Essential bike gear for the morning commute

How to bike to work and get there in style
The benefits of biking to work are simple. The problem is how to avoid arriving sweaty and rumpled, or even worse, not arrive at all due to a distracted automobile driver. Thanks to new gear and clothing, it’s getting easier all the time.

Cruise Control
Working up a sweat on the way to work may be healthy but looks less than professional when you enter the office. Electra’s battery-powered pedal-assist Townie Go! can give you a boost. The 2016 model has a Bosch motor mounted mid-frame for a lower centre of gravity and better handling.
Available in Azure, Ebony, Lime, Polished Silver (women); Army Gray, Ebony, Graphite (men).
MSRP $3,499.99 at bicycle stores across B.C., electrabike.com

Wear to Go
Levi’s Commuter line of men’s and women’s pants, jackets and shoes look like regular street clothes but are designed for biking: the new men’s trucker jacket has reflective details, extra pockets for secure storage and a concealed zip-out hood. Then there’s comfort: gusseted shoulders for extra mobility, elongated back, back vent for breathability, and stretchy cotton-elastomultiester fabric with a water-resistant and dirt-repellent finish.
Available in black, Cougar and Indigo denim.
$158 from bicycle and clothing retailers, levi.com

In the Bag
A favourite with bike couriers, Chrome bags are street-tested, made to fit the body, adapt to a range of cargo, protect your gear and are guaranteed for life. The new Rostov daypack is made of military-grade materials with a padded laptop sleeve and internal organization.
Available in Fir/Orange/Snow or Indigo/Wrench Orange.
$152.92 from bicycle stores or online at Chrome ndustries, chromeindustries.com/ca/en

Suit Yourself
Vancouver’s Two Wheel Gear makes products to take commuters from the bike to the boardroom without a wrinkle. Its signature 55-litre Classic 2.0 suit bag, recently redesigned based on feedback from commuter fans, holds everything from clothes and shower gear to lunch and laptop, attaches to a rear bike rack and meets standard airline carry-on requirements.
$209 in 600D polyester with waterproof TPE coating and UV protection, $279 in waxed canvas at MEC and online at Two Wheel Gear, twowheelgear.com

Visible Difference
California-based Bontrager, which started out making light bikes, also makes lights for bikes. Its new Flare R tail light is the first one designed to be visible in daylight. It has two daytime and two night modes with 270-degree visibility up to two kilometres away. The battery lasts from four to 23 hours depending on whether the light is set to day or night mode and flashing or steady.
$69.99 from independently owned and operated bicycle stores, bontrager.com