Expanding my activewear and fitness kit to include cycling gear these past few months has been pretty fun. Even if it means that most of my wardrobe is now sports clothes! These are some of the products that helped get me through the London to Brighton Bike Ride last month.
Quechua Arpenaz 10L Hiking Backpack - £2.49
This backpack from Decathlon is amazingly cheap, and such a great bargain! It's tiny enough to not weigh you down, but the perfect size to throw in an extra layer, or clean top, as well as snacks, money etc. It's really nicely made too with two zip pockets and wide soft straps.
Boardman Women's Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey (similar) - £10 in the sale (RRP £29.99)
This is the first proper cycling jersey I've bought, with an elasticated waistband to stop it riding up and three pockets on the back - so handy for stashing gels, chews, my phone, tissues and anything else you might need when riding. The fabric is moisture wicking too, and really soft.
I've also bought a couple of new bits of kit for RideLondon which I've been testing out on my last couple of rides.
Cateye Velo Wireless Cycling Computer - £29.99
This little wireless computer clips onto your handlebars, and has a sensor and magnet that fits onto the front wheel. It took some fiddling to make sure everything lines up so that the computer picks up the movement of the wheel, but after that it was a breeze to use! I am loving being able to look down and instantly see my current speed, how long I've been cycling for and how far I've travelled (among other stats). It's really interesting, and useful for trying to maintain a more consistent pace which I will need to do if I want to complete the full 100 miles of RideLondon!
Topeak Aero Wedge Medium Saddle Bag - £10.48
I already had a couple of different size bags for my bike, but one was too small to really fit anything in, and the other was very large - great for touring but it does weigh you down quite a lot. This is a happy medium, that offers room for my travel pump, spare inner tube, puncture repair kit with tyre levers, multitool, as well as money, keys etc. It fastens around the stem of the saddle with velcro and then has two buckles which you loop through the underneath of the saddle so it stays pretty securely in place. There is even an extra zip so it can expand for a little extra room should you need it.
What cycling kit and accessories can't you live without?
Beki x
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It's all about the pockets in cycling jerseys - you can fit anything and everything in them (mainly because I can never be bothered to carry a rucksack) Also CO2 canisters mean you don't have to carry a pump which is a win win situation. There is also the great option of gaffa taping gels/bars to your top tube during sportives, works wonders!
I've only recently acquired cycling jerseys and I love the pockets on the back - they are so handy as you say! I've seen people tape gels to their bike for easy access. I may have to practise that as it sounds like a good idea 🙂
I don't cycle, but I run and zipped pockets are a must! It annoys me when items have pockets that have no zip because things will just fall out. They are OK for something like a credit card but no good for keys or anything that will move about a bit.
I have that bag! It's so useful for just about everything (though I don't think I've used mine for cycling...yet). And obviously a popular choice - I was in Rome a few weeks ago and saw so many people with it.
As for essential kit, I definitely agree with Maria about zip pockets especially if you've got important things like phones and keys in there. I also always put my phone in a waterproof pouch, even on dry days because I'd hate to ruin it with sweat (eww)
Haha yes, I've seen lots of people with the same bag too. Thanks for the tip on putting your phone in a waterproof pouch - sweat is definitely not a good mix with tech!