If in this era of pollution, pandemic, and panic, you aren’t already a bicycle person, it’s high time you convert into one! Bicycles are slowly becoming people’s preferred means of transportation. People are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and air pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bikes. Not only are bicycles a boon to the environment, but they also promote good health and ensure we get our daily dose of physical exercise done. In fact, you can even upgrade and amp up your bicycle with some fun and functional accessories. From an ingenious folding helmet to a pocketable accessory that turns your bike electric – these accessories are the perfect sidekicks to your bicycle!
1. reTyre
reTyre’s zippable tire-tread system gives your city bicycle the versatility to work off the road too. A simple zipping mechanism allows you to add a secondary, tougher tread on your tires, letting you go from riding on smooth asphalt to traversing through tough terrain.
Why is it noteworthy?
reTyre’s special bicycle tire comes with a zipper lining and a selection of treads or skins that you can clad on your existing tire. The original tire works great on asphalt, and the wide variety of skins allows you to ride your bicycle on mud, gravel, rocks, or even snow. Working on straight roads, curved paths, and even on tough downhill trails, the tire treads give you exactly the grip you need, and the industrial-strength zipper system perseveres through rain, snow, or even rocky terrain… every single time.
What we like
- When not in use, the treads easily fold up and go right into your backpack
What we dislike
- We don’t know how easily or how long will the tire take to wear down
2. Swytch Bike
This mindful accessory turns any normal bike – be it a hybrid, folding, mountain, or fixie – into one that is electrically assisted. According to Swytch Bike, the kit fits seamlessly on 99 percent of bikes available on the market.
Why is it noteworthy?
The heart of the kit is a pocket-sized battery pack that provides the power needed on those biking trails or elevated roads. That electric pedal assist feature unlocks extra range and brings the convenience of traveling with a bicycle as the primary mode of transport.
What we like
- The pedal sensor positioned next to the crank senses when the rider is pedaling and the motor controller inside the handlebar battery mount extracts needed power from the Power Pack to churn the 250W front motor wheel
What we dislike
- The pack can be positioned only at the front of the bike which may interfere with the overall aesthetics.
3. The Slapstick Smart Bicycle Lock
The Slapstick Smart Bicycle Lock reinvents the entire bike lock category with its fun, fresh, and fast-deploying design. Inspired by the popular children’s toy, the slap-band, this smart lock literally snaps around your bicycle frame, with a belt-like locking mechanism that adjusts to match the size of your frame and the pole you’re attaching your bicycle to.
Why is it noteworthy?
Affixing the lock is as easy as just snapping it in place and watching the band automatically wrap around your bicycle. The lock’s smart hub helps you secure and remove the Slapstick without needing a key, making the entire process simple, fast, and intuitive!
What we like
- Inspired by a popular children’s toy
- Can use your smartphone to lock and unlock it
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept
4. The LIVALL PikaBoost
In a tool-free installation that takes all of 30 seconds, the LIVALL PikaBoost turns your regular pedal-powered bicycle into an electric-assisted bike that gives you the advantage of a motor-powered riding experience.
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to sit firmly clamped to the seat of your bike frame, the LIVALL PikaBoost sits right above your rear wheel, rotating it with the power of a motor that can intelligently detect your speed, cadence, terrain, etc., and provide you with an added push whenever necessary!
What we like
- Snaps onto your bicycle without any tools whatsoever
- Works on almost all kinds of bicycles
What we dislike
- The design is uncertain on how steep a hill PikaBoost pushes a bike up with little to no peddling?
5. The FR-1 Bike Saddle
This Scottish brand is one such company that wants to bring more sustainable solutions for the bikes and bike parts that they manufacture. Their first product is called FR-1 Bike Saddle and it is made from cork
Why is it noteworthy?
At first, you would think this is not a sturdy and comfortable material for something that you will be sitting on probably for a long period. But cork is actually pretty durable and lightweight so it should be something that can last a long time and not hurt your tushy that much. It is also water-resistant and can offer better cushioning compared to other materials.
