Biking Accessories For Your Commute
While commuting to work or school on your bike is a good idea for many reasons, it is different than going out for a recreational ride and requires a little more forethought. Planning your ride so that you arrive on time and being prepared for all types of weather are just two of the challenges you’ll face. Riding in low-light conditions (whether early morning or early evening) and in rush-hour conditions will require you to take extra precautions in order to be visible to motorists. Here are some accessories that bike commuters need to make sure they stay safe and comfortable on their daily rides.
Bike Headlight
If you’re a regular bike commuter, you’ll want to have a good front light for your bike. The best types are white with a steady or flashing beam. The purpose of the headlight is not so much to illuminate your way, but rather to make sure you are visible to motorists – especially if you are traveling in urban areas.
Having the white light on the front of the bicycle is not enough. It’s just as important to have a red one on the back of the bike. You can purchase ones with a steady, random or continuous flash pattern. It really doesn’t matter as long as it gives off enough light to make you visible to approaching motorists. These red blinking lights can usually be mounted to your seat post or rack. They can even be clipped onto your backpack.
You really can’t afford to be worried about the cool factor if your goal is to be safe. You’ll want to make sure you have the brightest colored reflective jacket or vest to alert oncoming motorists to your presence. Remember, your goal is to be as visible as possible from as far a distance as possible. As an additional bonus, you can use your reflective vest when you’re not riding your bike to assist your local crossing guard at the nearby elementary school. Now that’s cool!
It’s easy to carry necessities like lunch, books or a change of clothes on your bike with a rack or basket. There are many quick-release models of racks that pop into and off of your seat post in seconds. If you want a sturdier, more permanent mount, you can get one that bolts to your frame.
There’s no question that if you ride regularly, you’re going to get rained on at some point. Be prepared and purchase decent rain gear that will make riding bearable (maybe even fun?) when it gets wet out. A simple windbreaker or rain cape will tuck neatly in your backpack and provide much more protection and comfort than your standard jacket. It can be slipped over your clothing in a matter of seconds. A rain cape allows air to circulate from underneath so that you stay cool and dry.
Basic Bike Tools
A basic set of bike tools will keep you going even if you have a minor breakdown during your commute. Don’t panic. We’re not talking about a professional, complete set of tools for bicycle mechanics. All you really need is a multi-tool and a couple of tire levers. Just purchase a basic bike tool kit if you don’t want to put together your own.
Frame Pump & Spare Tube
Got a flat? While a patch is a quick fix, a spare tube (specific to your bike) is an excellent riding companion. A nice little pump comes in handy in these situations to get you back in the rider’s seat and on your way.
Now that you’ve got the proper bike accessories for a safe and comfortable ride, get on that bike and go! Be safe and have fun on your biking commute.