Bicycle Accessories: Stay Dry and Visible with Style!

You don't need to drop hundreds of dollars on shiny things for your bike. A few things - lights, in particular - are required. Other items might make your riding a bit more manageable in different conditions. 

Bike Accessories 

• Handlebar or helmet mirror
• Panniers
• Full fenders
  
• Water bottle & bottle cage
  
• Rear rack
  
• Repair kit (kept in pannier, backpack/messenger bag, or saddle pouch)
• mini tire pump
• tire levers
• patch kit (contact cement, abrasive pad, patches)
• spare tube
  
• 3-way hex wrench (4-5-6 allen wrench) or multitool
• zip ties
• Sunglasses
• Pant clips, rubber bands, velcro etc to keep pant legs out of chainring.
• For longer rides:
• Bike shorts (for long rides, not necessary for short trips)
  
• Bike gloves

Lights

There are simple, $3-4 lights that easily attach to your bike. A white light on the front, and a red on the rear are necessary for evening/night riding. These are "be-seen" lights -- they won't illuminate your way in the dark, but they'll ensure that other people see you.

Tires

Knobby Tires
Use for mostly off-road riding. These wide, low pressure tires will slow you down in a big way on asphalt. However, the most extreme version of these tires -- studded with carbide tips -- are excellent for urban winter ridding.

Semi-Slick Tires
Knobs on the side to help cornering, smooth on the top for reduced rolling resistance. Great on asphalt and hardpack gravel trails.

Skinny/Slick Tires
No tread (or negligible tread). The fastest tire (less tread equals less rolling resistance) for on-asphalt riding. Not good for offroad riding.

Locks

If you can't bring it in at home or work, always lock your bike! Bikes are stolen from porches, backyards and quiet and heavily trafficked streets.

A lock is also not the place to save money. A good investment here will be a good investment for your bike.

• U-locks tend to be stronger than coil or cable locks. If you're going with a cable lock, the thicker the cable the better. Some locks come with theft insurance.
• Position the lock as tightly as possible between the bike frame and wheel making it harder for thieves to use tools to break it.
• If you have quick release wheels, it's recommended to use a combination of U-Lock for the rear wheel and frame, and cable lock for the front wheel.

• Try to make your U-Lock's key hole face the ground.
• Don't position your lock close to the ground. This makes it easier to break.
• If your bike is expensive, consider using a second, used bike for errands and commuting in high theft areas (downtown and school grounds, for example)
• "Uglifying" your bike with stickers, unique markings, etc can deter theft. The flashier and newer-looking the bike, the more attractive it is.
• Take off removable objects when you leave your bike (lights, computers, mirrors, bags, etc)
• Lock your bike to a sturdy, immovable, unbreakable object (not wire fencing, trees or wooden rails).
• Avoid locking your bike in the same public location all the time.
• Register your bicycle with the Police - call (705) 876-1122.