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Kit by Cycling Level

Kit by Cycling Level

When I started I had no idea what half of this stuff was for, let alone what to actually buy. So here's the cheat sheet I wish someone had handed me: every piece of kit, why it matters, and what's worth having at each stage — from your very first ride to what's hot in the pro peloton.

You do not need everything at once. Start with the essentials, ride, and upgrade as you go.

The Quick Reference

Each item below explains why it matters Purpose, then what I'd actually recommend at each stage: Getting Started → Novice → Intermediate, plus a peek at What's Hot in the Peloton for when you want to know what the pros are doing.

Helmet

  • Purpose: Everyone needs a good one — it's your protection, full stop.
  • Getting Started: Any helmet that fits, preferably one with MIPS.
  • Novice: The same one — if it still fits and isn't damaged, keep using it.
  • Intermediate: Replace roughly every 5 years (or after any crash).
  • What's hot in the peloton: Aero road helmets that double as time-trial-lite lids, with brands moving toward lightweight, heavily-vented-but-still-aero shells. Increasingly white and team-colour-coordinated.

Glasses

  • Purpose: Protect your eyes from wind, bugs, and road dirt.
  • Getting Started: Any old pair will do.
  • Novice: A cheap plastic sports pair.
  • Intermediate: The more you pay, generally the more coverage and protection you get. Interchangeable lenses for different weather and light conditions (e.g. Oakley).
  • What's hot in the peloton: Big, oversized single-lens shields for maximum coverage and aero gains. Oakley is no longer the automatic default — teams now run a range of sponsors, and the trend is the largest lens the rider can stand.

Gloves

  • Purpose: Can help if you're prone to blisters or want a bit of padding on longer rides.
  • Getting Started: You don't need them.
  • Novice: You don't really need them.
  • Intermediate: Personal preference — varies rider to rider.
  • What's hot in the peloton: Many pros now race bare-handed (or in thin aero gloves) in summer for grip and feel; full-finger thermal gloves only come out in the cold and wet.

Jersey

  • Purpose: Back pockets for storage, and a snug fit that cuts drag on longer rides.
  • Getting Started: Any shirt will do.
  • Novice: Any top will do.
  • Intermediate: Time to get a proper jersey with rear pockets.
  • What's hot in the peloton: Skin-tight, aero-cut jerseys — effectively a one-piece feel — designed to be as slippery through the air as possible.

Shorts

  • Purpose: A chamois (the padded insert) provides cushioning and protection for your backside on longer rides.
  • Getting Started: Any shorts — preferably tights.
  • Novice: Time to invest in a pair with a chamois.
  • Intermediate: Most people wear bibs — the ones with straps over your shoulders. I don't get on with those; I wear shorts with a chamois from ASSOS instead.
  • What's hot in the peloton: Skin-tight, aero-cut bibs, often with grippers and integrated leg bands, in the team's matching design.

Socks

  • Purpose: Hygiene and blister prevention.
  • Getting Started: Any socks.
  • Novice: Any socks.
  • Intermediate: Thin, technical socks to help prevent blisters.
  • What's hot in the peloton: Long, thin, white socks — the taller the better within UCI limits. White is the dominant look right now.

Shoes

  • Purpose: Being clipped/attached to your pedals adds power — it improves the connection between you and the bike.
  • Getting Started: Any pair of trainers / running shoes.
  • Novice: Time to move to cleats and start clipping in — this also means buying the matching clipless pedals.
  • Intermediate: Most road riders prefer Look-style cleats and pedals.
  • What's hot in the peloton: Clean white shoes — they've been the dominant look across the 2024–2025 seasons and show no sign of going away.

Foul-Weather Gear

  • Purpose: It can get cold very quickly on a bike if the weather turns — foul-weather kit keeps you warm and dry, and extends your riding season.
  • Getting Started: Any long-sleeve sports shirt will do.
  • Novice: Arm warmers, leg warmers, a vest (gilet), and a rain jacket.
  • Intermediate: There's no limit to the options — arm/leg warmers, gilet, rain jacket, overshoes, and more.
  • What's hot in the peloton: Ultra-packable, near-transparent aero rain shells and gilets that stuff into a jersey pocket, plus thermal aero base layers when it's cold.

Where to Shop (by Level)

Placeholder links below — these are suggestions to get you started. Swap in final preferred/affiliate links before publishing.

Getting Started — keep it cheap and cheerful

  • Shorts / basics: Decathlon — unbeatable value to dip your toe in.
  • Helmet: Decathlon (placeholder)
  • Glasses: Decathlon or any sports shop (placeholder)

Novice — your first "real" kit

Intermediate — investing in quality

  • Shorts / jersey: Rapha — premium but built to last. (placeholder)
  • Cheaper-but-good alternative: Castelli or MAAP (placeholder)
  • Glasses: Oakley (placeholder)
  • Pedals / shoes: Look / Shimano (placeholder)

What's hot in the peloton — the top end

Draft note from Sunny: peloton column is researched/drafted per your ask — refine to taste. Shop links are placeholders. And confirmed: the pros wear ASSOS, not ASOS. 😄