Now that you've spunked away all of your hard-earned money on a bike and insurance the funds have pretty much run dry for buying some cool parts. There is hope though. While you wait for the credit card to recover start with these important upgrades that you might not have considered. And the best part is that they're all quite affordable as well.
10.
Front And Rear Stands
Tools were invented to make life easier, and using the proper ones for the job can actually make mundane maintenance chores quite tolerable (dare we say fun?).
Although asking your girlfriend to balance the bike on its kickstand so you can change the rear tire or tighten the chain might have its amusements, it's simply not practical. The same holds true for strapping the front end up in the garage rafters with tie-downs. Hell, that can be rather dangerous.
Instead, a sturdy front and rear stand will allow you to safely work on your bike and concentrate on the task at hand instead of worrying about it falling off whatever contraption you're using to hold it up.
Price: from $89.95
www.lockhartphillipsusa.com
9.
Dark visor
It really doesn't matter how sick your ride is if you smash it into the car ahead of you while the sun is in your eyes. Not only do the squints straight up hurt, but they also can lead to an accident. The simple fix is to spring for a dark visor, but unfortunately a lot of riders opt to squeeze a pair of sunglasses on and figure it a solution. Nope.
Not only do you look like a goon when you commit this travesty of biking style, it also puts you into potential danger should you have a slip because those shades could shatter.
For a few simple bucks you can look cool and mysterious, save yourself some premature wrinkles, and actually see the road ahead of you on a sunny day.
Price: from $39.95
Check your helmet's Web site
8.
Frame Sliders
Some might think it's bad luck to install a set of frame sliders. After all, that just means you're preparing for a crash, right? If you're the type who has garlic hung over your window and dollar bills tied to your brake lines then perhaps yes, but otherwise common sense will suggest sliders are a very wise choice. A sinking kickstand on a hot day, a jealous girlfriend and numerous other unfortunate circumstances (including your own bad judgment) could cause your bike to hit the ground. With a set of frame sliders the damage will be kept to a minimum and might be as slight as a strained back muscle from picking the bike up.
There are numerous shapes, sizes and colors to choose from, and unless palm reading and tarot cards are part of your daily guidance, the bad karma consideration is pretty much worth the chance of saving rashed plastics and a dented tank.
Price: from $24.95
www.vortexracing.com - www.sixty61.com
www.eyecandycycledesigns.com -
www.stmachine.com