Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a beginner. What cycling kit should I buy?

• Bike helmet
• Clipless pedals
• Cycling glasses to protect your eyes from flying rocks, bugs and wind.  The best ones have interchangeable lenses so you can use clear or light coloured lenses in dull weather (most days in this country) and dark lenses in sunny weather.
• Cycling gloves
• Lights if you plan to do any cycling past 4pm in the winter. An LED light for the front is usually adequate, together with a red flashing light for the rear.
• Spare inner tubes, tyre levers, and patch kit.
• Bike pump

What should I wear for winter cycling training?

Essentials:

• long-fingered gloves
• long tights
• base layer top (like long underwear) if it’s really cold
• long sleeve cycling jersey or sports top
• water-resistant or waterproof jacket with ventilation zippers under the arms

The jacket will be the most expensive but well worth the money for a good one if you’ll be cycling much in England. Get one made for cycling that comes down past your bum so you don’t get soaked by the water coming up from your back wheel. It is for wind and rain protection more than for warmth. Get one that is big enough so that you can wear two layers underneath if it is really cold. In warmer weather, you can wear it over a short-sleeve jersey to keep the rain off. You can unzip the ventilation holes under the arms to prevent getting too sweaty and wet on the inside. A bright, visible colour like yellow is the safest.

Also nice but not essential:

• neoprene booties to wear over cycling shoes
• water resistant or waterproof trousers
• thin fleece hat with ear flaps that can be worn under your helmet if it’s really cold

What brand of clipless pedals should I get?

The main brands for road bike pedals are Look, Shimano, or Speedplay.

Look pedals are slightly easier to get into, but the Shimano fittings are easier to walk in; otherwise they’re fairly similar in design.

Speedplay pedals are quite different in design, with the advantages of being able to clip on either side of the pedal, meaning it can be much easier to clip into.  If you’re concerned about weight, they also offer the lightest pedals.  They are typically much more expensive than the equivalent Shimano or Look models.

You can also get mountain bike style pedals, which are typically easier to clip into, and have smaller cleats so your shoes are easier to walk in.  These generally aren’t recommended for regular road bike use, as the platform is much smaller and you will feel more focused pressure on your feet during long rides.

During events, really efficient racers just slip their feet in and out of their shoes while the shoes remain clipped to the pedals.

Should I buy a women-specific saddle?

Women’s saddles are a bit wider and the nose is a bit shorter, so they tend to fit women’s bone structures better. That is a generality and doesn’t work for everyone though. Terry and Giro Fizik Vitesse are two recommended brands.

Is one water bottle cage enough?

One water bottle cage is enough for racing, but I like to have two water bottles along when I’m training, especially if it’s hot, so I have two water bottle cages my racing and my touring bike.

Should I buy one wind & water proof jacket or one windproof jacket and a spare waterproof jacket to carry with me when I go cycling in case it rains?

Buy one waterproof or highly water-resistant jacket for the winter. It will serve as protection against both wind and rain and you can wear it all through the winter months and most of the spring. Later in the year, if you find you need protection from the wind but your waterproof jacket is too hot, you can then buy a light wind shell. By that time, you will know what features you do and don’t like about your waterproof jacket and you can shop for a jacket with the features you really like.

Cycling shorts; should they be padded?

Yes.  The idea of the padding is to reduce friction, thereby reducing the onset of sores.  For winter, although you can buy long leggings with padding, it is usually cheaper and easier to just wear running leggings over the top of your regular padded cycling shorts.

Should I get a top specially made for cycling?

You should definitely get something long sleeved that is breathable and wicks away moisture. You’ll work up a sweat climbing hills and if your clothes stay wet, you’ll freeze coasting down the hills. Whether or not you get a cycling-specific cut depends on how much money you want to spend on clothes just for cycling. A cycling top is a bit longer in the back and fitted at the waist so you stay covered and don’t have the wind blowing up on your stomach when you’re in a cycling position. They usually also have a pocket in the back where you can keep a spare inner tube and patch kit, keys, sports bar or banana. They are excellent for cycling, but not very versatile.

Should I buy a portable (hand held) bicycle pump or a larger floor pump?

You first must have a hand-held pump that you take with you on rides in case you get a puncture, which can be strapped onto your bike. Some people carry very small ones that fit in the pocket of their cycling jersey. You should also invest in a floor pump because you’ll need to pump up your tires every couple of weeks (even without a puncture) and it’s difficult to get them fully inflated with a hand-held pump. You’ll want them fully inflated, especially for races, because you’ll go faster.

What are good training books for triathlon?

‘Power to Perform’ (1999) by Jon Ackland sold in the UK under the title Complete Guide to Endurance Training’ through A & C Black Publishers. Its a bit of a tri bible for kiwis and is a text for sports science university students. Jon Ackland runs Performance Lab NZ. The book focuses on training and the principles of training and explains how to write you own programmes using peak mileage weeks with microcycles etc.

What should I pack for a triathlon?

Below is an indicative checklist put together by John Griffin:

Swim

Bike

General

Warmth