HELP!IM A NOOB WHO NEEDS ADVICE!

Id go for some okay cycling shoes but pack them with some decent insoles (it comes out cheaper that way and you will find them more comfortable too.. well I did anyway.

Usually you can do some rides with a club without joining to begin with. There are teenagers not much older than you who ride with my local club. A couple of them are much quicker than the older guys!

See what clubs there are in your area, you might find one (or more) that is welcoming and you feel comfortable with.

Our club has members of all ages who ride bikes, from 5 up to 85+. The junior section includes nippers who've just graduated from balance bikes to teenagers competing at national level in the velodrome, circuit races & time trials. There are also ones who just like going out with their dad on the Sunday social ride.

Welcine, it's great to have younger people cycling.
My advice: ride as much as you can, listen to advice here and from people you meet riding but mostly just work out what you enjoy. Have fun!

18.3°C, so basically if it isn't room temperature don't have your knees out. So yeah, in the UK that would be 97% of the time. I don't know if you noticed but it is easier to cycle without stuff around your legs, which is why traditional bike shorts don't go over the knee. I'll decide for myself what constitutes summer, and it won't be just three days in August.

This comes under the 'lifes too short' category along with pretty much anything else. Well done on finding a doctor on the internet to stigmatize ordinary behaviour. I will wager my 'some guy on the internet says you will be okay' against this doctor's poppycock any day. Anyone for another slice of cake?

If you are 14, surely spending money on a bike fit is just throwing money away-  you'll be a different size and shape in a month's time.  Most decent bike shops will set you up pretty well on your bike for you if you buy some kit from them.

All good advice from everyone above.

Lights - don't forget a decent set of lights. Every now and then the police have a purge on cyclists without them. They can work out cheaper than a fixed penalty for not having any.

Rather than a bike fit, go to here:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/Store/catalog/fitCalculatorBike.jsp

If you measure yourself up carefully, I found this works exceptionally well. You can usually get the fit you want without spending much at all. If you need a longer/shorter stem look on Ebay, they are really cheap second hand.

+1 for keeping your bike in good working order, there are lots of videos on the web for most things.

And don't overlook Decathlon for cheap decent cycling clothes. I got a jersey there for under a tenner, still wear it sometimes.

Welcome!

Some good advice on here, particularly about no wasting money on a bike fit. Certainly you can figure that stuff out for yourself - but is your bike itself the right size?

I see some people mentioning Aldi - their stuff can be good, if - as some have noted - the sizing can be a bit odd. But they take stuff back if it doesn't fit. Likewise Lidl, who I notice were selling bike stuff at the moment. Also, and not just an occasional seller - if you're near a Decathlon store, their stuff is often great value.

Having people to go out with is a good motivator and source of wisdom. There's doubtless be a local cycling club - but if they're a bit too serious or snooty have a look on MeetUp.com.

Please don't listen to anything about keeping your legs covered up up to 15C, that is a load of old guff, I see muggins in tights and winter jackets sweating their wotsits off in June. 10C or lower maybe, 8 or lower probably 6 or lower definitely and if it is wet take a couple of degrees off. But if you would be playing football/going for a jog in shorts then you cycle in them. 

Take all this advise with a pinch of salt; people will project their opinion of what is right based on the way they ride, it may not work for you. As Sergius says above, if you are just starting to ride you should just expect a little discomfort, you are still growing, so a bike fit might wait when there are other things to buy first.

Don't bother with a bike-fit, there's loads of guidance on the internet/youtube on how to set your bike up yourself. Once you've set your bike up and been out on a few rides then you can start to fine tune things but do one thing at a time,  seat height, saddle position etc etc. Make a small change and then go out for a couple of rides to see what difference the change has made. If all is well then move on to the next part of the bike you want to tune.

Anyone new to road bikes will get a sore back until their body has got used to the cycling position.  As you're young it shouldn't take you long but to help initially, consider flipping your stem over to raise the height of your handlebars. Youtube will probably be able to help explain what this involves but it is a very simple thing to do and won't cost you anything. Once the back-aches have eased you can flip the stem back again for a more racey look.  

Don't wear cotton clothes, wear anything synthetic, polyester is the most common. And once you've got your padded shorts don't wear underpants or boxer shorts underneath them. 

Look after your bike (give it plenty of tlc) and look after your body (eat the right stuff, train and rest)

As well as the reasons given by Sergius not to bother with a bike fit (at least for now), is the fact that you're still in your teens and growing - the fit you get today may be all wrong for you within a couple of months.

Plenty of youtube videos show various techniques to get the basic saddle height adjustment (e.g. leg straight with heel on pedal at bottom dead centre). Also working out if you have the right saddle size (search for how to measure sit bones).

As for relieving your backache, are you trying to ride "in the drops" most of the time?  It may be the most aero and looks "pro", but puts the most strain on your back.  Perhaps try riding a bit more with your hands resting on top of the brake levers - its a more relaxed position.   You can build up the amount of time spent down low as your back gets used to it - build up your ride time gradually and maybe add some stretching exercises.     

