I usually mourn the end of Daylight Savings Time. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 alone. After a summer and fall of long days, allowing us to run, ride, hike, and garden under the sun鈥檚 glow after regular working hours, having darkness descend upon our lives as early as 4:45 p.m. is a massive shock to the system. In short, it sucks.

But does it have to?

There鈥檚 no way around the fact that it鈥檚 harder to do all the things we love in the great outdoors in the dark. Plus, the colder weather that accompanies the change of the clocks makes it doubly difficult to adapt to the changing reality. We鈥檙e suddenly left with a lot of waking hours of cold darkness when we just came off months of evenings where we could still get out and do our thing before鈥攐r even after鈥攄inner.

But there鈥檚 something to be said for embracing adventure, and nothing feels more adventurous than getting outside in conditions that suggest we stay indoors. Being outside in the dark is fun, and makes me feel like a rebel鈥攐ther people may be in their houses eating a civilized meal, watching TV, or sleeping, but I鈥檓 out there. Doing stuff.

I used to compete in multi-day adventure races, where I enjoyed the experience of running, hiking, mountain biking, and even kayaking with the help of good lights. And as a pacer of ultramarathons (), I鈥檝e loved running under the light of the moon on singletrack trails with a headlamp and waist-mounted light illuminating a rocky trail.

But I鈥檝e learned that you don鈥檛 have to be on an epic adventure to enjoy the magic of night-time activities. Lights meant for adventure can help us embrace the dark when the time changes. They can help keep us safe鈥攆rom tripping, from wildlife, from cars, and maybe even depression that can come from being holed up inside until spring.

The clocks are, inevitably, rolling back soon: November 3 looms. Instead of kicking rocks, muttering profanities, drinking wine, watching TV at 5 p.m., and waiting for bedtime, I鈥檓 vowing to head outside with one of the following lighting systems to have an adventure in the dark at least once a week until longer days begin again on March 9, 2025.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.听Learn more.

Light Up 国产吃瓜黑料

Headlamp

A headlamp is the ultimate adventure-enabling device. Put on a comfortable, capable headlamp like the , and it delivers hands-free illumination wherever you look, lighting up the trail, the skin track, or the neighborhood path for pre-dawn or post-dusk adventures of all sorts. This waterproof light beams up to 400 lumens of brightness, and changes output power with the tap of a finger (no futzing with gloves). The light can run on batteries, but I plan on using the recharge mode by plugging it in between bouts of heading out in the dark to hike, walk the dog, splitboard, or do yard work (yes, after sundown wearing a headlamp).

Waist-mounted light

For certain activities like trail running, I like having a light at waist level. Because it鈥檚 lower to the ground than a headlamp and on my torso, it stays aimed forward and down instead of illuminating wherever I turn my head (like a headlamp). The waist-mounted light is similar to a discontinued one I鈥檝e used for various adventures, like pacing friends during night sections of 100-mile trail races. The 150 lumens, the ability to focus or broaden the beam with a simple adjustment, and the easy-swivel mount combine to do a great job lighting up the trail. Flashing red LEDs on the backside help with visibility.听 Plus, it鈥檚 USB rechargeable.

Bike light

It鈥檚 been a while since I鈥檝e gone on a mountain bike ride at night, so I鈥檓 relying on 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 sister publication, , for their pick for front-mounted bike lights. Their Editor鈥檚 Choice winner for current lights is the . Aside from a clunky product name, this light earned high marks. It features three settings: high, medium, and low, with a display that tells the rider exactly how much burn time (battery life) is left in the mode in use. It鈥檚 also reportedly easy to mount to handlebars, easy to change modes on the fly, and waterproof. While I haven鈥檛 personally tested the light, these are the types of features I鈥檇 look for in a bike lamp.

Cozy Up and Be Prepared

Backyard fire

During COVID, I bought a听 for its compact size, real-wood burning ability, and rechargeable smoke-sucking attachment. My family and I lit fires and sat around it during the winter of 2020 with friends while remaining six feet apart. We鈥檝e used it a little since, but I鈥檓 planning to use it more this coming winter and am going to bribe my sons with s鈥檓ores so they鈥檒l join me. I love sitting outside and strumming a guitar or playing games鈥攊t鈥檚 a bit like camping, just colder in the winter, but the warmth of the fire helps. Building a contained campfire within this backyard stove when darkness descends before 5 p.m. is a great way to satisfy my need to be outdoors when I鈥檓 relaxing.

Flashlight

Being stuck on the side of the road for any reason is only more treacherous in the winter, and with more hours of darkness coming soon, I鈥檓 making sure I have a powerful light handy just in case. I鈥檝e been testing this flashlight for a few months now, mostly by keeping it in the back of my car for safety. With 5,000 whopping lumens, this thing is ridiculously bright, like its own super moon bottled up in a tube. Thankfully, I haven鈥檛 had to pull it out to solve any problems on the road in the dark, but I know it鈥檚 there in my car if need be, which gives me more confidence to drive to adventures in the cold darkness.

So bring it on, November 3. Thanks to good lights and a sense of adventure, I鈥檒l be ready.

The post Bring On the (Early) Nights, We鈥檝e Got Lights appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

According to the , more bicycle fatalities occur between 6 P.M. and 9 P.M. than at any other time鈥攏early 40 percent. You can probably guess why.听

While no amount of safety gear can protect you from a distracted or drunk driver, being visible on the road at night can听help you avoid being struck by attentive drivers. One of the most effective听ways to ensure听this?听Bike lights. They鈥檙e not just for night riding, either: though not legally required, daytime running lights can also help to catch a motorist鈥檚 eye听in broad daylight听(more on that later).听

Bicycle lights are broken听into two categories: lights to see and lights to be seen. 鈥淏e-seen lights are just bright enough so nearby motorists or pedestrians can see you,鈥� says Andrew Ibanez, a sales representative at the bike-lights company . 鈥淭o-see lights are much brighter, illuminating the road or trail ahead.鈥� There鈥檚 obviously some crossover between the two.

