Even though riding a bike is generally safe, you should still exercise caution when you're out on the bike. And it extends beyond just donning a helmet. This is a summary of the necessary bicycle security gear you should have for your next ride.
The Helmet
First, let's take care of the most evident and crucial piece of safety gear for biking equipment.
Simple enough, a bike helmet is necessary since it shields your head from collisions and bumps.
Selecting the right kind of helmet is a more complicated decision. You don't want one that isn't appropriate for the type of riding you do, nor do you want one that economizes on protection and quality in order to reduce cost.
As you go helmet shopping, decide what kind of riding you want to do. Helmets for road cycling, mountain biking, and full-face mountain biking are available. Only the most extreme types of biking, such as downhill, dirt jumping, and freeride mountain biking, require full-face helmets. A mountain bike helmet will usually protect you for most riding situations, whether it be light off-road, on trails, or on roads. Next, check the product description or package for the British Standards Institution or European Standards logo.
They ought to seem like this, correspondingly: BS EN 1078 is the standards code to be aware of. This attests to the helmet's success and compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) of the European Union. passed the construction testing procedures. Fastening, materials, stress absorption, and field of vision. See our article on bicycle helmet safety regulations for further details on the requirements for safety. Even though a helmet may not look like it, a lot of technological innovation goes into making one. Because of this, you should replace your damaged helmet before going on another ride because the structure may be compromised and no longer be able to protect you.
We suggest the Giro Foray Helmet as a good all-purpose helmet. It has many technologies to increase helmet safety gear for biking and lets you adjust the fit precisely. MIPS is one instance of this, allowing you to move your head slightly inside the helmet. In the case of a crash, this further shields your skull and distributes the force of the hit.
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The Gloves
Gloves are perhaps the second most popular item of bike safety equipment that cyclists own, after helmets. There are various reasons why these are a good idea. First of all, you will most likely reach out with your hands to break the fall if you fall off your bike. Here, gloves shield your palms from injury when you make contact with the ground.
Additionally padded bike gloves can lessen the impact of a fall and improve your comfort level when gripping the handlebars. They'll also keep your hands warm throughout the winter, keeping them responsive for emergency braking. Generally speaking, there are two types of bike gloves: fully covered and fingerless. While fingerless gloves still cover your palms and allow for some flexibility and breathability, they provide less insulation during the colder months.
Depending on the kind of riding you want to do, some bike gloves may be constructed with stronger, thicker materials or have armour plates. GripGrab Progel Short Cycling Gloves are our recommendation for casual road or trail riding.
Lights and Reflectors
When turning or changing lanes, one of the most frequent causes of bicycle accidents is a car who fails to see a bike. Reflectors and lighting that maximize your visibility are therefore essential. There are several solutions available, ranging from high-vis clothing of various kinds to reflectors for almost every part of a bike. Not to be overlooked are actual powered lights. Regardless of the choice you make, whenever you go for a ride, you should always have some sort of light-reflective material on both the outside of your body and your bike.
We advise using handlebar and seat reflectors for night riding; these are usually included with the majority of bikes. Additionally, a jacket such as the Proviz REFLECT360 is a smart choice. Because you're totally composed of reflecting material, once a light is shined on you, you cannot be missed. You naturally want to be able to see and be seen, thus visibility is a two-way street. This is why you should ride at night with a headlight and a rear light, and nothing less than the reflectors stated above.
When looking for a bike headlight, you should also make sure that the battery life is longer than the ride you plan to do, that it is weatherproof, and that the brightness is appropriate for the purpose you have in mind. Evans Cycles suggests, as a general rule, rear road lights between 50 and 100 lumens, front road lights between 200 and 500 lumens, and front off-road lights between 500 and 1500 lumens.
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The Protective Glasses
You are probably more aware than most people of how frequently insects like to fly directly into your mouth or eyes as you fly by if you have ever driven down a country lane. Similarly, riding over gravel toe-paths or main roads can cause dust, stones, and other debris to fly up. For this reason, you frequently see riders wearing wrap-around shades. Any errant insect or bit of dirt has the potential to blur your eyesight, annoy you, and divert your attention—all of which are clearly unsafe and could result in a crash. Thus, we advise donning bicycle glasses.
If you choose cycling glasses with tinted and polarized lenses. They also offer the safety benefit of preventing dazzling from the sun or high beams from passing cars. Additionally, they will protect your eyes from wind and rain, allowing you can see clearly in inclement weather. For this use, we suggest the FEW Rayet Anti-Fog Hydrophobic Multi Lens Glasses. They are reasonably priced and as functional as cycling glasses get. Along with three replaceable lenses for varied lighting settings and lens coatings resistant to rain and fog, they offer complete coverage for your eyes. They essentially cover everything.
The Mirrors
Although push bikes rarely have mirrors. They do exist and are a rather helpful piece of equipment for cyclists who want extra safety gear for biking. Most road cycling risks involve cars, therefore it's helpful to be able to see oncoming traffic if you're riding home during rush hour. Mirrors for cycling offer this advantage.
There are several different types of mirrors: some attach to your handlebars, some clip to your wrist or rear of your gloves, yet others are worn as eyeglasses or clip into your helmet. They all have different advantages to offer.
Unlike handlebar mirrors, which only let you view directly behind your bike. A helmet or eyewear mirror will move with your head, allowing you to see the entire 180 degrees behind you.
In comparison to mirrors on helmets, eyewear, or gloves, handlebar mirrors often have a larger reflecting surface. They also have a tendency to last longer and are less obtrusive. In the end, you should consider your preferences and the most useful options for the kind of riding you plan to do, but as an excellent all-arounder, we suggest the Myklops Rear View Mirror. It fits on your wrist like a sports watch, giving you complete range of motion and preventing blind spots. The mirror also deceptively folds in and out to cover its surface while not in use, keeping it from appearing overly large.
The Bike Kit
Even while a helmet or glasses will shield you from danger more effectively than anything your bike equipment will, it's still a good idea to include some essentials for your trip. They'll take care of any problems that might appear and affect your safety, possibly averting an accident before it happens. For each ride, we suggest bringing:
- Allen keys to change the seat height or tighten the handlebars.
- It is preferable to be able to address the problem immediately rather than having to ride on a potentially unsafe bike or turn around in case of an accident that knocks them out of alignment or you realize halfway through a ride that they are a bit off.
- A small bicycle pump to replenish tire pressure in the event of a flat tire.
- A set for fixing punctures so you can fix a flat tire.
- Your fully charged cell phone, which will allow you to quickly contact family and emergency services or locate yourself in the event of a loss.
- In case your plans change and you have to ride home in the dark, a set of front and rear bike lights.
- A sterile first aid package for any wounds or scrapes.
Of course, one crucial piece of safety gear for biking quipment that we haven't covered is cycling-specific insurance. This will shield you from harm, theft, and personal accidents and make it easier for you to get back on your bike in the event of an emergency. See what we can accomplish for you by requesting an immediate online quote from us today.
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