As one of many few individuals who can declare to now be in my third decade of dwelling an electrical bike-focused life, I’ve examined a whole lot of gear through the years. Between the gear I purchase for myself and the piles of random stuff that reveals up on my doorstep from overzealous PR companies, I’ve gone by a variety of instruments, locks, clothes, equipment, and extra. Listed below are my favorites of all of the stuff I’ve examined this yr.
I’ll begin with locks as a result of I’m a little bit of a motorbike lock collector. I’ve bins overflowing with them. Which means if a lock has made it out of the bins and into my regular-use assortment, it will need to have some actually good options and utility.
Foldylock Perpetually from Seatylock
Seatylock is one among my favourite lock firms as a result of numerous merchandise’ mixture of safety and worth. The strongest lock that I take advantage of each day is my Foldylock Perpetually. It weighs round 1/3 of a high-security chain lock (just below 3.9 lb or 1.8 kg) and is way quieter than most folding locks as a result of greater precision safety rivets. It’s rated Gold-Licensed by the premier lock testing company Bought Safe, and is immune to the most typical assaults of blades, bolt cutters, nut splitters, pry bars/jacks, and freezing assaults.
It opens broad to operate like a sequence lock, wrapping round broad objects like timber or small objects like signal posts, and I additionally actually just like the handy holster that makes it simple to stow and seize one-handed. The broad design means it’s also possible to lock each the body and a wheel, which is essential if you wish to have wheels in your bike if you come again to it.
This lock is definitely fairly pretty priced at US $99 on Amazon. Excessive-security locks price quite a bit as a result of they’re meant to guard costly e-bikes, and this one is price each single penny. And that’s even an important sale worth, contemplating it usually prices $125.
I’ve additionally been testing a smaller model of the identical lock, the Foldylock Compact. It is available in a number of colours, however I just like the orange-accented one because it has that good poison treefrog coloring to let thieves see it from a distance and remind them to maneuver on to the following poor shmuck’s bike.
Whereas this one isn’t fairly as strong because the over-the-top Foldylock Perpetually above, the Foldylock Compact is smaller and lighter for individuals who don’t need a chunky lock. At simply 2.2 lb or 1 kg, it’s nearly half the burden and nonetheless options lots of the similar essential safety elements like these patented high-security rivets.
This may be an important possibility for scooters, too, because it’s smaller and extra compact for the lighter frames on scooters.
At US $71 on Amazon, it’s a extra reasonably priced model of the flagship Foldylock Perpetually lock.
The third and final lock from Seatylock that I’ve actually taken a liking to is the Mason 220. This will appear like a normal U-lock at first, however there are two foremost variations I actually like about it.
The primary is that it’s broad sufficient to suit across the chunky battery downtube in all of my e-bikes. Most U-locks can’t match round this broad a part of an e-bike, that means you’re extra restricted on locking places. The Mason 220 has no downside becoming anyplace on my e-bikes.
The second factor I like is that the lock’s shackle has a pentagonal profile. That helps cut back weight whereas strengthening the cross-section in comparison with spherical or sq. bars. The engineering reply is that it places extra materials additional away from the middle axis with out losing materials the place it isn’t wanted. It additionally prevents thieves from having two flat surfaces on both facet for making use of numerous instruments. However in layman’s phrases, it’s only a extra environment friendly profile for anti-theft.
On prime of all of that, the lock is Diamond-certified 20/20 by Bought Safe, which is the very best potential safety ranking. It’s immune to chopping, grinding, drilling, bending, prying, freezing, and mainly each foremost lock assault.
At its present worth of US $76 on Amazon, it’s a no brainer.
I at all times advocate utilizing two locks on the similar time, and I usually mix the Mason 220 with the FoldyLock Compact (since my spouse tends to steal my FoldylLck Perpetually for her bike).
E-cuffs electrical scooter lock
This one is a little bit of an odd lock, however follow me. These handcuff-style locks make nice scooter locks, which is what they’re designed for. However in a pinch, it’s also possible to apply it to an e-bike.
These aren’t probably the most safe locks on the market, so I typically attempt to use them together with a second lock when potential, however the E-cuffs do have a number of good security options as a part of their design. The triple-ply metal is tougher to chop and the tight locking cuff makes it arduous to get a pry-bar within the lock for leverage assaults.
Additionally they mount actually properly to the stem of a scooter to allow them to deploy rapidly round no matter you select to lock onto.
I used them on the VMAX scooter I used to be lately testing and located them to be a extremely handy answer for fast and handy locking.
Waterfield Vitesse waxed canvas backpack
For these of you who bemoan the shortage of American manufacturing, right here you go! The Waterfield Vitesse waxed canvas backpack is made in America. It’s additionally acquired made in America pricing at US $219, however hey, you stated you’d pay for American manufacturing, proper?!
This bag is a murals, made of gorgeous waxed canvas from an American mill that has produced it this fashion for practically a century. The baggage are sewn in San Francisco and have a foremost open pocket with organizer pouches inside, a laptop computer sleeve that may match as much as a 16-inch laptop computer, and a pleated entrance pocket. The roll-top design additionally has a water-proof zipper, that means you don’t should roll the highest if you happen to desire to stuff it pretty full. You may simply zip it if you don’t have the additional materials left over to roll it.
The neoprene-padded straps and leather-wrapped deal with are comfy and clearly constructed for years of damage, as it is a buy-it-for-life kind of bag. I usually journey on days if you by no means know what sort of climate you’ll have, and so the waxed canvas and waterproof zipper are key for cyclists who need a handsome bag that also withstands the weather.