Solid Versus Flashing Lights

Most lights have several听settings, ranging from solid to flashing to pulsing,听often at various speeds. A solid white light is hands down a cyclist鈥檚 best option for seeing the road ahead at night. It鈥檚 also excellent for making you visible to other road users, while not distracting others听and delivering constant information about your location. 鈥淐ontinuous lighting sources are less jarring than blinking lights,鈥� says Ryan Young, youth-programs coordinator at the .听

On the other hand, research shows that solid light isn鈥檛 as good at capturing our attention, making it a less optimal setting for a taillight or a be-seen headlight. According to Heather Nenov, an ophthalmologist from , light entering the eye at a consistent brightness activates photoreceptors at the back of the eye. However, when light enters the eye in flashes, it activates those photoreceptors repeatedly and can activate more of them. 鈥淭hink car-brake lights,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the contrast that catches our attention more than if they were just on continuously.鈥澨�

A conducted by Pennsylvania鈥檚听听also concluded that faster flash rates draw more attention than slower flash rates. But there is a limit: 听at the Color Usage Research Lab on how the brain processes flashing light听showed that our eyes respond best to lights that flash between four and eight hertz (cycles per second).

The Optimal Setup

At Night

You should always run a minimum of two lights on your bike while riding at night鈥攁听front-facing听light听to illuminate the road ahead听and a听rear-facing taillight so drivers听behind can see you. Your front light should be white, bright enough for you to see any upcoming obstacles, and set to the solid-beam option. Most good nighttime听front lights range from 250听to 2,000 lumens (in听comparison, ). 鈥淔or a light that is designed to see, many riders are comfortable mountain-biking at about 700 lumens, but 1,000 lumens is what I really start recommending as the minimum,鈥� says Alex Applegate, the marketing manager at Bontrager, a maker of cycling apparel and accessories like lights.听鈥淚f you are commuting on the open road and using the light to see, I would use the same recommendation. In a city setting with more ambient light, you can get by with less.鈥�

Your rear light should be red and听ideally pulsing, and it only needs to be bright enough for other cars to see you. Your rear light only needs to be 鈥攎uch less powerful than your front light. Remember: it doesn鈥檛 need to help you see, just be seen.

It鈥檚 also not just about lumens.听鈥淟umens are听a measure of total light output,鈥� says听Applegate.听鈥淭he higher the number, the more total light is emitted.听But it鈥檚听not as easy as more lumens equals more visibility鈥攐ptics and focus play a huge part in where听the light goes and how far you can see it听or be seen while using it.听Think about a regular lightbulb: it鈥檚 pretty bright up close, but from a distance, not very visible. To be visible from a meaningful distance, especially during the day, the focus and optics of a light are just as important as lumens.鈥�

Not all models offer a pulsing听option, so make sure you do your research before you buy. The , , and all lights include a pulsing听option.听If your light doesn鈥檛 have a pulsing option, a flashing or strobing light is better than a solid beam, especially at night,听according to , which sells daytime running lights.听

During the Day

Daytime running lights are not legally required, but 听found that the accident rate for cyclists with constant permanent running lights is 19 percent lower than for cyclists without lights. During sunny hours, getting a driver鈥檚 attention requires a more powerful light source or flashing pattern. Daytime running lights, like the Bontrager Flare RT, have a different, more concentrated beam pattern for higher visibility in bright light.听But if you don鈥檛 have a dedicated daytime light, switch听both your front-facing and rear-facing lights to the brightest setting available, and turn them to pulsing or flashing mode. According to听the same research compiled by Trek, 鈥渦sing a flashing tail light [during the day] can make you up to 2.4听times听more noticeable than a rider using no lights at all (and up to 1.4听times听more noticeable than a rider using a light in steady mode).鈥� Some lights, such as the or the听, automatically detect changes in ambient light and adjust intensity and flash rate accordingly.

Light Positioning

No matter what mode your light is in, it鈥檚 useless if it isn鈥檛 placed where drivers can听see it. While mounting lights on highly visible body parts鈥攍ike your head (via your helmet)鈥攊s all well and good, Cascade Bicycle Club鈥檚 Ryan says you should only do this for your headlight听if you already have a light also mounted on your handlebars.听鈥淚f your only front-facing light is on your helmet, you can always see where you are looking,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut if you turn your head, the traffic opposite听your direction of travel will no longer see your light [or potentially听you].鈥� If you attach your taillight to your seatpost or seatstays, be sure it鈥檚 not being obstructed by a saddlebag or your tire. As with any new piece of gear, get familiar with your lights before taking them out on the road.

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A friend of mine who owns a bike shop here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, says his business is听booming. He鈥檚 put important safety precautions in place to keep everyone healthy听but has been flooded with questions and customers. That鈥檚 because people are realizing that their old bike, which more than likely听gathered dust in the garage, is one of the best ways to听get outside responsibly听and enjoy听some fresh air during the pandemic. Others who鈥檝e never owned one might听want to finally give pedaling a try. To help those of you who are either returning to a bike or getting on for the first time, here鈥檚 a list of some essential gear that will make your ride safer听and more comfortable.

Kali Protectives Therapy Helmet ($100)

Cheap helmets will protect your head, but they鈥檙e often uncomfortable, hot, and hard to adjust. That鈥檚 why I suggest , which isn鈥檛 stupid expensive and听comes with features that make it much easier to wear. It鈥檚 one of the comfiest听helmets I鈥檝e ever used, thanks to a deep head cup and a micro-adjuster on the rear headband that provides听a precise fit. Tons of vents dump heat on hot days, and the chin strap stays in place and never rubs. Kali also uses听a low-density layer of foam听that helps cut down on the impact your head is subject to in听crashes.

