Favorite Cycling Gear 2021

It’s been a while since I did a biking gear post (2017 to be exact). So here’s an updated gear list, aimed toward gear I use when gravel riding.

*None of these items are sponsored! This is just my honest opinion on gear that I like.

Purist 26 oz water bottles

I can’t believe it took me this long to find a great cycling water bottle. I had been using freebie bottles that I’ve received over the years, drinking water that tasted like plastic during my rides. Well, no more of that. “Purist treatment infuses the bottle’s interior with silicon dioxide to prevent odors, stains and mold from attaching to the inner surface, offering a pure taste”. They are also leak-proof, which is great.

Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag

This is my favorite bike bag of all time.  It attaches right to the stem and bars of your bike. The strap design makes it very easy to open and close one-handed while riding. I usually put in my snacks, phone, keys, mask, mini pump, sunscreen stick, and bike tool in this little pouch. I love it!

Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen Stick

This is the sunscreen stick I keep in my bike bag at all times. It is great for re-applying mid-ride (even works great as a chap stick!) and smells delicious!

COOLA Guava Mango SPF 50 Sunscreen

Another favorite sunscreen of mine, the COOLA classic guava mango sunscreen! It’s lightweight and not greasy, SPF 50, water resistant and smells amazing! I don’t carry it with me on the bike, but I apply before every outdoor adventure.

Crankbrothers M19 Multi-tool

I’ve had this bike tool for years (love that it comes in pink!) and has all the common size hex keys, two Philips and two flathead screwdrivers, a chainbreaker and four sizes of spoke wrenches. The latter two tools I have not used, yet. It is very handy and compact.

Blackburn AirStik Mini Pump

I got this mini pump on a whim because of its size. It’s so small it fits perfectly in my feedbag. It also fits great in my hip pack and backpack.

Pearl Izumi X Alp Flow Pop Shoes (for flat pedals)

I got these cycling shoes at the end of last year and they are absolutely perfect for gravel riding with flat pedals. I recently switched from riding clipless pedals to flat pedals on my gravel bike for comfort reasons. These mountain biking shoes are great. The soles are grippy, they are stiff (but not overly stiff), and they have the BOA lacing system. I really love the BOA laces because I never have to worry about my laces coming untied during a ride. I like the purple, but I wish they came in other colors, like black or army green.

Topeak Wedge Drybag

In my waterproof saddlebag I keep a spare tube and tire levers. My gravel bike is not tubeless yet, so it’s always a good idea to bring a spare tube (or two) on long rides. And know to change it! I like this bag because it has a loop to attach my bike light to it. And it looks pretty sleek.

Giro Seyen MIPS road helmet

I recently purchased a new lightweight, breathable road bike helmet with MIPS. MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. According to Wikipedia, “In the event of an angled impact MIPS can reduce harmful rotational forces, which may be transmitted to the brain, by allowing the helmet to slide relative to the head. These rotational forces can cause concussions or even worse brain damage.”  In other words, MIPS is an additional safety feature found in certain bike helmets that works as another layer of protection for your head during a crash. Any bike helmet is better than no bike helmet, but one with MIPS just adds that additional level of safety. So far I’ve been really happy with GIRO helmets, they are comfortable and come in fun colors.

Gregory Alpaca Duffel Bag

All my biking gear lives in this duffel bag. Its durable, water resistant and I love that I can wear it as a backpack when needed.

There you have it, my most recently loved gravel biking gear. What are some of your favorite cycling products?? Leave a comment below!