Whether or not you simply purchased a brand new bike or you will have a trusty journey that you just’ve owned for years, there are various methods to outfit it to make biking extra enjoyable.
Setting your bike up correctly for the kind of driving you do, whether or not that’s around-town biking, each day commuting or long-distance touring, could make your adventures extra snug and fulfilling.
Think about selecting up these vital equipment on your bike earlier than setting out on a journey.
Bike Instruments and Restore Kits
Bike Multi-Device
You by no means know while you’ll must tighten a unfastened bolt or repair a busted chain. Be ready and carry a multi-tool on each journey. Take into consideration carrying tire levers, too. They’re useful when eradicating your tire from the rim whereas fixing a flat.
Be taught extra about bike instruments with our Bike Instruments: Methods to Select article.
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Bike Tire Patch Package and Spare Tube
When you get a flat tire out on the highway, you’ll want a solution to repair it. A easy patch package can repair a small puncture within the tube. For giant punctures and blowouts, changing the tube is your only option.
Learn to repair a flat with our Bike Tire Fundamentals: Methods to Repair a Flat article.
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Bike Pump
After fixing a flat, you want a solution to inflate the tube, so at all times carry a small pump that may slot in your backpack or mount to your bike body.
To get rolling once more with the least quantity of delay, use a carbon dioxide inflator. These inflators use CO2 cartridges to inflate your tires shortly.
Bigger ground pumps are meant for dwelling use and will not be sensible for taking alongside on a journey. They inflate tires a lot quicker than small, frame-mounted pumps and are constructed to face as much as frequent use all through the biking season.
Learn our Bike Pumps: Methods to Select article to be taught extra about your decisions.
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Bike Equipment
Bike Fenders
Fenders assist shield you and your fellow riders from water and dust splatters when you journey.
Fenders are designed with straightforward clip-on attachment techniques or sturdier bolt-on attachment techniques. Clip-on fenders are good for fast set up earlier than the wet season and straightforward elimination when you should lighten your bike up for an extended journey or race. Clip-on fenders are the best possibility for bikes that don’t have threaded fittings for bolts, however they sometimes don’t present the identical safety as bolt-on fenders.
Full-length bolt-on fenders present one of the best protection and they’re going to rattle much less throughout a journey due to their safe attachment to the bike. Bolt-on fenders require that your bike body has threaded fittings for set up.
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Bike Computer systems
Bike computer systems allow you to monitor distance, velocity, time and extra. Many are wi-fi. Greater-end fashions embrace GPS for monitoring your route, an altimeter for recording elevation acquire and loss, and the flexibility to speak wirelessly with a coronary heart price monitor strap.
Some riders favor to make use of cycling-specific apps to show their smartphone into a motorcycle laptop. Mounts and instances can be found that will let you connect your cellphone to your handlebars or stem.
Be taught extra about bike computer systems in our Bike Computer systems: Methods to Select article.
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Bike Locks
Assist shield your bike from crooks with a sturdy lock. For long-term storage, search for a heavy-duty U-lock or chain lock.
Cable locks are typically much less safe, nevertheless, they’re very handy for fast stops in low-crime areas. They’re additionally a sensible choice to be used together with a U-lock or chain lock to safe simply eliminated components, like a seat or entrance wheel.
For extra info, learn our Bike Locks: Methods to Select article.
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Bike Water Bottles and Cages
To remain hydrated when you journey you want easy accessibility to water. A bottle cage holds your water bottle securely and attaches to your bike body utilizing bolts that screw into threaded fittings on the seat tube or down tube. In case your bike doesn’t have threaded fittings, search for a bottle cage that installs with straps or a clamp.
Most water bottles for biking have sport tops which can be straightforward to open with one hand or your enamel and will let you squirt or suck water when you’re driving.
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Bike Gear Storage
Bike Cargo Rack
When you plan to pack gear in rear panniers, entrance panniers, a rack trunk or a basket, otherwise you need to merely strap issues down with bungee cords, you’ll want so as to add a cargo rack. A rear rack is the most typical sort of rack, however if you happen to plan to do any long-distance, multiday excursions, look right into a entrance rack for carrying entrance panniers, too.
Be taught extra about racks with our Bike Racks and Luggage: Methods to Select article.
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Panniers and On-Bike Packs
Whether or not you’re commuting to work, driving to the grocery retailer or setting out on a multiday tour, you want a solution to carry every part from a motorcycle device and spare tube to meals and tenting gear. There are many choices for carrying your issues.
Packs comparable to saddle packs, handlebar packs and body luggage mount on to your bike, whereas panniers, baskets and rack trunks connect to a rack. Some touring bikes embrace a rear rack, however likelihood is you’ll want so as to add one.
For carrying plenty of gear or bringing your baby alongside, think about pulling a motorcycle trailer behind you.
For extra info on bike panniers and on-bike packs, take a look at our Bike Racks and Luggage: Methods to Select article.
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Bike Security Gear
Bike Lights
Headlights and taillights are important to be used at evening and in unhealthy climate.
Headlights vary from fundamental security fashions that assist motorists see you in dim gentle, to high-end, high-output lighting techniques that gentle up the path or highway forward.
Taillights are designed to assist motorists and different cyclists see you from behind. Similar to the taillights in your automotive, taillights for bikes are pink. Most have flashing and regular modes.
Be taught extra about lights in our Bike Lights: Methods to Select article.
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Bike Reflectors, Mirrors and Bells
Bike reflectors, mirrors and bells are easy, low-cost additions with beneficial payoffs. Reflectors enhance your visibility to automobiles, cyclists and pedestrians, whereas a bell is a straightforward solution to alert cyclists and pedestrians to your presence earlier than you cross.
A mirror may help you see automobiles and different cyclists developing from behind.
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