Top 10: Cycling accessories
From indicators and bike racks to cycle computers and turbo trainers, here are our top 10 accessories for cyclists.
Top 10: Women's hybrid bikes | All our cycling product reviews
Hiplok Z-Lok
What is it? A reusable zip tie with a steel core, essentially. If you want to secure your bike (or pretty much anything, for that matter), you can whip this out of your bag and it'll do the job of a bike lock without being as heavy and bulky to carry around. The obvious use is for tying your bike to fences and the like, but use your imagination and it's also good for securing your bike to car roof racks, attaching your bag to a chair or even fixing a dog lead to a drainpipe.
The Z Lok has its limits, after all, it'll never be as secure as a more expensive bike lock. But for occasional use, it's really very good. It's light and easy to transport - and very versatile, with a range of uses that are only limited by your imagination. It also represents excellent value for money.
Hornit Clug vertical bike rack
Aimed at cyclists who have precious little space, the Clug is an ingenious two-part plastic clip that grips onto your bike tyre and simply attaches to a wall so your bike can be mounted upwards with the rear tyre on the floor to occupy less room. It's a brilliant bit of kit for the price, so it won't leave you out of pocket too much if you don't really like it.
It's very discreet, functional and easy to install - with the bonus of exceptionally smart packaging. It isn't flawless, but if you want to store multiple bikes without putting up a bike shelf or hanging them further up the wall - the Hornit Clug is the solution you're looking for.
Buy it now
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£14.99 |
Beeline Smart Compass
Even the most basic bike computers like the Mio Cyclo 210 and Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt are becoming increasingly complicated. They’re great for navigating, but they’re also packed with so many features that the casual cyclist doesn’t need nor want. The Beeline is an antidote to that. Just fit it to your handlebars, input a destination via the smartphone app and it’ll give you turn-by-turn directions to your destination.
We're rather taken by the Beeline. Serious cyclists will want more features, but it's a great gift for the casual bike rider. The Beeline offers a great battery life and there’s a built-in sense of fun about it. It creates opportunities to explore areas, and it’s especially cool around town.
Cycl Winglights Fixed
Every year, there are approximately 19,000 accidents involving bicycles on the UK’s roads, with 75 per cent of them occurring at junctions and major turns. When using WingLights (in addition to arm signals), you increase the likelihood of being seen by drivers and other cyclists.
With WingLights Fixed, the LED indicators screw straight into your bike's handlebars. The mount system for the handlebars are compatible with handlebars with an inner diameter from 14.7mm to 23mm.
AfterShokz Trekz Titanium headphones
For those that exercise outdoors, it can be tough to find the right balance between blocking out the world and remaining aware of your surroundings. This is where bone conduction headphones like the Aeropex come in. As strange as it sounds, the headphones don't go in your ears. Instead, transducers push sound vibrations through your cheekbones - which is exactly the same way that a driver inside of an earbud does.
Aftershokz Aeropex offer a great amount of versatility and despite a few gripes - like weak bass and a non-adjustable headband - the wearables are a lightweight solution for anyone who wants to be aware of their surroundings while they're out and about. Or, like us, anyone who hasn't yet found a truly comfortable pair of headphones for running. The £150 price tag is a bit steep, especially considering there's no app to adjust audio settings, but when it comes to a great all-rounder - it's hard not to recommend them.
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Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
Whether you’re a serious cyclist or just want to make life easier on your day-to-day bike rides, a GPS computer like the Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt can be an easy way of accessing route information and finding out just how well you’re performing. The Bolt can also pair directly with ANT+ sensors, like Wahoo's TICKR Fit heart rate monitor (as well as power meters, speed sensors, cadence sensors etc).
If you’re a gadget geek and a keen cyclist, the ELEMNT Bolt is made for you. It’s the kind of computer that you’ll forever be uncovering clever features on, but you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use it. It’s really easy to fit and start using, and that’s kind of the appeal. If your less handy with a smartphone, and want smarter-looking navigation — the more affordable Mio Cyclo 210 would be our choice.
Hovding 2.0 airbag helmet
Worn around your neck like a scarf, Hövding contains hundreds of sensors that will trigger an airbag to inflate to protect your noggin in the event of an accident before you even hit the ground. The market for commuter cycling helmets is jam-packed with decent options that sit between £30 and £60 for the most part - so the price tag of the Hövding is definitely going to put a lot of people off.
But the Hovding isn't a helmet, it's an airbag. And that's why the price is justifiable to those who are serious about safety. If you're looking for a solution to keep you safe (very safe) while you cycle, that won't give you helmet hair and that you can just chuck into a bag instead of lugging around - then the Hovding 2.0 is it.
Mio Cyclo 210
The Mio Cyclo 210 is its entry-level unit with the likes the Wahoo’s ELEMNT Bolt in its sights. Headline features include a 10-hour battery life, Strava connectivity and a Surprise Me feature — which can create its own routes depending on how far or for how long you’d like to ride.
There’s no ANT+ connection so you can’t connect it to a heart rate monitor, nor is there Bluetooth. That means if you want to transfer routes to or from the 210 (or pair it with Strava), you have to connect it to your computer using a lead. Although the Mio Cyclo 210 is more user-friendly and looks smarter, plus it’s painless to set up and does the basics very well.
Wahoo KICKR Snap turbo trainer
If the thought of going out on your bike in poor weather fills you with dread but you don’t want to lose your fitness over winter, this could be the answer. This is Wahoo’s offering - a cheaper alternative to the pricey Wahoo KICKR. You simply attach your bike, download the app to your phone or tablet, and you can cover as many miles as you wish without having to leave the house.
If you’re happy to spend a premium on cycling indoors, the KICKR Snap is a very good turbo trainer. Set up is easy and its heavy flywheel and sturdy feel provide a realistic riding experience. Our favourite feature is its ability to work with third-party apps via Ant+ or Bluetooth.
Thule Raingutter bike rack for older/classic cars
Most cars in the 1970s and 80's had rain gutters, so the whole business of attaching roof racks became a bit more complicated when these were removed. But Thule has the answer. Browse its website and you’ll find choices for model years as far back as the 1970s, so if you’re a classic car driver with a penchant for pedal power at your destination, all is not lost.
Admittedly, it might take a bit of detective work to find a suitable set-up - but if you’ve got an older car and need to carry bikes (or indeed fit roof boxes, skis, boards or boats) to it, the Thule 951 kit works beautifully.
Buy it now
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Thule 951000 Guttered Footpack 15cm For Cars With Rain Gutters |
£89.99 |