If you’re just starting your journey into cycling for fitness, or even if you are looking to be more serious about it, your gear can play a large role in your day to day success in sticking to your new fitness habit. Your most important choice is the cycle itself, but there is more to it than that.
Different Types of Bicycles
These days, buying a bicycle isn’t a simple choice because there is a huge list of different types of cycles. Thus it is important to first think about how you are going to use your cycle, to make the right decision. These are the main types of cycles that you need to know.
Road Bike
Road bikes are typically made from aluminium or carbon fibre and have little to no suspension. They are lightweight and built for speed. They have very thin tyres as compared to other bikes and are meant to be ridden on smooth, paved surfaces. These bikes can be quite expensive, starting from Rs. 30,000 and can go upto lacs.
Mountain Bike
Mountain bikes are designed to be ridden down steep rocky paths. It has wider tyres as compared to road bikes and provides excellent grip on any surface. These bikes are made of steel, which makes them heavier and more durable. Mountain bikes will have plenty of suspension and wide range of gear (say 21 speed) to allow you to ride on different types of terrain.
Hybrid Bike
Hybrid bikes are a combination of road bikes and mountain bikes. These are great cycles for beginners. They have slightly thicker tyres and are heavier than road bikes. It is the best option for commuting in a city like Mumbai as it can be ridden on all types of surfaces. The handlebar of the hybrid cycle is upward to provide maximum comfort to the rider and hence can be used for longer rides and is a great bike for exercising. You can find these cycles priced in a mid range of 10k to 30k in India.
Touring Bikes
Touring bikes are ideal for those who want to complete long distance tours. They are similar looking to road bikes but have wider tyres. They are designed for gravel roads, hence can be ridden over paved and unpaved surfaces. They have multiple attachment points for pumps, lights, racks, water bottles and other accessories. The front and rear racks are equipped with highly durable frames to allow the carrying of heavy loads.
Folding Bicycle
Folding bicycles are very light. They have smaller wheel sizes so that they can be folded, kept in large suitcases and carried anywhere. Folding bicycles can be easily assembled and disassembled. Thus, ideal for those with multiple legs in their commute.
E-bikes
These modern wonders of innovations are becoming quite popular in India. They have a chargeable battery and an electric motor. An e-bike can help you go faster, using lesser energy. This makes riding hills and arriving at work sweat free extremely easy. Remember e-bikes are quite expensive in comparison to other types of bikes. Buy an e-bike insurance to protect your bike and cover all types of losses.
* Ensure that you buy a bike with the right frame size. Ask the bike shop professional to help you set saddle height and handlebar height personalised to you. You can get a professional bike fitting done, but it is not so common in India. A well fitted bike can help prevent injuries and joint pains, can increase comfort, efficiency and performance.
Do I need cycling gear and accessories?
You’ll find a number of accessories in a bike shop. While not all are necessarily important, you should definitely get your hands on some of them.
Helmet
First and foremost, you need some protection. Wearing a helmet can be the difference between an injury and a fatality. If you are leisurely riding within your building premises, a helmet wont be necessary. However if you plan to ride on roads, between traffic, a helmet is an absolute necessity.
High Visibility Clothing
Buy a couple sets of high visibility clothing, and a set of front and back lights. These are essential if you plan to ride in the evening when its dark.
Bicycle Repair Kit
You could also consider buying a repair kit, especially if you do not have a cycle repair shop in the vicinity that you plan to ride. Punctures are the most common technical fault you will encounter. They are easy to fix. Teaching yourself how to replace an inner tube is a good idea. Carry around a pair of inner tubes, a portable pump and allen keys on your rides.
Protection For the Cyclist and the Cycle
Other accessories that you could consider purchasing are padded cycle shorts and padded saddles. These help reduce saddle soreness that is commonly experienced by regular cyclists. Some cycles do not come with mudguards. Consider buying them as they will prevent water and mud getting all over you. Mudguards are especially useful during the rainy season
Hydration
A bottle holder and a water bottle can also be useful for long rides, especially if you want to avoid carrying a bag around.
Arguable, you only need the bicycle itself and definitely get a helmet before going out on the road with your bike, but all the other things mentioned here can be nice to haves in helping you build a comfortable and welcoming cycling routine which you will continue with and enjoy.
