Venture Cyclist blog

Bike and Bling
(Equipment and Accessories)

Here is the current checklist before I go out on a ride, and the list of equipment and accessories I am using with my comments. Below that is a list of equipment or accessories I may yet buy, and then stuff I have discarded. Finally I include a list of blog postings on the topic.

The Current Ride Checklist
(based on this original post)

Bike
Helmet
Gloves
Water
Snack
GPS and heartrate monitor
Bike bag (containing bandaids, wipes, spare inner-tube, pump, bike lock)
Route map/plan
Cell phone
ID/Wallet
Keys
Weather gear: Sunglasses, Sunscreen, Arm warmers, Leg warmers, Rain jacket

Bike and add-ons

• The bike:  Bacchetta Strada Recumbent
• Bag: "Big Bag" from Bacchetta
• Panier Rack: "Back Rack" from Bacchetta
• Clipless pedals: Shimano PD-M520 MTB pedals (a "single- issue" purchase - easy to get out of!)
• Mirror: Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mirror , Round, Black 109519
• Reflectors: yes, itty bitty standard reflector in front; bag has one in back
• Red flashing LED: Disco Tech from Trek
• Flag: yes I got one
• Emergency repairs: spare inner tubes, check; patch kit, check; tire levers, check

Clothes

• Helmet: Giro Pneumo with visor.
• Gloves: Pearl Izumi Race Glove (no padding - none needed for a recumbent) Jason said I need gloves... Scott said I didn't ... Greg says I do... Jason and Greg were right
• Arm Warmers from Hazon
• Shirts: Hazon ride jerseys and jackets; Zoic brand tee-shirts; EMS TechWick tee-shirts ("technical material" wicks away sweat ... blah blah blah).
• Shorts: Zoot Sport Triathlon Shorts. Recumbent riders don't need the padding of regular bike shorts, but these triathlon shorts are very comfortable because of the light padding and technical nature of the material (wicks away sweat ... blah blah blah). Also, regular shorts can just brush the chain when I sit forward (at a stop), since the chain runs under the right leg (see photo above). With triathlon shorts which hug the leg, this does not happen. I also happen to like the mesh stash pockets on these shorts (just the right size for a cell phone or an energy bar).
• Socks:  Pearl Mens Socks wicking material supposed to be more comfortable than cotton - we'll see.
• Shoes: Sidi Dominator 5 Lorica Mountain Bike Shoes (Black) - Mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, so they are a little less like raised-front tap shoes than the road bike shoes.
• Insoles: BodyGeometry Performance FootBed
• Rain gear: Louis Garneau Helmet Cover and Rainshield O2 Cycling Rain Jacket.
• CVS polarized lens sunglasses that fit over my regular glasses.
• Cold weather additions - ALL from Pearl Izumi
  • Fleece Leg Warmers
  • MicroSensor Cycling Facemask
  • MicroSensor Headband
  • Grip-Lite Winter Gloves
  • AmFIB Cycling Shoe Covers

  Other stuff

  • Bike Rack: Allen Deluxe Trunk Mounted 2-Bike Carrier.
  • Small pump: Topeak Road Morph Bicycle Pump with built-in gauge.
  • Stand pump: Blackburn 4505102 TPS-2 Bicycle Floor Pump much easier to pump tires to full pressure before going out on a ride.
  • Lock: OnGuard Bulldog STD 5010 U-Lock with seven foot Akita flex cable (lock holds bike to post or cable; cable goes round post and also ensures wheels are not lifted out.)
  • Hydration system: formerly known as water bottle ... Camelbak 100oz UnBottle ... nice big round opening for large clumps of ice from the ice-maker.
  • GPS/Exercise tracking thingy: Garmin Edge 305 with GPS, heartrate monitor and (as yet uninstalled) cadence meter. Data can be downloaded into Garmin Training Center software, as well as many other third party programs.
  • Food - that's equipment, right! See Articles on Food.
  • First aid stuff: band aids, wipes.

  Still on the list

  • Lubricants/cleaners for all those sprockety things: Scott says no need to worry for a few months.
  • My partner, Greg, suggests a chain tool and allen wrench - but I have no idea what to do with either of these!

  Discarded or Exchanged equipment

  • Helmet: Giro Monza - exchanged for the Pneumo because I wanted a visor.

  Related Blog postings

  • Cyclists ride on their feet
  • Back in the Saddle
  • Bling
  • There are two kinds of cyclist ...
  • Checklist for a bike ride
  • Accessorizing
  • It's a bike!

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