Bontrager Ion Elite R Front Bike Light ($100)

You should always ride with lights on鈥攅ven during the day (it鈥檚 been proven that daytime lights can prevent cars from running into you). I like the 听because it costs听just a Benjamin听and beams听1,000 lumens, or enough light to help drivers听see you from over a mile away, even at听high noon. At night听it鈥檚 bright enough to听light up the street or a bike path so you can cruise at听full speed. Mounting it to your handlebars is a cinch with its robust, easy-to-adjust clip. Match the Elite R with Bontrager鈥檚 rear light, which can also be seen from the same听distance during the day.听

Velocio Men鈥檚 Foundation Bib Shorts ($129)

You might think bib shorts are overkill for a short ride or a work commute. They鈥檙e not.听I wear bib shorts if I鈥檓 on a bike for longer than ten听minutes. Why? Because the padded chamois makes sitting听on your saddle twice as comfortable, and the sleek fit听cuts down on听chafing. This pair is听more expensive than some other options, but I think Velocio makes the best in the business, thanks to a precise fit and high-quality materials that breathe well. If you don鈥檛 want to look like a Tour de France cyclist on your ride, slip on a pair of overshorts (see听below).

Chrome Union Short 2.0 ($110)

I鈥檒l admit it: I鈥檓 vain when I鈥檓 on听my bike. I don鈥檛 want to look like someone who鈥檚 out to win a European race. And if I want to stop for听a to-go coffee, I don鈥檛 want听to walk around in just bike bibs. That鈥檚 why I always wear the 听over them. Made from durable, four-way-stretch nylon and spandex鈥攁nd sewn with a gusseted crotch鈥攖hey move well and never slow me down. They also come with many useful features, including听a zippered phone pocket, a rear one big enough to carry a mini U-lock, and a reflective hit on the back hip that helps drivers听see me at night. Paying more than $100 for a pair of shorts may seem听ridiculous, but they鈥檙e great off the bike, too,听so听the value is there.听

Hiplok DX Wearable Keyed U-Lock ($90)

U-locks are听the safest way to protect your bike. I鈥檓 a fan of 听because the bar is made of a 14-millimeter听hardened steel that will ward off all but the most determined听thieves. (If someone does decide听to hack through it, they鈥檒l need serious time to finish the job.)听At about six inches long, the locking bar is easy to get around your frame and the fattest bike rack. The keys it comes with are easy to use and don鈥檛 require any jiggling or finesse. If you don鈥檛 ride with a backpack, the DX comes with a sturdy plastic clip that slides through your belt and allows you to confidently听carry the lock on the back of your shorts.听

Patagonia Men鈥檚 Capilene Cool Trail Bike Henley ($55)

You can bike in any shirt, but 听will feel the best,听I promise. That鈥檚 the work of Patagonia鈥檚 Capilene material, a recycled polyester that wicks sweat quickly to keep you drier and less stinky. (The textile treatment that fights odor听also allows you to use the shirt a couple times in a row without washing.) Patagonia designed this Henley for riding a听bike, with a longer听hem that covers your back and butt when you鈥檙e bent over the handlebars.

The post Getting into Cycling? Here’s Some Gear We Love. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Walk into almost any bike shop and you鈥檒l likely find your attention drawn (quite literally) to a rack of brightly colored clothing. Over in the accessories department,听an increasing amount of shelf space is devoted to lights. These products are not new, of course. But their appeal within the cycling community has shot up over听the past five years.

Before that, only hardcore commuters听and 24-hour racers bought lights. Meanwhile, clothing in bright neon hues, like Pearl Izumi鈥檚 Screaming Yellow, has been a durable favorite of the charity-ride set for so long, it鈥檚 almost a clich茅. But you鈥檇 never find it in most style-conscious听riders鈥�听kits.

Over the past ten听years, on-road fatalities among cyclists have steadily , accompanied by an increasing sense of danger that鈥檚 led many recreational riders to to wear more听more fluorescent high-visability听clothing听and start using听daytime running lights. Even famously core brands like Castelli and Rapha, which favor simple and听often dark-hued听designs, now make items in bright yellows, oranges, and pinks. The advent of LEDs听and improving battery densities have听also made lights brighter, more compact, and more affordable than ever. They鈥檙e听available from more companies, which are 听about selling visibility as a safety aid.

This trend has come about courtesy of a line of scientific research听known broadly as conspicuity. A听solid amount of evidence suggests that high-vis gear听. But the rise of another, more significant听factor in traffic safety鈥攄river distraction鈥攃asts doubt on how effective conspicuity is for improving safety. Worse, the increasing adoption of these technologies may lead to even more victim blaming. It鈥檚 worth asking: Is all this gear worth the investment?

Why High-Vis听Works听

The point of high-vis听gear is twofold. First, the brightness helps us stand out from our environment, which enhances our visual conspicuity. This is why construction signs are bright orange.听Second, when worn on the right parts of your body, high-vis听or reflective clothing听helps drivers to intuitively recognize us as humans as opposed to inanimate objects like road signs. This is called cognitive conspicuity. Humans are highly attuned to biological motion; it鈥檚 part of how we identify objects.听

Rick Tyrrell, a psychologist who runs Clemson University鈥檚 Visual Perception and Performance Lab, is among the academic researchers whose听insights have 听decisions from companies like Bontrager. A 2017 study by a researcher in Tyrrell鈥檚 group found that fluorescent yellow leg warmers compared to traditional black leg warmers.

Basically:听concentrating fluorescent and reflective elements at locations like the听feet and knees, rather than covering yourself head-to-toe in bright yellow, draws attention to the human gait or pedaling motion. This cues the driver鈥檚 brain to accurately and quickly identify us as cyclists rather than road signs or mailboxes. In real life, this means a driver can plan and react accordingly to what they see, since mailboxes rarely take the lane to prepare for a left turn.

All of this听information forms the basis for my own setup. I use Bontrager鈥檚 听and 听front and rear lights ($40 each), which feature various steady and flashing modes, with different intensities for day and nighttime use. (Note that Washington State听).

I wear a fluorescent yellow or orange helmet, specifically the 听($150)听and听听($200). Although your听head doesn鈥檛 move much while cycling, I figure that having something bright up high is helpful. My Specialized shoes are bright yellow and orange. Bright socks would be , especially the taller ones that are in style now. I鈥檝e also听added reflective decals to both my helmet and shoes, and I use 听fluorescent gloves ($36), which I feel might help when signaling turns.

Essentially, I听do everything I can to raise my visibility on the roads. I鈥檓 also aware that the benefits of wearing high-vis听clothing and lights may be marginal.

