Whether you want to try your hands at different terrain, get more out of your sessions, or jump into the competitive arena, you might be at a point where you feel like you need to make upgrades. Maybe your current bike can’t handle the load, or maybe you feel you don’t have the right safety features and equipment. It’s indeed very important that you have the right gear to move up in level and help you stay there while minimizing your chances of injuries and accidents.
Let’s take a look at a few areas where you should invest when trying to take your cycling to the next step.
Professional Bike Fit
One of the first things you’ll need to invest in when upgrading is getting a professional bike fit. A professional will work with you to adjust your bike for optimal performance. It will also be adjusted for you to feel comfortable and to reduce the chances of injuries. The bike fit will vary depending on the bike and the type of riding you want to do.
Bicycle Insurance
Another thing you will need to start looking at is bicycle insurance. First of all, you’ll probably want to look at a better bike if you’re getting serious. We’re talking about a $2000 investment at the very least for a decent mountain bike and easily around the $10,000 mark when it comes to premium models. This means you need to be protected for theft. But since you’ll be going harder, there is also a greater risk of injuries and damage to the bike.
You have companies like Velosurance that will get you affordable mountain bike insurance to cover all of this. If you want to know more about them, try this site. Their coverage will not only cover theft and damage to your bike but liability as well if you end up injuring someone else in a collision. Not only that, but they will even come to pick you and your bike up if you’re ever stranded or have an accident, just like AAA for drivers.
Some Good Bike Shorts
Bike shorts are not only there to make you look good, they also play an essential role to prevent abrasion and sores from riding the bike. Invest in a good pair of pants with chamois padding and you’ll never want to go back again.
Some of the things you should be looking for include the material for the shorts. Light spandex is perfect because it’s wicking and breathable. As far as the padding goes, you want to go with thicker padding if you’re going to be doing mountain biking as it absorbs shock better. You can go for denser and thinner padding for long distances.
Cyclocomputer
If you’re getting serious, you probably want to be able to track your progress. This means that you’ll need to invest in a cyclocomputer. This will allow you to track things like distance, average speed, or things like elevation for instance. Here, we’d recommend the Garmin Edge as a first computer.
Good Lights
You might also end up changing your cycling habits and start riding either earlier in the morning or later at night. In both cases, you will need good lights to keep you and the people around you safe. You want something with at least 1000 lumens of power. You should also look for a rechargeable and waterproof model.
New Wheels
Upgrading to new wheels will make a world of difference and you’ll notice it instantly. You want to go for wheels with high-quality hubs, light, and durability. You may also get by with only getting a new pair of wheels if your current bike isn’t that bad. If you want to get an aerodynamic edge, look for carbon fiber rimmed wheels.
A New Bike
If you want to get the full package, however, then you’ll need to get a new bike. If you have an alloy bike, for example, and you’re trying to do some road work, then it might be too heavy for you. At the end of the day, you need to find a local bike shop that you can trust and will work with you. You can then start to look around. You will suddenly start hearing names coming back over and over again.
Also, you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to bikes, and if a bike is cheap, you’ll get cheap results. So, save if you don’t have the money for a higher-end bike, or else your performance and appreciation of cycling will suffer.
When deciding to take your cycling game up a notch, these upgrades should help you. Make sure that you’re prepared to make this investment if you want to see progress and achieve your goals.
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