The best commuter bike accessories will help get you and your work essentials into the office in comfort. They'll also add all-w⛄eather reliability and help keep you safe on your ride.
For example, many commuters will carry a backpack. The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best cycling backpacks are a handy way to keep all your work material🥀s with you that l⛎eaves your hands unencumbered and makes off-bike travel easier. But a single pannier or a pair of panniers is a good alternative that you may find more comfortable and stable when riding.
Turning to safety equipment, it's sensible to run 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:bike lights to increase your road presence even during🎃 the day and, of course, they're essential at night, dusk or dawn. Even if you plan to ride only during the day, it's easy to get delayed and find you're ending your commute when it's getting dark.
A helmet is another essential piece of safety kit. As well as providing protection in an accident, many of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best commuter helmets include lights, which will further inc🔯rease your visibility to other road users. ♕;
Mudguards will make a damp or wet commute much more comfortable. Many of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best hybrid bikes come equipped with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:mudguards (and often a rac🥂k for luggage)🍰, but if yours doesn't we have some suggestions.
There are more details below for each of these items, as well as some products we'd be happy to buy in ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚeach case.
What are the best commuter bike accessories?
Backpacks
Most commuters need to carry items ꦡwith them into work, whether that's a laptop, spare clothes, or some of the other iꦕtems further down this page that they might need during their commute.
Many commuters choose to wear a backpack, as you don't need to fix it to the bike or remove it once you reach your destination and it's easier to carry around. Our picks of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best cycling backpacks are designed with cyclists in mind. They will be the right size to help you to carry your kit comfortably, th🏅ey are weatherproof and are stable, so that you're not encumbered with a bouncing pack.
Chrome Industries Barrage Cargo
We loved the Chrome Industrꦚies Barrage pack. It's just the right size for commuting and its thick fabric and rolltop closure make it weatherproof. But above all, we liked the external cargo net that gives you expandable stowage for more bulky items.
Rapha Backpack
The Rapha Backpack is comfortable to wear and a little softer than the Chrome Barrage, although the same size. Only t🌳he main compartment is waterproof, but that's lined in pink, making it a lot easier to find things.
Proviz Reflect360
If you want to make sure that you're visible🦩 for commutes in the dark, the Proviz Reflect360 is for you. The whole rear and sides of the pack are made of highly reflective fabri🐷c and its long zip makes it easy to get stuff in and out.
Bike bags
The alternative to a backpack is to carry extra stuff on the bike. This has the advantage that you're not encumbered by your load, it's carries lower down and your back shouldn't get so hot. On the flip side, it's more hassle to remove a bℱag from a bike and it will usually be more awkward to carry around off-bike.
Although many of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best commuter bikes come ready-fitted with a rack, you'll need to buy luggage. That might be a rack bag, a saddle bag or a bar bag. 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Bikepacking bags are also an option. Panniers are a popular choice as they have plenty of capacity, are weatherproof, are easy to clip to the rack and fairly eas♉𝓰y to carry too.
Ortlieb Back Roller pannier
Ortlieb's bike luggage has a reputation for phenomenal quality. There are a bewildering array of different Back Roller models, including hi viz options. You can buy either single or double sets, dependin💧g on how much you 🤪need to carry.
Vaude Aqua Back pannier
Another pannier with a large number of options availableꦚ, Vaude sells the Aqua Back in a wide range of colours and as✃ singles or pairs. The roll-top pack has welded seams, a hard back and comes with a removeable shoulder strap.
Topeak Pannier Drybag
Another waterproof pꦡannier, Topeak's option is sonically welded and waterproof with a rolltop. It's available in either 16 or 24 litre capacity, with a quick release rack mount system and comes with a shoulder strap.
Lights
For the winter months, lights are a necessity as you'll probably be commuting in dim light conditions and poor weather. In summer you may feel that there is no need for lights. However, even during the day, daytime running lights can make a cyclist far more visible to other road users. The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best bike lights will have different modes to cover all riding conditions, just🍃 make sure they are charged and ready for 🦹the morning ride.
For urban commutes on lit roads, a lower output front light like the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lezyne Mini Drive 400XL would probably be adequate. If you are going to be riding on unlit roads, you probably need a light with higher peak output though, like the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Bontrager Ion Pro RT.
You also need a quality rear light. We've reviewed the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lezyne KTV Pro Drive 75 butꦡ you can often save some money by🅷 buying a front and rear light set.
They're expensive but the Garmin Varia series lights include a rear-facing radar that alerts you to approaching traffic. The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Garmin Varia RCT715 a🎶dds an action camer💎a to record events as you ride.
Lezyne Mini Drive 400XL
The Mini Drive 400XL will emit its peak output for an hour in constant, or🦂🦋 seven hours in day flash mode. With eight modes in total, there are lots of options to match the conditions on your commute.
Bontrager Ion Pro RT
The Ion Pro RT emits 1300 lumens for up to 90 minutes, making a good option if your c🌼ommute takes in dark roads at night. Its five modes include day and night flashing as well, for increased ride safety.
Garmin Varia RCT715 rearview radar
There are three Garmin Varia rearview radar opti🅠ons including this top spec model with a camera, which records what's going🧜 on behind as well as alerting you to approaching vehicles and their proximity.