Why High-Vis Sometimes听Doesn鈥檛 Work听

Fluorescent clothing only helps during the day. Fluorescence relies on reflecting UV light back out in the visible spectrum, which makes a fabric color seem brighter. But there are no sources of UV light at night, so in the dark, even the most intensely bright jacket听is no more visible听than a nonfluoroscent version. What鈥檚 more, some recent studies that, in the daytime, drivers gave cyclists wearing high-vis听gear no more passing room than conventionally dressed riders.

In low light, you are听better served by reflective gear. Unfortunately, most of what passes for reflective elements on cycling clothing today鈥攕mall patches, logos, and piping鈥攊sn鈥檛 large enough to matter. American National Standards Institute of reflective material for roadside workers is 155 square inches, or roughly a 10-by-15-inch rectangle. Even some commuter packs lack that听much reflective fabric. Your best bet may be听a DIY approach,听using reflective sticker kits for helmets, shoes, bags, and bike parts.

Lights, too, are essential at night, but only if they鈥檙e powerful enough. 鈥淏e seen鈥� lights for making you听visible to drivers, as opposed to lights听that are bright enough to help you see in the dark,听only need to meet minimum legal requirements, which vary by state and aren鈥檛 always clear. Personal experience has taught me that those lights often are not bright enough to compete with streetlights听and don鈥檛 cast enough light to safely illuminate your route on obscure听bike paths.听

But the big reason I fear that听conspicuity is of limited benefit is that it only matters when the driver is actually looking at the road.

Distracted driving is not a new problem, and drivers鈥� explanations for why they鈥檝e hit a cyclist are often variations of听鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see them鈥� or 鈥淭hey听came out of nowhere.鈥� (Spoiler: no, they听didn鈥檛.)听But this is happening more often because听modern device-based distraction is crucially different than just letting your mind wander as you gaze down the road behind the wheel. Today听we鈥檙e often cognitively, visually, and even manually distracted from driving.

A study coauthored by Tyrrell听last year听found that .听And a doctoral听thesis听published at Indiana University of Pennsylvania studying听how a flashing motorcycle taillight impacted attention in simulated driving-while-texting situations found that the flash . Those听results suggest that simply making yourself more visible often doesn鈥檛 overcome driver distraction. Anecdotally, there are hundreds of examples of crashes that conspicuity should have prevented: drivers running into , into police cars festooned with high-vis and reflective decals, or into , which shouldn鈥檛 need any conspicuity aids.听

No media outlet reports that a pickup that got T-boned听was a dark color听or that a motorcycle didn鈥檛 have its daytime running lights on at the time of a crash. But stories about pedestrians or cyclists being hit sometimes note whether the victims听were wearing light or dark clothing (even in the daytime),听and they commonly state whether the victims听were in a marked bike lane or crosswalk听or if the cyclist was not wearing a helmet. Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration鈥檚 own official recommendations for and听 include a reminder to wear brightly colored clothing, even in the daytime.听

These are all subtle but unmistakable means of transferring some of the blame for the crash. Yes, pedestrians and cyclists are sometimes at fault in crashes. But rather than waiting for facts or looking at contributing issues like a lack of protected bike lanes or sufficient听street lighting.听

So听What Do We Do?

As a cyclist, I鈥檓 trying to do whatever I can to help keep myself safe. As a cycling writer, I鈥檓 trying to give people tools to do the same, without shilling gear for gear鈥檚 sake, suggesting that you鈥檙e somehow at fault if you don鈥檛 have these items and are hit,听or promising that if you just buy this one thing, you鈥檒l be safer.

The truth is, I don鈥檛 know what the answer is. I try to be realistic about conspicuity aids. When drivers are paying attention, evidence suggests that high-vis听pieces seem to be beneficial. At this point, I鈥檒l admit that part of the reason I use them is simply to foreclose any 鈥渉e was wearing dark clothing鈥� narrative that might emerge in police and media reports if I am hit. Similarly, I now use a cycling computer, even though I鈥檓 rarely on Strava; I want a record of my ride, so that someone can use it to reconstruct what happened in the event that听I am hit and killed. I鈥檓 considering a rearview camera like for the same reason.

That鈥檚 all grim, I鈥檒l听admit. I鈥檒l also admit that in the past ten听years, my riding has changed dramatically to minimize my contact with cars. There are old routes I never do anymore听and roads I will ride only at certain times to avoid peak traffic or bad light. But here in Boulder, Colorado, as in many parts of the country, you need to ride paved roads to reach quiet dirt ones, and I鈥檒l be honest that I still love the pavement, too. I love the hiss of tires on听a corner, the rhythm of a long climb, and the weightless, flight-like sensation of a curvy descent on smooth tarmac.

I鈥檓 playing a kind of actuarial game here. On any given ride, my odds of being hit are something like听X in 1,000. Anything I can do to lower those odds, even slightly, I鈥檒l take, even if I know the benefit may be vanishingly small. But I鈥檒l do it, because short of giving up road riding, it鈥檚 what I鈥檝e got.

Note: There鈥檚 a debate about whether or not cyclists should use flashing lights due to the potential effect on people with photosensitive听epilepsy, which is particularly triggered by deep-red colors, like taillights. The issue is serious, albeit not common. Active epilepsy of all forms is present in in the U.S.鈥�1.2 percent of the population鈥攁nd sometimes necessitates driving restrictions. Photosensitive epilepsy is rarer still: EEG听data suggests听that as few as 100,000 Americans have it. But the Epilepsy Foundation cautions听that it may be underdiagnosed, with a real figure as high as 800,000. These peoples鈥� sensitivity听to bike lights 听and the potential consequences are serious. Disregarding legitimate medical concerns just because a condition is uncommon would be cruel.听 that to avoid triggering seizures, strobe frequency should be no more than three flashes a second. Of the three prominent light makers I contacted, only Bontrager听had taken photosensitive epilepsy into account in its design process, although Specialized听has a flash rate that falls within the safe range. If you鈥檙e concerned, you can use the stopwatch function on your smartphone to count flashes during a ten-second sample, then divide by ten听to get the per-second rate.听

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Every year听we put 50 bicycles through the paces to determine the best models. At the 2019 test in Grand Junction, Colorado, our crew tried a massive range of new soft goods and accessories, too. Here鈥檚 the gear that stood out.

