What would you add or change?

[bobco85]

My additions/changes (I’m surprised a lot of these aren’t already on the lists):

Most Essential

• Lights – The sun isn’t always up when you’re riding, and drivers can’t always see you especially at night
• (Smart)Phone – Not just for tracking your rides, you can use this if you get lost or face an unfixable issue and require pick-up
• Bell – Alert others to your presence especially before making a pass

Nice to Have

• Fenders – Keep the mud/dirt/debris out of your face and off of your back
• Camera – Not only will you pass some gorgeous scenery, you might need this in case of an accident
• First Aid Kit – Accidents happen, and you might encounter someone who needs help on the trail
• Rag/Towel – For wiping the water/mud/etc. off your bike when you finish riding
• Bike Map – Great for finding your destination or helping lost trail-users
• Helmet should be moved here (it is not essential, but wearing one is recommended)

[TwoWheelsDC]

A helmet is absolutely NOT essential. Putting it at the top of the list screams “OHMYGODCYCLINGISSODANGEROUSDONTLEAVEHOMEWITHOUTYOURHELMETORYOULLDIE!”

[mstone]

#1: Helment. Sigh.

[Raymo853]

How about “moderated comments” on bike articles. Would have helped squash the one on that article listing out $25,000 in different bikes as essential.

[mstone]

@Raymo853 122971 wrote:

How about “moderated comments” on bike articles. Would have helped squash the one on that article listing out $25,000 in different bikes as essential.

that’s better than 90% of comments on WTOP bike articles

[lordofthemark]

If helmets aren’t essential, are water bottles? I have ridden without one, and stopped for water, and did not die or pass out (and someone going at the modest tooling around pace most rational non helmet wearers ride at, will be okay without a water bottle – and repair kit – chain lube? I mean c’mon, essential? If those are essential so are helmets.

Even lights – while my favorite counter to the OMGHelmets crowd (“the most dangerous thing I see is folks riding at night without lights”) can be and are done without, quite safely, by fair weather day time cyclists.

Really nothing is essential, but a safe bike. And a rider. If you are going to have a list that includes the word essential, helmets have to be on it, if only to avoid making that the center of attention for non-riders, newbie riders, etc. I recently had a discussion with a friend who is a neurologist, but whose personality is inclined to moral panic type thinking. She started with OMG – the things I see – helmets! and we went on to discuss accident rates vs cardio vascular disease, detoured to driving under the influence of legal pot (another obsession of hers) and then to the dangers of hands free cell phones. I think I got her to think a lot about the net health benefits of cycling, and the dangers of distracted driving, and I think it helped that I did not argue the helmet point – I simply said truthfully, that I always wear one, did not mention my opposition to mandatory helmet laws, and moved on to more important points. I think the helmet debate is a distraction.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@lordofthemark 122976 wrote:

If helmets aren’t essential, are water bottles? I have ridden without one, and stopped for water, and did not die or pass out (and someone going at the modest tooling around pace most rational non helmet wearers ride at, will be okay without a water bottle – and repair kit – chain lube? I mean c’mon, essential? If those are essential so are helmets.

Even lights – while my favorite counter to the OMGHelmets crowd (“the most dangerous thing I see is folks riding at night without lights”) can be and are done without, quite safely, by fair weather day time cyclists.

Really nothing is essential, but a safe bike. And a rider. If you are going to have a list that includes the word essential, helmets have to be on it, if only to avoid making that the center of attention for non-riders, newbie riders, etc. I recently had a discussion with a friend who is a neurologist, but whose personality is inclined to moral panic type thinking. She started with OMG – the things I see – helmets! and we went on to discuss accident rates vs cardio vascular disease, detoured to driving under the influence of legal pot (another obsession of hers) and then to the dangers of hands free cell phones. I think I got her to think a lot about the net health benefits of cycling, and the dangers of distracted driving, and I think it helped that I did not argue the helmet point – I simply said truthfully, that I always wear one, did not mention my opposition to mandatory helmet laws, and moved on to more important points. I think the helmet debate is a distraction.

