Whether you’re taking up cycling as part of your wider campaign towards tackling your first triathlon . Or just interested in riding, without the added complication of sandwiching your time on two wheels between a swim and a run. When you first start road cycling, knowing what clothing and gear you actually need can feel a bit overwhelming. Are there seriously ‘rules’ about sock height? And is compiling a wardrobe of Lycra so jam-packed it could outfit an entire Tour de France peloton really necessary?
We guide you through the essential cycling clothing, gear and accessories you need when you’re just getting started that will help to keep you safe and comfortable during your rides. Plus the added extras you might want to add to your wish list to take your riding to the next level once you’ve well and truly fallen down the road cycling rabbit hole.

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Essential road cycling clothing and gear for beginners
There’s plenty of kit you can buy, but what do you actually need when you’re just starting out in cycling? Here’s our recommendations
Bike
Obviously, you’re going to need a bike. But you don’t need to go all in and spend thousands on a full carbon road bike right away, if you don’t want to. These days aluminium frames can be incredibly lightweight, and entry level components perform far better than they used to. If you’re not sure whether cycling is something you’ll want to do long term, consider looking at second hand options (such as BuyCycle) to find a road bike that fits your budget. You can always upgrade later on. A gravel bike can also be a popular choice if you’re not 100% sure you want to spend all your time on the road. Built like a road bike with drop handlebars, gravel bikes have a little extra clearance for wider tyres. Ideal if you want to ride on a mixture of terrains, and for extra grip on the road.
Helmet
In: helmet hair
Out: risking your skull
If you’re heading out on two wheels, we’d always recommend wearing a helmet. Whether it’s a slow motion tumble when you’re stopped at a junction (a right of passage for all cyclists the first few times you ride clipped in). Or coming off on a tight corner. You’ll appreciate the extra protection. Make sure you get a cycling-specific helmet, ideally with Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS). This clever tech helps to counteract the rotational impact forces should you hit your head during a bike crash – reducing the likelihood of concussion or head injury. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune, there are options (such as the Specialized Align II) that retail from ~£45/$56.
Cycling clothing
That’s the basics sorted – something to ride, and something to keep your brain intact while you ride it. But what about cycling clothing? While you can just wear running kit/gym wear for riding your bike. Road cycling saddles are notoriously uncomfortable. And you’ll find it far less hard work to clock up the miles if you haven’t got baggy clothing acting like a sail. Which is why we’d recommend getting a few bits of basic cycling kit to help keep you comfortable.
Cycling bib shorts
Bib shorts are cycling-specific shorts with sewn-in padding around your backside and nether regions, and straps that go over your shoulders to keep the shorts in place. We’ll admit, they’re not exactly high fashion. And you will feel a bit like you’re wearing a diaper. But they make time on the saddle 100 x more comfortable. The padding helps to stop pressure and chafing from the bike saddle. And the straps mean you don’t have any waistbands digging in – or any worries about accidentally giving fellow road users a full moon show because your shorts are falling down.
Road cycling jersey
Wearing a road cycling jersey on the bike isn’t essential. But, like bib shorts, it can make a big difference to your comfort levels. Cycling jerseys are made from breathable, sweat-wicking materials which dry quickly. Unlike a cotton t-shirt which will get soaked with sweat and stick to your back at the first sign of a hill. Jerseys are also more aerodynamic, which means you’ll have less drag to fight against to make forward progress compared to wearing baggier clothing. And finally, they have pockets – lots of them! A cycling jersey usually has at least three pockets on the back specifically designed to keep essentials like your phone and keys safely to hand while you ride. No more annoying backpack bouncing around on your spine!
While not essential, you could also consider getting yourself a cycling base layer and a gilet/vest. These items will allow you to layer up during those awkward between-seasons periods where it’s too cold to head out in a short-sleeved jersey, but not cold enough to justify a full winter jacket.
Cycling gloves/mitts – are they necessary?
Cycling gloves (sometimes referred to as ‘mitts’ depending on the brand) aren’t essential if you’re riding in the summer. The fingerless gloves with padded sections on the palms will make riding more comfortable though, helping to reduce the sensation of ‘road rumble’ on your hands, and providing grip on the handlebars. They also offer a bit of protection from cuts and grazes on your hands should you take a tumble.
For winter riding though, a good pair of winter cycling gloves are an essential. With the addition of wind chill, you’ll find your extremities can get really cold when riding in the winter and you’ll be surprised just how miserable freezing cold hands can make a ride feel.
Winter cycling jacket
Another essential if you want to be able to get out on your bike all year round is a winter cycling jacket. If you tend to feel the cold, go for a jacket with thermal, windproof and waterproof materials. If you’re someone who runs hot most of the time, you can go for something lighter with a little more breathability. Just make sure the material is water-resistant so you’re not going to get soaked through if it rains. It’s also worth choosing a style with brighter colours and reflective detailing to help keep you visible in low-lighting.
