What you should have in addition to a bicycle
Helmet
Helmets offer vital protection in case of a collision, so wear a helmet whenever you ride. For more information about helmets or if you are still not convinced that it is important to wear one, read the articles from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute and the Snell Memorial Foundation. Remember however, that if you ride your bike recklessly and ignore safety principles, such as those shown above, a helmet may not be much help.
Gloves
Wear gloves to prevent numbness in your fingers during long rides and to protect your hands in case of a fall.
Shoes
Plain sneakers are OK, but if you want better efficiency on the road, mount toe clips onto the pedals. For even better performance, use special shoes with SPD or Look cleats. These cleated shoes also require the appropriate pedals.
Change Purse
Always carry some cash and an ID and a small change purse is easy to slip into a pocket or seatbag.
Tools
- Frame-mounted pump
- Tire Levers (for fixing a flat tire)
- Use hard plastic levers. Metal levers often have sharp edges that puncture the inner tube.
- Patch Kit
- Chain tool
- Extra chain links
- Chain tool
- Bring a few extra links in case the chain breaks. Make sure the links are of the same kind and size as the chain on your bike.
- Allen-key wrenches
- Bicycles typically use 5-6 mm. hexagonal sockets. Ask your bike shop or examine the hex sockets on your bike to determine which size wrench to carry. Many cyclists carry multifunction tools that combine wrenches, flat blade and Phillips screwdrivers, and other tools.
Water Bottles
Avoid dehydration by bringing two full water bottles on the bike. Some cyclists prefer to carry water in a "Camel-back", worn on the back, which holds more water than most bottles and allows you to suck water from a plastic tube. Cycling is a strenuous activity, so drink water often whenever you ride and drink before you get thirsty. This is especially true in hot weather.
Cycle-Computer
These popular electronic devices combines functions of speedometer, trip-odometer, and stopwatch. Some have additional features such as measuring your heart rate or cadence (pedalling revolutions per minute).
Lights
If you plan to ride at night, use both a headlight and a taillight on your bike. Even if you don't intend to ride in darkness a blinking tail light makes you more visible in traffic and is unobtrusive hanging from a seatpost.
