Hello from new rider!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A helmet is essential.
Gloves are pretty essential too, at least the fingerless type that will prevent serious skin/nerve damage is you fall. Your palms/wrists can be very badly damaged by skidding on asphalt, even at relatively slow speeds. When you fall, you instinctively put your hands out to break your fall. Gloves are not so much for padding/comfort....but are for saving your hands during falls.

[aicabsolut]

Gloves also help you clean debris from your tires when you ride through some junk or for checking for something stuck (like glass) if you get a flat.

Instinct or not, try not to brace yourself with your hands and arms if you do fall. That's a great way to break something. That said, I still liked my gloves when I crashed in a race. My brifters, bartape, and part of my aluminum bars underneath were shredded. My hands were totally unscathed, with only a bit of a shred mark on the ulnar nerve pad on one glove.

I always like to have at least one water bottle with me, even on short rides.

[TrekTheKaty]

WELCOME!

A helmet is essential.
Gloves are pretty essential too, at least the fingerless type that will prevent serious skin/nerve damage is you fall. Your palms/wrists can be very badly damaged by skidding on asphalt, even at relatively slow speeds. When you fall, you instinctively put your hands out to break your fall. Gloves are not so much for padding/comfort....but are for saving your hands during falls.

I agree with starting out simple. You can get by with a helmet and GLOVES (see my other Newbie--wear gloves post). Now is a great time to get things off the clearance rack. As you ride, you will learn what things you need to invest more money in, based on your riding style. It was 45 degrees here this morning--that was under armour base layer, short-sleeved jersey, pearl izumi vagabond jacket with zip off sleeves, tights over pearl izumi shorts, hat under helmet, long fingered gloves, and fingerless gloves to swap into later. But that was an expensives outfit (worth more than the clothes I wear to work!), purchased over time, and much of it off the clearance rack! And we were serious about getting in some miles before work

I also agree with under-seat bag (also great for car keys, emergency cash for ice cream/soda and small first aid kit with sunblock and bug repellent wipes--a long story), tubes, tire levers and a pump/co2 cartridge. I'm not 100% sure I could change my own tire, but if stranded on the trail--I'd have enough tools to accept kindness from a fellow biker instead of walking back.