fundamentals

The No. 1 thing about riding: have fun. If you’re a U.S.C.F. racer, this section’s not for you. If you’re brand new to bikes, this may help. If you ride a road bike but don’t race, take a gander. If you’re an urban commuter or messenger on a fixie, feel free to roll your eyes. It’s OK.

Helmet: Non-negotiable. Get the best you can afford. Comfort over style. They’ve gotten sexier in the last decade. But let’s face it, you wouldn’t wear one to the office or on the club dance floor. Still pretty geeky, despite the cool colors and shapely “vents.” Can save your life in a second.

Bibs: Always preferable to shorts, but not at the dinner table to protect your base layer from spaghetti sauce stains. Stirrups on bibs hold up the lower half (shorts) like suspenders do the pants worn by Grandpa and Gordon Gekko. I suppose Lycra cycling shorts might be better if they came with belt loops. But then again, a black leather belt would get stained on the first ride by tummy perspiration. Most critical part of bib: the pad that sits between your bum and the saddle.

Bigger jar than Assos with plenty of performance

Chamois Crème: Works like a charm. Easy substitution: Udderly Smooth, used by dairy farmers. Don’t laugh. About $5 at your local drug store. Takes care of rain/sand rash in a snap.

Saddle: Complex yet simple. Now available in width-sizing to match you sit bones. For many, less is more. For others, a little extra cushion helps for the pushin’. Talk to friends. Ask to test ride their rig. The most expensive isn’t necessarily the best.

Shoes: Very important. The only piece of equipment that touches the bike all the time. And potentially very confusing. Because cycling’s roots are European, most of the best shoes hail from Italy. Two brands are from France, but hardly anyone I know sports French shoes. Italy rules. Anyway, the only true way to know if you’re a Euro size 44 or 44.5 is to try your brand of choice on at your local bike shop in the middle of the day when your feet are at their largest. Worst time to be fitted: early morning in the freezing dead of winter.

Jersey: Full-zip, hands-down. Ventilation is critical on Mont Ventoux, or Palomar Mountain. Or the biggest hill in your ‘hood. Or if you live in New Jersey, the highest highway overpass.

All-purpose Craft base layer I use

Base Layer: During winter and early spring, yes. A base layer is akin to an undershirt with your favorite wool sweater. There’s a reason you rarely see pros cyclists wearing base layers in July at the Tour de France. Airflow on your front when climbing in the saddle for 3 miles or more is preferable to any need to wear an undershirt under a technical piece of apparel, which high-end jerseys typically are.

Gloves: Overrated, in my opinion. But in the heat, you’re glad you have them on epic climbs as sweat pours out of your head like a faucet with a bad washer: drip, drip, drip. With the advancements in today’s bar tape, comfort is much less a factor when riding bare-handed. Some contend cycling gloves save your hands from road rash when you fly over the bars and slide on the pavement, but I think that scenario poses bigger problems–like cracking your collarbone, smashing your head or scraping your face (personal experience).

Socks: You don’t really think about them until you’ve been in the saddle for 6 hours. I recommend two types: technical construction with a little bit extra cushion in the heel and toe for cooler months, and ultra thin for the dog days of summer when the feet can blow up on 120-degree tarmac in Fresno, California at the end of Climb to Kaiser. One of my all-time personal favorites here, from ATX.

Arm Warmers and Knee Warmers: Yes, when temps fall below your comfort level. You’ll know the first time you don’t have them on.

Wind Vest: Yes. I always carry one for late afternoon rides. It was a tip I received early on from a former racer who said temperatures can dip faster than you think. Add to that a descent at 40+ MPH. A flimsy little vest comes in handy, packs easily in rear pocket. WARNING: If you try and slip into your wind vest while rolling, you mayhit the deck. How many pros have gone down while attempting what would seem to be an easy chore? And they ride more than anyone.

Eyewear: Think of them as a windshield for your eyes. Riding before sunrise or all night? Use clear lenses

Sunscreen: See “Helmet” Spray-on varieties cover your exposed parts without getting your hands gooey. Also works great on cleanly shaved dome.

Lots of inspiration and encouragement in this little device

iPod: Yes. Tiny Shuffle worn on right sleeve within easy reach. Companion on long solo training rides in right ear.Create playlists for different types of rides: tempo, recovery, hill repeats. What’s on mine? A bit of everything, from Spoon to Springsteen.

Computer: Yes. Helps you measure progress. Builds self-esteem, or shatters confidence. Lots of options. Distance. Speed. Gradient. Elevation gain. Cadence. Heartbeats. Calories burned. Haven’t found one yet that pedals the bike for me.

Cellphone: Only when off bike. No exceptions. Don’t be “that guy” who talks on the phone while riding.

Food: One of the best things about cycling. Carbohydrates the night before big rides. Protein after. Coffee first thing in the a.m. De-fizzed Coke still sipped by some pros looking for extra “kick” at the tail end of warm stage. Those pros must know something.

Bike: The most personal choice you’ll ever make. Steel. Titanium. Carbon. Aluminum. Combo of two or more. Bamboo now even used for frame making. Bikes can be anything from hand-built works of art form to mass-produced frames from giant Taiwanese factories. Find the one that’s right for you and your budget. It’s money well-spent.

Motivation: Training logs. DVDs. Books. Magazines. Twitter buddies. TTs. Centuries. Ultras. Teams. Tours. Club group rides. Neighborhood spin classes. Weight scales.Extreme tan lines. Whatever works, use it. Embrace it. You’ll need it.

Click here to learn more about the gear I love and have come to depend upon.

Best sports trading card ever