It’s Saturday morning and you’ve FINALLY decided that today is THE DAY. The day you set off alone to explore the world by bike. Just you and the open road.

It’s gonna be great.

But wait. Do you have everything you need? Is it safe?! Will you even enjoy it??

*breathes in and out of paper bag*

Before you freak out, don’t! I’m here to help you put those worries to rest. By the end of this post, you’ll walk away with…

All the gear—the road cycling essentials—you need on your bike ride
How to stay safe while you’re cycling alone

Let’s dive in.

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CYCLING ALONE? THESE ARE THE TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

Let’s talk road cycling essentials

First up, your bike.

Ever been to a bike shop? Aluminum frame or carbon? $500 or $5000? Road or cross? Is this all too much?

I’m here to help you bust through the confusion.

Here are 3️⃣ things you should know up front before you step foot into your local bike shop.

Your bike size. Much like your fave Lulu leggings, bike sizes range from extra small to extra large. Not sure what size you need? This bike fit guide from Backcountry will help.
How much you’re willing to shell out. Bikes come in a range of prices–from several hundred to…thousands. Yep, thousands. Why so much? A couple of things can bump up the price:
What the frame’s made of. Eyeing a carbon fiber frame? It’s lightweight, strong, and pricey to produce, which means you’ll be paying 💵 for it.
Want a custom, limited edition bike that fits just so? That will cost a small fortune.
All the moving parts on the bike–the gears, brakes, chain, and pedals–the components, if you want to get techy. They’re what make your bike go, stop, and shift smoothly.
The kind of adventures you want to go on.
⛰ Mountain trails? ➡️ Go for a mountain bike with wide tires, a cushioned ride for rocks and roots, and a durable frame.
🛣 Smooth roads? ➡️ You’ll need a lightweight road bike with narrow tires and an aerodynamic design. It’s all about the need for speed.
🏞 Gravel and light trails? ➡️ A gravel bike’s your BFF. It’s got wider, grippy tires for traction, drop handlebars for hand position changes, and a wide gear range.
☕️ Casual rides with friends? ➡️ A hybrid bike is where it’s at. It keeps you upright so you can catch up on the latest. And, the wider, smoother tires make for a casual ride around the ‘hood. But don’t worry, you’ll have enough gears to handle small hills.

Helmet.

Let’s be real: a helmet is a total fashion statement. (jk)

But seriously, it’s your buffer against head injuries.

Honest question: Would you rather spend $250 on a helmet, or $250,000 in hospital fees?

Couple more things about helmets (consider this the ⚡️ lightning round):

It may be against the law to ride your bike without one where you live. Check out LawInfo or Helmets.org to be sure.
Toss your helmet if it was in a crash.
Replace your helmet every 5 to 10 years. (Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC))
Investing in a new helmet? Look for one that has Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) tech. It helps absorb and redirect rotational forces, which can lower the risk of serious brain injuries.

Other must-haves

Front & back lights so you can see and be seen. Also, some places require these! Here’s a front and rear cycling light set that’ll keep you visible day or night. ¹.
A bike pump/ extra bike tubes/ multitool because nothing ruins a ride faster than a flat tire.
Bike computer so you can keep track of just how fast you were flying down that hill.💨

Distance, speed, heart, rate…*all the data*.

Because if it’s not recorded, did it even happen? Plus, some bike computers—like Garmin Edge 540, 840—have cool safety features: crash detection and live tracking, which alert your emergency contacts and share your real-time location with friends.
Medical ID bracelet. When you’re riding solo, it’s you vs. the open road—and sometimes, the road wins. But with a medical ID bracelet, help can reach you fast if you need it, because your critical info is just a glance away for First Responders.
Mini first aid kit. It’s a given that you’ll need a bandage or first aid when you’re least prepared. But having a mini first aid kit with you is ~basically a guarantee~ nothing will go wrong. Amiright?

And don’t forget—after your ride, recovery is EVERYTHING. 🙌🏼 What you do right after can make a difference in how sore you feel later. So, take a peep at my ✨cycling recovery timeline✨ for more deets!

So…is it safe to bike alone? 🤔 (It’s pretty safe—unless you like to live on the edge?—as long as you follow THESE bike safety tips.)

Do a pre-ride bike check ✔️: Check your tires, bike chain, brakes, and do a quick test ride to make sure everything’s good to go.

Gear up for safety:

Wear 🌟bright clothes🌟 so people can see you.
Brush up on these 9 rules of the road…because staying safe is always #1.
Plan your route ahead of time so you know just where to grab that mid-ride snack.
Keep a portable charger handy to juice up your devices on the go.

Check your local bike laws 🎧🚫: Some states—like California, Rhode Island, Virginia—won’t let you rock out with your headphones while riding because they’ll block important sounds. So it’s good to know where it’s allowed…or not. (See: League of American Bicyclists for more.)

The cycling apps to keep you safe (and on track) when you’re cycling alone

Your phone’s not just for mid-ride selfies…it can help you find your way and stay safe. 🙌🏼

Here are some cycling apps to have:

⛑🦺 Safety-first apps:

bSafe and ROADiD: These apps let your crew track you in real-time. If you stop moving for too long or don’t check in, they’ll sound the alarm for help.
First Aid by British Red Cross: For step-by-step first aid advice.

🗺 Navigation & route planning

Komoot: Maps for all your outdoor adventures, including cycling. It’s perfect for discovering off-road trails.
Strava: Adventurous but also a *little* competitive? Strava’s where it’s at. Discover popular cycling routes or plan your own. And compete on segments—that’s part of a route—to see how you stack up to other cyclists who’ve done this same segment.
Ride with GPS: Plan your route and enjoy the turn–by-turn voice navigation—so you don’t have to be glued to your screen! Keep tabs on your rides to see how far you’ve come and share your live location with friends.
Bikemap: This is where cyclists of all levels—casual riders to serious ones—share routes and real-time updates on road conditions.

Still feeling a bit nervous about riding solo? You’re not alone! When I first hit the road by myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling I was missing something crucial (spoiler: it was confidence).

Here’s what helped me: start small, stick to bike-only routes, and always share your plan with someone.

Cycling alone? Essential tips you need to know

Sources

Safety effects of permanent running lights for bicycles: A controlled experiment ↩

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