As the weather warms up and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to get back on your bike and enjoy the joys of cycling. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just getting started, there are always tips and tricks to help you have a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable cycling experience. Here are my top cycling tips for the 2024 spring and summer seasons:

Tune Up Your Bike

Embedding essential cycling tips into your pre-ride routine is crucial for a rewarding experience on roads or trails. A top priority is ensuring your bicycle is in peak condition. Scheduling a professional tune-up at your nearest bike shop allows experts to inspect and fine-tune elements such as gears, brakes, chains, and all moving parts, thereby promising a seamless and secure journey. Don’t overlook the importance of replacing worn-out components – tires showing signs of wear, frayed cables, or worn handlebar tape should not be ignored. Remember, diligent bike maintenance isn’t just about performance; it’s the foundation for riding with unwavering confidence, transforming every excursion into an enjoyable and safe adventure.

Cycling Tips – Dress for the Weather

Cycling apparel has come a long way, so take advantage of technical fabrics and designs made specifically for riding. In the spring, dress in lightweight, breathable layers that you can remove as you warm up. Look for cycling jerseys, shorts, and jackets that wick moisture and provide UV protection. As summer arrives, look for lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics to keep you cool. Don’t forget accessories like cycling gloves, socks, and a well-ventilated helmet. The right gear can make all the difference in your comfort and performance.

Wear the Right Cycling Apparel and Gear Speaking of the right gear, be sure to invest in high-quality, purpose-built cycling apparel and accessories. Brands like inbike offer an extensive line of cycling jerseys, shorts, bibs, gloves, and more that are designed to keep you comfortable and protected on the road or trail. Their fabrics are lightweight, breathable, and engineered to wick away moisture as you ride. Paired with the proper cycling shoes, helmet, and other essential gear, you’ll be able to ride for longer and with greater efficiency.

Stay Hydrated

Proper hydration is crucial, especially when cycling in the warmer months. Carry a water bottle or hydration pack and take sips frequently, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Dehydration can sneak up on you and zap your energy quickly. Electrolyte-rich sports drinks can also help replenish what you lose through sweat. Make sure to hydrate well before, during, and after your rides.

Fuel Your Rides

In addition to staying hydrated, fueling your body with the right nutrition is key for having the energy to power through your rides. Eat a balanced meal with carbs, protein and healthy fats before heading out. During your ride, have easy-to-digest snacks like energy bars, gels, or fruit on hand to refuel. Afterward, be sure to have a recovery meal or shake with the right mix of nutrients to help your muscles repair and rebuild.

Ride Safely

Safety should always be the top priority when cycling. Obey all traffic laws, ride predictably, and stay alert to your surroundings. Wear a properly fitted helmet and consider adding lights, reflective gear, and a bike bell to increase your visibility to drivers. When riding in a group, communicate clearly and maintain a safe following distance. If you’ll be riding on trails or unpaved surfaces, watch for debris and be prepared to handle uneven terrain.

Listen to Your Body

Cycling is an amazing form of exercise, but it’s also important to avoid overdoing it, especially as you’re getting back into the swing of things after the winter months. Pay attention to signs of fatigue, muscle soreness, or joint pain, and don’t be afraid to take rest days when needed. Proper recovery and cross-training can help prevent injuries and burnout.

With the right preparation and precautions, cycling in the 2024 spring and summer seasons can be an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable experience. Follow these tips, including investing in high-quality cycling apparel and gear from brands like inbike, to make the most of your time on the bike and create some unforgettable adventures. Happy riding!

1. When to Ride

• Early Birds and Night Owls Win: Seriously, ride when it’s cooler – think early mornings or late evenings. The sun’s less intense, and it’s way cooler.
• Midday Chill: Caught outside around noon? Time for a break. Find some shade and chill. It’s your best defense against the noon sun.
• Pick Smart Routes: Stick to paths with less traffic, more shade, and flat terrain. It makes a difference in staying cool and avoiding the harsh sun.

2. What to Wear

• Sun’s Not Your Friend: With the sun getting a bad rep for skin and eye damage, covering up is key. But let’s keep it comfy and breathable.
• Gear Up: Grab a long-sleeved jersey that doesn’t feel like a sauna suit. Don’t forget gloves, a face mask, and sunglasses to cover up those parts exposed to the sun.
• Sunscreen Is a Must: Slap on that sunscreen! And do it again after you sweat. Pick one that sticks around through the sweat and keeps you covered.

3. Drink Up

• Water Is Your Best Mate: You’ll need more water than usual. Aim for 2 to 3 liters a day on top of what you’re getting from food. That’s about 3-5 bike bottles worth.
• Keep Sipping: Don’t wait till you’re dying of thirst. Regular sips keep you ahead of dehydration.
• Balance It Out: After sweating buckets, don’t just guzzle water. You need to mix in some electrolytes (think sports drinks or even a bit of milk) to avoid getting dizzy or worse from drinking too much plain water.

