A little bit of bike chat for beginners

Just because I get asked a lot about this, here's my bike buying advice for people new to cycling:

Go to a local bike shop, buy there. A small independent place is better as they generally will care more about the customer over making the sale and probably will have better knowledge than somebody who works for a large chain (although, this isn't always the case). Any local bike shop with half decent customer service will give your bike a free service/tweak up after a couple of weeks of riding and probably be more helpful to you for the time you own the bike than saving a few quid online will be. They will generally offer good advice, the shops I use do.

What are you riding on? Basically: Roads and paths/towpaths bit of easy off road = hybrid/gravel/cyclocross (CX) bike Roads only = hybrid/road bike More technical trails/bike parks = mountain bike Commuting in rush hour with train journeys involved = folding bike

What size bike will you need? Hugely important for road bikes, not so important for the more sit up and beg type of bike. You have to be comfortable on your bike otherwise you won't ride it. Talk to your local bike shop about this. You see a lot of almost brand new bikes for sale second hand because the previous owner bought online using the online measurement chart and got it wrong. Some online retailers won't accept the bike back, so GO TO A (proper) BIKE SHOP. The sizing will have more to do with comfort/discomfort than any saddle related issue generally.

Do you live somewhere hilly? Will you be going on long rides? Will you need gears? For just commuting a short distance on bike a single speed will do the trick in a flat town/city where you're not carrying much luggage but if you're planning on riding hills or heading out with panniers etc you'll probably want a nice wide spread of gears. How many you have doesn't matter as much as how small the lowest gear is and how big the highest gear is. Single speed = cheap and low maintenance, gears need to be looked after and will cost a bit more.

Are you carrying luggage? If you're planning on sticking some panniers on it or mudguards you'll need a frame that has the right eyelets on the seat-stays/forks.

Are you buying second hand? Look at pictures of the chain and chainset/cassette (big cogs and little cogs). Are they silver or black? If it looks covered in oil and grit it's likely the bike hasn't been looked after very well and you'll need to get some new components after you buy it and if you want it to work well. If it looks clean then and well looked after it will more likely be a good buy!

Do you want suspension? If you're spending over a grand on a bike and it has suspension, fine. If you're spending £200 on a bike and it has suspension, don't. Cheap suspension is more troublesome and potentially dangerous than helpful. It will be heavy, break easily and slow you down. A standard steel/alloy/carbon fork is much better on a cheaper bike.

What else will you need?

You'll need a helmet (highly recommended, regardless of how you look/what it does to your hair. I saw an awful accident a couple of weeks ago where the cyclist didn't make it, it was a slow speed impact. He would probably still be alive if he was wearing a helmet). Find one that fits and wear it properly every time you head out.

Locks: something that is secure to the appropriate level. There are bronze, silver and gold standard locks out there, google it to find out what you'll need.

Spares: Learn how to change an inner tube, it's dead easy. Take a spare tube or two, pair of tyre levers, some patches and a mini-pump with you when you're out and know how to use them. There are loads of little saddle bags that clip under the saddle that will fit everything you need in.

Lights: A decent rear light with a day flash mode is a brilliant investment, I always ride with one in case of glare on the road surface, dark conditions and generally people risking not seeing you. There's no chance you'd miss me on the road with that on which gives me confidence when I'm riding to put myself in the right part of the road. If you're riding in the dark, lights are absolutely essential. Way more effective than high-vis clothing at any time of the day.

Cleaning stuff: If you want to preserve the life of your bike, learn how to degrease and re-oil the chain, this will mean you'll keep your bike running smoothly for years without having to replace stuff on it when it starts to break, it doesn't take long and is a really simple process. Look after your bike and your bike will look after you.

Clipless pedals/shoes: This should be your first upgrade when you're feeling like you want to take it a bit more seriously. They make a huge difference, the entry level stuff is pretty cheap and it's no way near as scary as you might think or have been told it is. Plus you get to clip clop around like a tiny, tiny horse when you're in the café getting your mid-ride helping of cake and coffee.

If you feel apprehensive about riding on the road, get more confident on the cycle paths and bridleways then try again, if it's still daunting look up your local bikeability course (similar to the old cycling proficiency test) and go get some pointers that will help you ride safely. They're great and courses are available and running all over the country now. The more you do it, the more fun you'll have and the safer you'll feel as a cyclist.

Keep your eyes open! Everywhere we ride we will be sharing the paths and roads with pedestrians and vehicles. Never pick a fight with somebody in a big metal box with an engine in it, they will always win. A smile, polite wave and "thanks" will placate most situations on the road. It's easy because you'll be so bloody happy that you're riding a bike that you'll be grinning from ear to ear all the time you're sat on it!