If you’re reading this looking for the best bike upgrades, then you’ve come to the right place. But there’s more to the story than just getting upgrades, especially if your plan is to increase overall performance.
Flashy gear can only do so much to up your game on the trail. At the end of the day, you have to do the tough work to improve your performance.
Best Bicycle Upgrades
If you’re going to purchase bike upgrades, you might as well opt for the best ones. The following list is a good place to start.
1. BONMIXC Bike Bell
The BONMIXC Brass Bike Bell is an upgrade that will help improve the safety of your bike by alerting other people of your oncoming presence.
These cute bells are super easy to install and they don’t emit a shrill and annoying sound, but rather an alert. However, what sets them apart is the fact that they’re suitable for different types of bike handlebars, including those of scooters.
The best part is that they’re easy to install and use overall.
2. Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle
Next, we have one of the best road bicycle upgrades that you can add, which is the Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle.
It’s backed by numerous positive reviews from satisfied customers online which are underpinned by its efficiency to maintain optimal water temperature.
Meaning, it helps to keep fluids cold for prolonged periods of time, which can come in handy when you’re doing those really long trail rides. This bottle isn’t only thermally protected but it’s totally insulated and free from harmful BPAs.
3. Park Tool Bicycle Chain Cleaning System
The bike chain is arguably one of the most important components of your bike because it foundationally supports your ability to pedal and actually enjoy riding your bike. That’s why it’s important to always keep it clean and free of any dirt and debris.
The Park Tool Cleaning System is designed specifically for this purpose. It features a powerful formula that’s designed to completely remove grease, grime, and dirt to leave you with a squeaky-clean bike chain.
For best results, it’s recommended to use this product at least once a month to conserve the quality of your bike and the integrity of its important components, especially the bike chain.
4. BV Bike Cleats Compatible with Look Delta
One of the best mountain bike upgrades on this list has to be these BV Bicycle Cleats. Although they’re only compatible with Look Delta cleat sets, they can be utilized on different types of bikes, including those utilized for outdoor road cycling and indoor cycling alike.
What makes them so effective for both applications is the fact that they’re constructed from high-quality materials. They’re also completely adjustable.
You’ll definitely enjoy these cleats if you’re an avid cyclist that enjoys both indoor and outdoor riding at high speeds. They’ll definitely provide you with extra pedal stability and safety overall.
5. SRAM Supercork Bicycle Bar Tape
Another helpful upgrade to add to your bike arsenal would be this handlebar tape from SRAM Supercork. It’s a light yet durable tape roll that comes with finishing tape for use in protecting your handlebars from wear and tear, including water damage!
It’s awesome for everyday use and can really come in handy to protect a bike that goes through a lot of abuse on a daily basis.
The bar tape is available in a wide variety of colors so it can match and blend into your bicycle. These colors include white, yellow, pink, black, blue, and red. Each tape roll contains enough to cover both handles as well as the end caps. There’s even cork backing included in this to provide extra padding.
6. BV Adjustable Bicycle Kickstand
The BV Adjustable Bicycle Bike Kickstand features a convenient and strong spring-loaded latch that can handle the full weight of your bike. It’ll definitely optimize your ability to ensure that your bike stays grounded.
It’s one of the best upgrades for road bike that you can use if you’re a mountain biker or anyone that enjoys biking on rocky terrain. Plus, it’s easy to install and that’s always a plus.
7. Blitzu Cyborg 168T Bicycle Tail Light
Next in our selection of the best bicycle upgrades is this rechargeable bicycle light from Blitzu Cyborg. It comes with a convenient hook that you can use to attach it either to your bike’s taillight or right onto your helmet.
This powerful light is designed to alert other road users that you’re on the road and on your way. It’s also easy to recharge on the go using the built-in USB recharge mechanism.
The best part is that this tail light is really easy to install and you can really stand to get the most out of it when you install several at once. This way, you can shine bright and make sure that pedestrians and drivers can see you from a mile away.
8. Super Bike Wash Concentrate
Another accessory that deserves to be on this list of top upgrades is this bicycle wash concentrate from Super Bike. It’s one of the best ways to maintain your bike by keeping it clean and dirt-free.
This is important because a build-up of dirt on your bike can wreak havoc on the metal components of your bike, and even corrode the paint job.
It’ll certainly get rid of any gunk and dirt that has built up on your bike over time thanks to its highly effective and strong formula. However, it won’t affect any of your bike components or the paint job negatively at all. Plus, it’s really easy to use on your bike seat and handlebars.
Types of Bike Upgrades
As you can see, there are plenty of different ways to upgrade your bike without actually buying a whole new model or invest in super expensive large-scale components.
Bike shops are usually the first port of call for someone looking for the best bicycle upgrades. But you can always get a lot of useful and valuable information from online reviews that’ll save you the trip.
Bell
Bike bells are probably one of the oldest bike accessories that one can have. They’re designed to let people know that you’re on your way in order to improve safety for both yourself and them.
That way, you don’t have to shout and yell at people to get out of the way when you’re approaching and can rest assured that it’ll make for a more enjoyable ride.
Water Bottle
Water bottles are so important in ensuring that you stay hydrated when riding your bicycle. After all, you may very well lose a lot of hydration through sweat so you want to replace that by drinking as much water as possible along the way.
You can opt for simple and standard designs, or go for a super fancy option. The most important thing is to have a water bottle that’ll keep your water cold and refreshing to keep you updated.
Cleaner
A bike cleaner is essential in maintaining your bike both in the short and long-term. After all, we all want a bicycle that looks clean and shiny.
Most importantly, using a dedicated bike cleaner to clean your bicycle will also contribute to your bike’s overall longevity and it’s a great way to show your bike some TLC.
Cleats
Cleats are there to facilitate proper foot to pedal contact so that you can enjoy a smoother and more efficient ride.
You can take it a step further by pairing them with complementary shoes. But that’s just a nice extra and not absolutely necessary.
Bar Tape
Bar tape is often utilized to improve your grip just like bicycle grips do and should thus be wrapped around your handlebars.
They’re essential for when you’re riding your bike in rough terrain or inclement weather conditions such as when it’s raining or cold. This isn’t your average tape because it’s made with bikers in mind, which means it’s durable and long-lasting.
Kickstand
A kickstand is one of the simplest additions that you can make to your bike to activate some really useful changes. It enables you to park your bike almost everywhere without worrying about your bike going over.
Kickstands can be really helpful when biking on non-flat surfaces or rocky terrain in the mountains. They’ll just give you that extra level of support that you may not even have realized that you needed.
Tail Light
A bike tail light is also designed to let other road users know that you’re also on the road and are concerned about safety.
You could just as easily come across someone down the road who’s not aware of your presence because they have earphones on or are distracted. So, a tail light will really come in handy in those instances. It’s just one of the best bicycle upgrades that you can invest in if you care about safety.
Chain Lube
Chain lube is another important type of bike cleaner that’s specifically designed to keep your chain working in ship-shape.
It’s designed to extend your bike chain’s lifespan and your bike’s performance as well. The best part is that bike lube is usually very affordable and easy to access. You can easily find it at your local sports store or bike shop.
Conclusion
Look, you’re going to ride your bike for many years to come, probably on different surfaces and types of terrain. So, you might as well incorporate into it the accessories necessary such as bike cranksets to enhance your experience and ensure optimal safety on the road.
Each of the bike upgrades featured in this article is helpful and should be a part of your growing collection of accessories for long-term bicycle use.