Commuter helmets
Depending on your local laws, wearing a helmet might not be compulsory. Regardless, we would always recommend wearing one no matter the distance of your 💜ride. It is irrefutable that, even in the event of a slow-speed crash, a helmet will provide potentially life-saving protecꦛtion.
You can buy 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:commuter helmets which offer a more casual aesthetic and may include more city riding features such as built-in lights and reflective panels to aid rider visibility. If your commute is longer a 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:road bike helmet with more ventilation may🤪 be more comfortable though.
With great ventilation, the Kask Moebius's peak is removable from the he꧒lmet, while the shell is scratch resistant, which is useful for commuting use. You can swap out the standard rear retainer for one with an ܫin-built red LED light.
Bern Hudson MIPS
Bern specialises in urban helmets and the Hudson MIPS 💃includes both a rear light and a MIPS liner, designed to add extra protection in a crash. There are 13 vents for good airflow and a removable visor.
Bontrager Circuit Wavecel
If your commute is a little longer, a road bike-style helmet will be more comfortable than an urban helmet as there will be greater airflow. The Bontrager Circuit can also be fitted with lights to increase your road p🗹resence.
Mudguards
While they aren't necessarily an essential commuter item, full mudguards (or fenders, for our readers across the pond) make a huge difference to r𝓰iding enjoyment in poor weather conditions. By keeping the dirt, grime and spray off you and your bike, rider comfort is greatly increased and wear on expensive drivetrain components and the need for cleaning are reduced. They may look a little dorky, but after the first commute in the rain without a wet bottom, or having to hose down your salt-covered drivetrain, you won’t look back.
Mudguards come in many different forms, and you really get what you pay for. Full mudguards are the way to go if you have the mounting points and or 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Kinesis Fend Off are great options. If you don’t have mudguard mounts on your bike, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Crud Roadracer Mk3 mudguards will fit on most bikes.
If you are looking for more choice, check out our 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:road bike mudguard guide to learn everything you need to k🌱now about mudguards.
SKS Bluemels mudguards
SKS has a re🤡putation for producing quality, durable mudguards, with extra features like safety clips on the frame which aꦦllow them to snap off safely if an object gets caught between them and the wheel.
Kinesis Fend Off mudguards
The Kinesis Fend Off mudguards are another quality option. Made of aluminium they are durable and available in two widths designဣed for 🐓the wider tyres that usually feature on commuter bikes.
Crud Roadracer mudguards
Designed for bikes without mudguard eyes, the Roadracers nevertheless provide good coverage to keep you drier and cleaner. 🐟They fit to the frame away from disc brakes with velcro pads to help stop them from rubbing.
Shoes
Deciding what shoes and pedals to use and shoes to wear while commuting really depends on your journey. The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best commuter cycling shoes will give you a firm, comfortable grip on your pedals, with a sole ဣthat's stiff enough for efficient pedalling but stil🔯l easy to walk in.
While some commuter cycling shoes are designed with soles that only work with flat pedals,🔯 others give you the choice of either using flat pedals or removing an insert from the sole to fit cleats for clipless pedals.
FiveTen Sleuth
The FiveTen Sleuth is a canvas upper shoe with a grippy rubb er flat sole that's g⛦reat for pedalling efficiency and will keep your feet cool. It's now available as a lace-up ♌only, It's a shoe that's as comfortable and stylish off the bike as on.
Shimano GR5
An MTB shoe, the Shimano GR5 is📖 a robu♍st option for the commuter. Its upper is well ventilated and made of durable synthetic material that can withstand plenty of abuse, while the sole is sticky enough that your feet won't slip on the pedals.
Giro Rumble VR
The Giro Rumble VR is designed for use with SPD pedals, although it could also be used with flat pedals. Mesh inserts in the synthetic uppers keep your fe💦et cool and the Vibram sole ensures grip whether it's wet or dry.
Locks
Bike thieves are an unfortunate reality so equipping yourself with the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:best bike lock will help ensure that your bike will still be where you left it. D-locks are generally the best way to go thanks to their compact size and security features although they can be somewhat liဣmiting when it comes to choosing your anch𓃲oring point. There are other options such as chains and compact folding mechanisms.
It's worth looking at the Sold Se𝓰cure rating of a lock and choosing one appropriate to the security needed wh🐠ere your bike will be locked up. Diamond is the highest level, then gold, silver, then bronze.
A classic D-lock, the Onguard Pitbull offers enough space to lock your frame and a wheel to an anchor, providing a reasonable level of security at modest price for 🐓a bike that isn't going to be left in a high risk area.
Hiplok Gold
The Hiplok Gold provides high security in a wearable chain lock, which can be adjusted for waist sizes from 30" to 44".ಌ Its locking length of 85cm gives you plenty of options to secure your bike's frame and wheels.
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit Mini
Kryptonite makes the Fahgettaboutit in several sizes, with the Mini its smallest shackle. It's Sold Secure Diam𒀰ond rated bu🃏t still very affordable and a little more compact than many options.
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Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his 🌜cyclo-cross bike to ride all𝓡-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultimate test along the way. Paul has contributed to Cyclingnews' tech coverage for a few years, helping to maintain the freshness of our buying guides and deals content, as well as writing a number of our voucher code pages.
