{"id":38113,"date":"2022-12-12T10:50:49","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T15:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=38113"},"modified":"2022-12-12T10:50:49","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T15:50:49","slug":"the-best-stocking-stuffers-for-the-electric-bike-rider-or-regular-cyclist-in-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=38113","title":{"rendered":"The best stocking stuffers for the electric bike rider (or regular cyclist) in your life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sure, we\u2019d all love a new e-bike for Christmas. Or for Hanukkah. Or Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Las Posadas, Boxing Day, or did I miss any other good winter holidays? The point is, an electric bike would be great, but it\u2019s those other small accessories that can really help make the ride even better. So here are some of the smaller but no less important pieces of cycling gear I\u2019ve been testing this year, which just might make a great stocking (or latke) stuffer for the cyclist in your life.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for an actual e-bike to give as a gift, we\u2019ve already got a great roundup over here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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And just a note, this list includes around a 50\/50 mix of gear I\u2019ve bought for testing and gear sent to me for free from the companies. If I bought something, I\u2019ll say it. The rest were media samples. We get sent a lot of crap all year. Only the stuff that\u2019s actually good shakes out in the end to land on this list.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s get this party started!<\/p>\n

Topeak Ratchet Stick<\/h2>\n

The Topeak Ratchet Stick is probably my favorite bike tool of all time. <\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t have every tool in the box, but it has most of the hex driver sizes you\u2019ll need for common tasks (adjusting brakes, saddles, racks, etc.), and then the second plastic holder that snaps onto it carries even more drivers that you probably don\u2019t need as often (mostly the Torx drivers). <\/p>\n

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To be honest I don\u2019t even know where the second plastic holder with the other drivers is anymore, I\u2019ve probably long since lost it in the bottom of my bike parts bin. That\u2019s how infrequently I need any of those extra bits. The five drivers that fit in the handle are all that I use on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

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The main part of the tool without the extra bits is a godsend. Not only do you have all of your common drivers in one place, but they fit into a ratchet tool that makes it super easy to install bike parts. Instead of trying to spin an Allen wrench 20 degrees for 100 repetitions until you finally tighten down a bolt, it\u2019s so much easier to use a ratchet. No more pulling off your Allen wrench, resetting it, then turning. The ratchet does it all for you. And the quick direction change lever has you going from tightening to loosening in a second. It\u2019s a bit pricey at $54,<\/a> but so, so worth it if you are wrenching on your bikes as often as I am.<\/p>\n

Smallrig folding tool<\/h2>\n

I bought this tool specifically to have the smallest collection of common bike tools possible. It\u2019s perfect. It fits into the watch pocket of my jeans so I forget it\u2019s there, but it\u2019s ready in a second when I quickly need a 5mm Allen or a Phillips head screwdriver. I don\u2019t use the Torx bit much, but it\u2019s great to have that Phillips there in addition to the common metric hex sizes.<\/p>\n

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In fact, it\u2019s not even a bike tool. This is a camera tool meant to be used for adjustments on tripods and other filming equipment. But universality is the whole point of metric bolts, and so whether those bolts are holding a camera quick-release plate or a bike headlight, the tool still works! And it\u2019s just $20,<\/a> making it a great deal for a tool that puts all of the most common bike drivers in something the size of your thumb.<\/p>\n

The big flat thing is mostly for screwing in the 1\/4-20 tripod plates used in photography, but I often use it as a pry bar. I\u2019m thinking of filing down the end to make it a bit narrower and work as a smaller flat-head screwdriver as well.<\/p>\n

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Chrome Industries Barrage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Barrage backpack is a cyclist\u2019s dream. The rolltop, waterproof design means you can get caught in a downpour and not worry about your stuff getting wet. The 18-22 liter size (depending how rolltop you get with your rolltop) makes it good as an everyday bag, though sometimes I wish it was a tad bigger.<\/p>\n

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When I do occasionally need to cram more than 22 liters of stuff in the bag, there\u2019s an outer net with adjustable straps for adding bulkier items like a jacket or a helmet. And there are side pockets that are perfect for water bottles, U-locks or other quick-grab items.<\/p>\n

The orange interior is amazing for trying to find small things you drop inside as it offers an ultra-high contrast background. Never lose your sunglasses or wallet again!<\/p>\n

There\u2019s even a laptop sleeve that fits up to a 15\u2033 computer. <\/p>\n

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There are a pile of color options to choose from, so you don\u2019t have to go with boring black like me. Each will set you back $160, but good backpacks don\u2019t come cheap. These are well made and come with Chrome Industry\u2019s lifetime guarantee.<\/p>\n

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack <\/strong><\/h2>\n

To be fair, this isn\u2019t really a cycling backpack at all. But I use it as a combined cycling and travel backpack. In fact, it\u2019s the best travel backpack I\u2019ve ever owned and I don\u2019t say that lightly.<\/p>\n

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The high-quality manufacturing, sheer wealth of pockets (both internal and a second smaller front external pocket), and the interior dividers make it a useable daily backpack. It\u2019s got a rain cover for when the sky opens up. It\u2019s got a breathable mesh liner to keep your back from getting (as) sweaty. It\u2019s got handles on the tops and sides in case you need to toss it or carry it like a duffel. <\/p>\n

At 35 liters, you can start losing stuff in a big backpack. But the Allpa\u2019s dividers make it easy to keep track of small and larger things. <\/p>\n

