what you're used to. Saddle-related pain: If it's just soreness (bruise-like) on your sit bones, keep at it for a bit and see if it improves. If it's soft tissue, get thee a new saddle.

Lights...if you're only going to be riding during daylight hours, you don't really need them, especially if you're doing path rides. (I don't use mine all that often.) I would put them on my "to get eventually" list, if I were you, because they give you a little more flexibility if you want to ride around dawn and dusk.

Good point about lights, as dawn is a possibility. A remote one, but summers are very hot around here, so early morning rides are the most desirable.

Many thanks to everyone who posted recommendations (and especially links!!). I've made myself a shopping list on Amazon.

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

Still bike shopping? How is it going? :D

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Thanks for asking! I am not-patiently awaiting my Ruby Sport compact to arrive at my LBS. they said it should be here late this week. I'm going crazy waiting!! :)

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

I remember now! It's killler, waiting.

Post a thread with pictures when you get it. :D

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I will, thanks! I hope I get the call today! I have a 5k scheduled tomorrow, so my first ride would be Sunday. I usually ride on the weekdays because the trail is busy on the weekends, but I don't think I'll be able to wait. :)