The Best Bike Accessories for Road and Gravel Riding (2024)

Updated May 8, 2024 10:47AM

From mid-ride hydration mixes to ride-saving tools to simple storage solutions, we’ve gathered a selection of the best bike accessory needs and wants to make the most of your next ride. Looking for a new kit that will keep you airy and comfy over hundreds of miles? An activity tracker that delivers real-time ride data? A handheld massage tool for post-ride recovery? You’ve come to the right place.

At a Glance

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

SpeedSleev Ranger 2.0 Saddle Bag

Self-sufficiency on the bike isn’t a must, but we highly suggest riding with enough gear to get you home in the event of a flat tire or worse. SpeedSleev’s Ranger 2.0 saddle bag offers a minimalist approach to carrying just enough gear to get you home in a pinch. With the capacity to fit two tubes, two C02 canisters, an inflator, tire levers, plugs, and a multi-tool, we found ourselves prepared for the all too common roadside tube swap.

Whoop 4.0 Activity Tracker

Pros and Cons
⊕ Easy-to-use
⊕ Barely there feel
⊗ Inaccurate measurements when not properly fitted

Whoop’s 4.0 band provides an informative look into heart rate data with clear, easy-to-interpret graphs available through the Whoop app. The 4.0 will track heart rate day and night, providing users with valuable data like resting heart rate and heart rate variability to help athletes customize training and recovery routines. Bonus: The Whoop can also pair to a cycling computer via Bluetooth to broadcast live heart rate data on the road.

Feedback Sports Velo Hinge 2.0 Mounting System

Pros and Cons
⊕ Space-saving design
⊕ Simple installation
⊗ Vertical mounting only

Feedback Sports is best known for its array of tools and quality cycling equipment. At $40, the Velo Hinge is the brand’s most affordable wall-mounted bike storage solution, offering multiple vertical hanging positions. Installation is quick; just three screws are needed to mount the system to a stud. It’s proven to be a favorite thanks to its space-saving, compact nature.

Craig’s Tool

Craig’s Tool is the product of a lifelong industry engineer looking to capitalize on the minimalist desires of gram-conscious cyclists. At 32 grams, the multitool provides the six most common bits (2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, and T25) you’ll need for road and gravel bike adjustments or repairs. Its sleek, high-strength aluminum L-shaped handle and additional tire plugs provide a simple yet effective set of tools that served us well for unexpected roadside stops.

Roll Recovery R8 Plus Deep Tissue Massage Tool

Pros and Cons
⊕ Ideal for big muscles of the leg
⊕ Adjustable pressure
⊗ Springs wear out over time

Like many athletes, cyclists are big on post-ride recovery massages, and the Roll R8 Plus allows us to administer our own deep tissue massage at home with a 360-degree squeezing action. An adjustment knob allows for easy tension selection to dial in various levels of force to target one’s glutes, quads, hamstrings, and more.

Q36.5 Dottore Clima Jersey and Dottore Clima Bib

Pros and Cons
⊕ Highly breathable
⊕ Premium quality chamois
⊗ Delicate

A quality kit can have a seemingly high sticker price, but your body will be grateful for the investment down the road. Produced in Italy, each piece of Q35.6’s Clima collection oozes quality craftsmanship and remarkable breathability. In the jersey, the use of graphene yarn—alongside a blend of 60 percent polyester, 28 percent elastane, and 12 percent polyamide—enhances cooling with its inherent thermoregulating properties. In the bibs, a proprietary chamois provides a highly breathable cushion for the longest rides on your calendar.

We tested the kit over 100 miles at California’s Tour de Palm Springs and were pleased with its all-day comfort, and, after six months of hard riding, it retains much of its original elasticity and grip. Bonus: Q36.5’s warranty policy covers the practical lifetime of the product and offers repair services for a small charge.

Garmin Edge 540 Solar GPS

Pros and Cons
⊕ Great tracking with no battery anxiety
⊗ UI has a steep learning curve

A cycling computer, while not an essential accessory, is one of those nice-to-haves if you’re looking for navigation assistance and extensive data on your rides. The Garmin’s Edge 540 is our favorite thanks to its mid-ride solar charging capabilities which gives it up to a claimed 32 hours of battery life (and 60+ in battery saver mode), making it ideal for an all-day adventure without the worry of battery anxiety.

A multitude of sensors pair with its ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, and multi-band GNSS provides class-leading positioning data.

Oakley Sphaera Sunglasses

Oakley’s Sphaera is the latest sport-oriented release from the eyewear giant. A lightweight, half-wrap frame and a wide lens pair for a modern fit that falls in line with the oversized glasses trend of recent years. We appreciated the breathable central vent, polarized lenses, and rubber-covered arms that added comfort. For $271, the Sphaera is on the high end of the eyewear price spectrum, but we find Oakley’s consistently high quality helps justify the price tag.

Tailwind Nutrition Rapid Hydration Drink Mix

Pros and Cons
⊕ Light
⊕ Easily digestible
⊗ Not enough calories for long rides

Whether you’re taking a quick spin through the park or spending a day in the mountains, staying fueled is one of the simplest steps any cyclist can take to improve the quality of their ride. Colorado-based Tailwind Nutrition produces a variety of refreshing, easy-to-digest drink mixes, from calorie-packed to calorie-light.

The brand’s 45-calorie Rapid Hydration mix is available in five flavors: orange, strawberry lemonade, lemon lime, raspberry, and berry. Testers found these did the trick for shorter, sub-two-hour rides, but felt the need to fuel with additional carbs for longer days in the saddle.

How We Test

Our group of testers, made up of men and women across the country, put more than a dozen cycling accessories to the test on various rides and races during diverse training schedules. Some were preparing for marquee road and gravel events while others were more concerned about the weekly coffee ride.

Each product we tested earned a grade based on qualitative and quantitative characteristics like functionality, simplicity, and usefulness. The bike gear and gadgets on this list impressed our crew in all departments.

Meet Our Lead Tester

David Kennedy has been riding road and gravel bikes for 15 years and has been writing about the latest tech in the sport since 2017. He’s toed the line at premier road and gravel events nationwide, including the Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego and the Unbound 200. When he’s not writing or riding, he’s pulling apart bikes at his local shop and connecting with the diverse cycling community around his hometown of Los Angeles.

The Best Bike Accessories for Road and Gravel Riding (and Racing)