4. Planning Your Route Where you ride is just as important as when and how you ride.

• Seek Out Shade: Plan routes that offer plenty of shade. Forest trails, riverside paths, or routes through parks can provide relief from the direct sun.
• Know Your Limits: Summer isn’t the time to push your distance records. Plan for shorter rides, especially when you’re getting used to the heat. It’s better to enjoy several comfortable rides than to push too hard and suffer through one.
• Safety First: Always let someone know your route and expected return time. Carry a basic repair kit, your phone, and some form of identification. It’s better to be prepared for anything that comes your way.

5. Listening to Your Body The heat can take a toll, so it’s crucial to listen to what your body is telling you.

• Recognize the Signs of Heat Exhaustion: Symptoms like dizziness, excessive sweating, and fatigue are warning signs. If you feel off, stop, find shade, and cool down immediately.
• Adapt to the Conditions: Some days, it might just be too hot to ride safely. It’s okay to take a break and choose a different activity. Your bike will be there when it cools down.

In conclusion, summer cycling is a fantastic way to enjoy the season, but it comes with its challenges. By choosing the right time to ride, wearing appropriate gear, staying hydrated, and listening to your body, you can beat the heat and make the most of your summer adventures. Remember, the goal is to enjoy the ride and return home safely, ready for the next one. Let’s keep spinning those wheels and embracing the joys of summer cycling!

The Origin of Onion Principle

The primary concern for cold weather cycling is sweat wicking. During cycling, the body naturally generates heat, so riders do not usually feel cold, and it results in a lot of sweating. Therefore, clothes must have sweat-wicking functionality. To cope with sweating and the cold during cycling and rest, an onion-style dressing method is needed, where clothes are composed of three layers: an inner layer of quick-drying sweat-wicking fabric, a middle layer for warmth, and an outer layer for windproof. This means wearing sports underwear, long-sleeved cycling jerseys, and windbreakers to regulate body temperature.

In addition, autumn and winter cycling attire should be as bright as possible, just like in other seasons, to make it easier for other vehicles on the road to notice and ensure safety. Or choosing cycling apparel with reflective design is also a great way.

The Significance of Onion Layering

Layering for warmth: The onion layering method emphasizes the use of layering to keep warm in cold weather. Each layer, from the inside out, provides warmth, and layering can enhance overall warmth.

Breathable and sweat-wicking: There is a certain gap between each layer, which allows sweat to evaporate and prevents moisture accumulation. Different fabrics also help with sweat-wicking. This ensures warmth without dampness.

Adjustable: Layering allows for adjustment based on weather conditions. The outer layer can be thickened or thinned, and the inner layer can also be adjusted. Add layers when it’s cold and remove layers when it’s hot. This can help regulate body temperature to the optimal state.

Key protection: For example, a warm base layer protects the core, and a scarf protects the head and neck. Concentrate on keeping the most vulnerable areas warm.

Comfort: Each layer of clothing should not be too thick or heavy, ensuring flexibility and comfort without restricting movement.

Therefore, onion layering considers both warmth and breathability/sweat-wicking while also ensuring comfort. It is very suitable for outdoor activities in cold weather when freedom of movement is required.

Now that we’ve covered onion layering, let’s provide some winter cycling outfit suggestions based on our own experience as cyclists and recommendations from other cycling enthusiasts.

Upper Body Warmth

Sports base layer: Just like adding a warm base layer under regular clothing in cold weather, you can also wear a base layer under your cycling jersey. If the temperature is below around 10°C and you don’t sweat much, you can wear a regular cotton base layer. However, if the temperature is slightly higher or you sweat a lot, cotton base layers can become uncomfortable when wet with sweat and feel even colder when exposed to the wind, so they may not be suitable.

Professional sports base layers designed for moisture-wicking and close-fitting have the advantage of being snug and allowing airflow. They help wick sweat away from the skin’s surface. For extremely cold weather, you can choose a sports base layer with added insulation. It won’t have the cold touch of regular moisture-wicking shirts or long-sleeve cycling jerseys, providing more comfort and warmth. Professional cycling base layers often have breathable designs and antimicrobial-treated fabrics to prevent odor.

Long-sleeve cycling jersey: You can layer a long-sleeve cycling jersey over the base layer and zip it up high to prevent wind from entering through the collar. However, it’s important to note that not all long-sleeve cycling jerseys provide warmth because many are designed for moisture-wicking and can be worn in summer as well. Therefore, when cycling in winter, it’s recommended to choose fleece long-sleeve cycling jerseys specifically designed for winter riding. These jerseys often feature windproof fleece fabric on the front and breathable moisture-wicking fabric on the back for both wind protection and moisture management.

INBIKE recently launched a new multifunctional fleece-lined long-sleeve cycling jersey with multiple pockets for convenient storage during rides. It combines high-quality fleece fabric for warmth and lightweight mesh fabric on the back for breathability.

