Accessories

The accessories that earn their place

An e-bike is a bigger investment than a normal bike and a heavier one, which changes what you actually need. Security and visibility matter more, and so does anything that saves you carrying the bike or its battery further than necessary.

Worth buying first

• A lock rated for the value of the bike. E-bikes are targeted, and a cheap cable lock is not a deterrent
• Lights, ideally wired to the main battery so there is nothing separate to charge
• A pump or inflator that handles the higher pressures heavier bikes run
• A frame or rack bag, since e-bikes are awkward to ride with a loaded backpack

Worth thinking about

Mudguards and a rack are cheap to add and transform a bike for commuting. If yours did not come with mounting points, check before buying, because retrofitting to a frame with no eyelets is more trouble than it looks.