2010 Spring Buyer’s Guide: Accessories

Accessories:

Did you somehow misplace your bike light over the winter? Yeah, me too. See below for some new lights as well as some other new bike accessories.

Bag and Ankle Lights from Pedalite:

From the same company that makes the Pedalite Pedals, we were also fortunate to receive their new Bag and Ankle lights.

The Baglite (€40) is an innovative solar powered lighting system that can be worn over your shoulders as a light harness. It doubles as a bag lighting system as it fits over any size backpack that you might be wearing. It uses a unique 360 degree floodlight module in order to light up the rider’s upper body and the lights can be seen from 1km and all angles.  There is a single red floodlight at the back and two white floodlights at the front attached to straps that fit together to form the harness.

The Anklelite (€20) comes with a lightweight, weather resistant adjustable strap which fits securely on your leg. It weighs just 85 grams so you’ll barely notice you have it on. Like the Baglite, it uses a unique 360 degree floodlight module attached to the strap which is comfortable to wear and provides super bright lighting which shines at every angle. The light charges in natural sunlight and artificial light (one hour of light for every hour of exposure) and provides up to six hours lighting from a full charge in sunlight.

Limar’s Pro 104 Ultralight Helmet:

Many times, I’ve been asked, “What’s the best helmet?” My sarcastic answer is usually, “The one that’s on your head.” While that is still true – any helmet is better than no helmet – I find myself recommending Limar’s Pro 104 Ultralight Helmet ($200). While this helmet is not for everyone, if you spend a lot of time on your bike recreationally or competitively,  a lightweight comfortable helmet can be a godsend. Yes, this is The Lightest Helmet In The World. The 170 gram Pro 104, once on,  nearly disappears from your head. You certainly don’t feel the weight, the retention system is snug but not binding and the 22 vents provide excellent ventilation.

Polar’s CS500 Cycling Computer:

So, you’re barreling along at high speed, and you want to check your status on your cycling computer, but the buttons are so small and poorly placed, you’re placing yourself at risk to do it. Polar’s new CS500 tries to address some of this issues with a larger display and a simple pivoting, two-way rocker switch to change the screen to view different data. You’ll easily be able to view data and rich feedback such as speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, calories burned, incline, altitude, ascent and descent and temperature.

Jimi Wallet:

Are you still carrying your money and credit cards around in a Ziploc bag while you ride? The Jimi Wallet from Mr. Smith is a handy and stylish way to carry and organize your essentials while on the bike. It’s compact and water (and sweat) resistant and is perfect for slipping into a jersey pocket. It’s quickly becoming an underground hit with cyclists (Phil Liggett, too, we’re told) and is a deal at $15. You can buy one direct from the Jimi store.

The Wordlock Bike Lock:

Are you always forgetting the combination on your bike lock? Research has shown that it’s easier to remember a word than a number, so Wordlock inventor Todd Basche designed a combination lock that uses 4 letter words (no, not those kind) instead of numbers. He used a computer algorithm to optimize the letters that appear on the lock dials so that users could set thousands of words themselves. In a world of computer passwords, the modern combination lock finally caught up. My kids were fascinated with the Wordlock and kept asking me to change the combination to new words.

Bike Glow:

Sure, anyone can put lights on your body, your handlebars and your seatpost, but how about lighting up your whole bike? The Bike Glow Safety Light is a ten-foot flexible light tube that can be wrapped around your frame and features bright colors for increased visibility from all angles. It’s easily installed on a bicycle by wrapping the light around the frame and securing it in place with the accompanying attachment ties. Powered by 2 AA batteries, the entire system adds only 2 ounces of weight to your bike.

Julbo Contest sunglasses:

Are you still riding without sunglasses? Not only do sunglasses help you see the road and hazards more clearly, they also protect you from stuff that might get thrown up from the road. Worthy of your consideration is the new Contest glasses from Julbo ($160). A lightweight rimless sunglass, the Contest comes with Julbo’s Zebra photochromic lens. The Zebra lens technology adapts to varying light conditions from Category-2 (59-percent visible light) in low light conditions to Category-4 (95-percent visible light) in bright light in as little as 30 seconds. The Zebra lens also has a lifetime anti-fog coating.

The UV Buff:

Made from Coolmax fabric and providing protection against 95 percent of harmful rays, the UV Buff ($22) is super versatile, and perfect to wear under your helmet. CoolMax provides dry, moisture-free comfort and is proven to reduce skin temperature therefore maintaining hydration. The UV Buff also incorporates Polygiene odor control to help you stay fresh longer.

Hydration Packs from Osprey:

Due to some new medication, I’m finding myself more concerned with hydration than I have been in the past. Two water bottles will only go so far and we all know how quickly those can be drained on a hot day and how we are often long between water stops. The solution may be an Osprey hydration pack.

The Raptor:

With a 2 to 3 liter hydration reservoir and gear carrying capacities between 6 and 18 liters, Osprey’s Raptor line ($79 to $119) should prove very nice to have around for long days on the bike or hiking trail. All of the packs feature Osprey’s Biostretch harness for comfort, their Airscape back panel that provides support and ventilation, a magnetic drink hose attachment, and a mesh hipbelt. All models also incorporate an integrated helmet clip, plenty of pockets for your gear, reflective graphics and a connection point for your blinkie light.

The Manta:

If you find yourself going farther away from civilization, need to carry more gear, or if you’re riding to work, the extra capacity of the Manta line ($129 to $149) may serve your needs. The Manta line offers carrying capacities from 20 to 30 liters along with a 3 liter reservoir.

Tags: bike, bike glow bike light, buff, buff headwear, Cyclists, hot day, jimi wallet, limar ultralight 104, men, osprey manta, osprey raptor, pedalite, pedallite ankle light, pedallite bag light, technology