Buying guides
Which one, for the job you actually have
A hub compares everything in a family. A guide answers one question — a budget, a first lock for someone who has never had a bike stolen, a chain that will still be the right speed count in five years — with a ranked shortlist and a reason for the order.
- Smart turbo trainers
The best turbo trainer for app-based training
Three ways onto a training app, ordered by how much of the setup the trainer removes rather than by price.
- GPS bike computers
The best bike computer for multi-day touring
Three computers ordered by the two figures that decide a tour: stated battery hours, and whether the map works with no signal.
- Speed, cadence and heart rate sensors
The best speed and cadence sensor for a head unit you already own
Three sensors ordered by the protocols they broadcast on, which is what decides whether they still work with your next computer.
- Towbar bike racks
The best towbar rack for two e-bikes
Three racks ordered by whether they publish a payload figure, because two e-bikes weigh what three ordinary bikes weigh.
- Roof and boot bike racks
The best bike rack for a car with no towbar
Three ways to carry bikes without a towbar, ordered by how many bikes each takes and what it costs you in access and setup.
- Bike locks
The best bike lock for leaving a bike in a city
Three locks ordered by whether an independent scheme has rated them, because that is the only claim on a lock you can check.
- Bike GPS trackers
The best bike tracker for recovering a stolen bike
Three trackers ordered by whether they report on their own or depend on someone else's phone walking past.
- Bike lights
The best bike light for roads with no street lighting
Three light sets ordered by the stated lux figure, which describes the light on the road rather than the light in the bulb.
- Adult bike helmets
The best bike helmet for being seen after dark
Three helmets with built-in lighting, ordered by how much light they add and what they give up for it.
- Track pumps
The best track pump for a household with several bikes
Three track pumps ordered by the two things that decide a weekly pressure check: barrel height and how many valve types the head takes.
- Mini pumps and CO2 inflators
The best way to get home after a puncture
Three ways to reinflate at the roadside, ordered by how many attempts each gives you rather than by how fast it works.
- Electric tire inflators
The best cordless inflator for bikes and a car
Three cordless inflators ordered by the figures they publish: pressure ceiling, tires per charge, and how low the preset can be set.
- Multi-tools and torque wrenches
The best torque wrench for carbon parts
Three torque wrenches ordered by their lowest usable setting, because carbon clamps are specified at 4 to 6 Nm and not higher.
- Bike repair stands
The best repair stand for a heavy bike
Three repair stands ordered by whether they publish a load rating, because an e-bike weighs twice what a stand is usually designed for.
- Panniers and bikepacking bags
The best waterproof pannier for commuting with a laptop
Three panniers ordered by closure and seam construction, because a roll-top with welded seams and a zip are two different levels of dry.
- Bike transport bags and boxes
The best bike bag for taking a bike on a train
Three transport bags ordered by how far each will actually travel: a train, a car boot, or an aircraft hold.
- Bike cleaning kits
The best bike cleaning kit for a drivetrain
Three kits ordered by whether they include a drivetrain cleaner or only the brushes, because a chain needs solvent and not soap.
- Mudguards, kickstands and bells
The best mudguards for a winter commute
Full-coverage guards, clip-on guards for frames with no eyelets, and the bell that is a legal requirement in much of Europe.