The truth about bicycle gear is really very simple: less is more.  If you have thoroughly assessed your needs by prioritizing safety and functionality, you will come back to this rule of thumb time and again. And of course, the gear you want will be determined by the type of riding you are engaged in.

Every imaginable accessory under the sun can be purchased and your bike will reflect these additions in sheer weight. A heavier bike means more weight to push with each pedal rotation, so choose your gear carefully to serve your needs without compromising the comfort of your ride.

Experimentation and bicycle wisdom gleaned from others will guide you in determining what works and what doesn’t. For discussion purposes, it is useful to categorize bike gear and clothing into four areas of priority; Safety, Utility, Performance, and Weatherization. What follows are highlights about each category – there is much more to discuss than we could possibly cover on this site.

Safety Gear:

These safety items protect your body from injury or enhance your visibility.

A helmet is the first line of defense for preventing serious head injury, but only if it is properly fitted and only if it is worn. This website features a section devoted to proper helmet fit because helmets are important – click here.

Gloves can enhance your riding comfort and provide a barrier between hard asphalt and the soft skin on your hands if you fall.
Riding gloves typically have padded palms to protect you during a fall, and full-fingered gloves are wonderful to use in the wind and cold.

Night riding presents unique safety issues with visibility being the most life-saving benefit. Even if you don’t plan on ever riding at night, as you cycle more often chances are you will find yourself out after dark at some point and needing one or more of these pieces of gear.

Reflectors are light, inexpensive, maintenance free, and do not need to be turned “on” to be effective. There is no excuse for not having them on your bike. In fact, they are required by law in the California Vehicle Code – that’s right, you MUST have reflectors on your pedals and on the rear of your bicycle.

Here’s what the California Vehicle Code says concerning lights and reflectors:

"Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped with the following:
A lamp emitting a white light which illuminates the highway and is visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and the sides of the bicycle. A red reflector mounted on the rear of the bicycle and visible from 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.
A white or yellow reflector mounted on each pedal visible 200 feet to the front and rear of the bicycle and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with side reflectors. All reflectorized tires must meet DMV requirements.”

Reflective clothing can be found in many forms (vests, ankle strips, and on jackets and pants) to enhance your luminescence. A good rule of thumb for riding at night is to utilize every opportunity to make yourself seen – light yourself up like a reflective Christmas tree – drivers will be glad you did. Many cycling jackets are bright yellow and reflective. Reflective tape can also be purchased and attached to helmets, fenders, panniers, bags, etc.
 
Lights are also required by California law when riding after sunset. A white front light and red rear light are officially called for. There is a wide range of headlights and taillights available for different costs, mounting locations, durability and brightness.

A rechargeable halogen light will be super-bright and effective, but if you forget to charge it one day, you may be forced to ride home in the dark without any visibility. If you use a battery-powered headlight and the batteries die, you can always stop into a store and buy fresh batteries, or just carry spares. Regardless of your price range or style preference, get some lights that you will actually use.      

A rear-view mirror increases a cyclist’s ability to effectively monitor traffic approaching from behind. Helmet or handlebar-mounted mirrors are available, each providing unique angles of viewing.

To read more about safety gear:
http://www.bhsi.org/safequip.htm

Utility Gear

Transforming your bicycle for everyday transportation or completing local errands can be as simple as adding a rack and panniers (saddlebags). There is a whole range of bags available from grocery bag and laptop carriers, to luggage bags with capacity for a week’s worth of food and clothing.

A full discussion of the myriad baskets, trailers and such is covered in the section on cycling for errands.

A gallery of loaded touring bikes:  http://www.fullyloadedtouring.com/

Performance Gear

If you are interested in tracking or enhancing your cycling skills or endurance, accessories and clothing options are available to maximize your performance.

Bicycle computers are helpful tools for tracking your speed and distance, with many functions to monitor total miles ridden, individual trip miles, current and average speed, and other information. Keeping track of riding data can support your riding growth and make for a more interesting riding experience. 

Clipless pedals and riding shoes are a great enhancement for regular riding because they maximize the power of each pedal stroke by keeping your feet in their most effective pedal position. There are many kinds of pedals to choose from, as well as setup and fitting standards, so consult your local bike shop when purchasing your first set.

How to select clothing that supports your ride

An article about performance and the question of lycra bicycling clothing

Weatherization

As one’s commitment to cycling grows, obstacles like rain become less of a deterrent and create more of an adventure. Cold and wet weather are the primary weatherization concerns, and there are plenty of tools to help you ride in these conditions safely and comfortably.

Rain Clothing: A rain jacket and rain pants are extremely useful garments; they keep your clothing dry while, ideally, keeping you warm and allowing air flow. Cycling rain gear needs to be easily packable and compact, washable, durable and bright-colored (or at least have reflective strips in strategic places). Rain gear also wants to be fairly close fitting to avoid flapping in the wind or getting caught in your chain. The best jackets are waterproof yet breathable, with vented armpits and long hind sections. Most do not have hoods because wearing a hood under your helmet can obscure your side visibility.

Helmet covers keep rain and cold air from entering the vent-holes of your helmet and therefore serve well in place of a hood. A shower cap will do the same thing for a lot less cost, but the selection of styles will not be available and it won’t look quite as cool!

A “gator” or face-wrap will keep your nose and ears from getting frost-bite, and will protect your neck from the cold also. It is similar in design to a ski hood – made from a thin insulating fabric that fits completely over your head and neck (worn under your helmet) with one opening for your eyes.

Shoe covers are available to keep your feet from getting soaked in a downpour or cold on a winter ride.  These come in two styles: “booties” that cover your entire foot and ankle or “toe covers” that fit just over the front of your cycling shoes.

Fenders covering your front and rear tires prevent your legs and back from getting soaked with grimy black road water, and they protect your bicycle’s drive-train from the same.

Waterproof panniers are an absolute must for a wet-weather commuter, since you will probably be carrying a change of clothes for after your wet ride to the office. Not all panniers are waterproof, so compare your choices carefully if this is important to you.

A saddle cover is useful to keep your seat dry if you have to park it outside on a wet day. The solution is as simple as the shower cap mentioned above – placed over the seat instead of on your head, of course!

Some hints for weather-riding:
http://www.bicyclecommuter.com/obstacles.htm#Bad%20weather