LEM Flow Mountain Bike Helmet ($80)

Some 20 people rode with听, and it proved the sleeper of the test. The Flow has all the hallmarks of a helmet twice its price or more: a microadjust dial-fit system with multiple settings to customize to the rear of the skull,听cushy padding,听an adjustable visor that even accommodates goggles, and trim, lie-flat webbing straps for comfort. And not only did testers rave about the comfortable fit and airy feel, but everyone commented on just how good it looks. I don鈥檛 know of a better helmet out there at this price. We were also impressed with the ($110), which is only slightly more expensive听but,听thanks to a removable visor, does double duty on pavement and dirt.

Osprey Siskin 12 Pack ($110)

The Cortez, Colorado, pack company revamped its hydration line for 2019, modernizing some of our old favorites, like the Raptor and the Raven. But Osprey also added several interesting and less expensive models. My top pick is the (the听 for women), a pleasantly simple panel loader with one large compartment, three interior organization pockets, and a kangaroo-style compression front pouch. Even fully loaded, the pack carries light and dry, thanks to a screen of mesh strung over the ridged-foam back panel. The included 2.5-liter Hydraulics reservoir, which fits in a dedicated zip pocket, is one of my favorite designs, both for the ease of turning on and off water flow as well as the magnet that keeps the hose attached to the sternum strap. The zippered hipbelt pouches are also indispensable, making it easy to keep tools, food, and a camera close at hand. Testers also raved over the ($85) and the听 ($55), which pack many of the same features as the Siskin into, respectively, reservoir- and bottle-equipped lumbar packs.

Bontrager Ion 200 RT/Flare R Light Set ($115)

Think of these as the tiniest insurance policy you鈥檒l ever purchase. packs a high-power Cree LED (200-lumen white light up front and听90-lumen red in the rear) that鈥檚 visiblemore than a mile away, giving motorists plenty of notice and time to avoid you. They are fully weather sealed, charge via micro USBs, and clip to a bar or post easily by way of a built-in rubber belt. The beams even automatically adjust to changing conditions, for instance going solid when you hit a tunnel and then returning to blinking back in daylight. And after the battery is drained, there鈥檚 still a 30-minute battery-save mode that keeps the lights shining till you鈥檙e hopefully safely off the street. Other than the LEM Flow helmet, this light is the only other gear we tested that received praise from every tester.

Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5 Shoes ($119)

If you鈥檙e willing to spend a small fortune, it鈥檚 easy to get a cycling shoe that feels comfortable, transfers power efficiently, and looks good. Not so much if you鈥檙e working on a budget. Leave it to Fizik, the Italian manufacturer of some of the most refined and costliest cycling shoes, to find the happy middle ground. With a Microtex upper and a carbon-reinforced nylon outsole, isn鈥檛 built from the techiest of materials, yet it feels plenty supple and breathable (thanks to all those perforations), and the sole is reasonably听stiff but听forgiving on all-day rides. The hook and loop closure starts from the big toe and wraps up to cradle the whole foot; this eliminates hot spots听but also looks incredibly refined. There aren鈥檛 as听many听microadjustments as with a Boa closure, and the fit is definitely on the narrow side. I also subbed in high-quality insoles for the cheapies included, but these are niggles at this price. Mostly, I鈥檓 just thrilled to have a pair of road cleats that not only perform well and cost a fraction of the competition听but still look great.

Shimano AM701 Mountain Bike Shoes ($130)

Even though elicited countless jokes about their 鈥渙rthopedic鈥� looks, I couldn鈥檛 resist the comfortable fit. The midsole of the low-cut, sneaker-style lace-up is plenty stiff for a few hours of riding, the traction outsole dealt with hike-a-bike like a seasoned approach shoe, the toe bumper laughed off kicked-up rocks, and the neoprene cuff kept out sand and grit. Plus, like all Shimanos, the AM701 has proven exceedingly durable, looking almost like new after half a year of hard use. As for the style, just get it muddy on your first ride.

Giro Chrono Expert Wind Vest ($160)

On some level, I feel like a wind vest is a wind vest is just another a wind vest. They鈥檙e light, they鈥檙e packable, and you should always have one stuffed away for when the weather turns. The ticks all the mandatory boxes鈥攚indproof and water-resistant yet just 3.5 ounces, cut trim so as not to flap in the wind, and packable听down to the size of a peach鈥攂ut it ups the ante with serious visibility. What looks like a subdued, purple-blue digi-camo or black pattern in daylight turns into a crazy听iridescent blaze when light strikes it after dark. Protection from both the elements and unsuspecting cars鈥攚hat could be better?

Ashmei KOM Jersey ($179) and Cycle Bib Short ($194)

A newcomer to U.S. shores, the British apparel company Ashmei is crafting high-end cycling kit on par with premium brands including Assos and Castelli. The is cut from an exceptionally lightweight merino-polyester blend, which feels soft on the skin and keeps surprisingly dry courtesy of carbon particles woven into the fabric. The has a woven microfiber material, as opposed to a standard knit, for a super-stretchy but compressive fit. The laser-cut legs stay in place without constrictive grippers, the flat back straps are so light and well tailored that they virtually disappear, and the thick pad is forgiving over long distances. Somehow, though, this kit doesn鈥檛 bind up or feel overly serious like a lot of road gear.

Assos Trail Cargo Shorts ($149), Trail Liner Shorts ($139), and Trail SS Jersey ($119)

It was news when Assos, the Swiss brand of eye-wateringly expensive and perfectly-built cycling apparel, entered the a few years back. Though that debut was mostly what you鈥檇 expect: tight-fitting gear focused on听roadies with hardtails. The fact that the company has entered the trail space and,听more specifically, is听offering a bibless version of its base-layer shorts, speaks to how important the dirt market has become. All of which is to say: I鈥檓 thrilled that I can get the most comfortable and refined pad available and it isn鈥檛 off-the-charts expensive. The baggy and are still a bit too Euro styled for the U.S. market, though it鈥檚 impossible to argue with the trim cuts and effective, proprietary fabrics that make the pieces move with you and keep you comfortable. I wear the for almost all of my noncompetitive dirt riding, while the Cargo shorts and SS jersey have become my gravel uniform.

