The pandemic has made cycling as a hobby more popular than ever. If you have just started cycling, you may not know about the essential bike accessories and tools to take care of the bike. The bikes need to be maintained regularly, and you, too, need the safety/riding gears for the best experience.
Unattended issues and lack of safety gear may lead to accidents and injuries. To avoid these troubles, you need to have the essential items/accessories in your garage. This article is going to help you narrow down the important accessories for a cyclist.
The essential accessories are as follows:
- Helmet
It is the most important safety accessory you must buy. Cycling without a helmet is illegal in many cities, and you could be fined for it. A perfectly fitting helmet of ISI standard will always save your head from harsh blows during accidents.
- Cycling gloves
Gloves are a must-have accessory for riders. First, it protects your palm in the event of an accident, and second, they prevent blisters and friction. There is one lesser-known benefit of wearing these gloves while riding. It protects your ulnar nerve, which runs through the palm. When the rider puts pressure on the ulnar nerve, they experience pain or numbness in the pinkie, ring finger, or throughout the hand.
Cycling gloves with padded palms can easily prevent these issues.
- Hydration pack
Just like helmets, a hydration pack is an important accessory. Keeping your body hydrated during the ride is important, especially in summer. Experts say that riders need to hydrate their bodies once in 20 minutes during long rides or tournaments.
- Multi-tool bike accessories
Whether you are on a highway or at the centre of the city, the bike may break down, or the gear may malfunction. The bolts may come loose, or brakes may not work properly. Here, having a multi-toolbox saves the day. The toolbox must include the necessary items like screwdrivers, oil, bolts, nuts, plier, etc.
- Bike pumps
The tyre pressure is vital for smooth riding, and in case of punctures and low pressure, you need a bike pump. A pocket-sized bike pump and a small toolbox will suffice in these situations.
- Lights and reflectors
Many riders ignore these accessories saying these are not that important or they are only required during nighttime. But, keeping these accessories on your bike 24×7 will save you from accidents in the daytime as well. In some places (high altitude), the road is filled with smog, even during the day. And you may find some places with zero street lights. Your reflectors and lights will come in handy in these places for sure.
- Bike lock
A good quality bike costs a lot, and you need to protect your bike from potential theft that can happen when you take a break from the ride. Leaving a high-quality bike outside a cafe or on the street will definitely grab people’s attention. And the possibility of theft is also high in these areas. Hence, it would help if you kept the bike safe by locking it to the footpath railing.
These are the 7 top bike accessories you must buy if you are a cyclist.
Though these seven accessories are important, there are many tools and gears worth mentioning.
Following are some of the accessories that will help you in riding the bike smoothly and protect you from danger.
- Chain lube
- Quality riding shorts
- Puncture repair kit
- Saddlebag
- Pollution mask