Windproof outer jacket: The most important aspect is wind resistance. If wind can penetrate your clothing, even if you wear thick outer layers, you will still feel cold. Regular cotton jackets or down jackets are not suitable as they may either let in too much wind or be too heavy. It’s best to choose a dedicated cycling winproof thermal jacket that not only meets the requirements of cycling in terms of fit but also provides windproof and waterproof features to handle light rain or snow.

Breathable and comfortable windproof vests focus on core warmth and prevent cold air from entering the body. They fully utilize the onion layering effect in dealing with changing weather conditions. Especially packable and easy-to-store windproof vests are a preferred choice for winter cycling.

Full-finger cycling gloves: During regular cycling, you may not feel cold in your fingers, so most people wear half-finger gloves. However, if you encounter extremely low temperatures, strong winds, rain, or downhill sections where you’re not pedaling much and your fingers are exposed to the wind, they may become numb, affecting your ability to brake and raising safety concerns during your ride.

Therefore, in extreme cold weather or if you anticipate riding on mountainous routes or downhill sections, it’s best to choose full-finger windproof fleece gloves for better protection against the cold. If you expect bad weather conditions, it’s also recommended to select gloves with water-resistant functionality to prevent water from seeping in.

Lower Body Warmth

Cycling pants: While the lower body is usually less susceptible to the cold than the upper body, in winter cycling, cold air blowing directly on the knees can be harmful. It’s recommended to wear long cycling pants that cover the knees. However, most cycling pants are made of moisture-wicking and breathable materials, so they don’t provide much warmth. For extremely cold weather, you can choose cycling pants made of fleece materials for better insulation.

INBIKE new fleece-lined cycling pants are an excellent choice for winter cycling. The main fabric used are winter fleece fabric with good elasticity and a three-layer composite windproof fabric for splicing. And the back features a breathable jacquard mesh fabric that is moisture-wicking and quick-drying, providing excellent physical heat dissipation. The pants also feature a waistband with a windproof function to enhance warmth and protect against cold winds in winter cycling.

Headband: The headband is truly a “magic headband” with many uses. It’s a great sunscreen item in summer and a warm treasure in winter. Due to the ventilation design of helmets, the top of the head can feel particularly cold in winter.

However, wearing a headband can immediately block the cold wind. The mouth, nose, and neck are also important areas to keep warm. With just one headband, you can cover your mouth, nose, and neck at the same time. If it’s too cold, you can use two headbands at once to provide full protection for your head. However, most headbands are made of breathable and moisture-wicking materials. For better insulation, you can choose double-layered headbands or fleece materials.

Onion layering may work, but please stop riding is the weather is bad. Safety is always the premium.

Layer Up

Layering clothing is essential for winter cycling. Multiple thin layers trap heat better than one bulky layer. Start with a base layer made of moisture-wicking synthetic material against your skin. This will pull sweat away from your body. Avoid cotton which absorbs and holds moisture.

Next add a lightweight insulating layer such as a fleece sweater or vest. The extra insulation will help hold in your body heat without restricting movement. If temperatures are extremely cold, having two mid-layer pieces can provide ample warmth.

The outermost layer should block wind and repel moisture. Winter cycling jackets made of water-resistant, breathable fabrics work best. Make sure the jacket has some ventilation features to prevent overheating and moisture build-up, such as zippered underarm vents. Reflective elements on the jacket will also help keep you visible at night.

Don’t forget your extremities when layering. Wear a thin liner glove underneath a thicker wind-resistant outer glove. A balaclava or neck gaiter can keep your head, neck and face warm. Be sure your winter cycling shoes have enough insulation and weatherproofing as well. Wool socks will keep your feet warm even if they get wet.

Stay Dry

Getting wet from rain, melting snow or sweat significantly reduces insulation and makes you feel much colder. A waterproof and breathable cycling jacket and pants will prevent rain and melted snow from soaking through to your inner layers. They should have taped or sealed seams to block moisture penetration.

Venting through zippers can help regulate temperature and moisture buildup. Fenders installed on your bike will also keep water from spraying up at you. Make sure to pack extra dry clothing in case you get wet during the winter cycling.

Be Visible in Low Light

Grey overcast days and early sunset times reduce visibility significantly in winter. Dressing in bright colors from head to toe will help drivers see you on the roads. Neon yellows, oranges and greens stand out the most day or night.

On your bike, use lights even during the daytime. A bright white headlight and red taillight improves visibility in low light conditions. Add reflective accents to your clothing, helmet, bike frame and tires so car headlights will pick you up at night. Reflective vests have become a popular visibility aid for winter cycling.

Protect Your Face

Frigid winds can quickly numb exposed skin, so covering your face is crucial. A balaclava or neck warmer that can be pulled up over the nose offers warmth and wind protection. Pair this with sunglasses or clear cycling glasses to shield eyes from cold air. A helmet helps insulate your head, but wearing a thin hat underneath adds another layer.

