Where to start, if you have just bought a bike
Most bikes leave a shop with nothing on them at all. This is roughly the order worth buying in.
First: the things that get you home
A saddle bag with a spare tube, tyre levers and a multi-tool in it, and a pump or CO2 inflator. Fit them once and forget them until the day they matter. A bottle and cage go on at the same time — the frame already has the bolt holes.
Then: the contact points
Saddle, grips or bar tape. These are the three places your body actually touches the bike, and they are the cheapest way to change how it feels. A saddle that suits you is worth more than a lighter wheelset. See saddles.
Then: the useful extras
Lights if you ever ride at dawn or dusk — and in winter here, that is most rides that start before seven. A computer or a mount if you like knowing the numbers.
The salt air problem
Being where we are, everything metal on a bike lives in a mildly corrosive environment. Cable ends, bolts, bottle cage hardware and quick-release skewers all suffer, and lights and computer mounts left on a bike parked outside will degrade faster than the manufacturer imagined.
None of this is a reason to buy less. It is a reason to rinse the bike after coastal rides and to keep an eye on the small fasteners.
Common questions
Will a bottle cage fit my frame?
Almost certainly — nearly every frame has two threaded bosses on the down tube. Very small frames sometimes only fit a shorter side-entry cage, which is worth checking before you buy. See bottle cages.
Do you fit this stuff?
Yes, and most of it takes minutes. Bring the bike to the shop in Hout Bay on Main Road and we will sort it while you wait rather than sending you home with a box.
