Photo: Dudarev Mikhail (Shutterstock)
Summer is approaching, which could mean feeling like going long distances on your bike, possibly taking many of your personal belongings to a beach, lake, or other remote, sun-kissed location. Or maybe you just want to cycle to the grocery store.
Whatever your plans, you need to add accessories to your bike so that you can carry things better. Here’s how you can couple more things for the journey so you can leave your car in the driveway more often.
Prepare for the crowd
Your elegant racing bike will look a little bloated. So don’t expect it to look particularly cool. Just know that what you lack in style is more than made up for in efficiency. First, get a basket that you can attach to your handlebars. The cool thing about baskets: you can put things in the basket that also carry other things that no economical cyclist can refute.
Fortunately, most baskets are very easy to install on the handlebars using small latches that snap into place.
Get a porter
Everyone loves a porter that is the less aesthetically pleasing cousin of baskets. They won’t break you either, as most of the costs are in between $ 35 and $ 50, but some crests over $ 80 if you are looking for something really sturdy.
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Cargo holds are just platforms that you can carry things on, but they’re not exactly like baskets in that you need to tie your things up. There are a few easy installation required, But it’s not something you’ve probably never done if you’ve ever operated a screwdriver. If you want to put things on your luggage rack, you will most likely need some kind of taut type of fastener, e.g. B. a bungee cord or rope to secure anything you want to put on your bike, e.g. B. Your travel bag.
Extra things that cyclists love
Since comfort is always the main concern of driving, you are likely in the market for a strap seat backpack. This is a dainty little pouch that can carry small items and won’t interfere with your swing. You can keep your keys there, in addition to your wallet or phone if you opt for a larger selection.
If you are really transporting larger cargo, Popular science notes that hitching a trailer to the back of your bike is totally cool, but of course this is only necessary if you are riding in a slightly uncomplicated and forgiving route. It’s also an option if you have children and want to use your trailer as a kind of baby carriage. It’s a more difficult process than adding a cargo shelf, but it still shouldn’t be annoying Install a traileras they are “normally attached to your seat post or the axle on your rear wheel,” states the science magazine.
Panniers are usually quite chunky, but there are several sizes that can suit your needs. They are often draped over your rear luggage rack, but their different shapes and sizes allow them to be attached to your seat. Bicycle magazine best describes the width of these bags and writes in a post from 2016:
There is a dizzying variety of panniers, from spacious, waterproof tote bags like Ortliebs to chic handbags with luggage racks that are hidden in a zippered compartment like Basels.
You are also a porter yourself
It cannot be emphasized enough how important you are in this whole process. While riding a mountain of cargo you can still carry a large backpack filled to the brim with a variety of things. And when it comes to the carefree feeling of driving freely against the wind, you always trust a belt bag.