The diversity of bike gear available in shops may be overwhelming if you're new to cycling or have finally made the decision to dedicate your life to it. You do not, however, need to own every accessory on the market. You only need to bring the essentials that safeguard you and make sure your cycling trip is enjoyable, depending on the type of cycling trip you're on. Continue reading as we lead you through the necessities of biking!

Types of Bike Accessories Available

  • Helmet

The helmet is the most important piece of equipment for bicyclists since it guards against brain injuries in the event of an accident. While it is not compulsory to wear a helmet when riding on the park connectors in Singapore, you never know what can happen while riding, so it's best to be safe than sorry. It is mandatory to wear one when you are on the road.

All helmets would adhere to a safety standard either by the European and British Standards (BS EN 1078) or Japan Cycling Federation. You will be able to identify the safety standards the helmet was tested against with a sticker on the inside or outside of the helmet.

You might have come across this term – MIPS. The MIPS system features a low friction layer that sits between the helmet’s Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam shell and liner. It is able to slide between 10mm to 15mm in all directions. This aims to reduce the transfer of rotation motion onto your brain. While linear, or straight-on, impacts can lead to skull fractures and bleeding, MIPS studies show rotational impacts can lead to concussion and serious traumatic brain injuries.

  • Gloves

Another essential bicycle gear are cycling gloves, which safeguard your hands in the event of an accident. Also, they reduce friction between your palms and the bike handles, reducing the risk of hand blisters. Cycling gloves should also be worn since they safeguard your ulnar nerve, which passes through your palm. This nerve becomes numb in your fingers and even your entire hand since it is constantly being pressured by the handles. 

  • Bicycle Lock

Purchasing a high-quality lock is a small thing to pay to avoid the inconvenience of a far walk home and, more importantly, the expense of a new bike if you must lock your bike up on the street or at home. Locks are meant to be a deterrence and not a 100% safeguard against theft.

How to Choose Between Safety and Comfort Items

 

Bike Accessories for Commuting

How can you make sure your commute by bike is stress-free, safe, and comfortable? Your commute can be made more enjoyable and stress-free by the accessories you purchase for both you and your bike.

  • Lights

Few equipment are more crucial for safety when riding to work in the dark or in poor visibility than lights. It should be sufficient up front to have a static or a non-flashing front light that produces 400–800 lumens of light. A flashing light at the back of the bike aids in drawing attention. This shouldn't be up front because it's thought to distort a driver's perception of distance.

  • Fenders

Upon arriving at work, the majority of individuals don't want to appear as though they just finished a cyclo-cross race. Bike fenders keep your bike clean when you have to commute in the rain and also keep you cleaner. 

 

Bike Accessories for Mountain Biking

  • Pedals and Shoes

Shoes are one of three points of contact you'll have with your bike, and they're crucial for both control and performance. Shoes for mountain biking are made to be tough, durable, and stiff to increase power transmission. The choice of whether to use flat pedals or clipless pedals when riding a mountain bike is up to the user. Counter intuitive it may sound but clipless pedals are actually the ones with the locking mechanism.

  • Body Armor with Padding

It is advisable to gear yourself with some protective body armor as the trails advance and you push yourself to your limits. Always start with a set of flexible knee pads before moving on to combination knee and shin protection, elbow pads, and even back protection if you so want.

Bike Accessories for City Riding

  • Strong Tires

While any tire will work for commuting on your bike, city roadways are riddled with glass and potholes just waiting to puncture unaware bikers. A high-quality tire designed specifically for city riding will be far more reliable because it prioritizes durability and puncture resistance over low rolling resistance.

Bike Accessories for Off-Road Cycling

  • Wheel inserts

The least appealing aspect of biking over gravel is undoubtedly punctures, so here is another way to keep going. Your tubeless gravel tire will benefit from additional protection against severe impacts and from the ability to reduce air pressure without running the danger of wriggling or burping.

  • Compact inner tube

Notwithstanding everything mentioned above, you're still likely to get the mother of all punctures at some point that won't stop bleeding. Carrying a tube around is a smart idea because inserting one might be your only option in that situation. A modern TPU inner tube can save you a ton of weight and space compared to a typical butyl inner tube for a gravel bike. You have a better chance of having a trouble-free ride home because they are stronger as well.