If you want even more face protection, a ski mask is a good choice. Winter cycling masks have moisture wicking fabric on the interior and vents to reduce fogging and overheating. Make sure the mask is snug but not restrictive.

Check the Weather Frequently

Accurately monitoring winter weather conditions allows you to dress properly for the ride. Check the hourly temperature forecast before heading out and dress for the coldest part of your ride. Weather apps also provide wind speed data which is critical for gauging wind chill. Know if precipitation is expected and dress accordingly with waterproof layers.

Being aware of incoming winter storms will help you determine if winter cycling is feasible or safe. Snow-covered and icy roads create hazardous biking conditions. Use caution and consider an alternate mode of transportation in treacherous weather.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Dehydration coupled with cold weather can quickly lead to dangerous situations while biking. Drink plenty of water before, during and after winter riding. Use insulated water bottles to prevent freezing and keep liquids drinkable. Avoid caffeine and alcohol which are diuretics and increase fluid loss. Make sure to replenish electrolytes lost from sweating.

Carry Emergency Supplies

Mechanical problems, crashes and other unexpected issues are more perilous in freezing conditions. Always carry a few emergency items to get help if needed. Have a fully charged cell phone to call for assistance and keep backup batteries warm. Pack high energy snacks or gels to provide quick calories. A flashlight and extra layers allow you to stay visible and get warm if stuck at night. Cash can also come in handy if needing to take public transportation or a cab. A patch kit and multi-tool will help fix flats or minor repairs.

Know When to Stay Home

If temperatures drop far below freezing or roads are snow-packed and icy, sometimes it’s better to avoid winter cycling. frigid winds or heavy precipitation also make riding more miserable than it’s worth. On questionable days, check road and trail conditions as well as weather updates, and use good judgment on if it’s safe. Don’t risk frostbite or worse by pushing conditions past your limits.

With the right clothing and preparations, winter doesn’t have to mean the end of bicycle commuting or riding. Use these dressing tips to stay warm, dry and safe through the colder months. Properly layering clothing, having the right protective gear and monitoring conditions will keep you comfortable pedaling all season long. Just adjust your wardrobe, do some additional planning and you can successfully embrace winter cycling.

Plan Your Route

Before heading out, take some time to plan your route. Look for bike-friendly roads, trails, or paths in your area. You can use apps like Strava or Google Maps to plan your route and get turn-by-turn directions. When planning your route, consider your skill level, the distance you want to cover, and the terrain you’ll be riding on.

Check Your Bike

Before you start riding, make sure your bike is in good condition. Check the brakes, tires, and chain to ensure they’re working properly. It’s also a good idea to give your bike a quick clean to remove any dirt or debris that could affect its performance.

Dress Appropriately

When cycling, it’s important to dress appropriately for the weather and the activity. Wear breathable, moisture-wicking clothing to keep you cool and comfortable. If you’re riding in the sun, wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your skin from UV rays. If you’re riding at night or in low-light conditions, wear reflective clothing and use lights on your bike to make yourself visible to others.

Hydrate

Staying hydrated is essential when cycling, especially during hot summer months. Make sure to bring plenty of water with you on your summer bike riding, and take regular breaks to drink and refill your water bottle. If you’re planning a longer ride, consider bringing an electrolyte drink or snack to help replenish your energy levels.

Pace Yourself

When cycling, it’s important to pace yourself and ride at a comfortable speed. If you’re a beginner, start with shorter rides and gradually increase the distance and intensity of your rides as you build up your endurance. Take breaks when needed, and listen to your body to avoid overexertion.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

When cycling, it’s essential to be aware of your surroundings and other road users. Look out for cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists, and follow traffic laws and signals. Use hand signals to indicate turns or stops, and be cautious when riding in areas with heavy traffic or road hazards.

Carry Essential Gear

When cycling, it’s a good idea to carry some essential gear with you in case of emergencies or unexpected events. This can include a spare tube, tire levers, a mini-pump, a multi-tool, and a patch kit. You may also want to bring a phone, ID, and some cash or a credit card in case you need to make a quick stop or call for assistance.

Stay Alert

When cycling, it’s important to stay alert and focused on your surroundings. Avoid distractions like listening to music or using your phone while riding, as they can impair your ability to hear or see potential hazards. Keep your eyes and ears open, and be prepared to react quickly if needed.

Stretch Before and After

Before you start your ride, take some time to stretch your muscles and warm up. This can help prevent injuries and improve your performance. After your ride, take some time to cool down and stretch again to help your muscles recover and reduce soreness.

Have Fun!

Most importantly, have fun when cycling! Take the time to appreciate the scenery, enjoy the fresh air, and explore new places. Cycling is an excellent way to stay active and healthy, and it’s also a great way to de-stress and clear your mind.

In conclusion, summer bike riding can be a fun.

Outdoor cycling is a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, which helps improve the vascular function of the whole body, promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis, as well as improve cardiorespiratory function and enhance muscle strength.

