Congrats on the new bike!

I wear Sidi Dominator mountain bike shoes for road cycling, and a Giro helmet.

But the choice of brands and designs really depends on you, your needs, and the size and shape of your head and your feet. For example, I have a really high arch, and I want my cycling shoes to be very stiff. There are more shoes out there that I can't get on my feet than shoes that fit, and it happens that the Sidis both fit me very well and have a very stiff sole. So questions for you - what brand fits your feet well? What are your desires as far as stiffness, type of material, etc.?

For a helmet - I believe all of the helmets currently on the market are certified, so your criteria needs to be more around fit and comfort. Giros work well for me from a shape and fit standpoint, but there are other brands that don't fit me. And for other riders the Giros don't work but other brands do. I'd recommend that you try several brands and then several styles within a brand that fits you well to find your ideal helmet.

While I do buy a lot online, I would recommend for a first purchase of shoes and helmets that you get out to a store and try them on. For a second purchase, absolutely go online if that's your style (as it is mine). But for a good comparison the first time around I'd recommend finding a shop with a good selection to try.

--- Denise