Supermarket sweep
£2.99 – £12 Wallet-friendly accessories graded
01 Crane Sports Glasses £2.99
Shop Aldi Size One size
● AS SOMEONE WITH a small head, I struggle to find sunnies that a) stay on when I look down and b) don’t look ridiculously big. These get my thumbs up on both counts. They also pass both health and safety standards, with their 100 per cent UV protection plus ‘shatterproof polycarbonate’ lenses. Their category 3 rating means the glasses are best used on bright, sunny days and they allowed plenty of airflow when cycling and were comfy to wear with a helmet. Optically, they were fine. They even have a two-year guarantee.
02 Get A Grip Performance Mitts £6.50
Shop Wilko Size S/M
● THESE FINGERLESS GLOVES with Velcro-style closures could work for occasional cyclists doing short trips. Details include: a towelling strip on the thumbs to wipe away sweat, a vented area alongside the thumb, a reflective strip, and finger loops to help you pull the gloves off. Grip on the palms is adequate in the dry, and there’s a little padding there too, but the synthetic material on the palms bunched when I held the handlebar, reducing my feel, and the gloves had the potential to become sweaty in the heat.
03 Saxon Sakura Reflective Rucksack Cover £6.50
Shop Asda Size One size
● A GREAT ACCESSORY for commuters, this backpack cover is useful in all conditions. It’s water-resistant (it worked in heavy rain to keep my backpack dry on my commute, giving extra protection for my laptop), plus is fluorescent with plenty of reflective material too. The elasticated straps are easy to fit around a backpack of around 20-30L. It’s also compact to stow if you don’t want to use it. The mesh pocket with Velcro tab would be more useful if it were a bit bigger and I wouldn’t trust it with any of my valuables.
04 Challenge Mini Hand Pump £7
Shop Argos Size 20cm long
● THIS PLASTIC PUMP fits both Presta and Schrader valves and it’s claimed to be able to get to a max inflation pressure of 30 PSI. It comes with a plastic clamp so you can attach it to your bike frame, which is simple to do. If you’re worried about how long it might last, the one-year manufacturer guarantee may help. For me, it was ‘challenge by name, challenge by nature’ as it’s hard work to use and not very comfortable to hold while pumping, making me think that this one’s a false economy.
05 Bikemate Adult Bike Helmet £9.99
Shop Aldi Size S/M (54-59cm)
● YOU GET PLENTY of bang for your buck with this 310g helmet with polystyrene inner. It has: 11 vents (the front row with anti-insect mesh), reflective stickers at the back, a slim removable visor and even a built-in LED light (with replaceable battery) at the back that has three modes: solid red, fast flashing or slower flashing (the instructions warn the light may not work in the rain though!). The ratchet dial at the back gives a snug fit (though inner padding is thin so comfort isn’t great). A good budget choice for jaunts around town.
06 One23 Cycle Top Tube/Phone Holder frame bag £12
Shop Asda Size 1.3L (20 x 10 x 10cm)
● USE THE VELCRO- style straps to attach this (non-waterproof) bag with reflective side strips to your top-tube and head-tube for extra storage plus phone or GPS use. It takes smartphones up to 8cm wide and has a transparent window on top plus a headphone port at the back. I gave up trying to use my smartphone through the plastic window though. The bag does give useful storage for longer rides, but my knees kept brushing against it while pedalling. However, taller riders on bigger frames may not have that problem.