I’m the Tour Chief, and I’m very fortunate to be able to ride a bike regularly for work. I ride for enjoyment at home, frequently with local clubs, and just as often solo or with a friend. There are a few standout recent equipment additions which have greatly improved my enjoyment of the bike, and I’d like to share them with you.

First, I’m a huge fan of Ride with GPS. Most of my pleasure rides, and ALL of my tour rides are pre-planned using this software. The pre-planning is important for safety: did someone vet the route to be bike-friendly and avoid traffic hazards? 

Best new equipment addition in 2024: a phone mount on my handlebars. I have no desire to talk on the phone or check texts or emails while riding, but navigation by smartphone has become vital for me and for many others. I know there are those who want nothing to do with anything electronic and want to let the wind lead them around. That’s fine, but what about safety?

Using Ride with GPS regularly reminds me of the importance of vetting each ride for safety before ever leaving home, and having the phone announce turns as I come upon them frees my mind to think about other things while I’m riding along.

In the two photos below you can see my phone holder, found on Amazon and installed in an instant last summer. I have not a single worry about safety of the phone. While riding, the phone is normally asleep, coming to life only to announce turns when about 500′ out. It’s really delightful!

The black device with the orange button is a headlight with electronic horn; I’ve grown weary of voicing my approach to pedestrians on bike trails.