Cycling is often touted as an affordable transportation option and like most things cost is directly tied to quality. There are bikes and then there are bikes. Back in the day, Canadian Tire was the go-to place for dads to buy their kid’s first bike. Little metal two-wheeled affairs with training wheels and streamers flew out the door like wasps at a picnic.

Today a 24-speed CCM mountain bike sells for $129 on sale at Canadian Tire. This is not a performance bike. This 30 pound, steel bike will get you around town and your quadriceps will strengthen up quickly pushing it around. Either that or you will give up the first time you break into a sweat. Keep in mind it comes equipped with lower-quality components than an entry level Trek X-Caliber 9 mountain bike. The Trek has a nimble aluminum frame and higher quality, well everything, compared to the CCM but it also starts at $1,500.

In Canada, only four provinces: British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, have a mandatory helmet law for all ages. In Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario only minors are required to wear a helmet. Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut have no helmet law. So while not legally mandated all across the country, wearing a helmet while riding is never a bad idea. The price of helmets range from $30 to over $300, depending on the features offered. A helmet with more venting, adjustable inside straps for better fit, and lighter composite materials will cost more. Canadian Tire has some adult helmets on sale for $30. These helmets have a yellow sticker warning, “For recreational riding only, but not trick bicycling or downhill mountain bike racing.” If you are going to do either of these things, you will have to buy a second, better helmet.

Riding a bike is thirsty work. You will need a water bottle and cage to put it in. The cage attaches to the down tube on the bike and both can be purchased for around $20. A rear rack is an absolutely essential piece of gear. The rack attaches to the seat stay and bolts to the bike frame on either side of the rear axle. Do not get the old metal kind called a “rat-trap”, its carrying capacity is one book. Who carries books anymore? A rear rack will cost around $45.

Panniers or carrier bags that clip to the rack come in all manner of sizes and materials. Bags can be bought in pairs or as separate pieces for as little as $45. These are a great way to carry any extra items on the bike, keeping your hands free and avoiding the “dreaded-grocery-bag-caught-in-front-wheel-wipe-out”, if you don’t take this advice, I hope you at least wear a helmet. The bag will interfere with riding and wiping out hurts and you will smack your head.

Forget the patch kit with the little tube of glue and mini silver cheese grater foil that comes with. Nobody knows what to do with that anyway. Buy the self-adhesive glue-less patches, for around $5. It would be in your best interest to learn how to change a flat, (F.Y.I, it is the tube that is flat inside the tire, not the tire itself). It’s not a bad idea to carry a spare tube as well, $8. Or carry your cell phone and hope someone in your contact list can pick you up if you get a flat tire.

A set of lights, white for the front and red for the back can be purchased for around $20. Lights make you and your bike visible on the road. A bell is also recommended to warn others of your presence, these are available for around $5.

You can get all the bike equipment you need to get started cycling at Canadian Tire for approximately $300. It’s an affordable option but keep in mind once you get some riding experience under your belt it won’t be long before you will want some equipment upgrades.