Cycle Accessories

So I picked up the new bike last night from Reading. Had a quick ride around the shop, which was amusing in it's self as I went straight after work, so was in shirts, trousers and smart shoes and I haven't ridden a road bike in over 20 years, all seemed nice enough so bought it. By the time I got home it was too dark to give it a try out on the roads, but now I'm sat here looking at cycle accessories from Evans and deciding what I do or don't need.

First thing is the little cycle bag, something like this one as it saves me having to take a man bag with me.

Next up, I'm going to need some spare inner tubes, any suggestions on what ones? I'll probably need to upgrade the tyres at some point as the ones that come on the bike seem to be a bit prone to punctures. Seemed to hear good things about the gator(?) tyres, I also need a pump, seen loads of small ones, any recommendations?

I'll also need a cycle computer. Is it actually worth getting one for cadence or not really, since this is more for fitness / losing weight rather than competing. Also, wired or wireless?

And a picture of the Triban 5 (reflectors will be taken off and have SPD's on order)

For inner tubes, just buy the cheapest you can find. Often best from the on-line places in packs of 5 or 10 - I believe Planet-X have an offer on - I think on Vittoria.

For tyres, I can't recommend Vittoria Rubino Pros highly enough. IMO they are better than Continental Gatorskins and they are certainly cheaper.

I don't use a cycle bag but instead a tool bottle in a bottle holder. I damaged some shorts on one of those bags.

Easy
Saddle bag
Add inner tube
Then a a multi tool
Then a co2 inflator, two co2 cartridges, plus some sticky patches, a £20 note for tea cake and emergencies and Robert is your mothers brother.

Having this in the saddle pack means you won't forget anything as it will always be on the bike.

Get a wireless computer, they can be had for peanuts now and saves ugly wires which snag too.

Also buy a track pump. It's quite simply one of the best things i've ever bought bikewise.

Echo all of the above.

Also get yourself a decent track pump and inflate the tyres up to 120+ psi. Large number of punctures are down to under inflated tyres.

Good quality shorts and helmet too.

Probably best to go with what the recommendation is on the sidewall.

Track pump is a must really.

This can't be beaten for price and performance
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-high-pressure-floor-pump/

All these accessories suddenly all add up. I got a bit of an earful last night because I bought the bike and am not going to sell the MTB, so not sure how well £100 worth of accessories is going to go down

Thanks for all the advice and links though

Christmas is coming

Begbie, in terms of justifying a 2-bike lifestyle, I have a rather old (or "vintage" as I call it) road bike, but it is like an ashtray on a motorbike in snow/ice, so I keep my lovely mountain bike (ex MRS!) for the winter. Make sure you keep good grippy tyres on it, though, or it's almost as bad as a road bike.

I much prefer riding the road bike and it's laughably quicker and lighter and everything but - and I'd be interested to hear what you say - it is a bloody hard ride compared to a mountain bike. My tyres are the cheaper Vittoria Rubinos (not the pros that MRS recommends) and they are like riding on wood. I don't think it's the tyres so much as the pressure, but it does make it a bit of a boneshaker.

You need to MTFU, Jim

Yup - I reckon, if you're starting from scratch, you should allow at least 50% of what you spend on the bike for the gear that needs to go with it

Having just bought a Scott Foil frameset and Di2 groupset (discounted 50%), I'm glad I have all of the other gear I need....

Thanks for that MRS - tell it to my prostate!

Depending on the mileage you are planning on doing a drinks bag thing is a good idea. Staying hydrated is highly underated and I don't know where I would without mine. Decathlon do some nice cheap ones too.

Y'know, when I was but a lad and bikes had no more than four in the Sturmey Archer box, I barely know how I managed to survive the six miles each way to school...

Nice. Ultegra or did you go the whole hog?

Begbie you will need some of these too -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-sharp-LE...#ht_2036wt_1096

Ultegra was what the deal was for. As much as I'd love Dura Ace, even I can kid myself I'm that good I'm still hoping to get to sub 7kg on the bike - I'm just doing a lot of bargain hunting

Well, first ride out, only a short 3 miler due to having the girlfriend niece's over and it's strange. Everything is so smooth, bumps and dips in the road it just glided over and wasn't as jarring as I thought it would be. I didn't have a speedo on the bike but can see my average speed was about 16.8mph on Strava but a certain segment that I got KOM I knocked another 8 seconds off my PB and I wasn't overly trying due to a car oncoming on a single lane road and catching 2 other cyclists up.

Overall it felt good, had a proper sweat on and it almost feels like I'm going to have to start again with the fitness as riding this seems like the fitness I gained from the MTB didn't apply.

My Strava for the ride - http://www.strava.com/activities/75179069

You will find that your mileage goes up considerably. In a couple of weeks a 30 mile ride will seem the norm and you would not bother going out "just" for ten miles!