Much needed Accessories!!

The first bike ride that I ever went on I had my bike and a helmet....needless to say, after the ride I was dying!! Having gone on quite a few rides now, there are some things that I've learned to make the ride a lot more enjoyable. So let's talk about some of the much needed accessories!

First, you obviously need a helmet. And I will talk a little about helmet safety later, and I wouldn't consider this an accessory....this is a necessity! So the first thing I found was a lot easier was having a Camelbak. Water bottles are great, don't get me wrong and for shorter rides around home, a lot of times they are more convenient, but having a Camelbak, especially for those longer rides is a life saver! It really doesn't weigh much and you can get a light weight and relatively inexpensive one for around 30 or 35 dollars. When I have it on, you can barely notice it and along with the water, you can pack an extra tube, energy gels and small tools in case something happens on the trail.

Another thing that makes the ride better are gloves. At first you wouldn't think that they would make a big difference, I sure didn't realize it before using them, but they are awesome! I noticed the biggest difference on the longer rides. They protect your hands from getting blisters and protect you when you fall (because let's be honest, it happens to us all).

The last thing I'd like to mention is an accessory and kind of a little toy. It is a bike computer. It isn't really needed to have a great ride, but it is fun to look at how far you've really gone, how fast and how long you've been riding for. So really you don't need one to enjoy yourself, but it is definitely fun!!