What we like
- Stronger but also more lightweight compared to the more common steel that a lot of bike seats use
- Sustainable + supports historic local cork farming
What we dislike
- It is a bit expensive
6. TOOB
More economical and efficient than recycling, the upcycling mentality has taken root with many designers, and this line of TOOB accessories demonstrates how even something as simple and unattractive as an inner tube can become a useful and even stylish product.
Why is it noteworthy?
“Useless” bicycle inner tubes are handpicked from Tel Aviv’s local shops and are then inspected and thoroughly cleaned. Depending on how much damage it has, the useful parts are cut off and then transformed into completely different products. The TOOB Keychains, for example, only need a small part of the inner tube. In addition to the material’s natural durability, TOOB adds a strong button that makes it easy to open and close the keychain to look around belts and bags. The TOOB Strap, in contrast, requires a longer stretch of inner tubing. The accessory takes advantage of the tube’s natural stretchy properties to hold things down onto bike rails or other surfaces.
What we like
- Supports the local bicycle economy by giving shop owners a better way to dispose of their waste
What we dislike
- Inner tubes don’t last forever, though, and TOOB does admit that the material will eventually wear out and dry
7. Omnilock
Omnilock multifunctional Bike Lock is a unique bicycle accessory that performs double duty as a bright taillight and tire inflator as well. This multiple utility of the accessory means – the rider has less to worry about – if he/she is an avid bicycle user.
Why is it noteworthy?
Someone who likes to pedal to the mountains or spend a whole lot of time going for extended bike runs in the morning for fitness. Safety is another important thing that the bike lock addresses as the taillight adds another layer of visibility for motorists to take note of when on the go. That means the bike lock sits right under the saddle when in commute, and when you need to park it, simply take out Omnilock and lock the rear wheel.
What we like
- Performs double duty as a bright taillight and tire inflator as well
What we dislike
- It’s a concept!
8. The LIVALL LTS21
Designed by the same company that brought us the LIVALL EVO21 smart helmet with built-in safety lights, the LIVALL LTS21 are wireless earphones designed specifically for cyclists.
Why is it noteworthy?
With a unique design that allows you to wear most cycling helmets along with the earphones, the LTS21 gives you the ability to listen to music/podcasts, answer calls, and talk to fellow riders while still providing situational awareness through its open-ear design.
What we like
- Can be worn regularly as well as with your cycling helmet
What we dislike
- COlour options are limited to black and white – we would love to see more variations in it!
9. The Musguard Omni
The Musguard Omni starts off as a roll of plastic, but unroll it and fold it along its crease lines, and it transforms from a flimsy plastic sheet to a stiff-yet-flexible mudguard that easily straps to your bike’s frame. If there was ever a practical use for Origami, this would be it. Maybe the James Webb telescope too, but definitely this as well!
Why is it noteworthy?
Available in front and rear formats, the Musguard Omni’s clever sheet-based design achieves a few notable things. For starters, it comes made from sheet plastic, requiring MUCH simpler manufacturing practices than an injection-molded part. The plastic sheet is just a whole lot cheaper and lighter, making the Musguard Omni easy to ship as well as easy to carry around.
What we like
- The Musguard Omni takes its shape when it’s folded and strapped in place
- The mudguard comes equipped with two adjustable hooks and straps that wrap around most bike frames
What we dislike
- We need to test and verify how sturdy the product is
10. The Folding Helmet
Designed by Tokyo-based R&D Mak, the intuitive design of the folding helmet falls flat like flat-pack furniture. It’s basically a helmet that you can squeeze like a burrito for keeping in backpacks, drawers, or closets.
Why is it noteworthy?
The simple pull mechanism to unfold it is the simplest I’ve seen thus far. To squeeze it into a compact form, just pressing the button on the rear section does the trick.
What we like
- A god-sent solution for emergency respondents who now don’t have to carry the bulk of a bloated helmet all the time
What we dislike
- We don’t know when it’ll be available on the market