# Thinking about getting into biking. What's a good way to start? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201 "2016-08-18T19:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/61 "2016-09-16T19:55:06Z")
Which is why you need the bottle holder… 😃 Or the 120 oz Camelbak which will also carry your compact pump, spare tube, patch kit, basic first aid kit, spare change, bike multitool, wallet, watch and kitchen sink… I think it really depends on where you ride as to how much you really “need”. I’ve been riding mtb since the suckers were invented (mid 80s) and i’ve broken lots of parts and had to limp home on one gear and wobbly tires a few times. Would I cart all this around for a day ride around town? Probably nothing but the lock and a water bottle would be going with me, but a 3 or 4 hour trail ride? You betcha. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/62 "2016-09-16T20:19:56Z")
I got it - maybe he could get a collapsible bike and strap it on as a backpack, or haul it in a trailer, just to have a spare! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/63 "2016-09-16T20:25:47Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Which is why you need the bottle holder… 😃 > > Or the 120 oz Camelbak which will also carry your compact pump, spare tube, patch kit, basic first aid kit, spare change, bike multitool, wallet, watch and kitchen sink… > I think it really depends on where you ride as to how much you really “need”. I’ve been riding mtb since the suckers were invented (mid 80s) and i’ve broken lots of parts and had to limp home on one gear and wobbly tires a few times. Would I cart all this around for a day ride around town? Probably nothing but the lock and a water bottle would be going with me, but a 3 or 4 hour trail ride? You betcha. That’s what I have strapped to the seatback of the handcycle. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > I got it - maybe he could get a collapsible bike and strap it on as a backpack, or haul it in a trailer, just to have a spare! 😃 I saw one of the homeless here riding down the street with an entire bike strapped to his back. Not a folder, either. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/64 "2016-09-16T20:47:53Z")
Another accessory I consider essential is a rearview mirror. It attaches to the left side of your handlebar (in countries where you drive on the right). You can see what’s gaining on you without turning your head. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/65 "2016-09-16T21:11:14Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > That’s fine. If you want to pack a patch kit and/or spare tube and pump, go ahead. Just offering my not inconsiderable experience as a data point. Guess I’m just lucky. Just thought your lengthy list of “must haves” a tad excessive. > . Nearly 40 years without ever getting a flat = inconsiderable experience. You’re not wrong, though, about excessive kit. Sturdy set of commuter tyres and low-ish mileage round town and you could easily go a year or two without punctures or any other mechanical. So just hopping on and riding is a good approach IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/66 "2016-09-16T21:50:12Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ve ridden bike quite a bit since I was young in the 70s, and I NEVER had a flat while out driving. Got hit by cars a couple of times when younger, and one time had a handbrake fall off and jam up the front wheel. So you could invest in pumps, spare tubes, tools, etc. - or just bring your cellphone. > [@wguy123](#): > > I road bike quite a bit and I do not recommend the above. I have gotten flats. Quite a few over the years. Being able to repair them while 50 miles from home is important. And if your wife is on the ride with you, who are you going to call? I’ve had a few flat tires over the years, and I carry a spare tube and pump just in case. I haven’t used them this year (done 1,300 miles this summer), but they’re nice to have for those few times when they’re needed. I’ll leave it up to the OP what to carry. It depends on how far you’re going to be from home, how self-reliant you like to be, and how you’ll get home without them. Get out and ride, get some exercise, and stay safe; the rest is details. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/67 "2016-09-17T00:16:58Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Nearly 40 years without ever getting a flat = inconsiderable experience. > > You’re not wrong, though, about excessive kit. Sturdy set of commuter tyres and low-ish mileage round town and you could easily go a year or two without punctures or any other mechanical. So just hopping on and riding is a good approach IMHO. Keep your air pressure right though or you get a pinching flat hitting a bump. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/68 "2016-09-17T14:43:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Ghostbusters!!! > Though they’re worthless when it comes to fixing flats. > > I live in goathead country. Even thornproof tubes and tires have a exemption for goatheads. > > I can count on 2-3 flats a week on the roads outside of town with a record seven in 29 miles. Goatheads? (I’m picturing Actual Goats ambling out onto the road and butting your tyres…) I was getting way too many flats due to all the construction I’d ride past (nails, broken glass, etc.). So I bought a “puncture-resistant” brand with a kevlar strip inside, which has helped. And a seat bag with an inner tube and mini-pump in it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/69 "2016-09-17T14:46:53Z")