That makes the bag perfect for daily bike rides and cross-the-world trips. When you\u2019re biking, it\u2019s got good straps that synch down against you so the bag isn\u2019t bouncing. When you\u2019re traveling it fits as carry-on luggage (and slips under the seat in front of you on most planes that aren\u2019t little regional jets).<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve had mine in eight countries this year. I\u2019ve had it on countless bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. Hell, I even tied it to the back of an electric street-fighter motorcycle this summer. This bag has been through everything and has yet to complain once. It\u2019s $200 <\/a>and it\u2019s worth every penny. You can even save $10 by getting the version that will be mystery color (they use production surplus material so each one is unique).<\/p>\n

And if it helps, I can tell you I\u2019ve actually had mine for over three years and it\u2019s in almost as good condition as the day I got it. <\/p>\n

My Cotopaxi Allpa 35L scores a cameo in this press trip, though it was for a motorcycle ride instead of an e-bike ride.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ABUS sent me their Alarm Box 2.0 vibration alarm and I\u2019m pleasantly surprised by how much I like it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not cheap and plastic-y feeling like many of these bicycle alarms out there. It\u2019s got good metal construction, mounts securely, and is a loud impediment to any thief getting away with your bike. I wish I had it installed before I had a bike stolen earlier this year<\/a>, but at least I have it now!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s priced at $78<\/a>, which doesn\u2019t even feel that expensive for what you\u2019re getting. Just be sure to keep your key handy since it\u2019s an annoying thing to disengage if you\u2019re fumbling for the key when you accidentally set off your own vibration alarm.<\/p>\n

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Redshift pedals<\/h2>\n

These are the coolest bicycle pedals I have ever seen in my entire life. Hands down. <\/p>\n

They\u2019re also quite expensive, so prepare yourself. But trust me, they\u2019re awesome.<\/p>\n

You swap these in place of your existing pedals and then \u2013 boom! \u2013 you\u2019ve got headlights and tail lights that move with you. <\/p>\n

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Each pedal has two removable LED lights, one facing forward and one facing backward. But you don\u2019t have to make sure you get the orientation right, since they have some sort of witchcraft in them to automatically tell which way they are facing and light up with the correct color. I\u2019ve tried flipping them quickly to trick them, but they always instantly change color to keep white facing forward and red facing the rear.<\/p>\n

Plus there\u2019s a 5th LED module that mounts on your seat post for a standard tail light. It\u2019s wild!<\/p>\n

And the fact that the pedal lights are moving in a circle makes them even more obvious to drivers. The only thing that stands out more at night than a bright LED light is a bright LED light in motion<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The set of pedals costs $140<\/a>, which is not cheap, but then again they\u2019re not just smart lights but also a good set of pedals. For another $40<\/a>, you can get that fifth module to mount on your seat post.<\/p>\n

You can see the pedals and tail light in action below. That bright headlight isn\u2019t part of the kit though \u2013that\u2019s the next light below.<\/p>\n

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Fenix E09R 600 lumen flashlight<\/h2>\n

This little thing is a beast. It throws light like a much larger tool, yet is the size of a chapstick. <\/p>\n

If you just saw it on a table, you\u2019d think \u201c$40<\/a> for that?!\u201d But as soon as you turn it on, it\u2019d make sense.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s technically not a bike light, but I use it as one because it\u2019s easy to pop on and off the handlebars on a cheap $8 mount <\/a>allowing it to serve double duty as a headlight and a pocket flashlight. And since it recharges on USB, you never deal with batteries.<\/p>\n

The video above with the RedShift pedals has the Fenix E09R<\/a> mounted, which is what is throwing that big beam way out of in front of the bike.<\/p>\n

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Thousand Traveler Light <\/h2>\n

The cool thing about these Traveler Light units is that instead of some annoying, hard-to-reach clicky button that forces you to cycle through a number of flash-pattern programs to find on and off, these lights use a spinny-knob.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m not sure spinny-knob is the industry term, but basically you just turn the entire unit like a rotary switch. That lets you choose from different flashing programs and light intensities. They\u2019re also held on by magnets that let them separate from the rubber mounting base so that you can just yank them off easily and toss them in your pocket if you don\u2019t want them stolen when parking outside (or for when you occasionally need to bring them inside to charge on USB).<\/p>\n

These are also pretty pricey at $70<\/a>, but they sure do work well!<\/p>\n

Triple Eight MIPS helmet <\/h2>\n

Amazon tells me that I\u2019ve bought seven Triple Eight helmets. That\u2019s some serious commitment. I\u2019ve mostly bought their cheaper model, the Sweatsaver, since I like the way it looks and it\u2019s a minimalist helmet for my videos. <\/p>\n

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As perhaps the most prolific e-bike reviewer on the internet, I try to take safety seriously to set a good example. And that means always riding with a helmet (outside of a few extenuating circumstances). But I don\u2019t want a big, bulky, funky-looking, nerdy bike helmet to ruin my shots. So I use Triple Eight\u2019s helmets since they look cool and disappear into the shot with their plain design. But since their Sweatsaver helmet is really more of a skateboarding helmet and doesn\u2019t have any safety certification, I recently upgraded to their Dual Certification MIPS helmet. It\u2019s a much<\/em> safer alternative but still looks great!<\/p>\n

To be fair, I don\u2019t normally use this helmet when I\u2019m not filming. I have other helmets for those (see below). But as far as a good-looking and also safe helmet, this is my go-to whenever I\u2019ve got a camera pointed at me. Not bad for a $79 helmet!<\/a><\/p>\n

You can see the helmet in action in the video below.<\/p>\n

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