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What to buy:

A guide to various accessories for your bicycle.

Welcome friends to the "What to buy" section of Get-Into-Cycling.com. So you have your new or used bike and you say to yourself "I'm ready to ride!" And off you go..... But the more your ride, the more you find out that there are essential items that you need besides your bike. What to buy? Well don't fret. We at Get-Into-Cycling.com have come up with a list of all the "essentials" that you'll need to help improve your riding experience.

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THE IMPORTANT STUFF

There are just some things that you need to have to make riding not only more fun, but safe as well. Cycling is an inherently risky sport, so there are a few things that you should have that will keep you rolling on for miles with a smile on your face.

Helmet: What can we say? Of all the items in the "what to buy" section (or for that matter, anywhere else in this website, LOL), the helmet is the utmost important item you can have as a cyclist. Yes, we are beating the proverbial horse to death. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to purchase a helmet. So we apologize if you get tired of reading how important it is to have a helmet. Trust us.......you won't regret it. Get a helmet.

Portable tool kit & supplies: Make sure that you always have a portable tool kit with you in the event you have a mechanical emergency. Purchase a decent sized seat bag (as pictured above) and at the very least, you should carry two inner tubes, a patch kit and some tire irons. Folding multi-tools also come in handy.

Pump: A pump is an absolute necessity if you should have a flat tire. Purchase a pump that can inflate tubes that have either a "presta" or "schrader" type valve. If the pump you have is for only one type of valve, purchase a valve adaptor.

Water bottle cage and bottle: Another important "what to buy" item is a water bottle cage and a bottle. It's very important to stay hydrated while riding, especially during hot weather. We recommend you get two sets. Most bikes have mounts that allow you to attach your bottle cages directly to the frame. If your bike doesn't have mounts, come cages can be clamped on to the frame of your bike. An alternative to the water bottle cage and bottle is a hydration back pack, although these are a bit more pricey.

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ADDITIONAL STUFF

Blinking light: A good blinking tail light is very important especially when riding at night or foul weather conditions. It improves your visibility to other cyclist and especially to motorists.

Cyclocomputer: A cyclocomputer is a good way to track your performance. Aside from telling you how fast you're going, most cyclocomputers also track your trip mileage, total mileage, maximum speed and pedaling RPM (revolutions per minute). Cyclocomputers also have additional functions such as a clock, timer/stopwatch and calorie burning tracker.

Headlight: Along with a blinking tail light, consider a good headlight in your "what to buy" list. There are many models available: From halogen to LED, from rechargeable NI-CAD models to ones that use standard AA batteries. There are also lights available that attach to your helmet.

Side mirrors: A good handlebar or helmet/eyeglass mounted side mirror will help enhance your visual awareness, especially when riding in a busy bike path or a street with heavy vehicular traffic. If you pull a kiddy trailer, a mirror can help you keep an eye on your precious "cargo" in the trailer without always having to physically turn and look back.

Fenders: Fenders provide good protection from debris, mud and water spray when riding in various weather and street conditions. Modern fenders are usually made of a light, flexible plastic as oppose to the older style metal fenders that were popular back in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Front/rear racks, handlebar bags, trunk and panniers: Racks, bags, trunk and panniers (also called saddle bags) are great for commuters and tourists (see "Loaded Tourist" page for more information) allowing them to carry heavy loads on their bikes. Also very useful for everyday errands like grocery shopping. Racks are usually made of light aluminum and are either bolted/clamped on to the frame/fork or seatpost. Rear racks also work double duty as a rear fender. Handlebar bags, trunks and panniers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Usually made of nylon, some models expand out to provide more cargo room and some have reflector strips for increased visibility.

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When considering what to buy for your bike, factor in the following:

- What type of riding do I do?

- Is the accessory appropriate for my type of riding?

- How far do I generally ride?

- How much can I afford?

- Do I really need that particular accessory?

- Is it available anywhere else for less?

- Do I have to have it now?

Asking yourself these simple questions will help you decide what to buy for your bike when you're ready to step to the next level in your cycling experience.

What to buy: Return to the Shoppers Guide Home


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