Do you feel nostalgic about those rulers from grade school that would collapse into a roll and are also passionate about minimalism on your bicycle? Musguard‘s collapsible fenders roll up neatly against a bike frame when not in use, but can quickly be extended to protect you and your pants from splashes, mud, and rain. Available directly from Musguard at $18.00 for rear fenders and $14.00 for front fenders. They come in a veritable rainbow of hues, meaning that you’re sure to find one that matches your bike’s color scheme if that’s something you care about.”Lumo‘s city cycling apparel comes with LED lights built into the fabric that illuminate in the dark, yet are hidden away in the seams during the day. There’s nothing quite like being visible to motorists and not having to wear blindinglyu00a0fluorescent gear all the time. Lumo makes illuminating jackets for men and women, and they range from $300-$600 on the company’s online store.”A bike breakdown sucks, but it’s even worse when it happens in the middle of a ride far from places to get repairs. The Replaceable-bit version of the ever-popular Fix-It Sticks could be the unsung hero of your winter commute. A set of slim metal sticks, they snap together to form a T-wrench that’s compatible with a veritable gamut of bits. Available on the company’s website for $29.99.“Biking with headphones isn’t the best idea in busy city environments where you need situational awareness, but music is a great companion on deserted roads or trails. Bone-conduction headphones like these Bluetooth-enabled Marsboys will let you listen to tunes without affecting your situational awareness too much. Available at Amazon for $64.99.”Signaling by hand went out of style in your car decades ago – but in the cycling world, it’ll save your life.u00a0Zackees‘ gloves let you signal turns more visibly, something that’s incredibly important on roads where bikers really do share lanes with cars.u00a0Justu00a0click your thumb and index finger together and the glove starts blinking away.
The gloves areu00a0available directly from Zackees for $89.95 with Free Shipping in the United States. The company is also taking pre-orders for their presumable warmer winter gloves, which will retail at $99.95.”Interested in giving your bike a computing upgrade, and okay with removing and replacing the entire handlebar set from the frame? If your answer is yes, Helios’ handlebars come with an onboard computer system, turn signals, GPS tracking, and a powerful headlight. More importantly, Bluetooth capability enables turn-by-turn navigation, which makes sure you won’t ever need to pull your phone out in traffic to get directions.
Alas, Helios isn’t available quite yet — so this would be one of those “It’ll come soon, I promise!” IOU presents. Handlebars are available in bullhorn, drop, and straight bar configurations that can each be pre-ordered for Q1 2016u00a0delivery for $279.00. “There are very few reasons to own a bike light that can blast out a ridiculous 3000 lumen, but if you ride on unlit roads at night, there’s nothing like a light that rivals your car’s. While pricey, there’s not a single light on the market like it, and the smooth beam that it puts out will certainly help you avoid potholes and other dangerous obstacles. Available for $649.99 on Amazon. “The Lily Camera’s name belies the fairly cool reality of the device. It’s a camera-equipped quadcopter with a 20-minute flight time that follows you (or rather, a beacon you carry), taking video from a predetermined distance and angle. Think of the possibilities using this riding down that ridge in the hills near Palo Alto. Or, just use it to follow you around as you bike around in SoMa.nnThe device isn’t for sale just yet, but you can pre-order it for $819.00 on the company’s website.u00a0A bit expensive for a gift and pre-orders are always risky, but it’s too cool not to mention.”Sure, ending a gallery of smart devices with a fairly ‘dumb’ lock might be boring, but a trusty lock will be well worth the investment after all the money you’re putting into gear and gadgets for your bike. As much as we’d like a good smart bike lock to exist, it’s one of those things that we’ll just have to wait another year for. In the meantime, keep your bike locked to a physical stand (not to itself) with this trusty Kryptonite U-lock. It’s pricey, but can you put a value on the satisfaction you’ll get at frustrating those pesky bike thieves? Sold on Amazon for $159.90.“
Does someone you care about bike to work even as winter sets in, with all of the associated cold and damp? Upgrade their commute with some great digital technology and plain cool hardware. Show the bike enthusiast or commuter in your life that you really do care – both that they get places in style but also that they do it safely. From turn signals to light-up jackets, make sure that your gift recipients are the coolest and safest bikers on the road. We hope that you’ll bike safe and follow traffic rules. Please remember that as great as smart devices are, they are not a replacement for good common sense and situational awareness.
