Yesterday NYT ran a story about cheap gear for the commute. I could do without the MAMIL stereotype, but the author AC Shilton told me that was a joke. Follow that convo here and, Shilton mentions a bunch of great gear.
It was a joke! I want EVERYONE to feel great on a bike. And sometimes folks say to me "I don't want to wear spandex." That was my way of saying, hey, you don't need to wear spandex! You don't need fancy things!
— AC Shilton (@ACShilton) June 20, 2018
The thing about the bike, what makes it a unique product, is how it serves a very wide swath of people from the low to the high end and infinite niches—there’s now fly fishing kit for cyclists. I’ve not seen one monolithic group besides “roadies” or “triathletes” or “mountain bikers.” If there are MAMILs at least around here, they’re riding gravel and getting out into the trees instead of in a bike lane or riding along the side of a highway.
Anyway, here’s the gear Shilton recommends via Wirecutter.
- Wald 198 Multi-Fit Basket, which fits almost any bike and is sturdy enough for hauling even heavy stuff
- The Kryptonite New-U Evolution Mini 7 with a double loop cable
- Light & Motion Urban 500
- Batiste Dry Shampoo
I’ll add to the list a must-have bell like the Spurcycle or Crane.
…We're riding townies, adventure, and mountain bikes. Find recommendations on our store page. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases.