You’ve just bought a new bicycle. So what do you do next? Just climb on and ride away? Maybe, but a little preparation and add-ons can go a long way in making your first ride a successful and convenient trip. Remember, a few things can ruin your journey faster than a flat tire, just like a weather change. Or any number of problems that you’re just not ready for. Well, that’s where the bike accessories come into play.
The bike accessories or bicycle accessories like bicycle tools, cycling helmets, bicycle stands, bicycle decoration, bicycle flags, dress guards, cleats, fasteners, saddle covers, tire wheels, etc. help you address the problems you’ll face on the road or trail. If you’re like most riders, then you’ll be smart enough to choose necessity add-ons like Bicycle rear racks, bicycle trailers and bicycle covers. Some of you may happily get by with just the necessities, but many of you want the best, and a lot of it. Either way, the bike industry serves its customers with a lot of product variety and innovation. Why don’t we start by looking at some of the basics first?
The essential bike accessories and why you need them
You’ll find several types of bike accessories out there in the market. And each of them has a specific role to play. For discussion, let’s call these essential accessories as necessities, even though some of them aren’t. They’re the kind of things that a reasonably well-prepared biker or cyclist will have. Although they aren’t a complete list of the necessities, you can consider them as a primer for those novel riders out there. All of the below-listed bike accessories apply whether you’re a mountain rider, city rider, an extended tourer, or a single day cyclist. All of the listed bike accessories will help you enhance your bicycle or bike and give you a smoother and hassle-free ride.
The bicycle led lights
When it comes to biking in the dark, bike lights come in handy. In fact, many states and countries have adopted them as a law. Although the exact requirements of the bike lights in each country may vary, the general rule is to use them between sunset and sunrise or during limited visibility conditions. Besides, any decent light you may purchase will have several light modes. Some common ones include flash or burst mode, constant beam, constant beam with low/high power. Which modes are right for you entirely depends on the climatic conditions and the time of the day. Apart from this, you need to have both the front and rear lights to ensure your safety while riding.
The bicycle stand
If you’re someone who stops quite often, then this stand is an ideal option. Many times you wouldn’t find a perfect place to lean on your heavy bike. These sidekicks or stands prove to be a great help during moments like these. But, remember, the kind of bike stand you purchase depends on what type of bicycle you have. That’s because stands are built for different weight limits. Also, you’ll find many different styles and sizes of kickstands like two-legged ones. You often mount them behind the bottom bracket along the chainstay area. If you’re not completely satisfied with the side kickstand idea, then you can also go for bicycle lever sets or bicycle locks. They help you lock your bike brakes.
The bike wall mount
Bikes or bicycles are awkward things to store, particularly if you do not have a dedicated garage or storage space. Of course, that doesn’t mean you leave out your bicycles in the rain. You need some or the other way to stash them inside your house itself. Well, what you need is the bicycle racks that’ll hold your bikes off the ground. There are two essential types – the free-standing and wall-mounted racks. You can also find gravity racks that lean against the wall or floor-ceiling that expand to brace vertically. A gravity rack or the wall-mount can carry at least two bikes. Indeed, these bike accessories are a boon if you’re in shared accommodation.
The bike seat cushion
Pain in your nether regions doesn’t need to be a part of your cycling experience anymore. The saddles or the bike seat cushions are just the things to eliminate any inconvenience associated with longer rides. However, remember, when it comes to saddles or bike seat cushions there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s essential to try out different styles and options to see if it fits you the best. As well as, they also differ in terms of male and female anatomies. Above all, this will also come down to your personal preference, body shape and mode of riding. Remember, if you get pain even in the shorter rides, then make sure to set up your seat cushion properly.
