Bicycles offer users a chance to get plenty of fresh air and exercise, and biking is an environmentally friendly way to get around town in suburban as well as urban areas. Biking enthusiasts include competitive sport cyclists, leisurely weekend hobbyists and those who use their bikes as primary modes of transportation daily. The following items are accessories that help to improve biking safety, utility and user performance.
1. Ultra Bright Bike LED Light
The Ultra Bright Bike LED Light can be a key safety feature on many types of bikes. The purchase comes with a headlight and a taillight that are adjustable and easy to install to handle bars and seat posts of bikes without the use of special tools. The lights feature a quick release mount so that a bicyclist can easily transfer the unit to another bike if needed. Six AAA batteries are needed to power the five LED headlight and the three LED taillight, and bicyclists enjoy 80 hours of use before a battery change is required. The water resistant lights operate in three modes that range from steady lighting to intermittent flashing lights. The bright lights are designed to make bicyclists visible to drivers at distances of 1500 feet away.
2. Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 U-Lock
Since bikes are purchased at a variety of price points, a good lock is needed to protect one’s investment. The U-Lock by Kryptonite is made from high quality steel that resists theft by bolt cutters. While some customer reviews indicate that the lock does not make bikes theft proof when highly skilled thieves with bolt cutters are involved, most reviews give the security system high marks for its durability, quality construction and ease of use. Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 U-Lock comes with a set of two keys. Owners who register their keys on the Kryptonite website can have a replacement set made if they ever get lost or stolen.
3. LED Safety Light (Twin Pack)
The LED Safety Light set features two bright LED lights that can be conveniently clipped on to all types of gear. The lights are designed to alert motorists that a pedestrian or bicyclist is near or approaching them. These lights which weigh less than an ounce are ideal for joggers, walkers, bicyclists and dogs. CR2032 batteries are needed to operate the lights, and the initial set of lights comes with two sets of batteries. The lights also come with a 100 percent money back guarantee that is good for one year and 30 days.
4. Mirrycle Incredibell Brass Duet Bicycle Bell
Sometimes bicyclist want to be seen as well as heard for safety purposes, and the Mirrycle Incredibell Brass Duet Bicycle provides just the right sound to let pedestrians know that a bicyclist is approaching them. The bell is easy to mount on most handlebars, but the Mirrycle Incredibell will not accommodate some non-standard sized handlebars. The bell sounds a pleasing double ring of which prospective buyers can listen via an audio file on the Mirrycle website before making a purchase.
5. Topeak Explorer Bike Rack
Many people are forsaking their motor vehicles in favor of their bikes when they need to commute to work, school or leisure activities. The Topeak Explorer Bike Rack allows bicyclists to easily transport their things in bags or baskets that they can attach to the bike rack. The rust proof bike rack is constructed of light weight, durable aluminum, and it features mounts for safety taillights. The total weight of the bike rack is 1.38 pounds, and it is designed to easily mount Topeak accessories like bike bags and baskets.
6. Schwinn Quick Release Wire Basket
The Schwinn Quick Release Wire Basket mounts over a bike’s handle bars to transport personal items all around town. The basket is nearly 14 inches wide, 10 inches tall and a little over 10 inches deep. It is made of weather ready steel, but the brackets that are used to mount the device are made of plastic. The basket can be quickly released from its mount and has handles that allow for convenient hand carrying. While the Schwinn Quick Release Wire Basket has plenty of attractive features, some customer stated that they had problems with the plastic mounting hardware; they stated that the baskets come loose from its mountings. To avoid accidents, users of the Schwinn Quick Release Wire Basket might need to take extra precautions to secure the basket to their bicycles.
7. Garmin Bike Speed Sensor and Cadence Sensor
The Garmin Bike Speed Sensor and Cadence Sensor measures bikers’ speed and pedal cadence in real time. The tool is ideal for sports cyclists who want to improve their trip times and optimize each pedal stroke. The Garmin Bike Speed Sensor and Cadence Sensor consists of wireless sensors that easily mount to bicycle wheels and crank arms.
8. Cateye Urban Wireless Bike Computer
The Cateye Urban Wireless Bike Computer delivers numerous details about a bicyclist’s ride that include current speed, average speed of trips and distance. Users also gain estimations of calories consumed from the innovative bike computer. The computer uses wireless sensors to obtain required data, and the computer’s mounting instructions must be followed carefully to avoid placing the sensors out of range.
9. Ventura Universal Bicycle Carrier Rack
The Ventura Universal Bicycle Carrier Rack is a strong steel rack that users can attach to the back of their bikes. The rack is designed to transport up to 55 pounds of gear or personal items. Users can attach this rack to any standard bike with 26 to 28 inch tires. Many customer reviews indicate that rack assembly is not an intuitive process for the Ventura Universal Bicycle Carrier Rack, but they consider the properly mounted rack to be a great value for moderate bike transport needs.
10. Outtag Retractable Aluminum Alloy Bike Mount Cycle Bicycle Rear Seat Post Rack
The Outtag Aluminum Alloy Bike Rack is a light duty unit that is constructed of weather resistant steel. The rack allows users to transport up to 22 pounds of gear or personal items. This rack has a sliding mechanism that allows users to adjust the rack’s length to accommodate all types of cargo.
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