In case your favourite bike owner rides to and from work or college, or simply makes use of their bike to get round city, the market, or the shop, these are among the finest items for bike commuters to make their lives simpler (and safer) irrespective of how they’re utilizing their bike.
And in case you’re treating your self this vacation season, make sure to additionally take a look at our Commuter Biking Purchaser’s Information for extra nice picks for the hardcore commuter. Regardless of which record you pull from, each merchandise we suggest has been accepted by one in every of our editors…
Finest Presents for Bike Commuters Beneath $25
Think about this worth level to be our suggestion for individuals who simply began commuting and want the necessities. Each bike owner wants a couple of fundamental restore gadgets, and these make nice stocking stuffers: Park Instrument Tire Lever & Patch Equipment ($8, at REI), for fixing flats, and the Crank Brothers M10 Mini Instrument ($18, at REI) for fixing all the things else. We particularly like this instrument’s longer bits, making it a lot simpler to make use of, but nonetheless compact.
SockGuy’s Wool Socks ($15.95, at REI) are available a ton of enjoyable colours and designs. These are inexpensive whereas additionally including selection and most significantly, consolation. Their Turbowool line is stronger than Merino wool and has superior moisture-wicking capabilities that assist maintain your toes heat in winter and funky in summer time. When you get the Turbowool socks with some padding and arch help, your toes might be further glad!
How a few bandana? No must rush with the Social gathering Tempo Bandana ($15, at Path Much less Pedaled). It’s the proper companion for your whole commutes and errand operating. On scorching days, wrap it round your neck to maintain the solar and sweat at bay. Or, you’ll be able to simply maintain it with you to assist in all kinds of on and off-the-bike actions. Lay it down to put your croissant on it for a pleasant #coffeeoutside expertise, or just use it to wipe your face after an enormous sip of your latte. With this versatile bandana, the probabilities are limitless. The bandana makes use of US-sourced supplies and is printed in Chico, California. It’s 21″ x 21″. Colours obtainable are, “Cool Breeze” (sage/navy) and “Spicy Mustard” (deep orange/brown).
The VeloToze Roam Shoe Covers ($9, at Amazon) are a rubber slip-on shoe cowl that protects your costume footwear or sneakers from water, mud – no matter. They’re reusable and pretty sturdy, and even an effective way to only maintain your toes a bit hotter on a winter commute. They’re grippy, so you’ll be able to stroll in them simply, they usually are available stealthy black and hi-vis yellow. These gained’t final eternally, so it’s at all times a very good reward concept in order that they’ve a couple of pairs!
Finest Commuter Presents Beneath $50
The Delta hexAir Saddle Cowl ($35 at Amazon) was probably the most surprisingly superior issues we’ve examined within the class. Not solely does it present a water-resistant cowl on your bike seat, but it surely’s additionally tremendous comfy! Bought a highway or gravel bike you’re commuting on that has a “efficiency” saddle? The hexAir makes it comfy with out padded bike shorts, turning nearly any bike right into a commuter bike.
Security is a priority for cyclists who navigate to work when (what looks like) the remainder of the world is doing the identical factor however in vehicles. You gotta maintain your head on a swivel. The EVT Helmet Protected Zone ($40, from Rivendell Bicycle Works)is the best way to try this. This mirror installs in seconds to the surface of your helmet. It’s made within the good ol’ USA, and solely weighs 1.5oz. It’s a well-thought-out product that would simply save your life… it’s a (concrete) jungle on the market! One measurement suits all.
One other “cover-up” that’ll make it tremendous straightforward to commute on a highway, gravel, or mountain bike with clipless pedals is the Pocket Pedals Adapter ($30, obtainable direct). It slips over SPD and SPD-SL pedals, making it straightforward to experience with common footwear with out having to vary your efficiency pedals for these around-town rides.
With a metallic base and physique, easy-to-read 2″ gauge, and lengthy 42″ hose, the Specialised Air Instrument Sport Ground Pump ($50, at Specialised) is a cut price. We’ve been utilizing one in every of their pumps for some time and it’s develop into a go-to for fast top-offs and stress checks because of the simplicity of the SwitchHitter head that works on Presta and Schrader mechanically. Bonus factors that it really works nice for highway, gravel, and youngsters’ bikes, too!
Finest Presents for Bike Commuters Beneath $150
It doesn’t matter what you (or your favourite commuter) assume they want, the extra they experience, the extra they’ll get to know all of the little issues that make their rides higher. Or simply get them again on the bike, like a substitute tube, a brand new tire, or contemporary grips. Possibly even only a tune-up to get an older bike again in high form. For that, nothing beats your Native Bike Store! A present card is likely one of the finest items for bike commuters and it helps an area enterprise!
With regards to being seen whereas using your bicycle, the Arclight Metropolis Pedals ($140, at Amazon) are a game-changer. They amplify your organic movement (pedaling) making you as much as 57% extra seen than commonplace bike lights alone. You gained’t simply be extra seen, you’ll be recognizable as a bike owner. The pedals use highly effective LEDs and long-lasting rechargeable batteries. The Arclights use “smart-tech” to sense motion and supply auto-on and off, in addition to auto gentle configuration (purple = rear, white = entrance). Regardless of how the pedal rotates, it is aware of which method is entrance and which is rear. They’re obtainable in an SPD-compatible model in case you’d somewhat clip in.
Each commuter bike, whether or not it’s a devoted metropolis bike or a transformed highway/gravel bike, wants fenders. And whereas we like smaller stick-on choices in a pinch, the SKS Veloflexx 55 ($69, on REI) set offers full protection in a common design that may work on nearly any commonplace bike with spherical tubes…and even on suspension forks.
