Buying a bike rack can be difficult. There are a lot of options when it comes to what kind of rack you choose, depending on what type of vehicle you own, what type of bicycle you’ve got, and how often you’ll be using it. We love bike racks that are sturdy (ie they won’t fall off), won’t damage our vehicles, lock (so that our bikes aren’t stolen, like our friend’s was at a cover band for the Grateful Dead), and are simple to affix the bikes to. If you're involved in a triathlon, you may need a specific triathlon bike rack. We also like a good affordable rack, though some of us who will be using them a lot and who have heavy mountain bikes prefer to pay top dollar for something that will last. Another consideration is how far you’ll be traveling with your bike. If you’re on a cross-country road trip, you might want a sturdier option than if someone simply drives an hour out of town to bike a few trails on the weekend. We’ve invested in a few awful bike racks over time, and we want to make sure you don’t do the same.

When you’re starting to think about making the commitment and finally purchasing that rack you’ve been eyeing for months now, we recommend you do some research online first. If you’re reading this, you’re likely already on the right path. We also advise you go into your neighborhood bike shop so that you can look at a few bike racks in person and develop a relationship with the shop. Even if you do decide to purchase the rack online, it never hurts to talk to someone face-to-face, and you can always stock up on your gels and other accessories in the store, or purchase a few maps of the local biking trails. There are also often great community bike rides as well as bike tuning clinics, where they teach you everything you need to know about that wheeled thing you’ve been cruising around on. Or, perhaps you already know all the trails and how to keep your bike in top shape, and you just want to meet a few new friends to tackle all the gnarliest trails within a five-hour radius. Either way, it’s good to support a local business and to make an in-person connection for bike gear. For big purchases, online, is often the most convenient way to get the best deal and to make sure you’re getting the exact model you want.

Here are a few different options:

1. The Durability

You’ll want a rack that keeps working for years to come. Some cheaper models can be flimsy, or can do some serious damage to your car. Others have straps that tend to break after a year or two, or may end up holding your bike in such a way that it bumps around a lot as you’re driving. Certain bike racks are best for the city, while others are made for being jostled as you drive down those rough roads in search of the most epic trails.

2. The Materials

How sturdy are they? How heavy?

3. The Positioning on Your Car

A roof rack can work well if you want to be able to open your hatch, or if you want to be able to carry the whole crew’s bikes on the roof. A bike storage rack might be exactly what you need. However, some of us (ahem, the short ones), may find it a little tough to always be hauling your bike overhead to place it on the car rack. And if you’re road tripping out of your car from track to track, you might want to consider that you won’t want to remove your bike from your hatch every time you want to open it (though, some of us have been known to remove the rack with the bikes still on it from our cars out of sheer laziness).

4. The Price

Your budget will dictate what kind of bike racks you’ll be comparing. We’d recommend you consider how much you spent on your bike, and that you buy a rack commensurate with this purchase. If you have a bike you’d hate to see destroyed or stolen, it would be well worth your time to shell out a little extra cash to make sure it arrives at your destination safely.

5. The Style

Roof rack, storage rack, car rack, hitch mount, tray style, arm style…there are a few different types to choose from. And who doesn’t want a sweet-looking rack that makes us look like a badass? Some racks look better than others, and so this is an important component of the buying process for some. For others, a cheap, bomber thrift store purchase that’s scratched and has, in a previous life, been spray-painted bright pink, may just do the trick. We don’t judge.

In the end, there’s no specific brand of bike rack that’s best. It all depends on what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend. For the record, though, we’d recommend you spend a little more than you’d planned to make sure that your precious bike stays safe and unharmed. There’s nothing worse than returning to your vehicle after a long night of enjoying a Grateful Dead cover band, as our dear friend did, and seeing an empty, sawed-through rack on his car.

