Forgive me going into Uncle Knock mode here:
basic stuff you need to carry at all times:
Tyre levers
one spare inner tube.
A bike multitool with hex keys and screwdrivers
A pair of long-nosed pliars.
you can get 'wedge bags' which go under the seat and will accommodate all these necessities. You won't notice they're there. You can also put money in them, maybe a phone.
Punctures are the bain of a cyclist's life and you should be prepared. So yeah, you need a pump to go with the kit in your wedge bag. Zefal make good cheap pumps or you can pay for fancy, dinky wee telescopic pumps that do a good job too but there's more to go wrong.
A bottle cage to attach to the frame and a bottle to fill with preferably isotonic sports drinks.
Are you wearing trousers? cycle clips are indespensible for keeping your clothes out of the oily chain. In decent weather, shorts rule. But apply sunscreen in this blistering weather.
Pannier bags will set you upwards of £50 but are so much easier to lug things around in. Baskets fuck up your balance. i've done big shopping loads using rear panniers, no problem.
Plus you can keep a towel and a change of clothes in these rear panniers and they are very useful for extended pleasure rides. And they lift easily off the bike to prevent theft of your valuables.
Cycling mits protect your hands from pressure and falls while leaving your fingers available for quickly getting the chain back on the chainring when it inevitably comes off. Helps to have a rag to minimise oily hands.
Helmet! phone, in a waterproof bag. money in a wateproof bag. home keys. a proper lock, and keys, that goes through both wheels. lock it to a immovable object.
Some pedestrians like bells, i just slow down, say hello and smile. I think ringing at someone seems rude?
If the pedals are spd compatible i highly recommend getting a pair of shimano SPDs. You can get shoes which are fine to walk on, either trainer style or business style. Basically doubles your potential efficiency if you you use SPDs. I would never go back to toe-clips or clippless. But practice detaching your self from them before you go on a massive trip.
Waterproofs? They can go in panniers. Some compact waterproofs can also be worn round your waist. You only really need them for your torso, not for the legs. The legs are constantly generating heat and moving about, this discourages wet hanging about.
Either learn the art of maintenance or engage the services of a reliable bike shop. In Edinburgh and Manchester there are Edinburgh Bike Co-Op branches. I don't know how much further they've spread. But they are run by enthusiasts who know what they are talking about. Typically friendly and helpful.
Chamois leather inserts in your shorts can protect your delicate groin-based regions
That's just kit. I a have a whole load more to say about riding style, i'll keep that for another post.
Check cable conditions (brakes, gear) before you head off. You do not want a cable to fail in the middle of nowhere. Even if you have a spare cable, fitting it can be a pain, and often requires soldering. Did you bring a soldering kit? No, I didn't either!
Needless to say I've ridden many hundreds of miles on various bikes and I've never sustained a serious injury. The most depressing moments on bikes are where you are parched for thirst and you brought nothing to drink. Make sure you bring fluids! I used to go up and down roads looking for cans of juice that cunty car drivers had chucked out their cars, they are always empty.
Hmmm. Enough for now, sorry for the "tl;", hope you did in fact "r"
PS always plan your route and have backup plans for if the route turns to shit.
http://bikehike.co.uk/index.php is a good site which allows you to plot a route, examine climbs, reroute, then export to various formats including CycleStreet which will give you turn by turn directions over the route. It works in android, garmin, etc.
Hope this helps! It's basically 30 years of cycling practice brought up to date with modern technology!
Oh fuck did I remember sunglasses? Don't leave home without a decent pair of wraparound sunglasses. No one wants wind drying out their eyeballs, or insects taking up residence under their eyelids. Also , I can't fucking see without sunglasses so that's that! Take a sunglasses bag to protect them if the the sun goes down and you want to stick them in a back pocket. Remember your keys and money are in there and they WILL destroy your beloved, expensive shades. Happened to me anyway.You might also benefit from those air filters that strap to your face. They really do reduce the amount of car exhaust fumes inhaled, and keep you pedalling at optimum efficiency.
If you're a quick and confident cyclist, stay on roads. Cycle paths are NOT mandatory! Any cars moaning that you should be on the cycle path, just chase after them, slap their roof and when they have your attention let them know that cycle paths are optional. You are as entitled to use the road as they are (except where cycling is prohibited, i.e. motorways and some dual carriageways.)
Take a picnic! Have a nice sandwich at some point and glug down your sports drink, Take it easy after a sandwich as stomach processing while you thrown yourself about will lead to heartburn and possibly worse.
Say hello to fellow cyclists - if they are up for a chat, take a welcome break! But zoom off into the distance if they seem less than benign. Malicious cyclists tend to be unfit as they are concentrating on ruining everyone elses cycling experiences, not making rapid progress.
Take in the world around you. It might make your journeys a bit longer but it's at least 50% of the pleasure of going out on a bike.
Above all enjoy yourself! Don't do a cycle run that leaves you thinking you would rather take the train.
That's my thoughts so far. I love cycling but it can be hard work till you develop fitness. Take your time to develop basic fitness then start pushing yourself a bit with rests in between.
Is this a rant? I think it's a good one though :D Above all, have fun! If it's not fun, you're on the wrong route, or your bicycle geometry is causing you discomfort.
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