Some decent basic tools for maintenance will save you a heap of cash and learning how to maintain, repair and upgrade your bike will return the effort when you go out and ride it.

Enjoy your freedom on your new bike.

Slight gender bias in the links in my previous post, here's a link to a pair of women's bib shorts to even it up slightly. Unfortunately, I can't speak from personal experience on these: 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-womens-aeron-race-cycling-bib-short/

Firstly, welcome.

I would echo AKH and Leviathan that your first buy should be some bib shorts. As a 'noob' and/or a 14 year old you may feel a little body conscious in them at first, but you can always throw a pair of lightweight running shorts over them for modesty.

Try wiggle's dhb brand, for instance: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-bib-shorts/

or if you want to make your cash go further I can recommend these - not bad at all for 20 quid:

http://www.buyabike.co.uk/clothing-shoes/lower-body/bib-shorts/bibs-mens/club-roost-4d-pad-vision-cycling-bib-shorts-mens-black/

Some have suggested Aldi, and for any other kit on a budget they are OK, but personally I would stay clear of their shorts and tights - their sizing and pad positioning is a little odd. That said, they normally have a cycle clothing event near easter, so keep a look out - their socks, mitts and softshell jackets are decent for the price IMO.

You should invest in a small pump and/or CO2 tyre inflator, a multitool, tyre levers, spare inner tube and a means of carrying them - either a pouch you shove in the back pocket of your jersey or a saddle bag - they will get you out of most problems.  

Tools and spares are not much good if you don't know how to use them though, now you may have been riding/fixing other styles of bike for years so all this is old news, but if not then its worth finding a basic bike maintenance course (check your council website), or ask a friendly local cyclist (check with your parents first) or the local independent bike shop if they will show you how.  Failing that, there's always Youtube - but practice yourself before going out on a 30 mile run and getting stranded

Joining a club is another way of getting advice, and practical help if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Is your bike roadworthy? Are the brakes, tyres and chain in good condition? Do the gears shift smoothly? These are the MOST important things to sort out.

Once it's working well I'd suggest looking at:

• a lock. I leave a compact combination coil lock on the bike for briefly nipping into a shop but take a shielded cable lock (like this or this) if leaving it unattended for any length of time.
• Lusso padded waist shorts (not bibs, save that for when you're old and have no shame  ). Lusso are UK made and good quality.
• legwarmers (cover your knees below 15°) or Ron Hill Trackster-style leggings.
• a short-sleeved jersey with back pockets for food, spare inner tube & tyre levers is nice but not essential - you can ride in a t-shirt or running top.
• a lightweight showerproof jacket. Doesn't have to be a cycling brand.
• a pump that fits onto the bike.

Aldi usually do a Thursday special deal in the spring with cycling kit, the clothing is great value.

If you decide to buy SPD shoes note that brands vary just like other footwear so it's crucial you check the size & fit.

Any helmet with a BS-approved sticker is fine, a £100 one is no safer or better than one costing £30. As with shoes, the fit varies so try several before you choose one.

Bollé safety specs (I use the Contour) are great for cycling and much cheaper. I often ride without mitts when it's mild enough. It's a choice, there are no definitive rules.

To learn road skills you'd do well to do a Bikeability course, team up with a cycling club, CTC group or a casual local riding group. Our club is Go-Ride accredited (so specifically set up to cater for young riders) and now runs regular easy-paced SkyRides. Check for a group near you at http://www.goskyride.com/

BC clubfinder - https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubs
CTC groups - http://ctc.org.uk/local-groups

The team at GCN have loads of How To videos (and many others) on Youtube.

Ebay is a great place to find cheap used but quality items. Or try Aldi if you are on a budget. A pair of padded shorts or bibshorts and some mitts (its warm enough now I think) are much more important than your shoes/cleats. Looking 'Pro' is cool but you have years to get the more expensive things and shoes aren't cheap. Get riding is the first priority.

Shorts, gloves, helmet.

Hand pump, spare innertubes, tyre irons.

Waterbottle and cage.

Some kind of light waterproof jacket.

...maybe some other things I'm missing.

Free tracking app on your smart phone (because you are 14 I am assuming you already have this grafted to you.)

Finally my personal tip off of that eBay; search for 'Bolle Bandido.' They are cheap shades/clear visor. Probably not UV rated but simple and disposable. I wear a pair of clear ones all year round to keep dust, bugs and pollen out of my eyes. 

I wouldn't start with pedals or cleats. They're great, but there are more important things to get first. Proper shorts are a must. You'll be in agony if you spend any serious amount of time in the saddle without them. Bib shorts are more comfortable than waist shorts in my opinion. You don't have to go top of the range, but £30 up isn't a bad start, it's not an area you want to skimp on. Then probably a helmet and glasses. Safety and comfort would be my person priorities. Wiggle's own dhb brand is decent quality for the price.