It’s easy to fall in love with riding bikes—it’s fun, improves our health and fitness, and allows us to explore the world in new and exciting ways. If you’re just beginning your cycling journey, though, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with all the gear and knowledge you might need before venturing out onto the road or trail for the first time. 

There are three must-haves in the very beginning: a helmet to protect your head, a bike pump to keep your tires inflated, and pedals, since most high-quality bikes don’t come with any. 

The fact that high-end bikes don’t include pedals can surprise a lot of newer riders! This is because riders have different pedal preferences, and they often keep their pedals when they buy a new bike or upgrade. A basic set of “flat pedals” or “platform pedals” will get you going in the beginning and allow you to use any shoe you’d like. In the future, if you get more serious, it might be worth considering “clipless pedals” that require a stiff, cycling-specific shoe that clips into the pedal and keeps you attached to the bike for greater pedaling efficiency.