Our picks for the top bike storage bike racks out there are:

1. Saris Bones

2. Inno Velo Gripper

3. The Kuat Trio

In the end, a bike rack changes your life. No more stuffing your bike into your car, or taking the wheel off, or asking that one friend with a truck to drive. Those days are over!​

Arguably one of the best things about biking is customizing your bike with tons of neat accessories. A plain bike, whether it be a road bike or mountain bike, is like a blank canvas. Part of what’s so wonderful about owning a bike is being able to show your personality by choosing the gear that goes along with it. That perfect bike accessory can make all the difference. It’s also extremely satisfying to find the most practical, lightweight, interesting items around to affix to your bike or to wear yourself.

Finding a good, useful accessory is one of the greater parts of life; it’s akin to (for those of you who have played Zelda) the feeling of encountering a treasure box and hearing the sound it makes when it opens. For those of you who haven’t played Zelda, you should stop what you’re doing and buy an N64 and the Ocarina of Time game right now.

One thing about bikers is, they have a certain look about them. You can tell if a biker walks into the room by the little cap with the words on the flip-up brim, the tight outfit, or the rolled up pant leg. Bikers have style. And they streamline their outfits, their electronics, and their shoes so that they go well with a biking lifestyle. Whether you bike for exercise, work, fun, or as a method of commuting, you can always benefit from a good accessory. And if you don’t bike everywhere yet, these are a great inspiration for those wanting to get into the sport.

So, without further ado and with no more “faffing around,” as the British say, here are our top 5 (and boy, was it tough to choose only five) bike accessories:

5. Turn-Signal Cycling Glove

This amazing glove is the perfect illustration of marrying style and practicality. Made by Zackees, these gloves both keep your hands warm and help you cycle safely. They’re made right here in the US. A Google engineer, no doubt a person commuting by bike to those fantastic Google offices (with secret doors and ice cream trucks that have been transported to one of the top floors), came up with the idea. We like these because it’s when you’re turning that you’re often putting yourself in the most danger; drivers aren’t necessarily paying much attention to cyclists (depending of course on where you live), and it can be tough for them to see a raised hand in the early mornings when they’ve just woken up or in the evenings when they’re coming home, maybe, after a long day of work.

A pair of turn-signal gloves is a great investment, because they show you’re serious about your safety. They also make a good gift for the cyclists in your family, and they will probably help our moms feel better us being out on the road. Who wouldn’t want that? Plus, they add to your overall visibility on the road, and can be used to indicate a downed cyclist or to attract roadside help in a pinch. They cost just under a hundred dollars.

4. Litelok

Next on our list is something a little more exciting, but also useful: a lock. We’ve chosen this one for its versatility and for its lightweight nature. It’s both light and incredibly strong. The Litelok was made by a man named Neil Barron, who graduated from the Royal College of Art and London and was previously an Aeronautical Engineer.

Now, Barron focuses on industrial design. He came up with the Litelok be-cause he was sick and tired of carrying around heavy bike locks, but he’d also had more than one bike stolen in his home city of London. The lock weighs just over 2 pounds, and it’s simple to put on your bike thanks to its pliable strap!

3. Flair

This item is nothing specific. We recommend thinking long and hard about your personality, then wan-dering through a thrift shop on your day off and selecting a few pieces that will make you happy every time you look at your bike. Many people used cards as kids, for instance, and stuck them in the spokes. We’ve seen colorful horns, ribbons, interesting tape on the handles, and even fun paint jobs. In Brooklyn we’ve seen entire sets of pronghorn antlers attached to bikes for an ominous, ride-to-the-death type style. Whatever it is that makes you smile, attach it to your bike, so that your friends know when you’ve parked it outside a coffee shop or bar and can come inside to say hi. These also could help prevent someone from stealing your bike, if they’re permanently attached.

Some people may prefer a sleek, professional look, especially if they’re biking to work or to a meeting with a client. If you are one of these, then you might prefer to add a gorgeous leather bike seat or nice custom handlebars or a chrome water-bottle holder instead of anything flashy.

Make sure, of course, when applying them, that they don’t get in the way of your riding!

