Favourite urban bike accessories?

[Sparkthing]

My Garmin Varia radar but I cycle in Pottyboro it might be overloaded in central London 🤔

I’ve seen the Varia mentioned before — do you find it genuinely useful in city traffic, or is it more of a peace-of-mind thing?

 

[Sparkthing]

Range of decent mitts/gloves.

Eye protection.

Dillon Aero M134.

Funny you say that — I thought gloves were optional until one chilly morning on wet bars. Lesson learned. Eye protection also makes sense with London buses kicking up grit.

 

[Dadam]

I’ve seen the Varia mentioned before — do you find it genuinely useful in city traffic, or is it more of a peace-of-mind thing?

I do.

I changed the notification so it's a single beep instead of the distracting multi tone beep. It beeps when the road behind goes from clear to registering an oncoming vehicle and it beeps when it goes clear (e.g. when they pass, stop or turn off). It doesn't beep each time it picks up another vehicle if it's already tracking one. Apparently it can track up to 8.

It is very useful knowing that there are 2 or 3 vehicles behind the one you can see right behind you that the mirror didn't pick up and, a shoulder check might miss too. This helps you time a move from secondary to primary to pass a parked car or get ready for a right turn.

It's not perfect. It can "lose" vehicles if they're completely blocked by the one behind - like your eyes, it can't see through an artic! It can also lose vehicles that have exactly matched your speed for a few seconds.

Lastly, if you mount it too low and don't have a mudguard it can pick up your rear tyre as hundreds of vehicles approaching!

Post based solely on the RTL515, in combination with an Edge Explore 2 (and previously Edge 530)

 

[HLaB]

I’ve seen the Varia mentioned before — do you find it genuinely useful in city traffic, or is it more of a peace-of-mind thing?

It's very useful in Peterborough's level of city traffic as it raises your awareness of what is happening behind without constantly looking over your shoulder. Whilst the Varia has never failed to detect I still give a 'life saver' glance and when you do finally look over your shoulder you know what's happening behind so you don't get that WTF moment. Where its of best use to me is when I have to cross a lane or several, I have a very picture of what is coming and their speed/ frequency or gaps before doing a glance and manoeuvre.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I mostly cycle in London and I’m curious what accessories others swear by for urban riding. Lights, bags, locks, phone mounts — what’s on your must-have list and why?

I’ve been experimenting with a few set-ups lately, but I’m always looking for ideas from other riders’ real-world experience.

Are lights really classified as 'accessories'?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

In London?

Taser, pepper spray, and train ticket to anywhere else.

Outside of London, top bar bag and my stuff away rucksack.

 

[Big T]

I wouldn’t use a Varia in busy city traffic, it would be going off all the time. It’s more useful in the countryside on quiet roads, when the occasional car comes up behind.

i have a bright Orange winter top for commuting, that you could probably see from Outer Space! For London, you need a decent lock if you leave your bike anywhere. My son has had 2 Bromptons stolen, one from his secure office bike store, the other from the street.

 

[postman]

On my Giant Rincon mountain bike,which i only use for the Leeds and Liverpool tow path.A lovely blue bell from a shop in Calan Bosch Menorca.I love it i know its silly,but it reminds me of our fabulous family holidays there.It is our special place.