07/23/2026
New to cycling and overwhelming by the amount of things to buy and the cost? Here are five things we'd consider worth the money.
Cycling, San Antonio, Texas, Mountain biking, road bike, gravel, bike, endurance, training, fitness, Krebs, carbs, upset the industry, be free ride bikes
Quality bib shorts like these from Be Free // Ride Bikes will make your ride so much more enjoyable. A supportive chamois provides comfort and moisture wicking, a compression fabric can improve circulation, straps keep them up, and a quality fabric will be breathable, moisture wicking and comfortable. They may seem like little things but that add up to a big difference. Don't cheap out and buy what's cheap on Amazon; get the best you can afford up front.
Tires like these ones from Schwalbe Tires make your ride faster, and more comfortable. If you go can tubeless with Freddie Pereyra sealant then you can run an even lower pressure, resulting in more comfortable and less worry about flats on those long days or races.
Sports nutrition can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Blank's Sports Nutrition makes it possible to create a custom mix that fits your body's needs, and having the proper fuel for your workouts and races can be the difference between finishing on the podium or crawling over the line in last place.
Many people will just ride whatever comes on their bikes and believe that pain is part of the experience. When I finally got a wide enough saddle for my sit bones I was blown away by how much better the cycling experience was. Saddles can be expensive but given that it's the part of the bike where most of your weight rests we think it's worth finding the best one you can afford that works for your body.
I'll admit, I didn't totally get the hype here before I bought one, and now I can imagine riding without it. Knowing not just that a car is approaching but also how many are still behind me has given me peace of mind I didn't know I needed. Safety is paramount, so we recommend getting one of these if you ride on busy roads.
