You can ride outside safely with a few key pieces of cycling safety gear.
And if you’re looking for the best safety gear for cycling, then you’ve come to the right place.
Here you’ll find:
- The best safety gear you need for cycling
- Lightweight rain gear for cycling, in case of sudden downpours
- Reflective gear for cycling for high visibility
Whether you’re a runner looking for running tips or a cyclist searching for cycling advice, this site is here to help you elevate your fitness game.
Let’s get started.
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THE BEST SAFETY GEAR FOR CYCLING
HELMET
A helmet is the single, most important piece of cycling safety equipment to wear. And depending on your country, it may be a legal requirement.
But not all helmets are the same.
According to tests performed by Virginia Tech, in collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, some helmets offer better protection than others 1.
Virginia Tech rated 30 helmets based on concussion risk. To determine the amount of protection, helmets were tested at various angles to mimic real- world cycling conditions.
Highly rated helmets included Multi-directional Impact Protection System, or MIPS for short. This technology absorbs and redirects rotational forces, potentially reducing the severity of brain injury. If you’d like to learn more about MIPS, see here.
This Bell Stratus MIPS Cycling helmet ranked highly in testing and is available in sizes small through large.
FRONT AND REAR CYCLING LIGHTS
A study 2 revealed daytime running lights for bikes reduced bicycle accidents and improved traffic safety for cyclists.
Like helmets, front and back bike lights may be required depending on your country and local state laws.
Front bike lights illuminate your path and keeps you visible. If you have a Garmin Edge, this Garmin smart front light integrates with your computer to adjust light under changing conditions.
If you don’t want to get too fancy, then this rechargeable front and rear cycling light set is a great affordable option.
CYCLING FIRST AID KIT
A first aid kit with a handful of essentials (like this lightweight first aid kit for cyclists) can be useful for minor injuries.
MEDICAL ID BRACELET
You can convey important medical information quickly with a medical identification bracelet.
With this medical identification bracelet, you can customize a faceplate to display medical information to First Responders, such as your emergency contact phone number and allergies.
LIGHTWEIGHT RAIN GEAR FOR CYCLING
If you’ve shopped for lightweight rain gear for cycling, you might have heard the terms ‘water-resistant’ and ‘waterproof’.
Water-resistant cycling gear protects you from some water, but you’ll get wet after some time.
If you don’t expect to get drenched in a sudden downpour, then look to lightweight, water-resistant gear for the best value.
To stay completely dry, look for cycling rain gear that’s made of waterproof, breathable fabric. But you’ll pay much more for waterproof cycling rain gear.
Waterproof cycling jackets are also heavier than water-resistant ones, so we’ll focus on lightweight rain gear for cycling here.
If you need more information on waterproof cycling rain gear, then this post on cycling rain gear will help.
REFLECTIVE GEAR FOR CYCLING
If you’re cycling alone in low-light conditions, consider reflective gear to stand out from your environment.
Reflective gear, such as reflective bands, or waterproof reflective jacket (men and women), reflects vehicle headlights, so they’ll keep you highly visible to drivers.
It’s most effective when placed on areas in constant motion when cycling—wrists, ankles, knees, and torso because our brains are hard-wired to detect motion. 3
FLUORESCENT CYCLING GEAR
Reflective cycling gear boosts your visibility in low light conditions.
But fluorescent cycling gear can reduce your accident risk if you’re cycling in broad daylight. 4
BIKE PUMP
A flat tire can put a damper on your ride, but a small portable bike pump (like this affordable option: Pro Bike Tool Mini Bike Pump) can get you back on the road quickly.
CONCLUSION
You can ensure a smooth hassle-free ride with a few pieces of safety gear for cycling.
- Helmet
- Front and rear cycling lights
- Cycling first aid kit
- Medical ID bracelet
- Packable lightweight rain gear
- Reflective cycling gear
- Fluorescent cycling gear
- Small, portable bike pump
Sources
- Bicycle Helmet Ratings ↩
- Safety effects of permanent running lights for bicycles: A controlled experiment ↩
- Biomotion + retroreflectivity = being seen better in low light ↩
- The effect of a yellow bicycle jacket on cyclist accidents ↩