The Coolest Tools for Cycling – Bike Carriers, Bags and More

Riding a bike isn’t just riding a bike anymore. Doing it well, even if just for fun, has it’s requirements. You NEED a helmet, you NEED some lights and if you want to ride off of your own block, you’re probably going to need a place to stash your water bottle, keys, phone and maybe even some extras for camping, picnicking, racing or more. Oh yeah – you might even need a bike rack if you want to cycle somewhere neat (like a race). We’ve done our research and have created a list of our all-time favorite cool tools for cyclists young and old alike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transit Torrent Waterproof Pannier: This weatherproof roll-top bag is amazing! It easily clips on to your bike rack, and has a large soft shoulder-strap for easy breezy portability. The inside is equipped with one large zipper pouch and two mid-sized mesh pouches to ensure your high-tech stuff stays dry and your other items stay where they should. It’s strong, flexible and will carry everything you need for a fun day out and about. PerformanceBike.com Retail Price: $79.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scattante Scorpione Road Helmet: Safety, ventilation, fit and fashion – those are the major missions of this uber cool head protector. Designed to fit as many heads as possible, protect in as many ways as possible, while withstanding hits from all sides – the only thing left for you to worry about is finding an outfit to look as good as your head. I love the aerodynamic shape of this helmet and think it’d look sharp on men and women alike. A great choice! PerformanceBike.com Retail Price: $79,99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ascent Cruise Youth Helmet: Your child’s brain ranks pretty high on the list of “important stuff” and protecting it with a quality helmet is a smart idea.The Ascent has a tough shell for safety, but will keep your kid cool with it’s 17 vents. A sweaty head is quick to make for a complainy kid – or worse – one that takes his helmet off when Dad’s not looking. With two methods to adjust the size and padding throughout, you can be sure of a customized fit and a comfortable ride. Fits 8 years and up. Colors: Black/Red, Black/Green, Purple. PerformanceBike.com Retail Price: $34.99

Diamondback Octane 20″ kid’s bike:  This is the perfect bike for busy kids who love adventure. With its sturdy alloy frame, suspension fork and six speeds, it can handle itself on the road and off. My 7 year old son is training for his 2nd kids triathlon and he’s so excited to show up with this cool ride and his Ascent Cruise helmet. The twist-shift gears are easy to change and the suspension accommodates his wild streak as he rides up and down the dirt hills in our neighborhood. The bike arrives about 75% put together, but will take a good 30 minutes to do the rest. We also had fun reviewing the bike safety information in the fab coloring book which came with the bike. PerformanceBike.com Retail Price: $239.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rola Tiltaway Four Bike Carrier: Want to get the family or a pack of friends out of dodge for some cycling? Throwing a bunch of  bikes in the trunk of most cars is a no-can-do! This 4 bike carrier is the ultimate cool tool for those who want to get a move on somewhere else. It easily attaches to your standard 2 inch hitch receiver allowing you to rest each bike atop two arms, and offers soft straps so you can seal them on tight without the bikes crashing in to each other while you drive. The coolest feature is the tiltaway, which means you can open the back of your SUV without having to remove the hitch and bikes each time. This proves to be more convenient then you know! It’s a high-end product that’s easy to use. 5-year limited warranty  Amazon Retail Price: $144.99

Advantage® TiltawayTM 4-bike Carrier : This 4 bike carrier is also absolutely amazing. It fits both 2″ & 1.25″ hitch receivers, includes 10′ Cable Lock & Anti-wobble hitch lock and has highly visible reflectors so drivers can see you more easily. This rack also tilts away from your vehicle so you can open the back, while leaving the rack attached. The bike rack arms fold down then lock in place when not in use and conserve space in your garage when storing the rack away. Heavy-duty steel construction and corrosion-resistant black powder-coated ensures a long life. I love love LOVE both of these bike racks, so I can’t tell you I like one better. However! This model can fit both the 2″ and the 1.25″ hitch and has a longer warranty. The tiltAWAY bike rack holds up to 150 lbs., only weighs about 30 lbs. and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Amazon Retail Price: $255.98

 

Planet Bike Snack Sack: This super smart mini bag conveniently fits attaches right between your seat and handlebars for easy access as it holds your small stuff. Fill it with your phone, keys, mp3 player, snacks, wallet, map or other. When you don’t need a big bag, this thing will do! The packaging doesn’t claim “weatherproof”, but I’d personally feel quite comfortable getting caught in the rain with my phone inside this bag. PlanetBike.com Retail Price: $16.99

 

SuperFlash Turbo Tail Light: This little light is OMG crazy bright. Easily attach to your bike to be seen better during the day or night. With the press of one button, a powerful flashing pattern or solid beam lets everyone around you know you’re there. It’s lightweight, weatherproof and only requires two AAA batteries to light up your bike for at least 100 hours. PlanetBike.com Retail Price: $33.99

Protege 9.0 Wireless Bike Computer: Kind of like a GPS for running, this baby will tell you all you need to know about your cycling workout. It will track and share your current speed, speed comparator, ride time, trip distance, dual odometer (for 2 wheel sizes), average speed, maximum speed, clock, and temperature. Wow! It’s tiny, but mighty! Easily attaching to your handlebar or stem, this computer is easy to read and gives up to five pieces of information at a glance. PlanetBike.com Retail Price: $59.99

Check out the BallBike for a fabulously unstable stationary workout at home.

Check out the FitDesk to workout while you work!