As one of many few individuals who can declare to now be in my third decade of residing an electrical bike-focused life, I’ve examined a number of gear over time. Between the gear I purchase for myself and the piles of random stuff that exhibits up on my doorstep from overzealous PR companies, I’ve gone by way of a variety of instruments, locks, clothes, equipment, and extra. Listed here are my favorites of all of the stuff I’ve examined this 12 months.
I’ll begin with locks as a result of I’m a little bit of a motorcycle lock collector. I’ve packing containers overflowing with them. Meaning if a lock has made it out of the packing containers and into my regular-use assortment, it should have some actually good options and utility.
Foldylock Endlessly from Seatylock
Seatylock is considered one of my favourite lock firms as a result of numerous merchandise’ mixture of safety and worth. The strongest lock that I exploit day by day is my Foldylock Endlessly. It weighs round 1/3 of a high-security chain lock (slightly below 3.9 lb or 1.8 kg) and is way quieter than most folding locks as a result of increased precision safety rivets. It’s rated Gold-Licensed by the premier lock testing company Offered Safe, and is immune to the commonest assaults of blades, bolt cutters, nut splitters, pry bars/jacks, and freezing assaults.
It opens extensive to perform like a series lock, wrapping round extensive objects like timber or small objects like signal posts, and I additionally actually just like the handy holster that makes it straightforward to stow and seize one-handed. The extensive design means you too can lock each the body and a wheel, which is necessary if you wish to have wheels in your bike once you come again to it.
This lock is definitely fairly pretty priced at US $99 on Amazon. Excessive-security locks value loads 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 value, 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 sturdy because the over-the-top Foldylock Endlessly 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 most of the similar necessary safety elements like these patented high-security rivets.
This may be an important choice 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 inexpensive model of the flagship Foldylock Endlessly lock.
The third and final lock from Seatylock that I’ve actually taken a liking to is the Mason 220. This may occasionally appear like an ordinary U-lock at first, however there are two fundamental variations I actually like about it.
The primary is that it’s extensive sufficient to suit across the chunky battery downtube in all of my e-bikes. Most U-locks can’t match round this extensive a part of an e-bike, that means you’re extra restricted on locking areas. 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 scale 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 aspect for making use of numerous instruments. However in layman’s phrases, it’s only a extra environment friendly profile for anti-theft.
On high of all of that, the lock is Diamond-certified 20/20 by Offered Safe, which is the very best doable safety score. It’s immune to slicing, grinding, drilling, bending, prying, freezing, and principally each fundamental lock assault.
At its present value 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 Endlessly for her bike).
E-cuffs electrical scooter lock
This one is a little bit of an odd lock, however keep on with me. These handcuff-style locks make nice scooter locks, which is what they’re designed for. However in a pinch, you too can apply it to an e-bike.
These aren’t probably the most safe locks on the market, so I typically attempt to use them along side a second lock when doable, 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 exhausting to get a pry-bar within the lock for leverage assaults.
In addition they mount actually properly to the stem of a scooter to allow them to deploy shortly 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 dearth 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 mentioned 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 almost a century. The baggage are sewn in San Francisco and have a fundamental 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 in case you want to stuff it pretty full. You possibly can simply zip it once you don’t have the additional materials left over to roll it.
The neoprene-padded straps and leather-wrapped deal with are snug and clearly constructed for years of wear and tear, as this can be a buy-it-for-life sort of bag. I usually experience on days once 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 number of e-bikes for opinions and am continually 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 most of the “e-bikes” I overview are principally 100-lb gentle electrical bikes.
That’s good for the reason that Remco electrical carry bike stand can help as much as 100 lb fashions, and I truly put that to the check with a number of 100lb+ fashions!
It’s acquired an excellent secure (and heavy) base plate, and the carry itself may be programmed to recollect numerous heights which might be most snug for you.
The modular design allows you to use your personal clamp or theirs, that means you possibly can stick together with your trusty Park Software clamp in case you want.
A little bit over a 12 months in the past I harm 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 making an attempt to help them one handed and shut the clamp with the opposite.
That is actually meant for bike outlets and professionals, however even people 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 concerning the significance of carrying protecting clothes, particularly on quicker electrical bikes. Past Riders has change 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 considered one of my favorites too, and it doesn’t even appear like a bike jacket. It simply appears like a pleasant canvas jacket!
My spouse additionally likes that I don’t appear like I’m heading out for a bike experience, however reasonably I can put on these items on date evening. Whereas that’s not my major concern, the “comfortable spouse, comfortable life” doctrine at all times applies. So if I can mix security and trend in a single, that’s the best choice.
The BEAM’s Virgo helmet
Helmets are clearly essential security gear for e-bike riders, particularly since we are likely to spend extra time at increased speeds. However regardless 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 additional safety.
You pay handsomely for that safety, to the tune of US $299, however you get much more face protection than your typical helmet. Meaning your jaw has a greater likelihood of staying connected in a catastrophic impression with a car or concrete curb. The included MIPS system additionally reduces torsional impression in your mind, which is changing into commonplace on all higher-quality helmets nowadays.
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, nevertheless it’s additionally loads lighter and extra snug than my bike helmets, making it good for biking.
Even simply the visor provides nice advantages. I can’t inform you what number of instances I experience by way of a flock of gnats or a giant mud cloud with one eye closed simply in case it will get compromised and I want a backup eye. With a visor, you will have 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 straight in the direction of your eyes. You solely get two eyes and so they don’t heal the best way pores and skin does. Shield them!
There’s additionally the built-in rear gentle for added visibility, and naturally, the a number of dimension and coloration choices. There’s loads to love right here, even when the value is reasonably lofty.
Peak Design cellphone holder
I’ve examined many cellphone holders for e-bikes, scooters, and bikes. By far, my all-time favourite has acquired to be Peak Design’s cellphone 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 essential idea is just like Quadlock or different quick-release holders, besides that there’s no twisting. A magnet guides the cellphone’s case onto the spring-loaded locking tabs, which snap into place at the back of the case and securely maintain the cellphone. To launch it, you possibly can press a button on both aspect of the mount and your cellphone 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 accessible.
Tentsile tenting hammock
I LOVE bike tenting, and considered one of 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 reasonably outsized triangular hanging platforms that may take the type of tents or hangout hammocks.
I acquired the six-person big hammock lately, however sadly I haven’t had a tenting journey but to strive it out. Thus far it appears prefer it ought to work properly 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 drugs 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 in case you’ve acquired the posh of including enjoyable gear to your leisure bike-camping setup, that is positively one that may change the sport. As an alternative of a bunch of folding chairs, you and your pals can all be lounging within the air, suspended from Mom Nature’s anchors – timber!
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