Well, I really wouldn’t feel comfortable going on a long ride without water and a flat kit, and my bike can’t go anywhere without a pump to put air in my tires…but I can ride just fine without a helmet. But yes, “essential” is a bit hyperbolic…

[lordofthemark]

@TwoWheelsDC 122983 wrote:

Well, I really wouldn’t feel comfortable going on a long ride without water and a flat kit, and my bike can’t go anywhere without a pump to put air in my tires…but I can ride just fine without a helmet. But yes, “essential” is a bit hyperbolic…

It said everyone, commuting, recreation, as well as long trail rides. If I am riding a mile or two to do an errand, I will almost always get to my destination before taking a drink from my water bottle, even on a warm day. And I can pump at a local gas station, if my errands take me there regularly.

[Sunyata]

@lordofthemark 122984 wrote:

And I can pump at a local gas station, if my errands take me there regularly.

Probably 75% of bicycles will not be able to be pumped at a local gas station without a presta valve adapter. Unless gas stations now carry these? (It has been a few years since I have used a gas station air pump.)

Different people are going to have different views on what is “essential”. And honestly, I have different views of what I consider “essential” depending on where I am riding. It is hard to make a blanket “essential” list that will encompass every situation for every person.

For me, a multi-tool, spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, air of some nature (either a pump of CO2), hydration of some sort (bottle/cage or pack), and mobile phone with GPS/maps are essential on every single ride that I take. Even if I am just running to the grocery store (which is 90% off street trails and less than a mile from my house). Granted, most of it is carried in a saddle bag that stays on the bike 24/7.

[mstone]

@Sunyata 123015 wrote:

Probably 75% of bicycles will not be able to be pumped at a local gas station without a presta valve adapter. Unless gas stations now carry these? (It has been a few years since I have used a gas station air pump.)[/quote]

Probably 95+% of people buying a comfort bike and reading “essentials for biking” will not have a presta valve.

[lordofthemark]

@Sunyata 123015 wrote:

Probably 75% of bicycles will not be able to be pumped at a local gas station without a presta valve adapter. Unless gas stations now carry these? (It has been a few years since I have used a gas station air pump.)

Different people are going to have different views on what is “essential”. And honestly, I have different views of what I consider “essential” depending on where I am riding. It is hard to make a blanket “essential” list that will encompass every situation for every person.

For me, a multi-tool, spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, air of some nature (either a pump of CO2), hydration of some sort (bottle/cage or pack), and mobile phone with GPS/maps are essential on every single ride that I take. Even if I am just running to the grocery store (which is 90% off street trails and less than a mile from my house). Granted, most of it is carried in a saddle bag that stays on the bike 24/7.

That was, essentially, my point. Sure, it would be crazy to ride 50 miles on a summer day without water. And inadvisable to ride on a freezing day without gloves or bar mitts. Etc. But if the question is to ride a bike at all, especially the one mile to do an errand, really nothing is essential but a functioning bike. Period. And if anything IS important, to beginner riders, who have no idea what they should get beyond the bike, I think it is at least arguable a helmet should come first on the list – and certainly if it does not, it will lead to more perplexity among list readers than anything else.

BTW – smartphones? I have become addicted to mine, but I can assure that it is eminently possible to do pretty long bike rides without them, as I made quite a few. Of course in those days some pocket change and a keen eye for phone booths was enough to keep one connected in an emergency

[dasgeh]

Potentially more helpful would be a graphic that indicated “essentials” for different types of riding. Picture of a person on bikeshare: essentials = bikeshare key or credit card, smile; Errand runner = basket/panniers/bag, lock; Roadie = helmet, water, kit, saddle bag with tire changing stuff, computer, etc.

[dplasters]

Sooo.. I’ve commuted for over a year now, daily, with #1 but without #2-#9.

What you need are two pedals. You don’t even need two wheels. Just go ask those weird unicycle people. What is left are useful items that you might enjoy having, given the type of ride you are about to endeavor on and your personal preferences.

Things I find useful that they don’t mention:
Lights
Options other than full fenders
Leaving your bike lock at work so you don’t have to carry it

[mstone]

@dplasters 123043 wrote:

What you need are two pedals

I’m offended by your pedalnormativity

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9458[/ATTACH]

[Anonymous]

It’s a pretty good list, I’d probably only add lights/reflective bits in case of riding after or near dark. And the author seems to go as close as she possibly can to saying “honestly, none of this is required” without actually using those words.

Mostly what I’d change is the headline. “15 Things Most Bicyclists Are Likely to Find Useful”? Too wishy washy for a headline?:cool:

[Author]

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