We don't discuss any of the fad items, just the
equipment used by serious bikers.
Bike Bags - There are several types of bike bags that are recommended for bikers. The first type is a small bag that fits on the back of your
seat and is just big enough for something like an energy bar. Another type
is a bag which is quite large and sits on a rack if you have one
attached to the back of your bike. The third bag is the handlebar bag. These
are great because they are large enough to carry almost anything you can
think of and even has a plastic sleeve where you can slide your trail map in
for easy viewing. For the biker who needs to carry a lot of supplies you may
will want to consider front and rear Pannier racks with saddlebags.
Lights - While it's not recommended to bike at night, most bikers will
find themselves biking at night at some point in their travels. If you are
caught out in the dark, it's important that you have a light on the front of
your bike to light your way and also alert motorists of oncoming cyclists.
You should also have an red LED rear light which can either blink or stay on to
alert people behind you. Most lights are either battery powered or hooked up
to a generator which is powered each time your wheel turns. Generator type
add friction to your ride and will wear you out a little sooner.
Water Bottles - There are many different types of bottles and sizes (the
smallest holding .75 liters and the largest holding 1.51 liters) to choose
from. You can refrigerate these the night before or even frreeze but if you
freeze them you need to fill them only about 85% full.
Bottle Cages - If you are going to carry a water bottle, the best way to
do this is on the frame of your bike. There are two screws located on the
bottom sloping tube of your bike where you are able to connect a water
bottle. Depending on the size of your frame, you may be able to get away
with putting two bottle cages on the frame. Most cages are designed to carry
almost any size bottle without dropping one.
Camel Packs - These fit on
your back like a soft back pack and can carry a lot more that a
bottle. They have a sippy straw that allows you to drink from them
without having to stop. These are highly suggest for long rides or
warm weather riding.
Pumps - There are various sizes when it comes to pumps ranging from floor
pumps to micro pumps that are made to fit in a bike bag. A floor pump is the
type of thing to leave at home or in your car while a micro pump is great to
bring with you on the trails. The floor pump will inflate the tire more
quickly, but the micro pump will definitely get the job done.
Computers - While not
absolutely necessary bike computers are great to have because they will usually
keep track of trip mileage, total mileage, average speed, maximum speed,
cadence, elapsed time and much more depending on the model. Computers are
the types of things where the more money it costs, the more features it has.
Repair Kit - This need to suit
your bike so there is not any one kit fits all. See your cycle
shop.
Spare parts - This include
tire repair kit and spare tube. A few spokes- Chain lube -
