Stuff that can really
improve your ride
The first post in this series discussed your brain and exercise, and how bicycle commuting makes for a smarter you and a more successful small business.
The second post looked at some simple steps that will help guarantee a fun, successful commuting experience.
This third post is about gear and gadgets that will help you stick with bicycle commuting over the long run. Keep in mind that a commuter bike is not about style points, the fastest speed and the lightest possible weight. It’s about functionality and safety in all kinds of weather.
Eighteen months ago, I climbed on an old mountain bike and rode it to work. I decided that I liked the experience, and I started doing it several times a week. But pretty soon I began to feel the need for extra gear to accommodate night riding and adverse weather conditions.
Once you get into riding at dusk or night, you need lights for safety, to protect yourself from cars and other cyclists. There are a lot of cheap headlights available, most of them junk that fail to illuminate the road in front of you and do little to make you visible to oncoming traffic (the number one job of a headlight). My advice is to spend a little more for a good light that will do a much better job of protecting you and last a long time.
For the front light, if you’re on a tight budget, go with the Planet Bike Beamer series (one example: http://www.rei.com/product/756359); it can be set to flash or project a steady beam, and you can pop it off and take it with you when you lock your bike. It does a better job of warning others of your arrival than it does of lighting up the road, but you will be able to see where you are going. If you can afford to spend more for a truly fantastic headlight that will transform your night riding experience, buy a Nite Rider MiNewt 2X LED Light (http://www.rei.com/product/758645) with its monster beam and plug-in rechargeable battery pack. No one will fail to see you coming, and it’s also easy to remove for protection.
For the rear light, the only way to go is the Planet Bike Super Flash Rear Bike Light (http://www.rei.com/product/756360). It’s awesome. It flashes “blip, blip, KA-BOOM!” over and over again, and it’s sure to get the attention of any drivers approaching from behind. It also slips right on and off for protection against theft.
Learn how to patch a tube, and carry tire irons, a small wrench if you don’t have quick release wheels, a patch kit, and an extra tube in a bag that attaches under your seat. The Topeak Aero Wedge series includes 3 sizes of beautiful seat bags (http://www.rei.com/product/710406). Add a tiny multi-tool (http://www.rei.com/product/718804) to your seat bag so you can tighten anything that gets loose. Get a small pump that attaches to your frame; my favorite is the Topeak Pocket Master Blaster (http://www.rei.com/product/693421). Some day you’ll have a flat, and you can rescue yourself in 15 minutes or less if you can patch or replace a tube. Or you can walk home, or wait an hour for a friend to pick you up, and then you still have to fix your tire. I prefer self-rescue.
Next time: Some surprisingly useful additional gear, including my favorite (undiscovered) gadget of all time.
Comments