Riders heading out on to the road for the first time will find that buying a bike is only the first of several purchases.

Clothing, shoes, a helmet, tools, a water bottle…the list of supplementary kit required to make the most from your shiny new steed can seem endless.

It’s possible, however, to avoid bankruptcy by trimming desirable but inessential kit from your list of ‘must haves’, and focusing on the essentials needed for the task at hand: riding your bike.

Here, then, is the RCUK list of essential kit for the new cyclist, an indispensable guide to the items truly necessary for pleasurable cycling.