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These e-bike accessories make riding more practical
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These e-bike accessories make riding more practical
Last year, I decided I would start getting around New York City on an e-bike instead of dealing with crowded public transportation and expensive cabs. It’s one of the best choices I’ve ever made.To get more news about ebike accessories, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.
Most of that time has been spent riding a Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent X, although many were tested on a litany of other e-bikes as well. Over time, I’ve adopted several accessories to improve the riding experience, livability, and practicality of these bikes – many upgrades which I now can’t imagine living without. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite accessories below.
I intend for this to be a living list to be updated with new accessories over time. Keep in mind that though some of these products were sent for testing by their respective companies, everything on this list is a product I’ve actually tested extensively and genuinely enjoy using.
Though the products below were mostly tested on the CCX on New York City streets, and are intended for e-bike users who aren’t too concerned with weight or aerodynamics, they should work for any cyclist – some of them might even be useful for those on e-scooters too.Lumos Matrix Helmet
Before I began getting around NYC on e-bikes, I was an occasional driver. And when I was driving, there were few things more annoying than cyclists who didn’t give turn signals.Now as a cyclist, I’ve come to realize few drivers around these parts seem to even understand hand signals.
Thank goodness, then, for the Lumos Matrix helmet. A futuristic-looking noggin-protector with a cavalcade of customizable LED animations, the Matrix comes with a remote that straps onto your handlebars to activate turn signals. These are visible from both the front and the rear, unlike some alternatives, and the lights are bright enough to be seen in the daytime. The remote also contains an accelerometer, which is used to flash a warning light when you brake.Most importantly, drivers seem to actually pay attention to me, giving me the right of way or waiting for me to make a turn in a way I never felt when simply using hand signals.. I even once got a comment from a driver thanking me for using turn signals.
Unfortunately, the Lumos Matrix is quite pricey at a street price of around $200 ($250 for the MIPS version). However, Lumos has a few less fancy, more affordable variants, and the company is currently working on a new $99 Lumos Ultra to begin shipping this fall as well.Revelo Thinstem
The worst part about owning a bike in the city is how much space it takes. The ~$80 Revelo Thinstem fixes that with such a simple but clever idea that I can’t believe it’s not more common: it allows you to rotate the handlebars without turning the front wheel, turning your bike from an obstruction a couple of feet wide, to taking up just a few inches of horizontal space.
It means I no longer get stabbed by handlebars when rushing down my hallway, it means my bike is easier to bring in and out of my building, and it makes the bike easier to lock up in a crowded rack. Plus it takes about 5 minutes to installI’m sure some of you are worried about the stem coming loose while riding, but there are a series of fail-safes in place to prevent that from happening Add a pair of folding or removable pedals (which Revelo also sells), and your bike goes from being an inconvenient obstruction to hardly taking any space at all.
Rearview mirrors
Here’s another accessory that I ‘borrowed’ from being a driver: rear-view mirrors. Of course, I can just look over my shoulder, but in a crowded traffic like NYC’s with unscrupulous pedestrians and cab drivers out of Mad Max, you can’t really afford to look away from what’s in front of you for very long. On an e-bike, where the added weight and drag are inconsequential, having rear-view mirrors feels like a no-brainer