Tips and Tricks for Starting the Cycling Season Out Right
There's nothing like fresh gear to help get amped for riding season. Whether it's a new kit for the closet or revitalizing the trusty favorites in the garage, spring is the perfect time of year to dial everything in for the upcoming season.
But where to get started?
Begin by pulling out all the gear. Check out what's in great shape or what got put away dirty. What could use some replacement parts to get it back working like new? And what shiny new bits will get you psyched for the riding season?
Taking stock of what gear worked best in previous seasons of riding and imagining what you could use to notch things up this year is a great way to get motivated for spring rides. Below is a guide with some additional in-depth resources to help focus your attention and dial in your spring riding setup.
Kick Up Your Heels and Check Your Shoes
Shoes are a crucial piece of gear that can make or break a ride. They serve as a critical point of contact between rider and bicycle and are a foundation of a comfortable ride. If you've got a favorite pair of shoes that were still going strong in the fall, great! Give them a look anyway and make sure the outsole still has enough grip, the closure systems are in good working order, the uppers are in good shape, and the shoes are nice and clean.
If they went into hibernation a bit nasty, it's easy to freshen up those kicks for spring with some simple cleaning products like mild soap, baking soda, and a medium bristle brush. Keep your kicks looking spiffy with a few tips and tricks for cleaning cycling shoes in a safe and effective way. For a good breakdown to freshening up shoes, check out Shimano's guide:
How to Clean Cycling Shoes the Right Way
Perhaps upon close inspection, those trusty shoes are worn out. Or maybe a new color or upgraded model will give that extra boost of motivation for spring. If you need new shoes, Shimano purpose-builds footwear for every kind of riding from XC MTB, downhill, trail, road, gravel, and touring. Within each category, there are different levels of performance, whether you're chasing World Cup podiums or out for the exercise and enjoyment that only a bicycle can provide.
Looking for a deep dive into how to find the right cycling shoe? Check out the guide:
Choosing the Perfect Shimano Cycling Shoe
Better Connection Starts with Solid Cleats
Even if you don't need new shoes, it's best practice to check cleats for wear and replace them as needed. Even the most durable cleats wear out over time. Here's how to determine if your cleats need replacement:
Checking SPD-SL Road Cleats
Inspect Monthly: Make it a habit to examine your cleats monthly. Look for visible signs of wear, especially if the engagement or disengagement feels less crisp.
Key Wear Points: Focus on the front of the cleat, which engages the pedal mechanism. The cleat should have a sharp 90-degree angle at the front protrusion. Any rounding or wear in this area affects its ability to lock securely into the pedal.
Color Wear: The colored TPU material (yellow, blue, or red, depending on float) provides grip while walking. When this layer wears through to the black nylon base, replacement is critical. Continued wear beyond this point compromises engagement reliability and increases the risk of accidental disengagement.
Unlike SPD-SL road cleats, SPD off-road cleats do not have a visible wear indicator. Instead, their performance provides the best clues about when they need replacement. Here are key signs that SPD cleats for MTB, gravel, or cyclocross are due for a refresh.
Checking SPD Off-Road Cleats
Engagement Feels Less Secure: The cleats may be worn if clipping in feels inconsistent or requires excessive force.
Disengagement Becomes Unreliable: Difficulty unclipping or an unexpected release mid-ride can signal excessive wear.
Increased Lateral Movement: The cleats may have worn beyond their intended tolerance if you notice extra "float" or slop when clipped in.
Visible Wear or Corrosion: While SPD cleats are built to withstand rough conditions, rust, pitting, or excessive rounding of the engagement points can compromise performance.
Go to your local shop for help replacing your cleats, or get them directly from Shimano for those who are DIY-inclined.
Get Inspired with New Kit Day
Each spring, it can be fun to dive into the closet and pull out all your cycling kits. It helps to take stock of what you have and maybe surprise yourself with some hidden gems. Are you lacking any cold or foul weather gear that would make spring showers more manageable? Have a look at the chamois in your bike shorts. Over time, the foam padding can wear out or lose density, resulting in less support and reduced comfort.
