Let’s say you’ve just started biking.

You haven’t got any kit at all but just bought a decent mountain bike and a helmet. Plan is to go out with your mates and regularly ride fairly technical trails.

What are your top 3 bits of kit or gear that you’d fork out for to get started and make the rides more enjoyable?

I’d say a dropper post, camelbak and knee pads.

What say you?

Bib shorts.
Camelback
Glasses/mud guard

Decent padded short liner
Eye protection
Kneepads

Plasters
New washing machine
Audi

I’d say a dropper post, camelbak and knee pads.

I can honestly say I’ve never used 2 of those and am using the camelback less and less.

For me:
Eyewear of some variety.
Padded shorts, ideally bibs.
And that’s it really, you can do what you want with that. If pushed I’d add hydration of some kind but for me that would be a bottle and cage.

Shorts.
Riding Jersey.
Waterproof jacket.

Bottle(s) & Cage(s)
Padded shorts
Basic repair kit

Coaching.

(lights fuse, retreats to a safe distance).

where you contact the bike
shorts
shoes
gloves

A Buff very useful on a bike, low tech but I ride with one all the time.
Cycle shoes for stiffness.
Camelback.

And just go and ride!

A well fitting saddle
Tubeless
A gillet

learning how to fix a puncture.

a pair of balls

a sense of humour

Let’s say you’ve just started biking…Plan is to go out with your mates and regularly ride fairly technical trails.

First aid kit
Spare helmet
Hip flask

– Puncture repair kit
– Weather appropriate top
– Padded shorts

I’d also add lights – given we’re cast into darkness for half the year.

Waterproof shorts.
Windstopper jacket/gilet.
Waterproof socks.

padded shorts
Basic tool kit including tubes etc
Waterproofs

Decent bib shorts,windproof Gilet,merino jersey.

Off you pop.

Tool kit and the ability to use it
Decent padded undershort/bibs
Shoes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BG166_GP0bLFW_0BQjqWzwwjqF5WC0_g1WE17w0/?taken-by=v666ern&hl=en

bike
pasty
tea

optional river

EDIT DAMN IT!

Techy trails –

Dropper (makes the tech easier)
Knee pads (makes the crashing safer)
Camel back (you can then carry food, money, tools, water, First Aid Kit)

Kit wise:
Waterproof shorts
waterproof shoes
front Mudguard

Bike wise:
Dropper
Tubeless, i got a puncture the other day. I’d forgotten how shite it was

Gloves, Camelback and decent shoes.

On the assumption that you’re riding with mates that already have a decent multitool,chainsplitter and the usual stuff you need to take with you. Then:-

Dropper post ( although you said you have a decent bike,so this might not be needed)
Camelback
Gloves
If you already have a Dropper post, then some clear glasses

Nothing. I’d go out for the first ride or two and work it out from there. I wouldn’t have considered knee pads anywhere near my first three items and if you can afford a dropper you have enough cash to get more comprehensively kitted out.

Cider.
chips.
fags.

if I had no kit at all, then the following:

Gloves
Puncture kit
Baggy shorts (waterproof ones are a revelation)

Surprised padded shorts has shown up so much, wear are you riding and for how long?

I find I don’t really need them these days, whether that’s for short blasts or longer rides and bikepacking

Decent multitool
Decent minipump
Decent shoes.

Decent glasses, decent clothing for the conditions and a decent saddle/ bike set up.

Or
Audi
Traildog
surly attitude

Shorts (baggies)
Technical T shirt (ie wicking, not a cotton one)
Cycling shoes

Dropper post is in no way an essential. Being able to move the bike around a bit more without having to stop for 10 seconds means nothing when your arse is red raw.

Shoes with a reasonably stiff sole will help each pedal stroke feel stronger and you’ll be less tired (which is useful for novices).

And the t-shirt – well, no-one likes clammy sweatiness do they?

I find I don’t really need [padded shorts] these days

Yes but if you have just got a bike your arse will not have the required conditioning!

Baggy shorts with liner.
Gloves
Eyewear

Your (presumably fitter) mates can carry a spare tube and a cold beverage for you.

padded shorts
Proper lights
gloves

My favourite (but not essential) bits of kit:
– Gilet
– Waterproof socks
– Dropper

And on a similar theme – 3 (…wait, 4…) bits of advice for a newbie:
– go tubeless (learning how is a right of passage!)
– learn how your bike works
– don’t worry too much about kit – the most important thing is the driver
– have fun, (which supersedes all of the above!)

In this order…

1) Account with STW
2) Counseling for realising you’ve spent your hard earned money on the wrong wheel sized bike
3) New bike

Glasses
Gloves
and most importantly GOOD SHOES, I mean who really likes shin digs?

Shin Pads
Grippy Shoes
Wicking T-Shirt

&
Mobile Phone

quality shoes, gloves, and bibs

everything else is just fashion.

padded shorts number one for sure.

My little brothers mate just started riding after not having ridden for 5+ years since riding to school.

They are only doing 10 ish miles at a time. after the first ride he bought some undershorts & much happier.

I’d choose a jersey before a camelbak, but even a football shirt or similar is preferable to a t shirt.

& gloves.