Remco electrical lifting bike stand
This stand has modified the sport for my bike work. I assemble a whole lot of e-bikes for opinions and am always doing work on my bikes, whether or not regular upkeep or main repairs. Lifting heavy e-bikes onto a stand isn’t enjoyable, particularly as lots of the “e-bikes” I assessment are mainly 100-lb mild electrical bikes.
That’s good because the Remco electrical carry bike stand can assist as much as 100 lb fashions, and I truly put that to the check with a number of 100lb+ fashions!
It’s acquired a brilliant secure (and heavy) base plate, and the carry itself will be programmed to recollect numerous heights which are most comfy for you.
The modular design allows you to use your individual clamp or theirs, that means you possibly can stick together with your trusty Park Instrument clamp if you happen to desire.
Slightly over a yr in the past I damage my again (and had my first “OMG this should be what getting outdated is” second), and so the usage of an electrical bike carry for heavy electrical bikes is simply such a pleasant addition to my bike workflow that I can’t think about anymore muscling these 80 and 90 lb e-bikes into the air whereas attempting to assist them one handed and shut the clamp with the opposite.
That is actually meant for bike retailers and professionals, however even of us such as you and me who simply are likely to do work on a number of heavy bikes can actually profit from it!
Past Riders protected using clothes
I’ve written earlier than in regards to the significance of carrying protecting clothes, particularly on sooner electrical bikes. Past Riders has turn into my go-to model as a result of its garments appear like typical on a regular basis clothes but have hidden armor and are produced with heavy-duty fibers designed for abrasion resistance.
I’ve simply began testing out their flannel shirt and cargo pants, which have choices for Stage 1 or Stage 2 armor inserts to guard your shoulders, elbows, backbone, hips, and knees. I’ll do a deeper dive on these quickly.
Their canvas using jacket continues to be one among my favorites too, and it doesn’t even appear like a bike jacket. It simply appears to be like like a pleasant canvas jacket!
My spouse additionally likes that I don’t appear like I’m heading out for a bike journey, however slightly I can put on these things on date night time. Whereas that’s not my main concern, the “completely satisfied spouse, completely satisfied life” doctrine at all times applies. So if I can mix security and trend in a single, that’s the most suitable choice.
The BEAM’s Virgo helmet
Helmets are clearly crucial security gear for e-bike riders, particularly since we are likely to spend extra time at greater speeds. However irrespective of the expertise included in a helmet, if it solely sits on the highest of your head, then there’s a complete lot of face materials left flapping round within the wind.
The Virgo helmet is a full face helmet with added chin bar so as to add further safety.
You pay handsomely for that safety, to the tune of US $299, however you get much more face protection than your typical helmet. Which means your jaw has a greater likelihood of staying hooked up in a catastrophic affect with a car or concrete curb. The included MIPS system additionally reduces torsional affect in your mind, which is changing into normal on all higher-quality helmets today.
And for much less disastrous crashes, you don’t have to fret about regrowing the pores and skin in your face. In case your face is the way you make your cash (otherwise you simply don’t wish to appear like a lasagna), a full-face helmet is a good suggestion. The chin bar here’s a bit flexy, so it’s not going to face up to the identical stage of crash as my bike helmets, but it surely’s additionally quite a bit lighter and extra comfy than my bike helmets, making it good for biking.
Even simply the visor provides nice advantages. I can’t let you know what number of instances I journey by a flock of gnats or an enormous mud cloud with one eye closed simply in case it will get compromised and I want a backup eye. With a visor, you’ve eye safety even on the times you aren’t carrying sun shades. And naturally you possibly can by no means predict the random rock that will get kicked up by a automobile tire and despatched instantly in direction of your eyes. You solely get two eyes they usually don’t heal the way in which pores and skin does. Defend them!
There’s additionally the built-in rear mild for added visibility, and naturally, the a number of measurement and coloration choices. There’s quite a bit to love right here, even when the value is slightly lofty.
Peak Design telephone holder
I’ve examined many telephone holders for e-bikes, scooters, and bikes. By far, my all-time favourite has acquired to be Peak Design’s telephone holder.
I acquired the case for my iPhone, and now I’ve the matching holding on a number of of my e-bikes, in addition to one on my Gogoro scooter and one other on my LiveWire Del Mar bike.
The fundamental idea is much like Quadlock or different quick-release holders, besides that there’s no twisting. A magnet guides the telephone’s case onto the spring-loaded locking tabs, which snap into place behind the case and securely maintain the telephone. To launch it, you possibly can press a button on both facet of the mount and your telephone immediately pops off. It’s rugged but simply launched – a tough mixture to grasp.
I purchased the $39 common mount for my bikes and scooters and I’ve the $79 devoted bike mount on my LiveWire, however there are many totally different mount choices out there.
Tentsile tenting hammock
I LOVE bike tenting, and one among my latest acquisitions is supposed to make e-bike tenting all of the extra enjoyable with a calming hangout. Tentsile’s tree hammocks aren’t your conventional hammocks, however slightly outsized triangular hanging platforms that may take the type of tents or hangout hammocks.
I acquired the six-person large hammock lately, however sadly I haven’t had a tenting journey but to strive it out. Up to now it appears to be like prefer it ought to work nicely although, because it’s properly constructed and large! That’s one other good factor about e-bike tenting, you possibly can afford the additional weight of substances like this as a result of the battery helps take the ache out of the pedaling.
That is one other one which ain’t low cost, at $384. However if you happen to’ve acquired the posh of including enjoyable gear to your leisure bike-camping setup, that is undoubtedly one that may change the sport. As an alternative of a bunch of folding chairs, you and your folks can all be lounging within the air, suspended from Mom Nature’s anchors – timber!
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