Getting set for summer cycling

If you’re looking to get fit this summer you can do a lot worse than getting into cycling. You can go for casual, chilled-out rides to the seaside, or learn to become a seasoned road commuter. With the Tour De France on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to take the sport up.

Getting the right gear can be daunting, so we’ll give you a clue about what you’ll need to look for when starting out.

Choose a bicycle

An unsurprising prerequisite of cycling, you need to get yourself a bike. However, choosing the right style for what you need is important and depends on your budget and preference. The three main styles we’ll go over are road, mountain and hybrids:

• Road bikes
  Bikes intended for the road, these have skinnier wheels, curved handlebars and are designed for speed on even roads. They’re not very stable on bumpier ground and are best left to their original purpose. Most are also poor at carrying additional weight.
• Mountain bikes
  Bikes designed for riding off-road trails with suspension that absorbs shock and a low-gear range for helping you power up hills. Mountain bikes can be ridden as commuting bikes, but aren’t as light or as fast as road bikes.
• Hybrid Bikes
  The ultimate middle ground, hybrids have large, padded seats and upright handle bars for a comfortable ride. They’ve got larger tyres than a road bike but aren’t as heavy as mountain bikes. Great for short commutes and riding around town.

Invest in a helmet

Whether you think it’s cool or not, investing in a helmet can literally save your life. You can either grab a more chic helmet that helps retain style in the city, or you can opt for a more protective helmet. Whichever you choose, just make sure you wear it whenever you’re riding anywhere near roads.

Accessorise

Now that you’ve got the important things sorted, it’s time to get fancy. Cyclists enjoy their own special realm of spandex and lycra that help prevent abrasion and chafing over long distance. If that doesn’t appeal, consider adding a basket to the front of your bike for a bit of old-school city chic. Or if you’re travelling long distance consider a dedicated cycling rucksack to carry your burdens in style.

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