Fancy an upgrade in 2021? We’re putting our bikes in a time machine!
There are plenty of components and features that will make your bike a more attractive option throughout 2021. So don’t despair if that new bike you were dreaming of hasn’t worked out, and instead take advantage of the various ways you can upgrade your current bike to suit you.
“Unfortunately not in stock”, “Not available until the autumn”, “We’ll see if there’s something in the next delivery”, “It’s on order, but I can’t say when it’ll be available” – in the bike industry we’ve heard these things all too often in recent weeks and months. After all, we are still in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re looking to upgrade your bike and don’t want to wait for the delivery shortages in the bike trade to end, there are a few technical and visual features you can take advantage of to tune your old bike for 2021. Let’s go!
Make your city bike more practical
Is your city bike still in good condition but not very useful for cycling to uni or to work, as you can’t carry any of your bags with you? The new Double Rack 28 (https://www.fahrer-berlin.de/4-taschentraeger/rack-28-2021-hinterrad-gepaecktraeger-schwarz/a-2084) is an elegant and lightweight back wheel rack with pannier mounts on both sides. It’s suitable for all bags with standard carrier mounts and can carry up to 12 kg when loaded evenly on both sides.
Protect your trousers
Another way to upgrade your city bike is to fit side chain guards. For relative little outlay, they offer plenty of benefits: the chain and sprocket are protected from the weather, meaning that they don’t wear as quickly, and your trouser legs are shielded from mud and other dirt. SKS chain guards (https://www.sks-germany.com/en/productcategories/chain-guards/) are made from impact-resistant plastic and aluminium and don’t just look stylish – they’re also easy to attach and adapt thanks to their adjustable profile.
Looking for more bling?
The 4-piece reflective spoke card set from Bike Citizens provides more safety and individuality – even in rain and snow. The unique bike reflectors are available in four designs, each with four creative artworks. Pimp for more bling: https://getfinn.com/de/product/bling-bling-wheel-reflector-bling-collections/
Make your mountain bike more stylish
Have you had to start the mountain bike season with your old bike because of delivery delays? Then it’s time for a technical and stylistic upgrade! The TATZE MC-FLY click pedal (https://tatze-bike.com/collections/pedale/products/mc-fly), an ultra-light and compact click pedal for trail bikes, won the Design & Innovation Award 2021 and offers quick clicking in and out as well as perfect contact between pedal and shoe.
If you’re one of those cyclists who prefers to lower their seat post manually, then it might be worth investing in an adjustable seat post. The MAGURA Vyron eLECT (https://www.magura.com/de/components/bike/dropper-post/productdetailpage/?p=16513) uses a wireless remote control, which means it doesn’t matter if you’ve got an older bike with a frame that doesn’t allow internal wiring.
Make your e-bike safer and more visible
At e-bike speeds, a “normal” light isn’t enough. Bicycle light specialists Busch & Müller have developed the IQ-XL (https://www.bumm.de/en/products/e-bike-beleuchtung/produkt/169u65ts-01%20.html), which is probably the brightest high beam headlight on the market. It produces 300 lux in low beam mode and 250 lux in high beam mode, with a steady beam that spreads far and wide, and you simply mount the easy-to-use button on the handlebar.
To increase safety and visibility even further, why not fit the LINE BRAKE PLUS (https://www.bumm.de/en/products/dynamo-rucklichter/produkt/323-5altv.html?), an LED rear light with brake light functionality from Busch & Müller? It works using sensors, which increase the strength of the rear light when you slow down to warn traffic behind you. These integrated sensors mean that no signal wires are required from the brake handle.
You can also customise your e-bike with a reflective battery kit (https://www.fahrer-berlin.de/en/reflective-battery-kit/a-1933), which really shows off its reflective properties at night. The “FAHRER-Berlin” stickers were designed and produced in cooperation with sheltered workshops.
