Remember These Accessories Before You Hit The Road
Posted on: 14 February 2020
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As you start cycling and find your favorite trails, you'll also collect a bunch of accessories that help you get through those trips more easily. Some are obvious, and you need them from the start, such as a helmet and water bottle, along with a repair kit. However, you'll find that other accessories begin to creep their way into your bike-riding arsenal, and these three should be among the more useful.
Cycling Gloves
Cycling gloves offer a few benefits no matter where or when you ride. One is that they prevent the sweat on your hands from making the handlebars slippery, which is a vital protection as you don't need your hands slipping when you need to make fast maneuvers. Another benefit is that they keep your hands cleaner; you won't be touching a dirty handlebar with your bare skin. The gloves can also act as protection from the sun, although you will still need additional protection for your arms, neck, and any part of your face not covered by a helmet or glasses.
A Basket
No, you're not going to need a basket on your mountain-biking treks through wilderness, but you may need one if you use your bike for errands around town. There's only so much you can comfortably fit into your backpack (and only so much you can comfortably carry on your back), and panniers have their space limits, too -- they tend to be fairly narrow. Add to your storage space by keeping a detachable basket around. These come in all colors and materials, so if you want a plain black mesh basket, for example, you can find several models.
Shield-like Cycling Glasses
A sturdy shield in front of your eyes or face is necessary whether you're going off-road or just trying to survive riding on city streets. Debris, from wind-blown leaves to pebbles kicked up by passing car tires, can fly right into your face no matter what you do to reduce the risk. You need to protect your eyes so that the debris doesn't cause damage. Regular glasses really aren't enough; you need something strong that acts as a shield for both the front and sides of your face.
Whether you're tooling around town on a beach cruiser or zipping down a hill on a Cannondale bicycle or other mountain bike, you need protection and practicality. Find those accessories that make cycling more fun than you thought it could be.