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 quite a 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 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. Which means 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 Ceaselessly from Seatylock
Seatylock is one in every of my favourite lock corporations as a result of numerous merchandise’ mixture of safety and worth. The strongest lock that I exploit day-after-day is my Foldylock Ceaselessly. 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 larger precision safety rivets. It’s rated Gold-Licensed by the premier lock testing company Bought Safe, and is proof against the most typical assaults of blades, bolt cutters, nut splitters, pry bars/jacks, and freezing assaults.
It opens vast to perform like a series lock, wrapping round vast 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 vast design means it’s also possible to 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 value each single penny. And that’s even an incredible 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 subsequent poor shmuck’s bike.
Whereas this one isn’t fairly as sturdy because the over-the-top Foldylock Ceaselessly 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 load and nonetheless options lots of the similar necessary safety elements like these patented high-security rivets.
This might be an incredible 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 Ceaselessly lock.
The third and final lock from Seatylock that I’ve actually taken a liking to is the Mason 220. This will likely seem like a typical U-lock at first, however there are two principal variations I actually like about it.
The primary is that it’s vast sufficient to suit across the chunky battery downtube in all of my e-bikes. Most U-locks can’t match round this vast a part of an e-bike, that means you’re extra restricted on locking places. The Mason 220 has no drawback becoming wherever 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 high of all of that, the lock is Diamond-certified 20/20 by Bought Safe, which is the best attainable safety score. It’s proof against reducing, grinding, drilling, bending, prying, freezing, and mainly each principal lock assault.
At its present value of US $76 on Amazon, it’s a no brainer.
I all the time 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 Ceaselessly for her bike).
E-cuffs electrical scooter lock
This one is a little bit of a wierd 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 usually attempt to use them together with a second lock when attainable, 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 onerous to get a pry-bar inside 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 very handy resolution 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 luggage are sewn in San Francisco and have a principal 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-resistant zipper, that means you don’t need to roll the highest in case you favor to stuff it pretty full. You’ll be able to 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 comfy and clearly constructed for years of damage, as this can be a buy-it-for-life sort of bag. I usually journey 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 quite a lot of e-bikes for critiques and am continuously 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 evaluate are mainly 100-lb gentle electrical bikes.
That’s excellent for the reason that Remco electrical elevate bike stand can assist as much as 100 lb fashions, and I really put that to the take a look at with a number of 100lb+ fashions!
It’s acquired an excellent steady (and heavy) base plate, and the elevate itself could be programmed to recollect numerous heights which might be most comfy for you.
The modular design helps you to use your personal clamp or theirs, that means you’ll be able to stick along with your trusty Park Software clamp in case you favor.
Somewhat over a 12 months in the past I damage my again (and had my first “OMG this have to be what getting outdated is” second), and so using an electrical bike elevate 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 assist them one handed and shut the clamp with the opposite.
That is actually meant for bike outlets and professionals, however even of us such as you and me who simply are inclined to do work on a number of heavy bikes can actually profit from it!
Past Riders protected driving clothes
I’ve written earlier than concerning the significance of sporting protecting clothes, particularly on sooner electrical bikes. Past Riders has develop into my go-to model as a result of its garments seem 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 Degree 1 or Degree 2 armor inserts to guard your shoulders, elbows, backbone, hips, and knees. I’ll do a deeper dive on these quickly.
Their canvas driving jacket continues to be one in every of my favorites too, and it doesn’t even seem like a bike jacket. It simply appears like a pleasant canvas jacket!
My spouse additionally likes that I don’t seem like I’m heading out for a bike journey, however relatively I can put on these items on date night time. Whereas that’s not my main concern, the “completely satisfied spouse, completely satisfied life” doctrine all the time applies. So if I can mix security and vogue in a single, that’s the best choice.
The BEAM’s Virgo helmet
Helmets are clearly crucial security gear for e-bike riders, particularly since we are inclined to spend extra time at larger speeds. However irrespective of the expertise included in a helmet, if it solely sits on the highest of your head, then there’s an entire 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. Which means your jaw has a greater likelihood of staying connected in a catastrophic influence with a car or concrete curb. The included MIPS system additionally lowered torsional influence in your mind, which is turning into normal on all larger high 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 need to seem like a lasagna), a full-face helmet is a good suggestion.
Even simply the visor provides nice advantages. I can’t let you know what number of occasions I journey by way of a flock of gnats or an enormous mud cloud with one eye closed simply in case it will get compromised and I would like a backup eye. With a visor, you have got eye safety even on the times you aren’t sporting sun shades.
Then there’s the built-in rear gentle for added visibility, and naturally, the a number of dimension and shade choices. There’s loads to love right here, even when the worth is relatively lofty.
Peak Design telephone holder
I’ve examined quite a lot of 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 just 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 arms, which snap into place and securely maintain the telephone. To launch it, you’ll be able to 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’ve the $39 common mount for my bikes and scooters and the $79 devoted bike mount on my LiveWire, however there are many totally different mount choices obtainable.
Tentsile tenting hammock
I LOVE bike tenting, and one in every 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 relatively 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. To date it appears prefer it ought to work effectively although, because it’s properly constructed and large! That’s one other good factor about e-bike tenting, you’ll be able to 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 luxurious of including enjoyable gear to your leisure bike-camping setup, that is positively one that can change the sport. As an alternative of a bunch of folding chairs, you and your mates can all be lounging within the air, suspended from Mom Nature’s anchors – timber!
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