So I bought a bike, a Townie 7D, now I'm looking to being prepared when I'm riding. What are some must haves for the new biker? Such as... accessories for said bike and/or rider. I'm looking to ride roads and trails (no off-road) day and night. Thanks everyone.

Pump, helmet and gloves, bike tool kit for simple fixes and of course a U lock and chain depending on the crime level where you live.

If you're going to ride at night, you will need lights and a blinkie.

Water bottle cage(s) and water bottles - always take at least one bottle of water with you
Helmet
Floor Pump
Under Saddle bag with spare tube, mini pump and/or CO2 cartridges
Knowledge to use above spare tube and pump/CO2 to change tire
Blinky light for back of bike, to be used during day rides on roads
Bike computer (optional) to track mph and miles ridden
Lock (optional) if you plan on leaving your bike outside

Happy trails and enjoy your new bike!

I would recommend two or three tire levers in that tool kit. Some tires come right off and go right on, some need persuasion. if you ride at night I would recommend say, a Light and motion Urban 250 or 500, and a good taillight ( i use a Serfas and another model, i forget) and blinkies for augmentation in tough traffic and back-up if you forgot to charge your batteries. Not essential unless you want to ride at night and not die.

if you plan to carry much you might want a rack, and even panniers or a trunk. Not essential.

A Townie 7D is what I would call a "basket bike"--the type of bike that looks very correct and complete with a sturdy wire basket up front. Not sure if it even has rack mounts in the back. (from the photo it looks like it might have rack mounts---but a basket or a flat rack with a wicker picnic basket might be more appropriate.)

is this you, basically? (https://www.rei.com/product/851140/e...e-7d-bike-2017)

A mirror is nice to have also.

For night riding, you'll need lights.
For a road ride headlight, you don't need a super high-lumen wide-beam light (like some MTB trail lights), just something that illuminates a narrow beam well. I really like my Cycle Torch Night Owl for this purpose; compact, simple, hours of battery life even when bright enough to be comfortable for speedy road bike riding.
You'll also want a rear blinky light. Think about maybe using it during the day, too.

Get a bottle cage. Aesthetically, you'll want to either match the component color (usually either black or metallic silver) or the trim color (i.e. what's used for frame lettering and/or paint on the inside of the wheel rims).
Also have a water bottle. Aesthetically, you'll either want the bottle to match the frame's primary paint color, or go with a transparent bottle. If you go with a transparent bottle, consider matching beverage color to the frame's primary paint color.

Glasses. Definitely have sunglasses for day riding; sunburning your eyeballs isn't pleasant. It's not a terrible idea to also have clear glasses for night riding, because taking a moth to an eyeball also isn't pleasant.

You'll want a basic mechanical toolkit. I like to use a saddle bag.
-At least one spare inner tube.
-At least two tire levers.
-A patch kit. At the very least some glueless patches (glorified stickers), they suck but they add almost no weight and take up almost no room.
-A basic multi-tool.
You'll also want some way to inflate your tires. I mostly use pumps. If you go with a mini-pump, they usually come with mounting brackets that can fit underneath a bottle cage, so a single set of bottle cage bosses can hold both a pump and a water bottle.
Some bike shops carry starter kits with all of the above, like the Bontrager Flat Pack.
You'll also want to know how to actually use the stuff in your kit, particularly how to fix a flat tire.

It's also nice to have a floor pump with a pressure gauge at home.

1. Safety: I use a helmet. Honestly, I'm not convinced how much concussion protection they provide, but I've had my bell rung a few times so I'm not taking any unnecessary chances. Except for the really big and bright high end ones, I question the benefit of blinking safety lights during daylight. The purpose of gloves is to protect your hands when you fall but I don't worry about that.

Locks are a topic of their own and depend on where and how you use your bike. The cheesiest of locks are about 90% effective because they force the thief to have a tool with him. Going from 90% to 99% gets progressively heavier and more expensive. There is no 100% effective lock so reconcile yourself that this is a contest that you will always eventually lose. A nice bike left all day in the same place will require the heaviest and most secure protection. The easiest ways are to leave to the lock at your commuter parking place and/or to use a semi-expendable bike for commuter use.