Preparation

Make sure you get enough sleep before riding to ensure that you have a good mental state during the ride. Have supplement food appropriately, and do a good warm-up exercise before you start to avoid strains and sprains during the ride.

It’s best to have all your rain gear on hand as there is a lot of rain in autumn. If it is a long ride, it is best to bring a piece of clothing to avoid getting cold and sweat.

The dress code should follow the three principles of windproof, breathable and warm.

According to experienced riders, you can choose to wear quick-drying underwear with long-sleeve cycling jersey on top and fleece cycling pants or fall pants on the bottom.

No matter what the temperature is, wearing quick-drying underwear in your autumn riding is a must. If you do not have quick-drying underwear, you can choose material similar to the short-sleeve riding clothes instead, so you can keep the ride dry and avoid catching a cold.

To carry out any sport, ensuring your own safety is a prerequisite. We must wear a good helmet and plan our route in advance to avoid getting lost and getting injured.

Riding posture

The most important purpose of mastering the correct riding posture is to avoid injury. The correct riding posture is: lean slightly forward, straighten both arms, tighten the abdomen, use abdominal breathing method, parallel both legs and the beam of the car, knee and hip joints to maintain coordination, and pay attention to grasp the rhythm of riding.

Autumn Cycling Tips

Choose the right seat and height for you. The key to deciding whether the seat is comfortable or not is the shape of the seat design, as well as the seat installation height and position. Too high seat installation position will make people in the process of riding can not maintain a stable posture, increasing the friction area, while too low installation position will increase the pressure of human contact parts.

Pay attention to rest during riding, avoid maintaining the same posture for a long time, and try not to ride on rough roads for a long time.

Do not be a “weekend warrior”. Exercise regularly and combine various forms of exercise to avoid short bursts of cycling. When riding for long periods of time, do a good job of warming up before you start and relaxing afterwards.

Hydrate on the way. Although you don’t sweat a lot on a fall ride, your body will lose a lot of water. However, taking some sports drinks can reduce the fatigue after riding and help you recover.

When you encounter curves on the downhill, you should slow down in advance and avoid large cars, don’t climb blindly, and don’t risk overtaking. When riding, pay full attention to the surrounding movements.

From a safety perspective, it is not recommended that older people or children under the age of 12 ride independently, especially on traffic roads.

If you want to lose weight through cycling, you can do moderate intensity cycling exercises, taking a gradual approach to cycling, lasting at least 20 to 30 minutes each time. Once the body reaches a certain level, try increasing the intensity and riding time.

Before you set off

Get your tyres inflated to the right pressure

Probably the easiest part of bike maintenance is inflating your tyres to the right pressure. What is the right pressure? It’s simple too – it’s written on the sidewall of the tyre, just look at it and you’ll know.

You’ll notice that tyre manufacturers have a recommended range, rather than an absolute pressure. This is so that you can adapt the tyre pressure to the conditions.

If you’re going somewhere where it might be wet and slippery, don’t over-inflate your tyres. If the weather is dry and you want to ride as efficiently as possible, pump your tyres full.

Get the right saddle height and riding position

Too low a saddle makes it difficult to use your full pedal range and leg strength; too high a saddle makes you nervous and can lead to injury. Ideally, you should set the saddle height so that you have a very slight knee bend at the knee when your foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Then adjust your position on the bike as well. A very simple rule of thumb is that you want the handlebars to obscure the view of the front hub when you assume a typical riding position.

Cycling shouldn’t be painful, so if you start to experience back pain or other discomfort, visit your local bike shop to see if they can help you adjust your position.

Dress for the conditions

There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes” is an old saying in cycling, and most of the time it’s true. The weather can change quickly, so learn to dress in different layers so you can cool down or warm up quickly. When it’s cold or hot in the summer, it can be hard to know what to wear on your bike.

Advice for Things to bring

Water and food

There’s no worse feeling on the bike than being dehydrated or completely out of energy, so bring fluids and some bike rations. Snacks like bananas, pancakes or jelly bars (for a quick sugar boost) will help you fill up.

If you’re going for a long ride, scientifically formulated products like electrolyte drinks and protein bars can help you avoid cramps or other problems mid-ride and get the most out of your efforts.

Padded shorts

New riders often think they need a hugely padded saddle to protect their backside, but that’s not really the case. A good pair of padded cycling shorts will give you enough comfort to survive the first ride, and you can increase your time and distance as much as your tolerance allows. Don’t wear underwear under padded shorts, as it can chafe and give you sores in the saddle.

Riding gloves and mittens

One thing that new riders often don’t think about is their hands. These hands can get tired quickly, so a good pair of padded gloves or mittens will do wonders.

Bring a lock and a light just in case

Even if you’re only going to be out for an hour or two, if there’s a chance you’ll be delayed until after dusk, you should mount a set of lights on your bike.

Also carry a lock, which is handy for unplanned stops in a shop or café. Don’t rely on your bike being safe, even if you leave it unattended for just a few moments.

