GETTING GEARED UP FOR A CYCLING COMMUTE
After a year of working from home, it’s become clear that sitting in traffic on a busy bus or car is no way to spend a morning – probably why cycling in the UK has increased by 200% since lockdown.
One of the first things you’ll quickly learn as a newbie cycle commuter though, is that comfort and practicality is key. Here, we’ve rounded up all the essential kit you need for a ride that’s as smooth as silk. 1. Kryp toni teKryp to lok 685 Fold able Lock (£57.99 down from £69.99,rutlandcycling.com)
Keeping your bike safe from thieves with a decent lock is a must, but D-locks can often be cumbersome to carry around in your daily backpack.
This foldable option is ideal for everyday commutes and the 5mm hardened steel links can be packed down to fit into the bottle cage of your bike. 2.Raph a Roll- top Backpack (£100,rapha.cc)
If you’re cycling into work, chances are you’ll be hauling a lot of gear with you: a change of clothes, lunch, a water bottle and potentially multiple pieces of tech.
This design-savvy, roll-top bag from Rapha has been built with commuters in mind: there’s a padded 15 laptop sleeve, an easy-access side zip pocket for your phone, and attachment loops for locks and lights. 3. Halfords Essentials Mini Bike Pump(£5,halfords.com)
There’s nothing more devastating than getting squishy tyres mid-ride and having to push your bike to the nearest cycle shop for some air.
A mini pump is hopefully one of those items you won’t need to use all that often, but will always be there (it’ll clip to the bike frame) to give you a small topup when you need it most. 4. C lo sc a Folding Helmet (£110, tokyobike.co.uk)
Frequent bike users will love this folding helmet, which can be packed down to a flat shape, so you can easily fit it into a bag.
5.HammerheadKaroo2(£359, hammerhead.io)
This sleek cycling computer means you’ll never have pull over and check your directions.
It has a smartphone-like touchscreen, so you can plug in your destination, or load routes using an online web builder. As well as showing you the map with directional arrows, it’ll chirp when you need to turn, and also track metrics like distance and average speed.
6. Lezyne Micro Drive 600XL/ KTV USB Rechargeable Light Set (£55, down from £71, tredz.co.uk)
It’s safety first with this ultra-high output LED front light which delivers up to 600 lumens, creating a bright beam on the road ahead, and there’s a highly visible backlight too.
Easily removable, their charging is also simple with an integrated cable-free USB stick.