Checking the condition of the bicycle’s safety features should always be the first step of preparation. It includes preparation for a bicycle ride (brakes, lights, reflectors) as well as the tires and frame. If the ride is going to be an all-day trip or longer, preparations include checking the weather forecast, particularly as changes in the weather can affect road conditions as well as the bicycle rider’s comfort.
Another aspect of preparation for cycling is planning the travel route beforehand. This step is particularly important if the trip will involve sharing the road with heavy traffic or traveling off-road in areas with difficult or poorly managed trails.

Protective equipment includes:

Gloves. Your cycling gloves actually serve many other purposes, they’re not just for keeping your hands warm. These can prevent hand injuries in the event of a fall, give you a better grip, and keep you comfortable. Your hands can get pretty sweaty and can easily slip around the handlebars when riding in warm and humid conditions. Cycling gloves help to soak up the sweat, keeping your hands dry, and allowing you to maintain a safe, tight grip on the handlebars at all times.

When riding, you are placing pressure on your ulnar and median nerves. By entrapping them, you will start to feel numbness, tingling, or even pain in your fingers. This will affect your grip strength and how well you control the bike. Cyclists are prone to suffer from handlebar palsy. It is an injury caused due to prolonged compression of a nerve in your wrist.  Therefore, wearing gloves will help to dampen the vibrations, eliminating hand discomfort, and allowing you to enjoy longer rides. You will find that cycling gloves are especially useful when you are caught in the rain, as they provide the much-needed friction between your hands and the wet handlebar. 

Sunglasses. Your eyes continually move and adjust, receiving a constant flow of information.  You are affected by glare and the sun’s ultraviolet radiation when cycling. Good glasses help us see comfortably and clearly in sunlight, they counteract the discomfort caused by glare and reduce the threat of permanent damage that could lead to cataracts and other eye diseases. Look for lenses that offer 100% UV protection. You may want to consider glasses with polarized lenses, which absorb 98% of glare to improve vision and also allow seeing objects in their true colors. It’s also possible with most eyewear to replace the lens with a different color. We recommend wrap-style frames to protect your eyes from wind and debris.

Riding shorts with padding. These reduce the risk of saddle sores. Padded cycling shorts make cycling much more comfortable and efficient, and help you ride faster and longer. The padding helps keep pressure off the points of contact with your saddle. Also helps absorb the vibrations from your bike tires on the asphalt. The tight spandex material is also significantly more aerodynamic than loose shorts or pants, which makes a real difference when you get up to speed on the road.

Sunscreen and other sun-protective equipment. When you’re leaning over on a bike, you get more sun exposure on the back of your neck, the back of your ears, and the back of your legs. So you should apply sunscreen to all exposed skin.

Cycling shoes with toe clips or cleats that keep the shoes on the pedals. These can lower the risk of overuse injuries to the feet and ankles. Cycling shoes are made specifically for the sport, and they can improve your performance and overall biking experience, indoors or out.

A rearview or side-view mirror is attached to the bike or, for seniors who have difficulty turning their heads to scan traffic behind them. Cycling mirrors can make cycling safer for everyone.

Helmet. Heads are often the first body parts to become injured in the case of a bicycle accident. That’s why it is crucial to choose a helmet that fits properly. Wearing the right size helmet protects both your head and brain, preventing external and internal damage. It also protects the head from UV sunlight. A bike helmet with a visor casts shade on the face.