The best commuter bike accessories will help keep your commute trouble-free, or at least help you to sort ay issues that do occur.To get more news about ebike accessories, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.
Above all, you want your bike commute to be dependable, so sturdy tyres, a quality helmet and pedals suitable for commuting are all important, as are quality front and rear lights and mudguards and a robust bike lock.
If something does go wrong, you need to be able to get up and going again quickly. So a good minipump and multitool to carry with you are a good starting point, along with inner tubes and a puncture repair kit. We have put together a checklist of some important things to consider so that you arrive at work on time and ready for the day ahead and recommended some choices for what to buy.
What are the best commuter bike accessories?
1. Tyres
While your bike will come with tyres, and any tyre will work for commuting, city streets are littered with glass and potholes waiting to dish out punctures to unsuspecting cyclists. Upgrading to a high-quality, commuter focussed tyre will greatly improve reliability as they prioritise puncture resistance and durability. They will feature additional puncture-resistant layers, thicker rubber and reinforced sidewalls to keep debris from causing damage.
If you are accustomed to road tyres you may notice a rolling resistance and weight penalty but we think, as a trade-off for not having to fix a puncture in the rain when you're late for work, it is more than worth it.
There are many commuting tyre options to suit all riders from the tank-like Schwalbe Marathon to winter training tyres like the Continental Gatorskin. For more information check out our guide to the best commuting bike tyres(opens in new tab) , which includes our favourites along with a handy guide as to what to look for when buying some.
2. Mudguards
While they aren't necessarily an essential commuter item, full mudguards (or fenders, for our readers across the pond) make a huge difference to riding enjoyment in poor weather conditions. By keeping the dirt, grime and spray off you and your bike, rider comfort is greatly increased and wear on expensive drivetrain components reduced. They may look a little dorky, but after the first commute in the rain without a wet bottom, or having to hose down your salt-covered drivetrain, you won’t look back.
Mudguards come in many different forms, and you really get what you pay for. Full mudguards are the way to go if you have the mounting points and SKS Bluemels(opens in new tab) or Kinesis Fend Off(opens in new tab) are great options. If you don’t have mudguard mounts on your bike, Crud Roadracer Mk3(opens in new tab) mudguards will fit on most bikes.
3. Pumps, tubes and repair kits
No matter how puncture-resistant your tyres are, the day will come when they are faced with a nail or piece of glass that is just too much to shrug off. Carrying a pump, spare tube, tyre levers and repair kit will mean that you aren’t left stranded halfway between work and your house. These items can live in your backpack or, even better, stored in a little saddle bag on the bike so you always have them when they are needed.
Road bike pumps are capable of achieving high pressures. The Topeak Race Rocket is good value, while the Silca Tattico(opens in new tab) should last forever. The alternative is a CO2 inflator(opens in new tab) like the Topeak Micro Airbooster or the Lezyne Control Drive.
Choosing the correct spare inner tube may seem like a mystery if you are unsure what size you need, however, all tyres should display the diameter and the tyre thickness, for example, 700x28C. If in doubt your local bike shop will be more than happy to help you find the correct size inner tube for your bike.
4. Multitools
The best bike multi-tools can prove the difference between riding home and paying for a taxi, and will be extremely handy should something come loose or need to be adjusted mid-commute. It doesn’t need to be a foldable workshop in your pocket, but simply having a few common size hex keys and a screwdriver can mean that you can fix most on-road problems.
We recommend looking for a tool with at least a 3mm, 4mm, 5mm and 6mm hex keys, Philips and flat-head screwdrivers, Torx keys (if your bike uses Torx bolts) and a chain breaker. These tools will likely get you moving again 95 per cent of the time.