Bicycle Accessories and bicycle tools | The Bicycle Fixer

  The addition of a few select bicycle accessories like fenders, bicycle lights and a multi-tool add solutions for safer riding, a more pleasant cycling experience and less hassle if you have a flat tire, or ride your bicycle in the dark or rain. I'll cover a range of bike accessories to consider for use including bicycle lights, bicycle fenders, a bike tire pump, bike locks, seat bags and basic bicycle tools. Also there's some information on solutions for a bicycle work stand. The information provided is what The Bicycle Fixer considers the best bicycle accessories by type for your riding and budget consideration.

One item marks your presence in the dark and they're generally required by law, a bicycle headlight for riding in the dark. Planning to spend money on the best bicycle accessories, put it into a bicycle headlight and quality bicycle lock. Good practice is using a bicycle headlight that illuminates the path or road conditions ahead. Look for a bicycle headlight system with 650 lumens with at least narrow/wide beam options and a flash mode. If your concern is just to be seen, consider a light with at least 350 lumens.. Add a rear bicycle light or 2 with at least 80 lumens for good all-around lighting.  If you occasionally ride in the dark, find the best bicycle headlight that offers at least 350 lumen's. If you ride in the dark regularly, consider a minimum of 650-750 lumen's. For very dark night time travels, a bicycle headlight can have around 1300 lumens! Shop carefully as optics play a crucial part in the function of the best bicycle lights. For these reasons I offer only brands that I can contact to resolve problems or have any questions. I offer lights from Planet Bike, Cateye, CygoLite, and Niterider. 

cygolite.com

niterider.com

planetbike.com

Rechargeable:
  (Li-ion batteries)                                              
   Pro's: higher lumen's, optics, efficiency, programmable, lightweight, usb compatible, CREE Led, Li-ion battery, durable, compact
   Cons: cost, battery disposal and the cheap ones are...cheap.

Non-Rechargeable:
   (Alkaline battery)                                                      
   Pro's: cost, long run times                    
   Cons: inefficient, bulb technology, limited modes, lower lumens

Western Washington liquid sunshine! Rain........are you tired of a wet butt and a dirtier bike?! Consider a set of bicycle fenders! Now don't think fenders will keep you totally dry, they don't. Good raingear helps with that but a decent set of bicycle fenders make riding in the rain more tolerable and helps protect your bicycles components. Offering's from SKS, Topeak, Planet Bike and Portland Design Works (or PDW) range from hybrid to road to mtb fender sets that attach directly to the frame, and versions for the seatpost and fork. Those bicycle fenders that don't use struts or rods to support the fender are known as clip-ons (some may use zip ties).
 

Full Fenders:                                                            
   Pro's: coverage, durability, adjustability, stability, something for most bikes
   Cons: cost, installation
Clip-ons:                                                                 
   Pro's: something for all bikes, cost, installation
   Cons: less coverage


 

Something that really isn't thought of too much as an accessory until you realize your tires are flat! The bicycle pump. High pressure, narrow profile tires like those used by racers and road bike enthusiasts have a tendency to lose up to 8-10% of air pressure in about 24 hrs. So if you pump those tires to 100lbs, the next day they could be down to about 90lbs. Let them go for a few more days and they're sitting at about 70-75 psi and riding at that level with a heavier load can potentially ruin the rims they're mounted to. Larger section and/or thick walled tires will still lose air but only about 4-5% overnight because they only are pumped up in the range of 40-80 lbs.  Ok you say, so what should I do?
 

There's a wealth of prices and types of bicycle pumps to meet your needs. What is the best bicycle pump? First, we need to clarify what it takes to produce a good pump. A quality bicycle floor pump for home is needed since tires lose pressure every day as noted above. All qood bicycle floor pumps come with a quality gauge to read tire pressure. For most riders and those with a families worth of bikes, brands such as SKS , Topeak , Park , Pedro's and Lyzyne all offer a range of price points and quality levels. 

New to the pump scene the last few years are small, pocket sized electric pumps. They're rechargable and can inflate several tires. How they work for tubeless? I don't know since I don't use tubeless tires on my road bikes. For tubeless tires, I'm installing and seating tires using a compressor.
 

 Frame-fit bicycle pump:                                                        
    Pro's: longer barrel for more air/stroke, durability, rebuildable
    Cons: Doesn't fit all bikes
Mini-pump:                                                                             
   Pro's: compact, cost, best have a gauge, fits any bike
     Cons: short barrel ( low volume/stroke ), durability
Floor Pump:      
  Pro's: gauge, stroke volume, durability
            long hose, broad price point
  Cons: cost for high-end pumps


 
 

Of all the things that can go wrong involving your bicycle (besides meeting a hard object), the worst may be theft. Bicycle theft has risen dramatically the last 5-10 years for many reasons. Some reasons are easier to rectify than others like using an inferior bicycle lock. The experts will always caution on where and how to lock it. Remember what I mentioned earlier, if you're going to spend big dollars on accessories, spend it on a rechargeable high lumens bicycle headlight and great bicycle lock. You can purchase a bicycle lock as a; U-lock; cable with shackle or U-lock; combo lock or padlocks and a lock that looks like a foldable ruler.

