Groxie

I love my bike, but sometimes it can be hard to talk myself into getting off my lazy butt to ride. Lately I’ve made a few inexpensive upgrades that have made my bike much more comfortable, and my laziness has nearly disppeared. I thought these upgrades might be worth mentioning for anyone who is starting out, keeping in mind that the bike you buy from the store can’t possibly fit you as well as one you help design youself. Please bear with me if you are a cycling guru already!

Saddle

You might think that a nice big, soft, cushy seat is the way to go, but you’d be wrong. A firmer seat with good support in the right places will treat you much better. There are lots of saddles to choose from, and it can be a long process to find the perfect one for you. If you’re a woman it is probably worth considering a woman specific saddle that will account for your girl bits. I just replaced my big honker of a saddle with a much smaller woman’s one. It feels great, and it’s lighter to boot!

Fenders

I always figured that fenders were useful enough but really heavy. I’m not sure where I got this idea, but I was reluctant to get them for my bike even though I was tired of sitting out on drizzly days. Turns out my new fenders are incredibly light, and I love that I can ride when the road is wet without my tires throwing crap all over my legs and back. The thing about fenders is that you can’t just buy any old pair. You need fenders that are wide enough to cover your tires but not too wide to fit your bike. Any decent bike shop should be able to tell you what you need or even do the installation for you.

Helmet

When I started commuting to work I was wearing the helmet I had from long ago that came from KMart or something like that. While it would have done an okay job protecting my head in a spill, it was constantly irritating my skin and making me too hot. My new helmet has padding that is much nicer than the cheap foam, and it has many more holes in it for my head to breathe. It also has a nice big visor, and I can adjust the fit easily with one hand.

Handlebars

When John first suggested that I switch out my old handlebars, I just didn’t believe that handlebars could make that big of a difference. After seeing other commuters with nicer handlebars and pricing out the change, I decided it was worth a shot. Having those monster handlebars forced me to sit too upright, and they didn’t allow me to stretch out at all. I swapped out my heavy steel riser bar for a lighter aluminum flatbar and added bars ends. This new setup gives me two positions to choose from. Now I can adjust to stretch or sit more upright depending on what feels better.

My bike fits me better now, and as a result I am enjoying my ride much more. As an added bonus, my bike weighs a few pounds less. All of the new stuff was purchased on sale over time, so it wasn’t too painful. Also, as I tailor my bike for a better ride, I find fewer excuses to avoid biking. Biking more = driving less. That means the cost of the upgrades is offset by my savings in gas and car maintenance, and let’s not forget that nature loves bicycles! I’m not one to enjoy spending my hard—earned money, but these few items are well worth the small investment.