£250 - what gear should I get?

pumpers

I've been doing some riding on local trails etc for the past couple of months. Finally got some level of fitness and am now doing around 10 miles without collapsing in a big heap !!
However, this has all been done wearing tracksuit bottoms, t shirts, trainers and my lightweight berghaus jacket.
I really enjoy the riding and plan to branch out to do more trails etc( live in derbyshire so lots of places to ride nearby)
So I need some gear, camebak, top, shorts, shoes etc.
I've got a budget of £250 and the choice is bewildering.
Recommendations please on what I need as essential stuff and what I can skimp on. Already have helmet, gloves and sunglasses!!!

thanks.

pumpers

101_North

Endura Hummvee shorts

yoohoo999

some padded undershorts can make quite a noticeable difference to overall ride comfort, try the DHB ones on wiggle, they are cheap and effective.

i tend to just wear old cargo type shorts on the bike, nothing bike specific, i tend to trash kit (I just had a hoody, t-shirt and northface base layer cut off me in hospital on sunday)!

buy a decent wicking base layer now the warmer days are coming. have a look through wiggle/crc etc, there is a lot to choose from, but check the reviews and you won't go too far wrong. go to TK Maxx and outdoor shops near you since base layers are pretty much the same for most sports, I get all my stuff whenever NorthFace do a sale, they make cracking base layers. You can get some good 3 for 2 offers in places like Blacks for base layers.

as for shoes, i presume you are not riding SPDs, so the choice is completely personal. some people like bike specific 5.10's, some wear bike specific shimano shoes, and others (like me) prefer a skate type shoe with a waffle sole. It really is up to you, there is no correct answer with clothing, just what ever feels good for you. you don't mention pedals, but a good pedal/shoes combo is pretty much necessary for any serious type of mtb, so make sure your pedals are up to the job before spanking money on shoes (i.e. not the plastic ones that come with the bike!). New pedals are cheap, look at the Wellgo's range.

as for a camelbak, the actual camelbak branded ones are quite pricey, you can save a bit of cash by looking online for army surplus store ones, or buying a different brand name (but effiectively the same product). if you don't need to carry much kit, don't buy one with huge storage capacity. i've got a cracking Deuter 12litre pack I use for climbing/snowboarding/biking, enough for 2litres of water, a bit of food, multi tools and a spare layer of clothing. Deuter make cracking packs, but they are pricey.

bluechair84

I'm one for throwing a good chunk of money at shorts - there is nothing worse than trying to ride in and live with something cheap and substandard. You can get away with cheap helmets cos they all pass the same tests but shorts - Endura is a good brand to go with.

Steer away from cotton Tshirts, you can get some breathable sports Ts from Primark for a few quid.

Camel back and multitool, spare inner. Have a look online at Decathalon stuff if you want a cheaper backpack.

Herbie The Dog

Have a look on Stif...they have some great Fox combo offers on at the moment. You could save a packet.

paulbox

Chain Reaction, just trawl through the cleance section.

This site has some Oakley cycling jerseys at pretty good prices:

www.mandmdirect.com (Search Oakley) they also have some other cheap cycling gear.

pumpers

tx for the replies. Have a decathlon nearby so will nip in and see about backpack.

having trawled through even more threads I nipped to LIDL and got some padded shorts for £7. Will try them this weekend but those who have bought them seem pleased !!
Might get rid of my numb bum!!

If they aint any good I'll go for the endura's as they seem to be everyone's favourite.

Just need a baselayer, multitool and an inner now then !!

I have flat pedals ( kona Jackshit primo) which are very grippy, even with trainers. I've got some old sakteboarding shoes with a waffle sole from my boaridng days ( a LONG time ago !!) I'll dig them out and try them !!

thanks for the advice everyone.

pumpers

Anonymous

clothing wise, the only thing I'd bother spending some money on is some tops. Royal racing and Endura do some decent ones. Basically, they don't get sopping wet with sweat, and they dry out really quick.
I've got some Fox baggy shorts for riding, but they're by no means essential, as long as the shorts you have now are a decent fit.

Ad a camelback of your choosing... They all do the same job, and are equally good at it, so just pick the one that has enough space for whatever you want to carry. Dakine also make really nice hydrapacks.

If you're fine with what trainers you have now, why bother changing them. If you want a lot of grip, but in some shoes you can still wear day to day, get some decent vans, with the waffle tread. Or if you're after shoes purely for riding in, look at the 5:10 range.

paul_75

pumpers wrote:

I've been doing some riding on local trails etc for the past couple of months. Finally got some level of fitness and am now doing around 10 miles without collapsing in a big heap !!
However, this has all been done wearing tracksuit bottoms, t shirts, trainers and my lightweight berghaus jacket.

thats riding gear for men you wear just now (only cause thats what i ride in)