Always have a spare inner tube, a spanner and two tyre leavers. Make sure you can remove both wheels by trying it out at home.

Invest in some puncture resistant tyres, expect to get at least three or four punctures per year.

Buy some eye protection for the summer months, insect flying into your eyes at twenty miles an hour is no fun.

If you get a bit of clear road on your journey consider sprinting, the increase in heart rate will do wanders for you cardio.

Mudguards, especially on the rear. The black mud streak up your arse and back is not a turn on for the opposite sex.

If you ride in traffic, ride on the outside of cars and not the side nearest the pavement, pedestrians ALWAYS step out before they look.

when you overtake a parked car give it at least another three or four feet as passengers ALWAYS open the doors without looking.

As for a helmet, I've never had a fatal accident whilst wearing mine.

and most importantly, if you see someone on a much more expensive bike than yours it's mandatory that you get past them, no matter how hard catch them up and overtake.