All of the gear you don't need on your urban commuter bike (and a few things you do)

One of the great things about using a bicycle as a mode of transportation is its simplicity. But sometimes it feels like the bike world is always trying to complicate that simplicity — with new technology, new gear and new features designed to make your bike faster, lighter or stronger. And while this tech can be amazing (and you should absolutely use anything you need to make the bike a bigger part of your life), sometimes I feel like the excitement over new tech overshadows the pleasures of cycling's simplicity.

So this video is to remind you that, while tech and gear can be great, you may not need all of it to have a happy bike life.

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I’ve been riding Priority bikes for a number of years. I love their low-maintenance, belt-drive design, and they offer good quality at a decent price. They signed on as a sponsor for my YouTube channel several years after I started riding them.

My daily summertime bike is the zippy and fun Priority Eight: https://alnk.to/1XWoxFO
With its fenders, hub dynamo lights and durable Enviolo internal hub gearing system, I’ve happily ridden the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters: https://alnk.to/gKS5Jlw

Abus Bike Locks. If you’re riding in a city, you need a good-quality bike lock, and you can’t do much better than Abus and their diverse lineup of locks: https://www.abus.com/

My book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: https://amzn.to/42EBzO6

Here is some of the gear I’m currently using. Some of these are affiliate links.

Bike Lights: I love dynamo lights that are built into a bike and powered by your pedalling or the wheel’s movement, but if you need aftermarket lights, Lumos offers a number of great options. Their Firefly lights are simple and bright: https://collabs.shop/3uodbz

Helmet: If I’m riding for sports, such as mountain biking or road bike, I like Lumos helmets because they are comfortable and well-built, and you can also easily attach lights to stay as visible as possible on roads: https://collabs.shop/prkigy

Bell: I love the sound and quality of the Japanese-made Crane Bells: https://www.cranebellusa.com/

Saddle: Yes, they can be pricey, but I’ve joined the ranks of people who think the extra cost for the quality of a Brooks Saddle is worth it, in both durability and comfort: https://www.brooksengland.com/

Panniers: My everyday workhorse pannier is Two Wheel Gear’s Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0: https://twowheelgear.com/collections/pannier-backpacks?srsltid=AfmBOop6XPOZUjmjf4-Nr1MVwSivDO7igNWhL6Y3PzWOzkqtraTAS-D5

Pedals: I’ve not experienced high-performance pedals adding much extra value to my daily riding experience, but these light-up pedals from Redshift are bright, keep me visible at night and grab lots of attention: https://redshiftsports.com?aff=40

Phone mount: I use Peak Design’s mobile system, including the Universal Bar Mount on my handlebars every day, which I also bring it with me when I travel for bike rentals and bike-share bicycles: https://peak-design.pxf.io/c/5749368/1664050/18669

Buff: Keeps your face, neck and head warm in the winter, and keeps the sun off in the summer: https://peak-design.pxf.io/c/5749368/1664050/18669

Sunglasses: If you’re going to wear sunglasses, why not use a pair that has built-in mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride?: https://collabs.shop/f9hvof
Don’t forget to register your bike with an online database.
My favourite is 529 Garage https://project529.com/garage
Bike Index is also good: https://bikeindex.org/

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#cycling #bike #commuting


0:00 Introduction
1:01 Suspension
2:35 Dropper posts
3:06 Cycling shoes that clip into your pedals
4:16 Disc brakes (in some situations!)
5:29 Carbon-fibre frames
6:57 Too many gears
7:34 Knobby tires
7:58 Cycling-specific clothing
8:36 A few things I like that you might need...
8:44 A rack
9:31 Pannier bags or a basket
9:51 A kickstand
10:24 Fenders
10:38 The right accessories