Cycling Gear 101: What You Actually Need (and What You Don’t)

When I first started cycling, I had no idea what half the gear was for — drop bars, clip-in shoes, aero helmets… it all sounded a bit intense (and expensive).

Mark, of course, already owned several bikes and more cycling gear than I thought one person could need. Meanwhile, I was just trying to figure out if my old running sunglasses would do the trick (spoiler: they did, for a while). Now my drawer of exercise clothing is no longer running short, but is overflowing with padded shorts.

If you’re new to cycling, the gear world can feel overwhelming. So let’s break down what actually matters when you’re getting started, and what can wait until later.

The Cycling Gear Essentials — What You Actually Need

A Reliable Bike That Fits You

This one is tricky. Technically, you don’t need a $7,000 carbon frame with electronic shifting to enjoy cycling. But you do need a bike that fits your body, riding goals and that you like and therefore will ride. Maybe a silly thing, but I do want my bike to look nice – and be in a colour I enjoy. When it comes down to buying a bike, buy what you will ride (famous words from Mark).
When I started, Mark found me a secondhand road bike, and that was perfect. You can always upgrade later, but a proper fit is non-negotiable. 

Tips: 

• How to determine frame size – this is not a straightforward answer as it depends on bike type, use cases, brands and more. Frame sizes are measured by tube seat length (image below), but the measurement points vary by brand.
  • Generally, a good place to start is by measuring your inseam (ground to crotch) and knowing your height. You want to know inseam, because you do want to be able to touch the ground with your toes while you are on the saddle.
    • Here is a detailed post with more information and sizing charts by bike type and a video on measuring frame sizes.
• Bike fit –
  • Frame size is the starting place – you can make so many adjustments to make the work perfect for you.
  • Consider a professional bike fit if you are buying an expensive bike. And I mean professional bike fitter, not a physio who also does bike fittings or someone in the store who can make it work for you. Bike sizing charts are guidelines, not rules.
  • Fit is more than frame size. Things they will consider include saddle height, reach, handlebar width, crank length, and more (ya, I know lots of terms). A proper fit helps prevent pain, numbness, and injuries while improving your efficiency and comfort. 

Your seat, the saddle

This one is worth emphasizing because I learned the hard way: the wrong saddle can make even short rides miserable. Even when your short ride involves beer flights…

Women’s pelvic structures and sit-bone widths differ from men’s. Being a male-dominated sport, many products are designed and produced for male anatomy and then proportionally reduced in size to “fit” women.

A 2023 study by Lin et al. found that having a saddle that is 1 cm wider than the width between the sit bones provided a reduction in pressure. In fact, the average seat width for men is 130 mm, whereas this study found the average women’s seat width is 160 mm. They also found that pressure is more evenly distributed when a wide saddle is used, which could improve pedalling symmetry (reducing injury and increasing power).

How to find your saddle size: Many bike shops can measure your sit bone width and recommend an appropriate saddle (usually in millimetres). Or you can do it at home—with instructions from this post.

Also, avoid overly cushy “comfort” saddles for road cycling—they often create more friction and pressure points, potentially causing saddle sores.

Finally, with your bike fit, you will also want to ensure they adjust your saddle’s height and tilt. When riding in the dropped position, saddle pressure shifts forward, which can have a greater impact on women’s pubic bones than on men’s.

Comfort and fit are more than luxury — they’re foundational to performance and longevity in the saddle.

A Helmet — Always

This should go without saying, but wear a helmet every time you ride. It is the law in British Columbia for all cyclists to wear a helmet, but not in all provinces and territories (also not sure about the rest of the world). Aside from it being the law, brain safety is important.

Unfortunately, it is common to see people riding without a helmet on their head (but a helmet hanging off their bike handlebars—no, it doesn’t make sense). Or riding without a helmet while their children ride with one. I have a separate issue with this – practice what you teach. Children are little sponges and build their worldview based on what you do.

Look for a helmet that fits snugly without tilting forward or back. I have a small head and wore a junior style for a while, but it often tipped back. Aside from looking goofy, it wouldn’t have necessarily protected me in the same way (as you can see in the photos below).

Tips for choosing a helmet:

1. An expensive helmet does not always equal a good helmet. Check out Virginia Tech’s Helmet Rating System here.
2. Choose one with MIPS technology. These helmets have a thin layer inside the helmet that allows the helmet to slide relative to the head, which mimics the brain’s movement within its protective fluid. MIPS helps minimize the risk of concussions and other severe brain injuries caused by rotational motion. Here is a video for visual explanation.
3. Helmets are good for one major crash and then need to be replaced.
4. Helmets also expire.

It’s a small investment in brain safety that’s well worth it.

Padded Shorts (aka Your Butt’s Best Friend)

The day I bought my first pair of padded cycling shorts (aka chamois), I wondered why I hadn’t done so sooner. Yes, they look a little silly and feel weird at first, but your future self — and your sit bones — will thank you.

