Advice on bike computers and misc

[Paula]

okay, Christmas shopping time... misc bike items....
- bike computer - low end - what do you recommend and why?
- partner won't wear tight cycling clothes, what are some other good options in the long shorts line?
- inexpensive 'need to have' essentials (is the redundant?) when starting out that you recommend?

thanks

[Lister Farrar]

Here are some things most riders need, and some products I like, that suit newer and bang-for- the-buck conscious riders. (I don't use a computer, so I'l let someone else chip in on that.)

Roughly in order of priority:

Road or mtb xc Helmet (with a removeable visor for muddy/wet days)
floor pump with gauge
chain lube (I like Phil Wood tenacious, especially for wet weather)
fenders with flaps
shoes (off road, work great for 95% of road cycling)
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302692667
rain shell gloves (see review)
multitool http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302694035
rain jacket (clear plastic ones work well and are cheap, at most bike shops, and small enough to fit in a pocket)
cold weather booties

Re the Lycra aversion, lycra is mostly about avoiding bunching and binding, in case he thinks it's all about some kind of effete pre-dawn singles club. Maybe casually mention the nasty chafing which is the unpleasant side effect of the non-lycra route. One way to ease into the 'look' (and feel) is to wear lycra road shorts under mountain bike shorts; you get most of the comfort/protection, and still have a pair of useful shorts for mountain biking or any other kind of rough use, that won't grab you in the wrong places.
eg http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302692435 (no underwear, btw)
with these
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302692435
and these for colder weather, so you don't have to commit to more expensive tights as well. http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302885010

[Roland]

Budget computer:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302693003

No budget computer:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302693003

Other must haves:
Tripleshot Cycling Jersey: We have them in stock.

[Josh.E]

Those filzer bike computers from MEC are good for the money, and give speed, average speed, distance, time, etc. If you go a little more expensive, $60-70 you can get one that adds pedal cadence.
The garmin bike computers give you all the speed and distance stats based on GPS, as well as giving you cadence and heartrate. All the data is stored on the unit, and can then be uploaded to your computer for permanent storage and hours upon hours of analysis of your performance. The Garmin 500 is a good deal for the money. That said, I no longer use a computer at all any more, and actually prefer it, but that's just me.

+1 what Lister said about lycra. If your partner hasn't yet come to the realization that lycra is in fact HIGHLY fashionable (read: euro), and can't be convinced of this universal truth it really is used first and formost because it works better than any other type of clothing for riding. Back in my earlier mountain biking days, I wouldn't have been caught dead in lycra. When I started road riding, I continued to use mountain biking shorts (regular shorts with a seamless crotch) with lycra bike shorts with a chamois underneath. They work pretty well, but if you start actually putting on any sort of mileage, baggy clothes bunch, rub, buffet in the wind and slow you down, etc. There really is a reason why the skin tight lycra evolved for road riding.

Other ideas:
-good fenders are a must. the planet bike ones at MEC are good, and really easy to fit on a cross bike
-merino wool socks and a decent water proof bootie to go over the riding shoes, and your feet will never be cold.
-merino wool long sleeve base layers (thin and warm, plus they hold their heat better when they get wet) I've always found the key to warm hands and feet is a warm core, so the body doesn't start pulling blood away from the extremities
-mountain bike shoes with spds. as Lister was saying, these give you the ability to walk in your shoes, won't wreck the heels of your booties, and spds give you the ability to use the shoes for things such as spin classes.
- Good gloves. Around here you need a pair of "cold weather" and a pair of "wet weather", as typically your cold weather gloves will completely stop working as they get saturated. The waterproof covers lister mentioned look to be the best of both worlds, as you could vary what you wear underneath them. I also use neoprene paddling gloves for rain riding. Your hands get soaked but stay warm, down to 3 or 4 degrees in the wet. They're also cheap. http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4302888436
- a decent saddle. If he's planning on putting in any sort of mileage, this is critical. I've heard rumours that some local shops have different demo saddles you can take out on your bike for a while to see what you like.