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Let’s be honest, half the fun of riding a bike is all the fun accessories that go along with it. Saddles, bells, handlebar grips, waterbottles and cages, cell phone holders, bags, nutrition, tools…the list goes on and on.

Below are a few of my favorite bike accessories.

Helmet - Protect your noggin’! I ride with Lazer Helmets - simple, sleek and with MIPS protection.

Lights - My main commuting bikes have dynamo hubs (integrated lighting systems) which I highly recommend, but that can be a big investment! On my other bikes, I run the Niterider Lumina Micro 650 in front and Sabre 110 in back. But really, as long as you’ve got lights, you can’t go wrong!!

Bike Computer - I’m absolute rubbish at navigation. I’ve been using the Wahoo Element Roam for the last few months and it has been phenomenal! Not only can I upload all my routes on it, but it gives me cool data like the incline percentage, feet climbed and average pace.

Heart Rate Monitor - Starting this year, I’ve been using a heart rate monitor as I ride, which has been extremely helpful as I take on longer rides. Making sure I’m staying within my optimal HR zones ensures I’ll have stamina to keep going all day. I really like the Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor - it fits my 39” rib cage with lots of room to make it bigger and connects easily to Strava, Wahoo and other apps.

Nutrition - I’m a big fan of eating whatever works for you on a ride. For me, that varies from apples to pb&j sandwiches to gels/performance nutrition. When it’s especially hot or I’m going hard, I turn to specially made nutrition as I find that I really don’t want to eat but know that I need to get calories in to keep riding.

Lately, I’ve been using GU Roctane Energy Gels a lot, as they have calories, caffeine and salt (which is crucial to prevent cramping), ClifBar ShotBlock Energy Chews, and HoneyStinger Waffles as my main food on the bike when I can’t get anything else down.

Saddles - I currently ride the Terry Liberator X Gel Saddle and LOVE it. I also ride the Velo Orange Touring Saddle on a different bike.

Saddles are a deeply personal issue. All of us are shaped differently, so what works for me might not work for you. I highly encourage you to talk to your local bike shop about getting a saddle that is right for you - this includes the type of riding you’re going to be doing, how much you weigh, and desired padding. Read this great post with more info all about saddles.

There’s a common misconception that more padding is better - please don’t blindly believe this without trying it. Ultra-padded or gel seats might look and feel comfortable to our hands and eyes, but after a couple of miles, they can often cause more harm than good.

My biggest tip when finding a saddle is to find a local bike shop that will let you try a few out. It’s next to impossible to know if a saddle will work for you without getting on it. Gladys Bikes in Portland is the gold standard of this, with their beloved Saddle Library. Many shops around the country are creating programs based on this model - if your shop doesn’t yet offer this, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they have demo models that you can test out.

I currently ride these 2 saddles and highly recommend them both.

Terry Liberator Gel X - Aside from sounding like a futuristic vibrator, this is my city riding saddle. It’s got a cutout for my soft bits and a bit cushier padding, while still being firm. I really like this saddle for long rides.

Velo Orange Touring Saddle - This is a no-frills, basic saddle that is great for long days in an upright position. Not a lot of cushion, but really comfortable and inexpensive.

Pumps - Often overlooked as a key part of your daily kit, having both a high-quality floor pump for home use and a road pump will make your life as a bike rider a whole lot simpler.

Do you know how often to air up your tires? It’s a whole lot more frequently than you think most likely, especially if you’re riding high pressure road tires. Using a quality floor pump with an accurate gauge will help you get fewer flat tires and increase your satisfaction on the bike as well.

I recommend pumps that have both a Presta and a Schrader valve option. That way you can air up all the bike tires in your house with one pump! I’m currently using this pump from Topeak at home and it’s great.

I’m very picky about the road pump I use. After failing to fix many side of the road flats, I will only use hand pumps that have a flexible tube on them that attaches to the valve. The tube screws onto the valve, making it much easier to pump up tires with shaking hands or arms. My favorite version is this Lezyne model.

Bells, Water Bottle Cages, & Fun Stuff - All bikes should have a bell. Use them to alert other riders of danger, pedestrians, and just for fun. Honestly, I can’t believe that I have an opinion on something as simple as a bell, but after using many and getting frustrated or annoyed, turns out I do! For a more thorough rundown of more bells, check out this Bikepacking post.

Spurcycle Original Bell - Clean lines, clear sound, easy to ring. Simple and lovely.

Portland Design Works King of Ding - Large and in charge. Also just fun to say.

Water Bottle Cages are another must have on a bike. Find some that work for you - the key is being able to get your bottles out while riding! If you can’t, then what’s the point? I’m still on the hunt for my perfect water bottle cage..so no recommendations yet.

Safety Pizza - I get a ton of comments on my Safety Pizza. It’s a little reflective pizza slice hanging off my saddle. You can customize your own too!