The PDW On a regular basis Rear Rack ($104, at Amazon) extends backward to make sure any panniers will clear your heels as you pedal, and an built-in wooden rack provides a contact of sophistication and makes it simpler to strap issues to the highest, too. Each this and the basket beneath do require your bike to have rack mounts constructed into the body, so double-check earlier than ordering.
The Wald 1392 Entrance Basket ($55, at Amazon) pulls double obligation, letting you mount it to the entrance OR rear of your bike…or put one on each ends! With an 18×13″ footprint and, regardless of its skinny look, a 15lb payload capability, it’s greater than sufficient for many grocery luggage and beer runs and works with widespread luggage like these…
Finest Commuter Presents Beneath $250
For carrying groceries and kit, we’ve obtained three luggage to suggest, relying on what you’re carrying. The smallest is the Swift Industries Sugarloaf ($183, at Swift, high proper). They’re excellent mini-duffels for a change of garments, a instrument package, or a picnic. At 14x7x7″, you’ll be able to nest two of them into the Blackburn rack listed above, too.
For an all-purpose bag that has exterior pockets for small stuff and a cavernous inside that’s excellent for groceries and farmer’s market hauls, the Surly PorteurHouse ($120, 16×11 base, 15.7″ tall, at Surly Bikes, backside left) is simply the correct measurement.
If you would like one thing insulated for actual grocery runs, or to maintain drinks chilly on the best way to the celebration, the Hydro Flask Day Escape 18L Tote ($150, 20x8x12″, at Backcountry) will simply maintain a gallon of milk, a six-pack, eggs, and extra, and the smooth sides will mash into that rack, too.
The Ortlieb Again-Curler Free Panniers ($195/pair, at Backcountry) are among the finest pannier luggage available on the market. Ortlieb’s recognized for making extremely sturdy, completely waterproof luggage, and these outsized variations give present tons of capability once you want it, and cinch down once you don’t. They clip onto commonplace rear bike racks, so that you’ll want a rack on the bike to make use of them.
The Kryptonite KryptoLock 685 Folding Lock ($100 at Backcountry) comes with a helpful body mount for simple transport, and provides you a fast (and conveniently compact) strategy to safe your bike and entrance wheel to a rack. It’s coated by their lifetime guarantee, and even covers your bike in opposition to theft!
Additionally from Kryptonite, the Incite X8 & XBR Mild Set ($170/set, at Aggressive Bike owner) places out an intelligently-shaped headlight beam that illuminates the world it’s good to see for safely navigating darkish streets. Aspect illumination helps vehicles see you as they method from facet streets, and the rear blinky gentle has a number of modes that use an accelerometer to mechanically flip it vibrant and strong (like a brake gentle!) once you decelerate. Learn our full evaluate right here.
When you’re going to commute 12 months ’spherical, there are gonna be “these days” when the climate activates you. The Duer All Climate Denims ($200, from Duer, in Males’s and Ladies’s cuts) look and put on like common denim, however have a weatherproof membrane to maintain you dry. Accessible in Heritage Rinse (darkish blue) and Black in tons of sizes and lengths, their Coolmax, Lycra, and cotton mix with reflective accents underneath the cuff makes them an ideal 4-season pant.
Finest Presents for Bike Commuters Over $250
When you stay someplace wet, then good wet-weather biking package is value spending a bit extra on. Bathe’s Move is among the many finest, and their Syncline CC Jacket ($145 at REI, in males’s and girls’s variations) is one in every of their extra inexpensive fashions that retains all the important thing options like taped seams and zippered vents. Pair it with the Transit Pants ($135 at REI, in males’s and girls’s variations) for head-to-ankle waterproofness that’ll have you ever looking for out the puddles!
When security doesn’t have a worth restriction, upgrading to a dynamo wheelset, and dynamo entrance and back lights is the very best improve you may make to your commuter rig. The Dynamo Improve Lighting System ($570, from Good-looking Cycles) entrance wheel makes use of the very best hub (Son 28) and dynamo gentle (Busch & Mueller Lumotec IQ-XS) available on the market. The rim on the wheel is for bikes that use rim brakes. The rea gentle feeds from the power going to the entrance dynamo gentle. You’ll by no means want to fret about battery life or using at midnight once you overlook your gentle or overlook to cost it. The lights will keep on the bike in a extra everlasting method and might be there lighting the best way day or evening. Be seen, keep protected!
When you’ve obtained the house and finances for it, we’ve discovered that having a purpose-built commuter bike makes it far simpler and pleasant to run errands, get to work, go on dates, and simply scoot round city with out the automotive.
The Aventon Degree.2 ($1,499, at Aventon) is all it’s good to get began. It comes with fenders, entrance suspension, a rear rack, lights, and your selection of ordinary or step-thru frames. It’s a extremely inexpensive pedal-assisted different to driving and even has a throttle for these occasions once you simply don’t really feel like pedaling – although we discover that the throttle is extra helpful than most stroll help modes when strolling the bike (particularly loaded).
For hauling the children or greater purchasing journeys, the Specialised Globe Haul LT ($3,500 at Specialised) is a superb decide. We’ve carried two small youngsters to highschool with it, hit the farmer’s market, and even managed Costco runs on this. It’s large, however in case you want capability and high quality, it’s the one to beat. Bonus factors for its adjustability, which means nearly everybody in your family can experience it!