Carry a saddlebag with tools, spare parts and cash.

Keeping a selection of tools and extra inner tubes in your saddlebag(s) will help you deal with common problems on the go. A multi-tool kit with a variety of tools will allow you to adjust most mechanical parts; a chain tool will help you put a broken chain back together; you’ll also need some tire levers, a puncture/spare tire repair kit and a mini pump.

We also think it’s a good idea to have some cash and cards for emergencies.

1. essential equipment for bicycle riding: helmet, cycling clothes, gloves, elbow and knee pads, water bottle, bike front bag, bike computer, electronic horn, etc.
2. essential equipment for night and small short distance rides: cycling glasses, headlights, tail lights, etc.
3. optional cycling equipment: sports camera, headband/faceband, lock shoes, heart rate belt, pedaling speedometer, etc.

A. Necessary equipment for bicycle riding.

1. Bicycle

The core of cycling is naturally people and bikes. So, what kind of bike is good to buy?

The general public usually chooses 3 kinds of bikes: road bikes, mountain bikes, and off-road bikes.

1) Road bikes: Higher price. Road bikes are lighter, have slim tires, and are usually faster than mountain bikes in good road conditions. Because most road bikes are drop handle type, so newbies need to practice and adapt.

(2) Mountain bike: wider tires, slightly bulky, but very suitable for long-distance riding, and driving on uneven mountain roads. Its suspension can absorb the impact of the road, making the ride more stable and comfortable. When it comes to roads with poor conditions, mountain bikes have better braking power and shock absorption than road bikes, so they can generally pass; while road bikes sometimes need to be carried by people.

3）Off road bike: It is a combination of road bike and mountain bike. The ride feels heavier than a road bike and lighter than a mountain bike. Suitable for riding in the city, but also for slightly longer distance riding.

It is advisable to buy a big brand of bicycle, the quality is guaranteed. Even if there are any problems, there are many repair points, and it is easy to repair and buy parts. However, there are usually no other questions except for changing brake pads and rear outer tire. You have to choose cycling accessories according to your purpose of use and economic conditions. Used as a tool for exercise performance is OK, no need to climb.

2. Helmet.

Safety first, the helmet is very important, the moment of the fall, the helmet can effectively protect the brain and reduce the injury.

Choose a helmet first of all to choose a suitable for their head circumference. Second, a good helmet to choose a one-piece molding, but many miscellaneous brands are not, it is not recommended to buy. Helmet is a disposable product, after the fall of the car break is bound to affect the solid, can not be solid to protect the head, we must decisively change. The price of the top helmet is far less than the money of an open heart surgery.

3. Riding clothes

Cycling clothing is very necessary cycling accessories, because according to human physiological characteristics of the longer riding time, certain parts of the body will be pain, especially boys, professional cycling clothing will ease a lot. Cycling clothes absorb sweat, dry quickly, and the eye-catching color has a certain security tips effect. Usually there are three pockets at the back waist of the clothes, which can be competent to place important small carry-on objects for short distances.

4. Gloves

Gloves are a very important piece of cycling accessories, anti-sweat, anti-slip, anti-scratch. Not only do they protect your hands when you fall, but they also prevent you from sweating and slipping when you ride. Usually choose half-finger cycling gloves in spring and summer, and optional full-finger gloves in winter.

When choosing gloves need to pay attention to: size to fit their palm width, slightly tighter comfort is good. In addition to the beauty, breathability, but also pay attention to the cushioning area size, sweat area and other issues.

5. Elbow pads and knee pads.

It is best to bring all this equipment to prevent from being hurt when fall.

After talking about cycling accessories, and then say the bike accessories.

6. Bike computer

The bike computer can show the time, speed, mileage, riding time, etc., so that riders can better grasp the physical fitness, riding situation.

Choose the code table to see the screen size, battery life, whether to support the power meter, and the code table end of the estimated power, can be completed in the cell phone; whether to support direct connection STRAVA, super fast synchronization speed; whether to support the export fit and so on.

7. Riding water bottle / bottle holder.

Dedicated cycling water bottle is inserted on the bike bars, easy to pick up and put in the cycling process. If you do not want to use a time to wash a water bottle, directly buy an adjustable size water bottle holder, directly put the mineral water bottle on OK.

8. Bike front bag

Put cell phones, ID cards, wallets, keys and other important objects. If you have a fanny pack is better, after all, important items better to carry with you.

9. Electronic speaker.

The horn is much better than the bell when you are in noisy places, or emergency.

The accessories stated above is suitable for any kind of cycling.

The following is optional equipment – to suit different situations, such as night riding and short distance riding.

B. Optional Cycling Accessories

1.Bandana and face towel: If there is a lot of sand and dust in the construction, it can protect you from the sun and dust, which is an accessory to be considered. The main role is to absorb sweat and prevent sweat from dripping into the eyes; generally buy cycling equipment will send bandanas, bandanas, sun protection and cold protection against mosquitoes. You can choose your favorite color and style.

