Some people prefer to ride their bicycles in normal clothing and carry a small luggage bag, while others want to ride their bikes with accessories.
Accessories make the riding experience better, safer, more comfortable, easier, and more fun. Buying bike accessories can even be a way of personalizing your bike.
Choosing what cycling accessories to buy can be overwhelming, especially because so many options exist.
Whether you are new to the sport or want to buy an accessory as a gift for a friend, this article is for you. We have attempted to write about some of the important accessories that every cyclist needs to own.
Read on to learn more about some of these essentials.
A Bike Helmet
The helmet covers the most important part of our bodies – our heads. Wearing a safety helmet is required by law in some states, and your obedience to this law just might save your life in the case of an accident.
Helmets protect your brain, sense organs, and other organs on your head during traumatic events.
There are different types of helmets, such as full-face, half-face, and modular. Ensuring that the kind of helmet you buy provides adequate coverage for your face, fits your head perfectly, and keeps you safe from impact is vital.
There are some factors to consider when selecting the type of helmet to buy, and you should invest in a quality helmet to avoid the consequences of purchasing a sub-par one.
Glasses/Goggles
Eyewear can be in the form of sunglasses that protect you from the sun’s infrared rays. They also protect you from blowing wind, dirt, stones, or other flying objects that might get into your eyes.
People who use prescription glasses can also get sports prescription glasses to help them see clearly while protecting their eyes. Normal prescription glasses don’t come with the covered edges that sports sunglasses have, and they are inappropriate for cycling. It is, therefore, essential to buy specific sports prescription glasses.
You can customize your eyewear and use interchangeable lenses. Different colored lenses can be used for different weather conditions, dark shades for bright sunny days, yellow or orange colored ones for cloudy days, and clear lenses to be worn at night.
A Bike Lock
A lock is an essential item that every cyclist needs to buy. You should get a lock if you leave your bike outdoors for any period. Not only will it help to keep petty thieves away, but it will also keep your bike safely locked in one spot.
You are assured of the security of your bicycle when you know that you have it locked down safely.
You can get various types of locks depending on the amount you are willing to pay. A good quality lock will cost quite a bit, and you can get locks that can only be broken open with power tools for higher amounts of money.
Buying a quality lock is a small price to pay to avoid the consequences you will suffer if your bike is stolen.
Front and Rear Lights
Lights are an absolute essential when it comes to using roads. Not only do they help to provide better visibility for you, but they also alert other road users to your presence on the road.
The front light helps you see oncoming traffic, while the rear lights help road users behind you see you and your bike.
Your bike lights can be bright or dim, depending on the type of road you are riding on. For example, while riding on a bush trail, you need bright lights for optimal visibility. And if you are on a busy, well-lit road, you can afford to dim your lights.
Appropriate Clothing
You can choose to ride your bike while wearing everyday clothes. Doing this would be appropriate for short rides and errands.
However, it is essential to remember to wear reflective and brightly colored clothing while cycling, as this makes it easier for other road users to see you and your bicycle.
There are specially-made clothing items for cyclists. These cycling shorts are aimed at providing maximum comfort while riding. They are padded at strategic places and help to reduce chafing and friction.
Cycling shorts should, however, be worn with nothing underneath.
If you still want to wear your ordinary clothing items, you can wear them on top of the cycling shorts, giving you comfort and increased satisfaction.
Water Bottle and Water Bottle Cage
When you cycle for long periods, dehydration will occur sooner or later.
It is essential to always be prepared. Drinking water even before you are dehydrated is a way to maintain good health and feel refreshed.
You can carry a water bottle while cycling and use it to store water. This water bottle can be kept in a side bag or in a water bottle cage.
Doing this ensures your hands remain free and you can still carry water.
Luggage Carrier
Just as the name suggests, your luggage carrier is used to carry your load.
It could be a small rucksack with a strap that you can sling around your body or a saddle bag that is attached to the saddle of your bicycle.
A rucksack with a strap has the advantage of coming off your body whenever you get off the bike. Having something strapped to your body for so long can be uncomfortable and cause you to get sweaty, though.
Some people would rather have a luggage carrier that would not weigh their bodies down. A rack can be attached to the bike to hold your heavy load. You can also use a saddlebag to hold the luggage you need to carry with you on your cycling journey.
Tire pump, Spare Tire
A deflated tire is a common problem encountered by everyone who uses vehicles and wheeled transportation.
When accidents like that happen, it is nice to have a spare tire or an inflation device – a pump – on hand.
There are various types of pumps available. You can buy a mini pump to take it everywhere with you. It is highly convenient, but it will take longer to inflate the tire than a floor pump.
The floor pump inflates the tire faster but it is bigger and cannot be easily transported.
Cycling Shoes
You can wear everyday shoes and sneakers while cycling, but they are not always comfortable. This is particularly true if you have to cycle for long periods.
Cycling shoes have been designed to have specific modifications that make the process easier—some of them with flat, firm soles.
These soles will firmly grip your toes and prevent their movement or in-folding while repeatedly moving your feet during pedaling.
These shoes make cycling comfortable and help prevent or reduce the pain you would have experienced.
Conclusion
Whether you just got your bike and need to buy accessories or just want to buy bike accessories for a friend, it is crucial to know how to choose the essential ones.
Bike accessories are a way to keep you safe while cycling and also make the experience fun. Some accessories that you need to have are a helmet, sunglasses, lights, and a luggage carrier. Apart from those listed above, other accessories you could get for cycling are gloves and bike cleaning supplies.
When buying your cycling accessories, it is vital to purchase quality equipment that will last a long time. This is important because some of these accessories, for example, a helmet, are vital and can determine whether or not you’d survive an accident.