Cycling sunglasses
Cycling glasses are about more than just protecting your eyes from the sun – which is important. They’re also useful to prevent any grit, dirt or small stones from the road flicking up and getting in your eyes. Look for glasses which are lightweight, UVA/UVB protective and offer excellent lens clarity. We really rate the range of SunGod cycling glasses. They’re super lightweight while also offering 100% UV protection, scratch-resistance and interchangeable nose pads so you can find the right fit.
Bike lights
You might not be planning to ride after dark, but it’s still well worth having (at least) a rear light on your bike and using it on a flashing setting even during day time rides. This will help to ensure you’re visible to other road users. If you’re riding early in the morning or in the early evening, you’ll also want to fit a front light. The brightness you’ll need from your bike lights depends on where you’ll be riding. For well-lit, urban roads lights around the 100 lumen mark may be bright enough. But if you’re likely to be out on dimly lit streets and country roads, go for lights with 1000 lumens to make sure you’ve got enough visibility to ride safely. It’s also a good idea to always have a spare set of lights with you just in case your battery runs out mid ride.
Puncture repair kit/bike cleaning supplies
The final essential to have on your cycling kit list is a puncture repair kit and some bike cleaning products. Getting a puncture is a right of passage for any road cyclist, but you definitely don’t want to get caught out miles from home. It’s worth having a spare inner tube, a CO2 canister (or a small hand pump) and a tyre lever with you on every ride so that you can get back on the move easily after a puncture. And you’ll also want to make sure you’re taking care of your trusty steed between rides to avoid mud and grime building up in the components. We’d recommend checking out the cleaning range from Tru Tension to making cleaning your bike nice and easy!
Added extras
Got the cycling bug and looking to up your game? Here are the added extras that will take your cycling experience to the next level.
Cycling shoes
Plenty of beginners spend their first few months of cycling using flat pedals, so they don’t have to worry about learning to ride ‘clipped in’ and they can just wear their regular trainers/sneakers. But once you’ve built up your confidence, it really is worth getting to grips with riding clipped in. The added connection to the pedals will enable you to make full use of your pedal stroke, pulling up as well as pushing down. Which makes it easier to ride faster for the same level of effort. Plus it makes getting up out of the saddle to tackle the climbs much easier because there’s no risk of your foot slipping off the pedal. To ride clipped in, you’ll need to get a pair of cycling shoes with cleats. You can quite regularly find cycling shoes on sale for significantly under £100/$100. Though if you do want to treat yourself to high end pair, the range from Quoc is highly rated.
GPS bike computer
Whether you’re looking to track your progress or try to push yourself a little harder during your bike rides. Or take away the stress of navigation and explore new routes. Getting a bike computer can be a game changer. We’ve been testing out the Coros Dura solar GPS bike computer recently, which gives you all your riding stats in real time but also has a solid navigation feature where you can either import routes you’ve already created or plot out routes within the app and get turn by turn navigation (complete with an on-screen map) while you ride. It even gives you a heads-up when there’s a hill coming and gives you a visual of the gradient as you climb. It’s very similar to the Wahoo ELEMNT Roam (which we also really like).
Heart rate monitor
Getting a heart rate monitor will not only give you a more accurate measure of how hard you’ve been working on the bike. It actually gives you some incredibly useful real-time data to be able to start dialling in your bike workouts to get the maximum benefit. If you want to get stronger and faster on the bike, getting specific with your training is essential. You can read more about training zones and how to use them to tailor your workouts in our guide. You can choose between a traditional chest strap style heart rate monitor, or if you find those uncomfortable – the arm-band options which use optical sensors such as this one from Coros or the Wahoo TICKR are becoming increasingly popular.
Power metre
As you dig deeper into the world of cycling – particularly if you start indoor training on Zwift or Rouvy – you’ll start to come across people talking about ‘power’. This is essentially a way to quantify the force you’re pushing through the pedals. A power metre connects up with your bike computer to give you real-time data on how much power you’re pushing, while you ride. It’s certainly not essential, but it can be a bit of a secret weapon for managing your effort on longer rides and getting a reading of your cycling FTP so you can start getting even more specific with your workouts.
Once you’re kitted out with all the essential (or not so essential – we’re happy to be enablers here!) cycling gear, it’s time to get training. Head over to our bike training section to find our latest cycling tips and advice.
Cycling kit FAQs/quick recap
In warm temperatures, a pair of bib shorts and short-sleeved jersey should keep you comfortable. If conditions are changeable, take a packable gilet/vest and some arms warmers in your back pocket. For winter riding, we’d recommend a base layer, thermal winter cycling jacket, full-length tights and gloves. You could also layer up with a gilet and a buff for extra warmth.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on your first road bike. Brands such as Ribble, Decathlon’s Van Rysel, Liv (Avail), Giant (Contend) and Cannondale have some great entry level options.
Ultimately, what you wear on the bike is your choice. But cycling kit uses sweat-wicking, fast-drying materials to maximise comfort, and offers padding/support where you need it. Which can help to make your rides more enjoyable. It’s also more aerodynamic which means you can ride faster for less effort!
You can get padded cycling shorts without bib straps. These are useful if you’re likely to need to take several ‘comfort breaks’. However many cyclists prefer bib shorts because the straps keep the shorts in place. Helping to avoid any slipping or chafing from a waist band.