2. Cycling glasses: cycling-specific glasses can prevent sand, glare and foreign objects such as mosquitoes from blowing into the eyes; cycling sports glasses fit at the eyebrows and can block some of the sweat; in addition, it is best to choose polarized lenses, the coating of the lenses can help the eyes adapt to day and night.
3. Heart rate belt: usually for road bike players, but also for a certain age, the heart is not very good, three high riders, at any time to see the heart rate.
4. Sports camera, bike recorder.

Sports camera (wearable camera) is installed on the body, is a manual shooting camera, loop video can last for 2 hours. While enjoying the ride, you can shoot images with verve without manual simplicity. Small size of the motion camera is recommended for outdoor as well as travel. Helmet mounted can shoot the same line of sight with their own landscape as well as scenery, but also the camera can be fixed on the handlebars.

5. Lock shoes: The biggest benefit of a large pedal area is to correct the wrong pedaling posture.
6. Night riding essential equipment – lights: in case of delayed travel to walk at night or through the tunnel, divided into front lights, rear lights.

Night riding must be installed lights as well as tail lights, special headlights with a cut-off line, like the car low beam, there is a light tangent, both to illuminate, and will not shake the eyes of people, more secure. Headlights try not to glare flashlight, because it will make the opposite side of the person temporarily blind, easy to cause accidents. Car lights generally have a base can be directly connected to the code table frame below, easy to install, beautiful.

Headlights: are necessary at night, especially in the absence of street lights, do not ride at night without headlights.

Tail light: Tail light is also very important, the tail light can be a flashing light, is a safety alert signal; In addition, it is recommended to buy a red rear light, can be more easily found by the driver behind. Tail lights can achieve a long range, a certain amount of waterproof is enough.

There are two kinds of lights: direct button battery and USB charging. If there are often night riding, it is recommended to use this USB charging more practical.

7 Cycling raincoat: Long distance riding will encounter rainy days, rain and snow and keep warm8 cycling pack: As cars have trunks, a bike pack equivalents to accommodate a lot of spare parts, strong and waterproof, easy to disassemble. When you want to have a long distance riding, towel, toothbrush toothpaste, shampoo body wash are necessary: spare tire and a variety of miscellaneous items into the storage. Small capacity, ten liters or less is almost enough.

Third, the necessary cycling accessories for long-distance:

1. Portable pump: the necessary items to fill the air, change the spare tire.
2. spare inner tube: if you ride far, prepare a spare tire to blow out the tire.
3. Brake pads: Brakes are a very important safety issue, so if you ride far away, you need to check the brakes before you leave, and have a spare set of brake pads.
4. Multi-functional repair tools: Far riding should have common repair skills and tools, such as tire repair, brake pad adjustment, hexagon for patching flat tires, etc.; there is a kind of tool canister, which can store a spare tire, two tire pry bars, a thunderbolt pump and other portable tools.
5. Chain oil: about once every 200 kilometers to apply oil6. Mudguards: When it rains, we need to put on the front and rear mudguards to prevent mud from splashing onto the body.

Four, the necessary equipment for long distance – medical supplies.

Deal with scrapes of band-aids, disinfectant drops, gauze, cotton swabs, etc.

The necessary cycling accessories should be completed, but you also need to minimize the items to reduce the burden of the road, is a very test of endurance and the degree of care.

The COVID-19 has caused a change in people’s lifestyles: focus on life, slow down the pace, get close to nature, and cycling fever includes all types of occupations, and people of all ages. Picking a nice place nearby and riding for an hour is enjoyable for the body and mind, as well as clearing the depression of staying at home since the epidemic.

Bring enough water

Cycling is a kind of endurance sports. Especially cycling in hot weather puts more challenges on the riders. So riders should pay more attention to Especially sunstroke prevention and sun protection. It is necessary timely to drink water. Therefore, you must bring enough water for long-distance riding, and a water bag is the best way.

Sun protection is very important

The skin is important to your health, so you must pay attention to protection. It doesn’t matter if you get a tan, and the key is not to get sunburned, so you should apply a waterproof and sweat-proof sunscreen on the exposed skin. Or uv proof cycling jersey and arm sleeve are necessary to keep your skin safe.

Pay attention to replenishing energy

Long-distance riding, high temperature, and lack of water make it easy for riders to exhaust their physical strength. In this state, people’s appetite is very poor, and they basically don’t want to eat, so they need a special food to maintain physical strength, energy bars is preferred if you have a long distance summer outdoor cycling trip.

Get fully equipped during summer outdoor cycling

Because helmets can effectively reduce the chance of concussions when you fall off the bike, so you should remember that helmets must be worn when riding a bicycle, otherwise there is no need for compensation in the event of an accident.

