How many cyclists does it take to change a lightbulb? Three. One to climb the ladder, two to stand at the bottom arguing about whether or not they should be wearing a helmet.<\/p>\n
The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n I joke, of course. But there\u2019s no denying cycling safety is a complex and divisive topic. Personally? I enjoy my rides more when I feel visible and protected. Thanks to a disappointing absence of thoughtfully executed cycling infrastructure in much of the UK, this often means leaning on gadgets and gizmos to offer something resembling peace of mind.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve tested a lot of cycling safety kit over the years, and I\u2019ll be the first to admit that plenty of it is gimmicky at best. But every now and then, something genuinely useful comes along \u2013 something I\u2019d never ride without again.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not alone in this. From semi-professional road racers to office commuters, lots of cyclists own safety products they swear by. Below are some top recommendations from them and from me.<\/p>\n Cycling safety essentials Photograph: EyeEm Mobile GmbH\/Getty ImagesRadar<\/p>\n When I first heard about this thing, I scoffed. What\u2019s wrong with just looking over your shoulder? It mounts to the seat post of your bike and alerts you to objects approaching from behind, giving you a rough idea of speed and proximity via a paired bike computer<\/a> or smartphone.<\/p>\n I first tried it five years ago, and I haven\u2019t ridden without it since. It\u2019s no substitute for having your wits about you, but it gives you time to react to potential close passes and stops you from being startled when cars seem to appear out of nowhere. It\u2019s not much use in the city, but for those who ride on fast, rural roads, it\u2019s invaluable.<\/p>\n Garmin Varia RVR315<\/p>\n \u00a3129.99 at Garmin<\/a>\u00a3119.99 at Amazon<\/a>Camera<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need one \u2026 until you do. If you\u2019re involved in an incident, it\u2019s your word against theirs. Having footage of the event can help with legal proceedings and insurance. It also means you can report instances of dangerous driving and, in theory, be taken seriously.<\/p>\n I find drivers give me a wider berth and pass more carefully when I\u2019m using mine. Helmet-mounted is my preference, but you can also get ones that are integrated with a front or rear light. Simon<\/p>\n Cycliq Flysport 12<\/p>\n \u00a3319 at Clycliq<\/a><\/p>\n GoPro Hero12 Black<\/p>\n \u00a3349.99 at GoPro<\/a>\u00a3295 at Amazon<\/a>Incident detection system<\/p>\n Incident detection comes in many shapes and sizes. Many modern bike computers and fitness wearables have this technology built in, but it\u2019s also available via standalone devices that can be clipped on to a helmet or slipped into a pocket while riding.<\/p>\n They can be configured to notify a contact of choice when an impact is detected. I had a bad crash last year that left me dazed at the side of the road, and my wife was calling before I\u2019d even had time to process what just happened. This makes it very useful for long-distance rides in rural locations.<\/p>\n Specialized\u2019s ANGi Crash Sensor is a relatively affordable option for those who don\u2019t have this feature already on a bike computer or smartwatch. Connect it to the Specialized app and you\u2019re good to go. If there\u2019s no signal, it can be set to alert your nearest and dearest if you don\u2019t make it back from a ride in a set time, sending them your last known GPS location.<\/p>\n Specialized ANGi Crash Sensor<\/p>\n \u00a338.99 at Cyclestore<\/a>\u00a345 at Tredz<\/a>Compact bell<\/p>\n I might have overthought this, but the tone of my Knog Oi bell feels slightly less abrasive than other bells, so I\u2019m more inclined to use it, and I find pedestrians are less startled by it. The low-profile design means it\u2019s extremely unobtrusive on the bars too \u2013 I barely notice it\u2019s there. Jamie<\/p>\n Knog Oi classic bell<\/p>\n From \u00a311.99 at Halfords<\/a>\u00a316.99 at Cycles UK<\/a>Rearview glasses<\/p>\n Motorists have wing mirrors. They also have steel cages protecting them from impact. If anyone needs mirrors, it\u2019s cyclists. I used to ride with one mounted on the end of my handlebar, but my HindSight rear-view sunglasses offer a much neater solution. When wearing them, all I have to do is glance to the side and I can see what\u2019s behind me. And they\u2019re sunglasses too. Two birds, one stone. Claire G<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com<\/a> to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n HindSight Artemis glasses<\/p>\n \u00a3159.99 at Hindsight<\/a>Gloves<\/p>\n Your hands can get badly injured even from relatively minor falls while biking, yet I see so many people who wear gloves only in the winter. I always wear those that offer good palm protection, even in summer. They\u2019ll not only save your hands from road rash in the event of a crash but will also keep them more comfortable on the handlebar during long rides. BR <\/p>\n Spatzwear Aero Glovz <\/p>\n \u00a311.99 at Decathlon<\/a>\u00a329.99 at Amazon<\/a>StVZO front light<\/p>\n Cycling without lights is a bad idea, especially when it\u2019s dark or visibility is poor, but riding with unsuitable lights can be dangerous too. Some of them spray out light in all directions, which can dazzle oncoming cars.<\/p>\n In Germany, there\u2019s a \u2018Stra\u00dfenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung\u2019 or road traffic licensing regulation relating to this, which says that front bike lights must have a cut-off, so that the beam pattern stays below a certain level. This helps you to see and be seen, without dazzling other road users. Search the web for StVZO bike lights and you\u2019ll find lots of options.<\/p>\n Lezyne Power STVZO Pro 115 front light<\/p>\n \u00a355 at Tredz<\/a>Integrated rear-light helmet<\/p>\n I\u2019ve lost count of how many times I\u2019ve accidentally left my rear light on charge at home. Since buying a helmet with an integrated rear light, it\u2019s no longer a concern. I always wear a helmet, which means I always have my light. In some cases, they\u2019re more expensive than a regular helmet, but when you take into consideration what you\u2019d be likely to spend on both items individually, it makes sense to combine the two. NQ<\/p>\n Halfords commuter helmet<\/p>\n \u00a330 at Halfords<\/a>Wearable lock<\/p>\n It\u2019s more for security than safety, but the locks that wrap around your waist are great. I\u2019ve been using one for years now. It keeps the bike secure when I\u2019m out and about, and I don\u2019t have to worry about carrying it in a bag \u2013 it\u2019s designed to be worn like a belt. Graeme <\/p>\n Hiplok Lite wearable chain lock<\/p>\n \u00a343.89 at Halfords<\/a>\u00a339.04 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n