Shimano's road and gravel apparel lineup is crafted from premium Italian materials and sleek, anatomic designs to deliver optimized riding performance. Featuring lightweight construction and breathable materials, each piece provides all-day comfort even when the pace quickens or the temperatures rise. A few of our favorite clothing pieces this spring include:
Shimano S-PHYRE Leggera SS Jersey and Bibs (Men’s and Women’s)
Inspired by summer climbing jerseys worn by professional riders, this jersey has a sleek race-ready fit with a low-cut collar, set-in laser-cut sleeves, and a unique back yoke pattern that reduces wrinkles and smooths airflow for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.
The bibs are constructed from supportive Renew Prime fabric from Carvico and provide the ideal combination of compressive support and comfort-enhancing stretch so you can maintain peak performance. That's combined with a premium Italian-made (men's and women's) In Fuga chamois that features the patented Free-Flow system, which provides breathable shock-absorbing comfort without unwanted bulk.
Evolve Terra Seamless Jersey, Baggies, and Liner (Men’s and Women’s)
Featuring a snug, body-mirroring fit, the Evolve Terra Seamless Jersey has the optimal combination of comfort and performance. Breathable, moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool and dry, while its dual-yarn construction is soft on the skin and yields an appealing two-tone design effect.
The Terra Seamless Jersey paired with the Terra Baggies and Liner is a great adventure kit to get rolling again during the spring. The padded liner gives you the support and compression of a chamois, while the baggy shorts add a little extra coverage while keeping the vibes chill during those first rides of spring.
A Crisp View With New Shimano RIDESCAPE Eyewear
A clearer, crisper view of how you want your season to look starts with your actual view. The right eyewear, in the right condition, is critical to seeing better and having a better time out on the bike. If those trusty sunnies have scratched lenses or worn-out frames, the start of spring is a great time to consider some new RIDESCAPE-equipped sunglasses from Shimano.
RIDESCAPE Technology tunes each lens with specific filters, highlighting objects and emphasizing colors for different conditions and environments. This yields better contrast that makes nuances in riding surfaces pop, enhancing vision and allowing cyclists to see crisper and clearer. The result is clear vision that allows you to ride with greater confidence while protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays, dust, wind, and road shrapnel.
Tints are used to dial in the light transmission and overall "darkness" of a lens, but the real magic of RIDESCAPE comes from fine-tuning the color transmission using specific filters. This means that particular lenses will improve contrast and overall clarity for specific riding applications, like road riding, gravel paths, mountain bike trails, and night riding conditions.
Take a Deep Dive into RIDESCAPE Lense Technology Here
Level Up Your Impact Protection with a New Lazer Helmet
Impact protection is an ever-evolving space, especially since Lazer revolutionized the bicycle helmet game with KinetiCore technology. It's now available in every category, from MTB to road, gravel, commuter, and kids lids, and there's never been a better time to upgrade a cycling helmet.
Whether you’re competing in the Tour de France, exploring new forest trails, or teaching your child to ride without training wheels, Lazer offers the perfect KinetiCore helmet for every rider. Check out our guide of things to consider when selecting a helmet that’s right for you and your riding style.
The Best Lazer KintiCore Helmet For Every Cycling Adventure
If your helmet is still in solid shape, you can get that new helmet feel by simply cleaning and/or replacing the padding. For a full guide to washing and evaluating your helmet padding, check out this guide:
How to Wash and Care for Lazer Helmet Padding
While periodic washing will help keep pads fresh and prolong their life span, helmet padding can eventually wear out. How do you know when it's time to replace those pads? If the padding has lost its elasticity and is no longer compressible, that's a sign that it's time for a replacement. Once the foam loses its structure, it will not conform to your head or provide that cozy barrier between the helmet's EPS protective foam shell and your scalp.
Also, inspect for signs of delamination or deterioration. This indicates that the helmet padding has lost or is about to lose its ability to provide a comfortable lining. When you’ve determined it’s time for a new set, replacement padding specific to each helmet can be ordered directly from Lazer’s website to freshen up that trusty lid.
Once your gear is ready to go, it’s time to hit the road, tackle winding gravel paths, conquer rugged singletrack trails, or settle back into your regular commute route with renewed enthusiasm. Whether you're chasing adventure, building endurance, or simply enjoying the freedom of two wheels, having the right gear—and a little motivation—can make all the difference. With preparation and a spirit of exploration, this could be your best year of riding yet.
