No special clothing or safety equipment is necessary or required to ride a bicycle, but cycling can be made more comfortable by your clothing choices.

Wear comfortable clothing in layers so it can be removed or put on.  Any loose clothing or laces should be tucked away so they cannot be caught in moving parts.  Hands get cold and cannot go in pockets while cycling - bring gloves, padded ones reduce strain on the wrist when cycling on uneven road surfaces.  Shorts or leggings allow the legs to move freely, padded cycle shorts or padded cycle tights make sitting in a saddle for long periods more comfortable and can help reduce chaffing.  Light coloured or high visibility clothing can make you more visible to other road users.  Wearing a correctly fitted helmet cannot reduce the risk of a fall or collision, but may reduce the severity of a direct impact to the top part of the head.  Full face helmets reduce a cyclist’s field of vision and should be avoided.

Bring a spare inner tube (two spare tubes are recommended) and the tools to fix a puncture; on family rides and youth cycle rides the ride leader will bring spare tubes suitable for most sizes of children’s bikes.  Pack some spare clothing and be prepared to remove some clothing, even in cold weather cycling can be hot work!  Pack a waterproof if a shower is likely, sunglasses, a hat or sun tan lotion if it is sunny.  Bring water, snacks and lunch unless buying at a café and some emergency money (£5 in coins is recommended for unaccompanied children and young people).  Bring a good lock - D locks are the most secure type.  The best place to store equipment, food and spare clothing is on the bike in a pannier bag or a bar bag, otherwise a rucksack or drawstring bag will do but will make cycling less comfortable.