For your first pair, you likely don’t want to splurge too much, and you likely won’t be riding super long distances, so you can go for a unisex chamois pad. I do have some men’s ones that are fine, especially on shorter rides, but for the longer rides, I do get sore in the groin area. 

Tips for padded shorts

• Chamois pads are different for men’s and women’s body shapes (again, note anatomical differences). Women’s pads typically are:
  •  wider at the back to support the wider sit bones, 
  • narrower in the middle to reduce chaffing around the groin
  • have more padding in the front to support pressure on the pubic bone (which is at a different angle than men’s).
• I also recommend the bib style – it helps everything stay in place better. With the ‘suspenders’ holding up the shorts, you don’t need a tight waistband, which can get uncomfortable when you are bending forward. Bibs are also designed slightly differently for men and women.
  • Women’s bibs tend to have a more curved fit from hips to waist, to match generally wider hips and narrower waists.
  • The waistband (or top edge) might be higher or shaped differently in women’s bibs to provide comfort/smoother line.
  • Strap design: Because of differences in body shape, particularly in the shoulder strap layout might differ in strap width, number of straps, or how they go around the chest to sit comfortably.
  • A con of bibs – it is more effort to go to the bathroom. For the girlies who have stood nearly naked in the bathroom cause you chose that cute romper – this is the same vibe.
• Also, look for ones with no-slip material on the legs. This will prevent the shorts’ leg from riding up as you pedal, and keep your padding under your butt.
• Important to note – the shorts or bib are your underwear. Wearing underwear can cause added friction.

Bib shopping suggestions:

• Here are some good options:
  • Budget, less than $50: Inbike (women’s specific – not the best for long rides but good), Sportneer (women’s specific short-only, good ratings), Eco-daily (women’s specific short-only, good ratings)
  • Mid-range, between $50-125: NeoPro (unisex), Cerotipolar (men’s – I have 2 pairs and do quite like them), Siroko (women’s specific, some are mid-range and some expensive)
  • Expensive, more than $125: Samsara (Canadian-made, specific for women), Peppermint Cycling (made specifically for women), 7mesh (link to women-specific gear), Castelli (link to women-specific gear), Pearl Izumi (link to women-specific gear)

Shoes and Pedals

There’s a learning curve with clip-in pedals (or “clipless,” as the cycling world confusingly calls them). There is a separate post on these later. For now, start with regular pedals as you learn and get comfy with the other things. Consider switching to a 2-bolt, recessed style cleat system (dual-sided, flat and clips), which are still easy to walk in and give you a taste of clip-in while still allowing you to use flat pedals. 

Important to note – you have to match your shoes to the style of cleat you have. I started my cleat/clip journey with Crankbrothers (shoe, cleat).

Other bits and bobs

• Eye protection – you aren’t always going to need sunglasses, but general eye protection is a game-changer. Early on, I didn’t ride with anything, and the first 10-15 minutes had my eyes watering from the wind. Not to mention the potential for bugs flying into your face. So if you have some good sport sunglasses with UV protection, start with these. You can also get affordable cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses (clear, polarized, etc).
• Tail lights: Even for daytime rides, visibility is safety. The best thing to focus on is a flashing tail light – one with an irregular sequence, if you are riding with cars.
• Repair kit: Tube, CO₂ cartridge or pump, tire levers, patch kit and multi-tool, just in case, even if you don’t know how to use them. The bike community is supportive, and if someone sees you struggling, they might stop to help – but they can’t if they don’t have equipment. More on how to actually use these in another post!

What’s “Nice to Have” (But Not Essential… Yet)

These items can improve your experience as you get more into the sport, but they’re not required for day one.

• Cycling computer or GPS watch: Great for tracking rides, distance, and pace (I love using Garmin + Strava for motivation). You might already have an activity watch—Apple Watches work; that’s what I started with.
• Cycling jerseys: The back pockets for snacks are handy, but you can ride in a as-snug-as-you-are-comfortable workout top that will manage sweat and not flap around with the breeze/wind.
• Clip-in pedals: As mentioned, discussed in a later post, it’s worth learning once you’re ready.

You’ll Find Your Style & Preferences

Cycling gear is personal. What works for one person might not for another — and that’s okay. You’ll find what makes you feel comfortable and confident with a little trial and error. 

Some tips:

• Get the cycling gear that will motivate you to get out there – if you want to look like a pro with a cute jersey/bib set – do it.
• Find safe, fun routes and destinations that will encourage you to ride more (a future article)
• Consider integrating riding into your commute (a future article)
• Find friends/family/cycling/fellow commuters who will ride with you & make sure they are good riding partners (a future article)

Quick Starter Checklist

• Properly fitted bike & seat
• Helmet (with MIPS)
• Padded cycling shorts
• Eye protection
• Basic repair and patch kit

Start simple, focus on the joy of riding, and build your setup as your passion (and legs) grow. There is so much content, research and opinions out there. The biggest thing is to do/buy/wear what you need to get on the bike.

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What gear confused you the most when you started — or what’s the one piece of gear you are most unsure about buying? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to help you sort what’s worth it and what’s not.

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Posts in the series: