Manon: No matter if you're new to riding or you are an established rider, there’s nothing
like a new accessory to cheer you up and keep riding. What accessories do we really need? Well,
it's a long list, but I've gathered a few of my favorites, so here they are.
[music] Manon:
First up is the humble multi-tool. Now, this bad boy is a must for every cyclist.
It'll get you out of most sticky situations, because, let's be honest,
at some point in our cycling lives, we're going to end up having a mechanical out on the road.
Some things are going need to be tightened up that work loose or just fix something.
Now, they're really nice and compact, and they're really light. I've got this nice little Topeak
multi-tool that can fit in my back pocket or in my saddle bag. Even if you are one of those
people that just don't get mechanicals out on a ride, it is nice to take one just in case
you come across a fellow cyclist that is stranded and needs a multi-tool.
In that case, you can be their hero and give them a helping hand.
[music] Alex:
Some of my favorite accessories have got to be bike cleaning products. It's often said,
“If you look after your bike, it will look after you, too,” so it's worth investing
in some good quality bike cleaning products. We've got a general bike cleaner. We got some grease.
One of my favorite products of all, bio-degreaser and, of course,
get yourself some good quality brushes to give your bike that extra good sparkle.
[music] Alex:
No matter how long or short your rides are, you're going to need to take quite a few things with you.
You've got your spares, your snacks, maybe some kit. You need to be prepared.
You could always invest in some good quality bags like this. We've got a saddle bag here which you
could put your spares in. We've also got a frame bag like this where you could put all the snacks
you're ever going to need or even some warm, dry kit. Bags are actually incredibly fashionable
right now. Connor is always seen riding around with a frame bag on. He just loves it.
[music] Manon:
Now, this next accessory is a must for me, a set of glasses. I find it quite uncomfortable to ride
without glasses. My eyes seem to water from the wind and I get little bugs in my eyes. It's also
good to have a set of glasses for a bright and sunny day because you don't want to be squinting
the whole ride and not being able to see the road in front of you. Another reason to invest in
glasses is when it's raining. When it's raining, you're going to get a little of spray and grit,
and mud from the road sprayed right into your face and to your eyes, especially when you're
on a group ride. It is worth investing in a set of glasses to look after your eyes.
[music] Alex:
Now, you might be thinking, “What on earth am I on about socks?” It's a bit of an unwritten rule
in cycling that you can't just wear any old normal casual socks. They've got to be cycling-specific
socks. It doesn't matter how bright or bold you want them or if you want them to match your kit.
Take your pick, go as crazy as you like. If you love socks, why not head over the GCN shop. We got
loads of cool different designs for you to choose from. Why not order some for your friends, too?
[music] Manon:
Now, pretty much every time you see us, GCN presenters on a bike,
we will have a bike computer on mainly because we just love the data, especially Ollie. He
lives for the data. We use these Wahoo head units, they are great. They will record
pretty much everything; time, elevation, power, heart rate, even live tracking. They're great if
you want to improve your riding and get the most out of it. They are especially good for when you
get lost on a ride and you need to find your way home. I just wish I had mine today because, well,
I have no idea where I am. I guess it's that way. I'll try that.
[music] Alex:
Next up, we got mud guards. I love mud guards. If you do too, don't be ashamed of it. Just embrace
it. If the weather is particularly bad outside, why not invest in some bigger mud guards that fit
on the back and the front of your bike too. Not only are they going to keep your bike side dry,
they'll keep your feet warm and dry, too. [music]
Alex: Books, these are another great accessory to invest into, and not only provide great
evening entertainment, but also inspire you for that next big adventure on the bike.
As well as providing with lots of information to help you become
a better cyclist. There are endurance books like this. There are books to do with nutrition. Also,
maintenance books to help you repair your bike to get out of any tricky situations. You might
not think a book would actually be that helpful, but it is a really great accessory to have. It
might even help you ride a little bit more like Hank. Maybe I could do that too. No, probably not.
[music] Alex: If you're going to do your own bike
maintenance or learning how to repair your bike, a great accessory to have is a bike stand and some
good quality bike tools. If you haven't had a workstand to use before, you just don't realize
quite how easy it makes the job. No more fumbling around on the floor with your bike falling over.
Life is easy. Also, it's worth investing in some good quality Allen keys. Not only do these
look cool, but they're also going to make sure you don't round off any key bolts to your bike
and end up in a bit of a sticky situation. Now, if you're serious about bike maintenance,
it could be worth investing in some specialist tools, too. A torque wrench is a great example
of this, enabling you to get those bolts perfectly tightened exactly how the manufacturer recommends.
[music] Manon:
When was the last time you changed your tires? Has it been a while? Don't worry, many riders forget
to change them, too. Pro riders will have a fresh set of tires on nearly every race they do, but
that's a bit extreme. That's not necessary for me and you. If you are in need of some new tires, why
not do some research? Because tires can make a big difference to performance. If you are looking for
a tire that's going to get you through the winter months without any punctures, look into puncture
protection. Or if you're looking for a superfast tire, look into rolling resistance. I've got these
Pirelli P Zero 4S’s that are great all year round, but they do have extra grip for that wet weather.
There are our top accessories that every cyclist needs, whether you're a beginner
or an established pro. If we have missed an accessory out that you just can't ride without,
please leave it in the comment section below. All right. I’ll [unintelligible 00:06:27]