Pearl Izumi Blvd听Merino T-Shirt ($80) and Vista Short ($110)

Cycling apparel has gotten supertechy and very expensive, catering to the racer crowds. Meanwhile, Pearl Izumi has kept on plugging away at good-looking, hyperfunctional, and not too expensive gear for the rest of us. The Blvd听tee is exactly what it claims to be: a lightweight wool T-shirt that鈥檚 cut long in the back and trimmer and longer in the arms for coverage. The , built from a stretch poly with a soft hand and nice knee-length inseam (neither hipster tight, nor hipster dumpy), is just as comfortable for walking around town as it is in the saddle. There are still plenty of smart technology nods: a high-cut waist and ergonomic patterning for saddle fit, a zip rear pocket big enough for the largest phone, and demure reflective stripes. And though the two faux pockets at first put me off, I have to admit, they dress these shorts up enough for an听apr猫s barhop or museum visit.

T-Shirt

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Three years ago, my hometown of听Albuquerque, New Mexico,听was named the in the country. Add that to our reputation for meth听and car theft, and we came out #winning. Things have since gotten slightly better thanks to more city-funded听bike-friendly infrastructure, but you still have to watch yourself when pedaling down the street.

One of the most important precautions I always take is to ride with a front and rear light鈥攄ay or night鈥攂ecause lights are a proven lifesaver for cyclists. There are many high-quality lights to choose from, but my current go-to is the . It throws out 300 lumens, or enough to fully light up a pitch-dark bike path at night, and also enough to make sure a car can see you under the midday sun. (I run it as a blinky light during the day because that鈥檚 a more effective way to get drivers鈥� attention.)

I really love the light, however, because it uses something called laser projection technology to slap a several-foot-wide green bicycle image on the ground about 20 feet in front of me. This does two important things. First, it makes my footprint that much bigger so cars and pedestrians have a better chance of seeing me as I come toward them. A driver听waiting to turn left across the lane I鈥檓 traveling in, for example, will see the green laser image a full second or two before he听sees me, giving him听enough time to step on the brakes. Same with pedestrians. They鈥檒l see the bike image before they see me and hopefully wait until after I鈥檝e rocketed past听them to step into the bike path.

Second, the projected bike image helps drivers realize I鈥檓 next to them when my bike and my body are in their blind spots. They鈥檒l see the bike image on the street听and realize that they can鈥檛 turn right, cutting me off and causing a crash.

At $110, the light is not cheap. But in addition to keeping you safe (and can you really put a price on safety?), it鈥檚 well built and a good investment. The casing is aircraft-grade aluminum, so if you go rubber-side-up it won鈥檛 break when it hits the street. The battery provides a very respectable 13 hours of constant light, and it鈥檚 fully waterproof so you won鈥檛 kill it during a downpour.

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Outdoor gear isn鈥檛 just expensive to buy; it鈥檚 also expensive to听design, test, and produce. For that reason, many small brands听have turned to Kickstarter to raise the money to manufacture their newest products. Here are five听innovative launches we鈥檙e excited about right now.

Cycl WingLight 360 Bike Light听

Designed to mimic the lights on a car, these 听($80) are white in front, like headlights, and red in back, like taillights. The bulbs screw onto the end of each handlebar听so drivers can see how far into the road a cyclist is and leave a wide berth when passing.听With a single tap, each light turns to blinking orange, acting as a turn signal. The lights are waterproof and removable, so you can easily switch them between different bikes.听

Full Windsor Splitter Titanium Multi Utensil听

In 2017, Full Windsor launched the Muncher听($35), a hefty titanium听spork-cum-knife-cum-bottle-opener that became an instant hit and made its way into our 2018 Summer Buyer鈥檚 Guide. Now听the company is launching a new multifunctional camp-kitchen utensil, 听($60). A听long-handled titanium spork听(for reaching into freeze-dried meal pouches) and spatula听clip together to make tongs. The spatula also has a serrated edge for cutting. Together, the kit weighs in at 1.8 ounces.听

PurTrek听Water Filter

听($180) doubles as a water filter. Water enters the system through holes about an inch above the pole tip (a simple twist closes the holes to keep听dust out while hiking). Stick the carbide tip into your water source, flip open the top of the pole and insert the included plastic tube, and then slide the hand grip up and down to pump clean water through the听hollow-fiber mechanism hidden inside the shaft.听

Rumble Go Portable Cold-Brew Coffee Maker听

Dump coffee grounds into 听(price TBD), slide the tube into your favorite water bottle, pour in water, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, your cold-brew coffee is ready to drink the moment you get out of bed or your sleeping bag, so you don鈥檛 have to听fumble around to听boil听water. An extendable听silicone base allows you to adjust the Rumble Go鈥檚 height so it sits securely in your favorite听CamelBak, Hydro Flask, Nalgene, or other bottle听from any of several popular brands.

Arkadia Designs Alta 21 Packable Daypack

Ultralight yet feature-rich, 听($100) is made of 30-denier Cordura, with a 100 percent waterproof main compartment and water-resistant outer pockets. What鈥檚 more, the inflatable back support can be removed and used as a seat cushion or pillow, and the lid zips off and doubles as a fanny pack or sling bag. The whole thing weighs ten ounces and stuffs down to the size of an apple.

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May weather means it鈥檚 time to leave the car at home and hit the pavement. While studies indicate that having more bikes on the road and , crashes still happen. Your best bet for protecting yourself on the bike is to remain alert and make good decisions鈥攂ut you鈥檒l nudge your odds toward safety with these eight essentials.

