What’s necessary? What’s just extra stuff?

Mostly this depends on your own needs. You aren’t going to need a trailer if you won’t be hauling kids or stuff around on your bike. Odds are good, on the other hand, that you will want a way to carry a water bottle. You don’t have to be riding extreme distances for the water bottle to just make sense, especially on warm days.

The most important accessory, of course, is the bicycle helmet. It’s the law most places that you wear one. A good quality bike helmet can also save your life in an accident. It doesn’t take much of an accident for a bike rider to have serious head injuries without a helmet.

If you’re going to be riding at night, or even dawn or dusk, lights will be another worthwhile investment. You’re hard enough to see on a bike in bright sunlight. You don’t want to be harder to see when it’s a little or a lot dark out. Go for quality. You aren’t investing in a bike part, after all. You’re investing in your safety.

Comfort is not a bad thing to think about either, especially if you’re going to be riding your bicycle a lot. That’s where things like water bottles come in. A water bottle holder seems like such a small thing, but it can mean a lot. And if you enjoy mountain biking, an easy way to carry water can be an issue of safety, although for a serious ride you may need more than just what one small water bottle can carry.

Check out your pedals too. Good pedals are metal with teeth to help your shoes grip to them. I remember hating these as a teen, because I wouldn’t pay attention and sometimes get whacked on the leg by one. But as an adult I understand the advantages. A good grip between your pedals and your shoes is a good way to keep your feet from slipping, which can distract you and result in an accident.

You’ll probably want a good quality bike lock too. If you know you’re going to ride out and bring your bike back home, storing it in a locked garage, maybe you’ll do well enough without one. But if you want to leave your bike alone for even a few minutes anywhere, you need a lock. Bicycles are all too easily stolen.

Whether you’re looking for a bike to ride in your leisure time or something for a commute to work, you need more than just the bike to make the most of the experience. The right accessories can make your life simpler, make bike riding more pleasant or even help protect you from injury.

You have to get creative sometimes.

First things first, though. Get a good bike lock. U locks are popular for a good reason. Spend the money to get a good one.

Ideally you should use this to lock the frame and both wheels to whatever you find to fasten your bike to. Many bikes come with a quick release on the front wheel so that you can put everything close together. Take advantage of this so that all the important parts of your bike are locked up.

When you’re considering location, the first thing you want is for your bike to be highly visible, but not in the way. You don’t want people tripping into your bike. But the more visible it is, the less appealing it is to thieves, who obviously won’t want to be watched.

Assuming there are no bike racks available, a common problem in my area, take a look at your options. A metal post can be a good choice. A well grown tree may work as well, so long as you aren’t damaging the tree yourself.

Do not lock a bike to a chain link fence, small tree or any post where the bike and lock together can simply be lifted off, or the thing you’re locking your bike to can be easily removed.

If you’re going to the store on your bike, ask if there’s a place you can keep it indoors. Some stores will let you do this. You’ll still need to lock it, of course.

If you find there aren’t a lot of places where your U lock will work, get a heavy duty cable or chain, at least 3/8 of an inch in thickness. These can give you more flexibility in where you lock your bike up.

You can also consider using two locks, just to complicate things for thieves.

Don’t forget to lock your bike up even at home… especially if you keep it outside or if you keep your garage open frequently. It only takes a moment to steal a bicycle.

And of course check with your local police so that you know the local laws about where you can and cannot lock your bike. There’s no point in getting in trouble about how you protect your property. And if it says don’t lock a bike to it, don’t!

Regular tuneups aren’t just for cars. They do bikes a lot of good too. Keep your tires inflated and your brakes in good condition. Bicycles are simple enough that you may be inclined to learn how to do a tuneup on your own, or you can take it a couple times a year to the bike shop. How often you go will depend on how much you ride your bike.

2. Use appropriate safety gear.

Never, ever forget your helmet, and remember that other safety gear can help too. But that helmet is vital! Bicycle helmets have saved many lives.