In addition, the commonly used protective gear when cycling includes knee pads, ankle pads, elbow pads and wrist pads, which can prevent sprains, contusions and other injuries while driving. Moreover, suitable cycling apparel is also a guarantee for safe and comfortable riding. Insurance experts suggest that cycling is a sport that competes with endurance. Long-distance cycling is easy to cause fatigue and cause accidents. When cycling, you must obey traffic regulations and keep eye on your own condition, and stop to have rest if you are not physically fit.

Besides, in my opinion, if you can cycling with your partner, it will be wonderful. Cycling alone is also a way to experience, but you can choose a group cycling if the weather is not so good or in night cycling.

The above mentioned is our suggestion, and if you have some advice to add or you think there is something wrong, just leave us comment below. We want to discuss more with all of you.

The first essential piece of winter cycling gear is quick drying base layer, which can disperse moisture in a short time, and let you feel warm and dry if you are sweating. If economic conditions allow, you can prepare 2-3 pieces of quick-drying clothes of different weights and thicknesses to cope with different weather conditions, which is more ideal.

After the base layer is ready, then go for the gloves, pants, shoe covers, warm layers and windproof layers you need for cold weather – you really don’t need to wear too much when you’re riding, just these few things, otherwise you’ll look particularly bulky.

Generally speaking, you only need 2 or 3 layers of clothing, with a jacket that you can easily take off or put your belongings in the pockets, which is warm enough for you to riding in winter.

Detailed Suggestions to Choose Cycling Clothing

18 to 21°C

A quick sweat-wicking base layer; quick-drying short-sleeve cycling jersey; riding shorts; half-finger gloves; riding socks.

15～18℃

A pair of cycling sleeves may be needed, and a windproof undershirt would be necessary.

When the temperature is around 15℃, you may still feel cool. But when your body heats up during the ride, you should want the outer layers to be easy to take off. Cycling sleeves and windproof undershirts can give you enough warmth at this temperature and are easy to take off and be packed into your pocket during the ride.

12 to 15°C

Change into knee-high riding pants or wear riding knee pads; thick riding socks; full finger cycling gloves; a riding beanie; and lightweight shoe covers.

This temperature is cold that you need to protect your knees. Long-finger cycling gloves and a cycling beanie worn inside your helmet will give you enough warmth and not feel too hot during the process. You can make your own DIY thin shoe covers with a pair of large socks, just cut a hole at the forefoot to leave the locking place OK.

10 to 12℃

You need to start keeping your legs warm. Put on long cycling pants; long-sleeve quick drying base layer and fleece cycling jersey. Remember to take a windproof jacket just in case.

This is a tricky temperature range, it will be cold and you need to dress very appropriately to be comfortable on the ride. But you can’t wear too much, or you’ll sweat too much during the ride and then get even colder.

A medium-thick long-sleeve base layer, and a layer of fleece insulation will keep the core of your body warm and dry, quickly wicking sweat away from the surface of your skin, and bring a windproof jacket or vest t in case the temperature drops.

7 to 10°C

Wear slightly thicker, full-finger gloves; slightly thicker shoe covers.

At this time is in the transition to the real cold season, you may need to choose gear according to the current weather and wind conditions. If it’s cold and wet or windy, you may want to choose some of that cold weather riding gear to add warmth.

If the weather is sunny or not that windy, you can add one or two pieces to the previous phase of gear. In any case, thicker gloves and shoe covers are good tools to keep you warm.

4~7℃

Change into warm tights; warm leggings; thicker long-sleeve base layer; warm undershirt or jacket.

Warm tights will make you feel more comfortable, and it’s time for a thicker base layer. Adding a thermal vest with a zipper will keep your core warm and allow the flexibility to take it off or put it on.

The purpose is to avoid sweating too much to get your close-fitting clothes wet, which is the hardest part. Bring a raincoat. A little rain in 4 degree weather makes it colder than -9 degree snow.

1 to 4 degrees Celsius

Change into warm shoe covers, or winter riding shoes; a warm jacket; a scarf or magic balaclava; and windproof gloves with a liner.

Warm winter shoe covers are a good choice, but some people may find winter riding shoes to be more comfortable. A scarf or magic balaclava can be a good way to protect your face. Don’t be afraid to take your gear off when you feel hot and put it back on when you feel cold to avoid sweating too much.

-1 to 1℃

Change into thicker and warmer tights; change into windproof gloves with fleece lining.

-4 to -1℃

You need a thick jacket for the outermost layer; you can wear an extra layer of socks.

It’s time to really zoom in. A few more layers of cycling clothing are never as comfortable as a very good quality jacket, especially on long rides. Remember to bring a thermos cup so that your drink doesn’t freeze.

Below -4°C

Add thick windproof shoe covers; base layer shorts; and another layer of knee warmers inside your leggings.

Don’t think so much about this temperature, wear what you can to keep warm. Warm up well before riding to avoid muscle damage. Protect yourself and be a cycling warrior in the cold!

If you have other suggestion about choosing suitable cycling apparel, just leave your comment below.