[Goatheads.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris) ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/70 "2016-09-17T15:17:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Another accessory I consider essential is a rearview mirror. … You can see what’s gaining on you without turning your head. A mirror is another of those things about which there are varying opinions. Among the pros and cons, the idea that made up my mind to ride without a mirror is that a mirror only tells you when you don’t have to turn to look behind you before changing lanes – if you see something in the mirror you don’t have to look back because you aren’t going to change lanes anyway – if you don’t see anything in the mirror, you have look back anyway to be sure there is nothing coming. Learning to check over your shoulder for traffic without steering yourself off track is a necessary skill and will likely require some practice before it becomes second-nature. ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/71 "2016-09-17T23:32:53Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Sturdy set of commuter tyres and low-ish mileage round town and you could easily go a year or two without punctures or any other mechanical. So just hopping on and riding is a good approach IMHO. A good set of puncture resistant tyres, Schwalbe Marathon Plus for example, and a little luck will see you several thousand kilometres between punctures. Don’t forget narrow road tyres are far more likely to get ‘snakebit’ or a pressure puncture than wider Hybrid tyres. It’s why I sold my fancy Road bike and went back to Hybrids, I won’t go lower than a 35mm tyre myself, the roads around here are terrible for potholes and drain grills not flush with the road. Also seconding the general love of Trek bikes in this thread. I got a 7.2 for Xmas last year and I love it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/72 "2016-09-18T02:45:07Z")
> [@DeptfordX](#): > > Also seconding the general love of Trek bikes in this thread. I got a 7.2 for Xmas last year and I love it. I was riding the Schwinn Varsity (that I saved up paper route money for in 7th grade), but needed a more reliable bike for commuting. So bought my first new bike at 55. A Trek 7.2… I’d been wondering if i should’ve gotten a sexier road bike, but then I walked into a bike shop on an island off Seattle, and there were over a hundred Trek 7.2s hanging from the ceiling. Owner said:“I’ve had those for years. Best rental bikes ever. Hardly any mechanical problems!” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/73 "2016-09-18T19:31:26Z")
> [@DeptfordX](#): > > … Don’t forget narrow road tyres are far more likely to get ‘snakebit’ or a pressure puncture than wider Hybrid tyres. … Primarily true only because many riders don’t keep topping off the air pressure often enough. Well inflated tires are much less likely to get pinch flats. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/74 "2016-09-18T21:37:18Z")
I’ll chime in with my two bits. The first time I lived in Hawaii, I went to a nice bicycle shop and bought a pricey model, but it was great. Used it the entire 2-1/2 years. Even did the full 100 miles in the _Honolulu Advertiser_’s annual charity ride. (It was not a race, you just had to go a pledged distance of 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. I recall the 100 miles took me 8 hours and 20 minutes including a one-hour soak in the ocean at the turn-around point on Oahu’s Windward Coast. Ah, those were the days when I was in shape.) Now that I’m back in Hawaii, I plan to do the same in the not-too-distant future. There is simply no sense in wasting your time and money with a cheapo product if you intend to be a dedicated rider. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/75 "2016-09-18T22:16:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ll chime in with my two bits. The first time I lived in Hawaii, I went to a nice bicycle shop and bought a pricey model, but it was great. Used it the entire 2-1/2 years. Even did the full 100 miles in the _Honolulu Advertiser_’s annual charity ride. (It was not a race, you just had to go a pledged distance of 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. I recall the 100 miles took me 8 hours and 20 minutes including a one-hour soak in the ocean at the turn-around point on Oahu’s Windward Coast. Ah, those were the days when I was in shape.) > > Now that I’m back in Hawaii, I plan to do the same in the not-too-distant future. There is simply no sense in wasting your time and money with a cheapo product if you intend to be a dedicated rider. 100 miles is getting serious, and I would imagine Hawaii has some hills and wind to deal with. I did a big, organized ride in Boston today; 40 miles, plus 9 there and 9 back home. I think I might still manage a century, but it’s been a while. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/76 "2016-09-18T22:36:22Z")