2. Mechanical. If you can handle your own flat tires you are at least 90 to 95% good for on-the-road repairs. Probably much higher. With just average maintenance other stuff really doesn't happen unless you crash. I think that everyone, even the most mechanically inept rider, should carry a correct size and valve spare inner tube. That way, if you puncture, a helpful rider (more common than you probably are thinking) will be able to assist you. Quick release levers can also work as tire levers. The bigger and uglier the pump, the more functional. PSI ratings on pumps are meaningless. CO2 inflators are compact and convenient to use but definitely demand practice.

3. Other. Everybody needs to have a way to carry their "stuff". Pro riders have a following car. The road racer set carry their "stuff" in jersey pockets. The rest of us use a bag of some kind. The bigger the bag the more convenient. There is only a limited amount of space behind your saddle so riders of small frame bikes won't be able to fit a very big saddle bag. If you have a really big bag, you need to sort through it once in awhile. One spring I found a banana that I'd left in my bag the previous fall. It wasn't as smelly or messy as you are probably thinking.

If I had only one pump, I'd probably pick a Topeak road morph. My second pump would definitely be a sturdy floor pump. The most important pump feature is the chuck that clamps the tire valve. Multi tools can be handy, but the more functions they have the less functional they are. Bulky multi tools sometimes won't work for the easiest of tasks, like tightening a water bottle cage. You will be surprised at how much bicycle maintenance can be done with just a 5 mm allen wrench.

Riding a bicycle needn't be so complicated. Tens of millions of people throughout Europe and Asia ride every day without all of that stuff and without incident.

My bike has an attached lock for the rear wheel, a dynamo lighting system that always works and never needs charging, enclosed drivetrain so no special clothes, a good rack on the back, and a removable front carrier/basket for when I think I'll need it. Some people also carry a pump & bottle of leak seal. Good tires like Schwalbe Marathon's will largely eliminate the need to repair a flat.

More: City Bikes | LocalMile

You rarely or never see helmets, gloves, lycra, or anything outside of the U.S., Australia, and parts of Canada. Rates of head injuries are the same in countries with helmets and those without.

I have water bottles on my road racing bikes and cash for a beer or wine on my other bikes.

I will help any rider who needs it ... except riders without patches or a spare tube who got a flat. I will tell them, "CrankyOne says it never happens."

I got a flat on July 21, 2016 ... and two on March 25. I might have gotten others which i forgot to log. I count four more between fall 2015 and summer 2016.

If you get solid tires, you will never get a flat. if you have to push your bike a couple dozen miles because carrying a tube and pump was just too much ... your option.

No one has mentioned a multi-tool with a bottle opener?

For me? Gloves, water bottle/cage, rear rack and a cheap cyclocomputer. Tool kit including spare tube, two tire levers, maybe a hex key set depending on which bike and how far, and pump. Lights if riding at dusk/dark.

Pretty much this. I can't help them, even if I wanted to. I don't carry a patch kit, and the odds that my tube fits their tire isn't the greatest. I certainly don't have a desire to give up MY spare even if it did, because I know if I do in a mile I'll need it. Not to mention, many of those I see walking also have nutted axles, and I certainly do not have a wrench to take their wheel off.

Sometimes I wonder if carrying a spare folding bicycle wouldnt be lighter

don't buy anything, just ride for a while and see

Anyone with a multi-tool who cannot figure how to open a bottle doesn't deserve to drink ... or has drank enough already.

If Retro Grouch can get a tire off using a quick-release lever, I'd bet I can get a bottle open.

And the OP's bike has a metal seat tube.

Real men use their teeth!


(In case you missed it, both posts are in jest.)

Wampum to trade with the natives should the need arise. {historically correct answer given to explorers who asked "what should I bring?". Also acceptable: horses, steel blades, or syphilis)


Seriously, all of the good answers were already given (or taken).


Except, of course, the person who said CO2 instead of a hand pump. Ignore that...

You could bring N2O ... you wouldn't mind having a flat so much ....

I used to drink Grolsch. No tools, no teeth. Sat in the stomach like two pounds of sand, but .... had an effect, shall we say?

You mean like this

I just buy tire levers with bottle openers built in....

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ap...b-lever/106004

Or, when I'm really cool and riding the Peugeot, just carry the Helicomatic removal tool with a bottle opener AND spoke wrench built in!

This...

If you are bringing a Snickers you had best bring some latex gloves ....

Since you want to be a "biker", let me suggest a leather jacket and a pair of @$$-less leather chaps....

By definition, all chaps are assless. Otherwise they would be pants. [/pedant]