Originally Posted by sjshaw
Also, any suggestions re: what to buy along with my bike are welcome. I'm getting a helmet, jersey and shorts for sure.
Since no one else addressed this, you should get at least 1 extra tube (I prefer 2), a pump, H2O bottles, saddle bag, gloves recomended but not necessary, a cyclocomputer (again just a recomendation, not a necessity). Yeah this is a day late but you can always go back to the shop
If this is your first bike, be sure you know how to change a tube. A lot of new riders do not know how to do that or at least do it easily and trying to learn out on a ride can be a biyatch.
Enjoy your new ride
Slainte
p.s.You should also get a patch kit to use when you get back after a ride if you had a flat if you want to save a bit on tubes. You could also use it out on a ride but it is much faster to just swap a tube then repair it at home.