Whether you ride your bike during your daily commute, as a workout or just for leisure, selecting the right products for your ride is important for your safety. Obviously, you need the right helmet, but you’ll also want to make sure that you can hear and see everything around you, and that you’re always visible to anyone you’re sharing the road with.
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HuffPost trends director Buck Wolf is a frequent cyclist who rides his bike to work. We asked Wolf, who bikes 4,000 to 5,000 miles a year, to tell us about the problem-solving items he uses on his own rides. Below, you’ll find some of Wolf’s suggestions for safer, better cycling, from a clip-on rearview mirror to a must-have pair of headphones.
First and foremost, a good (but cheap) helmet
Of course, every ride starts wtih a good helmet. In a previous story, HuffPost trends director and avid cyclist Buck Wolf said, “I think it’s important to buy a new helmet every year, but I like the cheaper ones.” He also advised against spending $300 on a helmet.
This Retrospec helmet is an under-$30 pick that comes in seven colors. It boasts 24 air vents and a 4-LED safety light. You can also use the adjustable straps and dial system to adjust the helmet to your perfect fit, between 54 and 61 centimeters. The EPS foam lining and PVC shell are lightweight but still protective.
A device with the “best safety feature” he’s come across
Wolf named the TriEye Clip “the device I like the most,” adding, “These are really the best safety feature I’ve come across. It’s the best way to see behind you.” The Clip is a pair of clip-on sunglasses with a rearview mirror, and they can attach to regular prescription glasses. They come in two sizes and with clear or polarized lenses. By using the integrated rearview mirror, you can see what’s behind you while keeping your eyes ahead, avoiding the issue of turning your head back and getting distracted from the road in front of you. The mirror is also tiltable as needed.
A bell to warn pedestrians
A bell is crucial for sharing the road responsibly, particularly when pedestrians can’t see you coming behind them or from around a corner. This popular Amazon pick, which fits handlebars between 0.75 and 1 inches wide, has an ergonomically designed striker and reviewers note it’s “extremely loud” and “doesn’t take up much real estate on your bars.” The bell comes with the hex key needed for installation, as well as two silicone pads of different thicknesses so you can choose the right one for your handlebars’ size. Get the bell in seven colors, or in a two-pack.
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Some open-ear headphones so you can hear traffic
Wolf recommended open-ear air conduction or bone conduction headphones so that you can hear traffic around you, saying, “I advise using the [conduction] headphones for use with a riding app that gives you directions, etc.”
Bose’s open-ear earbuds are a popular pick thanks to Bose’s well-known sound quality. These ones clip onto the edge of your ear and sit in the opening of the ear without plugging them. They have a battery life of up to seven hours and are IPX4 water-resistant.
Plus a less expensive bone conduction style cyclists also adore
If you;d rather use headphones that don’t go into your ear at all, you can try this slightly more affordable pair from Shokz, which uses bone conduction and fits to the back of your head instead. These are IP55 water-resistant and have a battery life of up to 12 hours. They’re also beloved by cyclists and non-cyclists alike. One person even wrote, “I’ve worn these so long they should probably be listed as a dependent on my taxes,” and “if something happened to these tomorrow, I’d order another pair before the panic attack was over.” Get them in six colors.
Garmin’s radar tail light
Wolf also shouted out radar lights, especially those made by Garmin. Their Varia RTL515 rearview radar with tail light can be seen by vehicles up to 153 yards away and has a battery life of up to 16 hours depending on which mode you’re using (day flash or solid). It can pair with a Garmin Edge bike computer; if you have a Garmin wearable or are using your smartphone as a display while you ride, you can see radar alerts in the Varia app.
Or a more affordable one from Bryton
If the price of that Garmin radar light, usually $200, is hard to swallow, Wolf named Bryton’s radar light as a more affordable alternative. This one can detect vehicles from even farther — 207 yards away. It comes with six lighting modes and a battery life of up to 17 hours. Like the Garmin, you can pair it with compatible bike computers or use the Bryton Gardia app for compatible smartphones to get alerts.
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