I’ll just second the advice to get spare tubes. When you get a flat (and it will happen), you want to get it fixed as quickly as possible, and that means just swapping out the entire tube. That weekend or whenever you get a chance, you can spend the time to go looking for the hole and get it patched. And be advised that no matter how good your seat is, your butt will get sore at first. That’ll pass after a couple of weeks or so. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/77 "2016-09-18T22:36:48Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > 100 miles is getting serious, and I would imagine Hawaii has some hills and wind to deal with. I did a big, organized ride in Boston today; 40 miles, plus 9 there and 9 back home. I think I might still manage a century, but it’s been a while. There were a few hills, but mostly the route hugged the coast. Back then, I road my bike up Tantalus three times a week, so I was in shape. There was one slope on the charity route that was steep enough for many, maybe most, of the riders to get off their bikes and walk them uphill, but I pedaled merrily past them. Those days are long gone now, but who knows if I’ll get back into the swing of it once I get a bike again. > [@Chronos](#): > > I’ll just second the advice to get spare tubes. When you get a flat (and it will happen), you want to get it fixed as quickly as possible, and that means just swapping out the entire tube. That weekend or whenever you get a chance, you can spend the time to go looking for the hole and get it patched. > > And be advised that no matter how good your seat is, your butt will get sore at first. That’ll pass after a couple of weeks or so. I was lucky, I never got a flat. But that’s true about the sore butt. Yes, it will go away shortly, just keep at it. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/78 "2016-09-19T03:06:16Z")
I always carry a spare tube, patch kit or skabs (in case my backup tube gets a flat), and a small pump (mounted next to my water bottle holder). It’s all fairly compact. Flats are rare, depending on the time of year, but I also live in goathead country and flats are not unknown, even on paved trails. My tube repair kit, especially my pump, gets more work from me helping out stranded, unprepared riders I encounter who tell me they “never got a flat”, than dealing with my own flats. Good for the karma, tho. 😃 I agree with the sentiment tho, to not make cycling overly complicated. Just go out and ride and enjoy yourself and you will learn what you need along the way. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/79 "2016-09-19T16:22:32Z")
Acacia thorns are no fun either. My first experience with them resulted in 3 flats in 45 minutes; and a trip to the local bike shop in Alamagordo for armoured tires, tubes with goo, and a new pump. Also, falling into an acacia bush equals no fun and bandaids. This was a 3 hour ride with local riders and a complete blast in the desert. All that stuff went off the bike when I got home as boreal forest singletrack isn’t quite as nasty, generally. Nowadays I mostly commmute and my accompanying gear list is parsed down a fair bit. I’ll echo what **snowthx** said, Get out and ride! Also, for casual riding a hybrid or ATB is generally more comfortable than being hunched over a full on road bike, IMO. As far as weight savings my friend once pointed out as I looked at carbon fiber flat bars, “If you lost 30 lbs you’d be riding on a weightless bike…” I would have killed him if I could have caught him… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201/80 "2016-09-19T16:40:01Z")
Just wanted to toss this in. I used to be a runner before my legs got too bad. Enjoy watching the Chicago marathon, having run it myself. One year, on the afternoon after watching the race, I decided to bike 26 miles. Was in pretty good shape for a 50+ yr old desk jockey. It was actually a bit of an effort to complete it in 2 hrs - about what the top runners took! Not THAT’s humbling! 😃 Was riding with my sister the other day. Near the end of 25-ish miles, she commented that we were hitting a decent pace - just under 15 MPH. So we stepped on it, and passed 16 MPH. My sister has WAY more endurance than me - could ride me into the ground. She is WAY fitter than I - one of the fittest people I know. But when I kept pushing it, she couldn’t keep up, noting I passed 18 MPH. Just was sort of surprised at the apparently clear illustration of the difference between men’s and women’s strength. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-getting-into-biking-whats-a-good-way-to-start/763201.md?page=5)