What to wear
Ideally choose bright clothing – normal clothes are fine but a few bright items will improve your visibility:

• a hi-visibility vest (tabard) can be slipped over your normal clothes and folded away compactly after use. They cost between £5 and £20
• a hi-visibility/reflective over-the-shoulder belt will make you easier to spot
• reflective/bright cycle clips for your ankles are another great idea
• if you buy a cycling jacket look for one that’s bright (ideally fluorescent) with reflective trim such as Scotchlite™. Go for breathable material too (typically £50 upwards) – otherwise your jacket could become a personal sauna on warm days!

Gloves
Fingerless gloves are ideal for spring/autumn use, and buy windproof gloves for winter.
 
Footwear
Trainers are OK for day-to-day use, but if you ride your bike regularly wear shoes with firm soles or special cycling shoes. You can even get weatherproof covers to put over footwear in wet weather.

Helmets
Cycle helmets aren’t compulsory in the UK, but given the protection they offer they’re highly recommended. Always make sure it’s a snug fit – it shouldn’t move from side to side or back to front when you’re wearing it. Your local bike shop will help find the right one for you, and always look for the "CE" mark (EC approved) or one of the following:

• BS6863 Kitemark
• SNELL Foundation sticker
• ANSI (ANSI Z 90.4) sticker
• AS (AS2063) sticker

If you squash, scratch or knock your helmet, replace it as soon as you can. Never buy second-hand either – the helmet may have been damaged and weakened (which you can’t always see just by looking).

Bells
You don’t have to have a bell, but you’ll find one useful for letting other people know you’re there (especially other cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders).

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