There's three well- regarded and time tested bicycle lock makers, Kryptonite, OnGuard and Abus. Some folks recommend you spend 10% of the value of your bike on a bicycle lock. That's a crazy percentage if you own a $3k - $12k bicycle but at least spend $60-$70 on a quality U-lock (more for a higher end bike or if it's your commuter bike) and cable. A bicycle lock is rated on a scale and the higher the number the better. Some thieves carry around a power disc cutter that can waste any U-lock in seconds so how and where you lock your bike is as key as buying a great bicycle lock. Search youtube for "bicycle lock" or "how to lock your bicycle". There's some good stuff from the GMBN channel. Here's a link to one they do for the urban bike environment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQfaFZ5OpOs

U-locks:                                                    
 Pro's: hardened shackles, better locking mechanism, the best need a powered disc grinder to cut through
 Cons: weight, cost

Cable & Combo locks:                             

 Pro's: inexpensive, lightweight (compared to a U-lock)

 Cons: easy to cut, bulks

Chain locks:                                              

 Pro's: better versions have very thick special metal links, tougher to break than combo's
 Cons: less expensive versions are very easy to cut, weight, cost, bulky

 The ability to finish a bike ride sometimes depends on the tools carried during your ride. Flat tires, a broken chain and other maladies can cut your ride short or leave you late for work on a commute without basic bicycle tools and repair parts. At a minimum, one can carry a multi-tool (several tools that generally fold into a compact holder), a patch kit, tire levers, tire boot and bicycle pump. A seat bag allows you to carry bike gear out of way under your seat. Many companies sell mini-tools but ParkTool and Topeak offer probably the widest range of multi-tools. Today's bikes have many types of fasteners so at a minimum I'd recommend a tool that contains a flat blade screwdriver, a selection of hex wrenches and a torx t25. Also carry a set of tire levers from Kool-Stop, Park or my personal favorite, Pedros. I don't recommend riding tubeless tires for commuting as they generally require special tire levers and at least CO2 cartridges to reinflate while on the trail. A patch kit from Rema is well regarded and has enough to patch several tubes.
 

To carry the spare tube, tire levers, patch kit, phone, wallet, keys and extra food, you'll need something to hold all of it. A seat bag will do the trick and there's many to select from. SKS and Topeak offer probably the best mounting systems for security though most bags are fine. There's sizes that are compact enough to carry a tube, tire levers, CO2 inflator and room for keys.

 

If you like to tinker and perform your own bicycle repairs then bicycle work stands make it that much easier. You can find dyi bicycle work stands on youtube but if you're looking for something more stable and compact, then I recommend something more traditional. Again, Park Tool bicycle repair stands are the leader and offer the widest range ( 2 shop, 7 portable, 2 race, 6 wall mount and an electric assist) and arguably the best bicycle work stands in the market. I own 6 bicycle work stand: Park Tool PRS-3 for home, PRS-25 for race service, PRS-20 (now PRS-22.2)Team race stand used for tribikes, bike washes and the original Park Tool race mechanics stand, the PRS-15 (now out of production). The PRS-25 is my favorite to use but is a bit expensive for basic work but great for more extensive service. For my van, I use the elctric motor assist Remco. They're almost $1000 so not what I'd call a home mechanics stand. I'll review 3 bicycle work stands from two companies, Park Tool and Feedback Sports.
 

 1) Park tool Repair stand PCS-9.3. Parks least expensive floor stand with trickle down features of the race stands.

Features:

 Folding legs with a clamp, narrow clamping jaws for short seatpost, height adj 39" -57",

 80lb capacity (over center) base 3' x 3', rotating head.

 2) Park Tool Repair stand PCS-10.3. This Park stand is for the serious home mechanic.
 

Features:
  3-point stability, height adj 39"-57", clamp to 3", 360' rotating head, micro-adj clamp,
  foldable, powder coated steel tubing, capacity 80lbs.
  

Follow this link to see other Park Tool bicycle work stands

www.parktool.com/category/repair-stands

 3) Feedback Sports Recreational Bike Repair Stand 2.0. Home mechanic stand

Features: 360' rotating head, 52" base with rubber feet, folding capability. Least expensive brand name stand.

A link to Feedback Sports other offerings

https://www.feedbacksports.com/shop/bike-maintenance/
 

Let's review what to take on a bike ride

Helmet

Bicycle headlight and taillight
Bicycle lock 

Seatbag
Bicycle pump
Tire levers
Bicycle fenders (for wet weather)

Hydration/ Water bottle cage and bottle

Food (Energy bar or your fave snack)

Computer ( optional )

 Now that your bicycle is loaded and outfitted, enjoy your bike wherever it may take you!    

Safety ~ Efficiency ~ Enjoyment
S.E.E!
 

Enjoy Your Bike!
 

The Bicycle Fixer

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