Beyond the bike
Have the perfect set of wheels? You’re only halfway there. Here are plenty of accessories to keep the ride enjoyable — and safe:
Light headed
“I always forgot to bring my bike lights, but never forgot to bring my helmet,” says Lumos founder and Chief Executive Eu-Wen Ding. That’s why he created the world’s first helmet with a built-in rear taillight, a white LED headlight, a handlebar-controlled turn signal and an automatic brake light. A USB charge gives the lights 7.5 hours of power on flashing mode; three hours on solid mode. $169. lumoshelmets.co
Midnight sun
With 1,500 precisely targeted lumens, Oculus bike lights literally outshine car lights. The trick is in the optics, according to founder Barry Burr, which even-out the light rays over the entire beam, eliminating the dim edges of normal lights. Includes five levels of brightness, six blink patterns, a spare rechargeable battery and a handlebar Velcro strap. $150. www.barrybeams.com
Moves with you
Low-tech but high efficiency. A waterproof jacket and vest by ArroWhere are adorned with a big reflective arrow, visible for 1/3 of a mile, that points to the left. The logic: The arrow tells drivers, conditioned by a lifetime of obeying traffic signs, what to do. So they reflexively move to the left — and away from you. $90 for the jacket. $50 for the windproof shell/vest. $25 for the backpack cover. www.arrowhere.com
Lifesaver
Not cheap, but priceless, the Garmin Varia Rearview Radar Rear Bike Light detects cars coming up from 153 yards behind and flashes to alert them that you’re ahead. Getting hit from behind is the leading cause of cycling deaths. $200. www.garmin.com
Racket-free roll
Stac Zero bills itself as the world’s first silent bike trainer. It uses magnets to apply resistance instead of the traditional roller and flywheel. It’ll accommodate any type of tires/wheels, even mountain bike knobbies, which is impossible with conventional trainers. When not in use, the 13-pound device folds up to 3 inches tall and slides under the bed. $300, or $370 for the power meter version. www.staczero.com
Crash pad
Mountain bikers, your knees and elbows will thank you. Compression sleeves by G-Form are covered with form-fitting, articulated pads that improve shock absorption with novel silicon-encapsulated air bubbles that expand and stiffen on impact. $69.