Bike Accessories You Can't Do Without

Just like any other method of transportation such as a car or a boat, the bike works well even at its basics. Just like how some car owners would have elaborate paint jobs and decals on their cars, there are a few things you can do to your bike as well. Most of these come in the form of bike accessories. Some of these accessories are essential while others are optional but make your biking experience a lot more practical.

Essential Accessories

Essential bike accessories aren't necessarily items that you put on the bike itself. Helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads are basic bicycle safety equipment that you just can't do without. Since bikes do not have seatbelts and airbags, these items should be with you when you take the bike out for a ride; and this is not negotiable. Having these items on doesn't just save you from potential accidents, you also get to avoid getting in trouble with the law.

Another essential item that you need but may or may not come with the bike purchase is a bike lock. Bike locks don't just protect your bike from getting awarded with a new owner, they also affix your bike to a safe spot. The last thing you want to happen is inadvertently causing a traffic accident because your bike strolled into the middle of the road.

If you use your bike to travel a considerable distance under the scorching sun, water bottle holders might be of some use to you. Biking is good exercise. Sweating due to exercise AND due to the hot sun can lead to you getting dehydrated quickly. A bottle of ice water strapped on to your bike's frame should come in handy.

Finally, bikes rarely come with reflectors. You will need to find some if your bike currently doesn't have it. Reflective stickers can be placed anywhere on the bike, and gets you noticed during night time. These will make your biking trips a lot safer from other motorists.

Optional Items

Air pumps are great optional accessories for your bike. Some pumps are designed specifically for them, allowing you to just clamp them somewhere on your bike's frame. These will be useful for temporarily fixing any tire mishaps where you can't afford to walk your bike home.

Another optional item is a bit of an alternative to reflective stickers: reflective clothing. If you don't have any reflective stickers on your bike, then don your reflective clothing when biking at night so as to reduce the chances of other vehicles bumping into you due to lack of visibility.

Mirrors are also optional items, but make biking a lot more practical. By installing side mirrors on your bike, you can avoid speeding vehicles that may not have seen you.

For increased visibility at night, head lights can be installed on your bike as well. Tail lights are optional, although they add more of that safety factor by increasing other motorists' visibility of you.

Finally, if you're using your bike mainly for exercising, cycling computers might be one thing you want to get. These come in all shapes and sizes, but basically gives you an idea of how far you've travelled, how long you've been biking, and in some cases, a rough number of calories that you burned.

Bike accessories are usually cheap, but the sheer number of them can still make it a bit of an investment. So choose your bike wisely first before thinking about the accessories. If you're looking for some of the best Sydney bicycle shops, check out and browse at chappelli.com.au.