If you ride after dark or even just at dawn, dusk or cloudy days, have appropriate lights and reflectors on your bicycle. These can make you more visible to cars even when conditions aren’t perfect.

3. Remember that car drivers often don’t think about bike riders.

Sure, they’re supposed to. But too many don’t. It can help to avoid busy roads as much as possible, and to be particularly alert around driveways, corners and parked cars.

It’s particularly easy for a bicycle rider to hit an opening car door. It’s best if you approach a parked car from far enough out that they have a good chance to see you, you have to dodge only a little if a door does open, yet close enough in that you aren’t at risk from cars driving by. Not everyone checks when they open a car door along a street, and even if they do, a rider coming up from right behind the car may not have been visible in time.

Cars that are turning can be particularly dangerous. If they turn right, they may use the bike lane to get past other cars. If you’re passing in front of a driveway there may be cars pulling out and turning that aren’t aware of you. If you don’t think a car sees you, do your best to keep it from hitting you.

4. Remember the laws you need to follow too.

People driving in cars aren’t the only ones who fail to follow the rules of the road. Bicyclists can too. Try to not be in such a rush that you do unsafe things. You’re in more danger from cars than they are from you.

5. Don’t hug the curb.

It feels safer, but it’s not. Riding too close to the curb makes you less visible to many drivers.

This is why bicycling to work is increasing in popularity. Bicycles are relatively cheap, and if you live within a reasonable bike ride to your work it can be very practical as well as healthy.

The savings can be huge. And if you already have a bike, you may only need a tune-up for it, rather than an entire new bicycle.

It may seem odd to many to think of riding to work, but there are a few tricks to make it more reasonable.

First, is your commute reasonable? This is a personal decision. For some 5 miles each way may be a maximum. Others may be willing to go 10 or more miles by bicycle to work.

Don’t forget to add any possible use of public transportation into this consideration. You may be able to take the bus for part of your way to work, then ride the last bit. Buses in many areas have bike racks, making this highly practical.

Second, find out where at work you can keep your bicycle. While many employers will probably not have a bike rack available, you may get permission to store your bike someplace where you work. All you need is a place that’s a bit out of everyone else’s way. Talk to your boss.

Third, decide how you’re going to transport your work clothes. Most people don’t want to ride their bikes in the clothing they’d wear to work; it’s too easy to sweat in those. But you can fold your clothes neatly into a backpack and change at work. If you’re careful about it the wrinkles should not be severe. Think about clothes that resist wrinkling but still look professional.

Fourth, think about what kind of weather you are willing to ride in. The weather won’t be perfect year-round just about anywhere. How will you cope with pouring rain? 100+ degree F weather? Does it snow in your area? Obviously some days will be much harder than others for riding a bike.

Will you need more than a bike?

You will want some basic equipment that you may or may not own already. A bicycle helmet is vital. Not all car drivers care to watch out for bicyclists, and I do know people whose lives have likely been saved by their bike helmets. The most recent case was used to show my niece what could happen if she didn’t wear her helmet. A helmet all but split into pieces and a rider only lightly injured is a great object lesson.

Other equipment may or may not be needed. If you’re going to be riding at dusk or night, a front and rear light is a very good idea. You do not want to be invisible. You’ll also need regular maintenance on your bike to keep it in good condition.

And if you need to carry equipment to work, you’re going to need something for carrying it. It may be the backpack you carry your change of clothes in or a pannier for your bicycle.

Don’t forget a backup plan.

While you may hope to ride to and from work daily, sometimes a change in the weather may make it impossible to get home on your bike. Some places get rather sudden changes in the weather that you may not want to deal with.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to have a coworker who is willing to take you home. Or public transportation may be a practical option. You may even be able to have your spouse come get you if the weather is too bad. Whatever your solution is, plan it out in advance so you aren’t struggling to figure it out when the need is urgent.

Riding a bike to work can result in significant monthly savings and help you to keep fit. As gas prices make it more painful to fill up your car, this option may greatly simplify your life.