Bontrager Circuit MIPS Helmet ($150)

With more than 300 helmet models across dozens of brands, 鈥攚hich uses a separate, low-friction layer that allows the helmet to slide relative to your head and absorb rotational impact鈥攊s increasingly recognized as the go-to tech to save your brain in a crash. Bontrager鈥檚 Circuit MIPS is our choice for all-around safety. In addition to incorporating MIPS technology, the Circuit features a magnetic mount system that integrates with GoPro cameras or Bontrager鈥檚 light accessories to keep you visible. The lid comes in six colors, but for extra safety, go with Visibility Yellow鈥攖he color most visible to the human eye.

Blackburn DayBlazer 1100 ($90) and DayBlazer 125 ($50) Lights

Illumination for nighttime or low-light riding is a given, but that daytime lights can reduce bike accidents by 20 percent. The sleek pumps out 1,100 lumens up front, while its partner鈥檚 three LEDs pack a 125-lumen punch with 270 degrees of visibility. Both lights have a Blitz daytime running mode that boosts your visibility in lunch-break traffic.

Wahoo Elemnt Mini Bike Computer ($100)

We鈥檙e not saying it鈥檚 likely, but we鈥檝e seen it all. Maybe you get lost exploring a new route, crash off the road with no one around, or have a run-in with a car. Now you have less to worry about. Last year, Wahoo updated all its bike computers, like the , with its Live Track feature that automatically shares and tracks your rides in real time. Pair it with the free Elemnt Companion app on your phone, and the computer will automatically notify your designated loved ones (husband, mother, guru) when you start a ride. At any point along your route, they can check your location and ETA to be sure you鈥檙e still cranking and to have dinner ready when you get home.

Hero Kit Crash Pack First-Aid Kit ($20)

There are two types of cyclists: Those who have crashed, and those who will. Whether you sustain a nasty gash or minor road rash, you鈥檒l want to take care of it fast. , designed with cyclists in mind, has you covered for most needs, complete with bandages, gauze, ibuprofen, triple antibiotic ointment, WoundStop dressing, butterfly closures, lidocaine burn gel, an irrigation syringe, exam gloves, and a biohazard bag. The surprisingly slim pack stashes easily in your jersey pocket or saddlebag.

Knog Oi Bell ($20)

When you can鈥檛 be seen, be heard. Bike bells are nothing new, but improves handsomely on the traditional model. The slim Oi encircles your bars and rings like an 鈥渁ngel playing a glockenspiel,鈥� as the Aussie company puts it. We can鈥檛 argue with that. Choose from the barely-there black, copper, brass, or silver, and alert others with your beautiful music.

LaneSpotter App (free)

Cities choked with car traffic can be hard for cyclists to navigate safely, but 听aims to fix that. The app is a crowdsourced mapping system created for and by cyclists to take the stress out of commuting. Its bike maps help you quickly find all the protected bike lanes, painted bike lanes, shared lanes, and multi-use trails in your city. Toggle to the Safety Map to find users鈥� average safety ratings of any section of road, from 鈥渧ery safe鈥� to 鈥渁void.鈥� You can add your own ratings and drop alert pins onto the map to warn other cyclists of real-time conditions like potholes, closures, dangerous intersections, or shortcuts. Some cities (like our home base in Santa Fe) have no data yet, but you can change that.

Giro Empire ACC Reflective Shoes ($275)

Lack of visibility is the prime culprit in bike-car collisions. Giro鈥檚 insanely reflective 听shoes all but eliminate that problem. Once the sun drops and the lights come on, these hard-to-ignore shoes pop, thanks to the silver reflective coating built into Giro鈥檚 proprietary EvoFiber upper. When headlights hit, the uppers shine and give you the side visibility that bike lights often lack. High-traction walking pads that grant you stable footing off the bike are a bonus, and the laced closure provides an unrivaled fit.

Fiks:Reflective Wheel Stripes ($20)

While you鈥檙e at it, give your side visibility an even hipper boost with . Sure, plenty of tires have built-in reflective sidewalls, but you don鈥檛 need a whole new set of treads to be seen. Offered in a variety of sizes and neon-bright colors, these retroreflective, weatherproof stripes are designed from materials similar to road signs to keep you safe around cars鈥攁nd flaunt your personality to boot.

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With the rise of carbon super bikes as expensive as cars, it鈥檚 easy to feel like mountain biking has become the sport of the .001 percent. Yet there are bargains to be had if you look hard enough and in the right places. For the best deal, you can鈥檛 beat buying used. There鈥檚 always eBay, but demo bikes at your local bike shop are the more reliable way to go, as they're听sure to be in good shape and you鈥檒l have started a听relationship with the mechanics for follow-up maintenance.听

If you鈥檙e set on buying new, consider last year鈥檚 closeouts or look for lower-tier bikes from reputable manufactures that benefit from all their R&D. Even highly affordable bikes are still high-quality pieces of engineering these days.

What follows are my suggestions for the best new beginner bike and accompanying kit. I鈥檝e also listed some upgrades you can make down the road.

The Essentials

Bike

The choices you鈥檒l face when choosing a bike are overwhelming. Cross country or trail bike? 27.5- or 29-inch wheels? Standard or plus-size tires? And many of these options come down to preferred terrain and riding style.

For starting out, though, I think most people in most places will be best served by a simple, high-quality, alloy bike like the ($1,700), which has a mid-length 120mm Rock Shox suspension fork to take the edge off the rough terrain and 2.8-inch tires (a.k.a plus-size) that increase stability, traction, and compliance by virtue of their girth and the lower pressures that allows. Salsa crafts an excellent bike for the money, and the mix of Shimano SLX parts and other nice bits and pieces (think: WTB saddle, Maxxis tires) ensures you won鈥檛 be left with a broken-down piece of junk after a few months of riding.

This isn鈥檛 just a starter bike that you鈥檒l outgrow quickly, either. Even after years of riding and racing on hundreds of bikes, I鈥檇 happily shred the Timberjack as my primary ride.

Helmet

There are cheaper helmets, but safety is no place to scrimp. And the helmet ($100) packs top-shelf technology and high-end looks into a moderately priced lid. The extended back and sides provide the fullest coverage you can get without a full-face helmet (favored by downhill racers), and the breakaway plastic shell on the interior (the MIPS technology) counteracts rotational forces in case of a crash. The huge, swiveling visor is good for blocking sun and accommodates goggles if you ever go that route.

