Cycling-specific clothing and accessories are all designed with one thing in mind: making your ride more enjoyable. If you’re comfortable on the bike, you’ll ride more, you’ll ride longer and you’ll be happier.

Shorts should be your first purchase. You can find these in either Lycra or baggy styles. Cycling shorts come with a padded liner called a “chamois” that is designed to quickly absorb and evaporate sweat but more importantly, provide you with a nice layer of padding between you and the saddle. Shorts will allow you to be much more comfortable when you ride and allow you to ride longer distances. Try different manufacturers’ shorts to see which fit is best for you.

Jerseys not only look nice but they help to keep you cool and comfortable. Many companies offer long, short sleeve and sleeveless designs. Jerseys generally come with a front zipper and pockets in the rear for carrying stuff like sports bars, keys, money and cell phones with you on the ride.

Gloves will add cushioning and protection for your hands. Gloves generally either use foam or gel for the padding, strategically placed to protect the median nerve in your hand. It is very important to try different gloves to ensure a proper fit. Always test the gloves by gripping a handlebar in your normal riding position.

Water bottles and cages should be mandatory equipment for rides in hot weather or that last more than 30 minutes. Staying hydrated is key to getting the most out of your ride.

Spare tubes, pumps and tire irons are a good idea if you plan to take your ride any distance from your house where walking back is inadvisable, or if you have no one on the end of your cell phone willing to pick you up. Of course, learning how to use those tools to fix a flat is probably a smart idea, too.

Cyclo-computers are great fun. You can get all kinds of interesting information such as speed, max speed you obtained on the ride, a clock and distance traveled. Depending on how fancy the computer is you can also get your cadence (the number of pedal revolutions you make per minute) and even GPS.