conflicted, stressed, and making this too hard!

[michelem]

Hi SactoGal,

You mentioned old sunglasses you have . . . I would not recommend regular rx sunglasses. You want something that will not shatter or break if hit by a rock. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes bits of gravel will fly up and hit. I've taken to wearing my contacts when I ride (I never wear them otherwise), with a pair of sport sunglasses that wear close to the face and wrap around somewhat. I don't want little buggies getting in there behind the lenses either! I found mine on the REI outlet website and had them delivered to REI so no shipping fee. If I didn't like them, I could have returned them right then and there upon pickup for no fee as well. I've read that some people have gotten rx sport sunglasses, but those are a bit pricey and I am partial to glass lenses for my rx glasses anyway.

You asked about gloves, and for me, I don't want any more sun on my skin than absolutely necessary (which, for me is the face and ears - everything else is covered from neck to toes), so I go for full-fingered gloves. They have fingerless gloves too. You just want something to protect your hands if you fall.

CA law says you must have reflectors on your bike, as well as lights when you ride at dusk/evening. Supposedly, the CA bike shops are supposed to comply with this as well and include reflectors on your bike when they sell it to you. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm


For me, the things I've bought so far are:

- 2 pr. chamoised shorts - these really help for longer rides
- 2 pr. non-chamoised tights (one cold weather, and one warm weather) to wear over the shorts - I don't want sun on my skin, so that's why the tights; also the tights protect the skin a bit better for falls; I found out right away that regular sweatpants or jeans get caught in the chain too easily!
- 1 long-sleeve SPF 50 cycling jersey and 1 SPF 50 cycling jersey-like top (no back pockets, so not really a cycling jersey)
- 2 pr. cycling socks (they are thin and wick away moisture)
- 1 pr. clipless cycling shoes
- 1 pr. clipless pedals
- 1 helmet (as long as it is certified, it doesn't matter how much it costs - the price increases with the number of vents and the weight of the helmet - more vents and lighter weight equal more money)
- 1 pr. sport sunglasses
- LOTS of sunscreen
- 1 floor pump
- 1 underseat bag, which houses spare tube, 2 tire levers, 2 c02 canisters and 1 attachment thingie, and small tire patch kit
- Chain cleaner and lube (this keeps your bike in working order - helps shifting, etc.)
- Bike computer with cadence and heart rate (this is teaching me about gearing - you want to keep your cadence and heart rate steady - if cadence goes down and heart rate goes up, then shift to an easier gear, and vice versa)
-My bike already has a water bottle cage on it and I already have water bottles.

The reason I have two of some stuff is so I can handwash and drip dry one the night before and have another set of dry stuff to put on in the morning. The chamoised stuff usually takes a bit longer to dry. If you're not going to be riding every day, you can probably get away with one of everything. The clipless shoes and pedals are not a necessity. I'm still learning (and falling). Of course, the bike computer is not a necessity either - just helpful.

The stuff adds up! I've found great deals on the REI Outlet website and by waiting for their member sales.

Hope this helps! I'm still pretty new at this as well, but there is a wealth of info to be found from these gals and on this site!