Mostly, though, I have found that Giro has the broadest and most forgiving fit, meaning that almost anyone will feel good wearing the Chronicle.

Lights

Even if you never intend to ride on the road or after dark, the third thing you must buy is a bright, reliable light set like the ($85). Shit goes wrong, tires go flat, rides go long, and you might just end up needing a bit of light to get to your car. Or, God forbid, you听even听end up on the pavement after dark.

The 80 lumens on the white, front light is enough to let you limp home in case of emergency, and the 44-lumen taillight will keep you visible for up to three-quarters of a mile. These cube lights also have a wide, 120-degree throw so cars can see you from the sides as well. Get them even if you never have to use them鈥攖hey might just save your life. And if you are super strapped on cash, at least spring for the solo 听($45).

Gloves

Don鈥檛 believe the pro-road, bare-hands posturing: gloves aren鈥檛 optional. Mountain bike trails are rough, you will get blisters and calluses, and if you go down in the rocks or cactus (and you will eventually), you鈥檒l appreciate something over your skin. You don鈥檛 need anything fancy or convoluted. The ($36), with a mesh back, leather palm, simple elastic cuff, and soft wipe for your nose, are lightweight and plenty thick enough to keep you from skinning up your palms. They鈥檙e even touch-screen compatible.

Water Bottles

At some point you may want to invest in a hydration pack, but as you start, rides will be short enough that you won鈥檛 need the volume or extra weight.听I鈥檇 buy one or two of the ($20), which are light and tough and make it easy to grab a drink from either side, and Podium Chill ($13), which keep fluids cold for an hour or two.听

Fix Kit

The only other necessity is a fix kit in case you flat. The ($25) mounts on a nylon frame that holds a spare tube (sold separately) and ($5, sold separately), which means you鈥檒l have everything you need if things go wrong in the field. If a cactus spine gets you, pull out the valve stem, throw in the new tube, air it up, and you鈥檙e good to go. There鈥檚 a frame mount (also sold separately), which works with some bike designs, but, if not, the whole setup will fit in a pocket.

The Upgrades

Padded Shorts

The longer you spend pedaling, the more uncomfortable you will be sitting on that leather torpedo of a saddle. You could get a fatter, softer seat, but the long-term solution is a pair of padded shorts. And while you could spend a third of the cost of your new Salsa on shorts if you wanted to, don鈥檛. The high-end stuff is great if you are going to be riding hours and hours, day after day. But for a couple hours a day, a few times a week, the ($80), with a nice pad, a solid cut, and good materials, is all you need. Some mountain bikers like to put baggy shorts over top; some do not. If you are on a budget, get these, then听throw your favorite gym or outdoor shorts over top. Money saved, comfort added.

Clipless Pedals

Learning to mountain bike can be easier on a pair of flat pedals because you can move around, find your position, and not fall over if you can鈥檛 unclip your cleats. (Your bike shop will likely give you a cheap pair when you buy the bike.) Still, at some point you might want to switch to clipless pedals because there鈥檚 an efficiency and synergy with the bike that comes from pedals that lock you into the ride. Shimano has the most widespread and reliable design, and the ($45) use the same tensionable clipping mechanism as the high-end XTR model for a quarter of the price. Basically, these are heavier and not as beautiful, but they work just fine.

Clipless Shoes

If you get clipless pedals, you need compatible clipless shoes. There are cheaper options, but, if they fit, I would splurge for the ($120). For one, they look and feel like a sneaker, but they are stiff enough to provide the support you need for pedaling. Having ridden in pretty much every brand of cycling shoe on the market, I can say that I always come back to Specialized because the fit is dialed and the anatomics are researched and optimized, ensuring you pedal in the right position and don鈥檛 get knee pain or develop other alignment problems.

Dropper Post

If I could pick a single piece of equipment that has most transformed the mountain biking experience in the last decade, it would be the adjustable-height seat post鈥攁lso known as a dropper. These posts adjust to your saddle height, but then, when the trail gets tough, they can be pushed down five or six inches on the fly, which gets your seat out of your way while you maneuver the bike through technical spots. It鈥檚 difficult to express how big a difference this makes until you try it.

The only problem is that many of the dropper designs are expensive and extremely finicky. If you want to try a dropper, I鈥檇 recommend the ($300), which is one of the most affordable, adjusts infinitely in its travel range, and has racked up a solid reliability score since it launched last year. This shouldn鈥檛 be the first thing you buy鈥攖hough I do believe they should be as standard on mountain bikes as airbags on cars (hear me, Salsa?). But if you plan to continue riding, do yourself a favor and spend the money on a dropper. The cost will be negligible relative to the surge in your ability and the fun you have.听

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Staying visible is the key to staying alive on a bicycle when you鈥檙e sharing the road with cars. Luckily,听bike light prices听have dropped dramatically in the last several years, so you can get quality illumination for cheap.

To find the best affordable lights, we consulted our bike commuter friends听and scoured online reviews. Here are five options that will have your bike covered from handlebars to tail.

Niterider Mako 250 ($30)听

听pumps out 250 lumens, which is enough to completely听light up the bike path and make sure cars know you're coming. We also like the 鈥済ills鈥� on the side that听emit light horizontally, increasing your visibility to cross traffic.听

Cygolite Hotrod Front ($30)听

The 听looks funny because it's designed to throw a wide, road-covering beam. It also has a pulse setting designed to increase your daytime visibility. You get听110 lumens for 1.5 hours on the highest setting, and it鈥檚 USB rechargeable.听

Nite Ize Griplit ($20)听

The more points of light you have on your bike, the more likely you'll be seen, which is why we like these flatbar听 that stretch over the ends of your grips and make you visible to听cross traffic. Because cars don鈥檛 just come at you head on.听

Light and Motion Vibe ($30)听

A sensor in this 听turns the light on when there's听motion听and turns the light off when the bike is parked听so you never waste your battery by forgetting to hit the off button.听

Blackburn Click Combo ($20)听

For less than you spend on coffee each week, you can get the听听combo with lights that are easy听to mount, easy to use, and run听on inexpensive coin cell batteries.听

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