2. Multi-Purpose Bike Tool

These are essential. Whether you’re heading to work (or happy hour) or on a long day tour of the countryside, you’ll want to make sure you have one of these around in case your bike breaks down. They’re affordable and versatile, and they’ll save you a long weight for a ride if you break down in a remote area.

1. A Biking App

Our top pick for biking accessories in 2017 is an app that turns biking into a game. The Cyclemeter is our favorite. It works for cycling and mountain biking as well as running. It uses GPS to map your rides, create stats charts, and help make your biking experience more fun.

It was so hard for us to name just five! Other accessories on our list included paniers, a good trailer, re-flective socks, a DIY package that allows you to convert any shoe into a cycling shoe, and, finally, a device called The Atom (Siva Cycle) that lets you charge your electronics while you ride.​

So, it's that time of year again. Summer's here and you're back into all those outdoor sports you've always loved and especially cycling. Are you a mountain biker but don’t like the hassle of outfitting yourself for the sport? Well, you should know that the mountain bike clothing you wear can be crucial to your safety, comfort, and health—and this very much includes cycling shorts! The best Lycra or Duraflex shorts will offer you protection with extra padding and an additional liner while you ride—and prevent abrasions caused by friction. After all, we know just how sore we can get from long periods on the saddle! Furthermore, they will provide cyclists a shield from the weather and help you stay warm on chilly days and cool in the heat. Here is a list of the top five mountain bike shorts presently available for riders:

5. Zoic Ether Stretch

If you need to watch your dollars, but don't want to purchase a low-quality pair of shorts that you simply won't enjoy wearing, then the Zoic Ether Stretch is the brand you want. These shorts perform quite well for most cyclists and are also very cheap without sacrificing quality for the sake of saving. Even on short rides, you will feel the difference. They use Duraflex material, better quality zippers, and an improved method of waist adjustment. Some of the best features of the Zoic Ether Stretch are:

Just about the only negative concerning the Ether shorts is that their durability is slightly compromised because their fabric is more lightweight than that of other brands.

4. Troy Lee Ruckus

The Troy Lee Ruckus mountain bike shorts have many positive points to them. Designed more for the rougher and more rugged courses, they are also excellent for use in the bike park and shuttle runs. Made to be pedal friendly, these shorts are heavier than the Airmatic or the Zoic brands. This means that while they provide great protection as well as durability, they might not be the best option for gruelling days in the sun. Some of the top features of Troy Lee Ruckus mountain bike shorts are:​

One of the negatives about these shorts is as follows:

3. Pearl Izumi Elevate

​While these shorts are great for shuttle runs and downhill biking, they do exhibit less pedaling ability. This is the result of an attempt to make them easier to use with knee pads. The amount of leg covered is great, but the overly long inseam works against the user's pedaling capability. However, they are extremely durable and provide a lot of protection. Some of the best features of these shorts are:

There are some other negatives to consider too:

2. Kitsbow A/M

These mountain bike shorts make for great trail and cross country biking. Also, don't let the baggy appearance of these shorts fool you. They still fit excellently and pedaling is no problem. The style is sleek and durable while it will provide protection from the rain or any moisture. The Schoeller material has been treated with 3xDRY and you can sweat and still remain cool and dry.

One of the positive features of these shorts is:​

There really aren't any negatives to point out about these shorts. Most people who wore them had no complaints.

All in all, these are considered to be top of the line mountain biking shorts that are excellent to wear for just about any biking purpose.

1. 100% Airmatic

Although it may be a little expensive the 100% Airmatic raises the high bar when it comes to quality for all endure and trail shorts. If you are a true blue-blooded mountain bike rider, who enjoys a dynamic trail and endurance riding, then these are the shorts for you. With easy to use Velcro pull tabs, these shorts manage to be both comfortable and offer protection, so you need have no worries about the brand's durability. Here are some other quality features that the 100% Airmatic mountain biking shorts have:

When all is said and done, what you need to keep in mind is that the best mountain biking shorts are really the ones that you like the best and that suit your purpose. But one of these brands should appeal to you and if so, don't hesitate and go buy them today.