"bomba" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> determined wrote:
> > I bought my bike and am planning a low-key ride this weekend of about 15 miles.
>
> Depending on the terrain you ride, 15 miles is not really a 'low-key ride' - especially for your
> first time out. Even if you're fit, you're going to be using different muscles. The one thing you
> don't want to end up doing is getting very tired or in pain when you're still a long way from
> home. You want to leave yourself keen for more.
>
> > What are the essentials? Water I'm guessing is #1...
>
> Water's always a good idea. After you've really started getting in to it, check out
> www.camelbak.com
>
> For that
> > matter, what type of gear/accessories do I need to go along with the
bike?
> > What do I need in a repair kit? Is it neccessary to buy the funky bike shoes? Padded bicycle
> > shorts? All I bought is the bike, a rack for my
car,
> > and a helmet.
>
> Right the essentials (IMO)... Kit: You want gloves - they help keep your hands soft, and will
> offer protection should you have a hand / ground interaction. Full-fingered is good. Glasses - a
> pair of clear wrap-around glasses are a great investment as they keep bugs, branches and bits
> chucked up from the wheels from going in your eyes. No need to go Oakley or the like, just
> something cheap'll do - some people here even use industrial goggles. Shorts - Not really worth
> skimping here as you'll pay for it in pain.
>
> In the backpack: Bike tool - your LBS should be able to advise you Spare tube and puncture repair
> kit Small medi kit (including any medication) Food - there's another thread around at the moment
> on this subject. Bananas are a bad idea - they don't like being chucked around a backpack with
> tools, etc. Mobile - I believe you folks across the pond call it a 'cell phone'. For those of us
> in Europe, coverage is complete, so it's worthwhile, but obviously pointless if you don't have
> coverage where you are. NB - only to be used in an emergency. Like ordering pizza.
I don't get complete coverage but i always take it with me. You'd be surprised sometimes where you
can get some little pockets of coverage even in the remotest areas. And should i have some tragic,
unrepairable fault or damage to myself, limping to the nearest point of coverage is usually much
closer than limping to the nearest point of civilisation. Last time I did that was when I had a
major sidewall tear (the bike, not me) and everything that I tried fixing it with failed. The g/f
found me happily sitting by the roadside munching a Mars bar while I was waiting. I also live with
the optimistic hope that should I be lying unconcious lost at the foot of a ravine that the search
party, knowing that I always carry a mobile, would have some high tech piece of equipment capable of
finding a rogue cellphone signal amongst the wilderness....
> Cash - never know when you'll need to buy food, drink or pay for a taxi when you're stuck in the
> mountains with hypothermia <ahem>... If there's a chance of rain, pack a mac. PCs and Solaris
> boxes don't work so well. Arf arf...
>
> Planning on attending some classes on the basics like
> > shifting properly, making repairs, etc soon.
>
> Bike maintenance is very important and fortunately, it's not rocket science. People here will be
> able to guide you, as will your LBS.
>
> Don't forget to have fun and then come back on Monday and write a RR (ride report).
I'll second the ride report! Let us know how it went! I'll add that water (bottles in a cage or pack
is fine), a patch kit, plastic tyre levers and a spare tube (and knowing how to use them), and
padded shorts would be on my list of very basic essentials. Oh, and if alone be sure to tell someone
where you are going and roughly how long you'll be.
--
Westie
but you REALLY should buy some padded shorts!
