If you’ve recently started cycling but don’t know what gear you should get, we can help you selecting the most essential accessories you should always have with you, whilst cycling.
There are thousands of bike accessories that can enhance your riding experience, but if you are new to the riding world, selecting the truly essential and relevant accessories can become confusing and overwhelming. Questions like “what do I need? And “How is this so expensive?” may float your head non-stop. To help you sort through the many accessories available, we’re here to guide you through the maze.
Here are the top 4 biking accessories you need to get your hands on:
1. Helmet
First and foremost, your head must be protected at all times. It doesn’t matter how experienced a cyclist may be. Sadly, accidents are real and they happen mostly unexpectedly, that’s why you should always prioritise your safety. Cycling Intelligence wrote about this in a very interesting article, the stats are quite disturbing too.
In order for the helmet to do its job, it’s your responsibility to select the right size, so that it properly fits to your head. It should sit level on your head and low on your forehead.
It is also essential to make sure it’s properly secured, so that in case of a impact it will stick to your head and wont fly off.
2. Handlebar Bag
The handlebar bag is usually the last item people think of getting on a cycling trip. However, they can be significant as you can carry whatever you like in them without worrying about the problem of having extra weight. With the large storage capacity it brings to the biker.
Another upside of using this is that it is tough and durable. Besides being waterproof and keeping all your things completely dry even in the worst weather conditions, it is sturdy and survives the many challenges it might face out on the road.
Our friends at Craft Cadence are leading experts in cycle accessories, check out their affordable and high quality Handlebar Bag,
3. Lights
Optional in day time, mandatory during the night time, your bike lights are definitively an essential accessory to carry with you all the time.
By law you must keep your lights on when it’s dark, and the reason is pretty straightforward: you must be visible to other vehicles and at the same time you must be able to see where you are going. Sometimes street lights are not sufficient, so your front and rear indicators can make a huge difference and may in fact save your life.
As a general rule, the front light is white and the back one must be red. Legally, helmet-fitted lights cannot substitute bike-fitted lights.
Remember that when buying a new complete bicycle, front and rear reflector must be fitted on both the bike and the pedals, so if your new bike doesn’t have these, make sure yo talk to your bike seller to fit them for you.
Cycling UK has recently released a guide to cycle lighting regulations, check it out here.
4. Lock
When riding, you may need to stop for a water, toilet, or cake break. That’s why it’s essential to be able to safely secure your bike while you’re away.
Ideally, you want to lock your bike to a firm, immovable object, possibly in the proximity of CCTV cameras.
To make sure your bike is properly secured, use 2 x D-locks, one for each wheel. Make sure that when locking it you catch the wheel, frame and your immovable object.
In case of emergency, if you don’t have a locker with you, you could use your helmet straps to secure it to an object and leave your bike to the highest gear, so that it will be hard to build the momentum and ride it off. Alternatively, check where’s your closest Spoke Safe hub and securely park it there for as long as you need.
Check out our previous blog “My Bike Has Been Stolen“, for more insights on bike theft and safety.
5. BikeShops.London – Bonus Tip!
Flat tyres happen, and if you have no mechanical knowledge you won’t be able to fix the issue yourself.
Picture this: you’re on the side of the road, it’s raining because you know, we are in London, no one is stopping to help because you know, everyone’s in a rush here. So you open your YouTube app and start looking for “how to easily fix your flat tyre” video… but it turns out to be not as easy as you thought.
Now, that may sound too dramatic, but for novice cyclists with no basic mechanical knowledge, such experience could be incredibly stressful and overwhelming.
That’s why we created BikeShops.London: find your nearest bike workshop or mobile mechanic, check out their opening times and contact them directly. And if they rescue you and your bike, make sure to thank them & help your fellow London cyclists by leaving your saviour mechanic a review on their page on BikeShops.London,
