StenCycle

Independent cycling gear advice

Gear advice for every kind of bike.

Stencycle breaks down the accessories for mountain, electric, kids, road, dirt, gravel and hybrid bikes: what each part actually does, which ones are worth buying, and which ones sit in a drawer forever.

Independent cycling gear advice

Buy the right bike gear. Once.

StenCycle turns a wall of specs into a decision. We test what we can, read the geometry charts you would rather not, and publish the reasoning behind every pick so you can disagree with it.

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Pick your bike

Every accessory guide is filed by the bike it is actually for, because a lock that suits a 4kg road bike is useless on a 28kg e-cargo.

All

Stencycle breaks down the accessories for mountain, electric, kids, road, dirt, gravel and hybrid bikes:
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All Bikes

Stencycle breaks down the accessories for mountain, electric, kids, road, dirt, gravel and hybrid bikes:
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Electric Bike

Stencycle breaks down the accessories for mountain, electric, kids, road, dirt, gravel and hybrid bikes:
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Gravel Bike

Stencycle breaks down the accessories for mountain, electric, kids, road, dirt, gravel and hybrid bikes:
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Pick your bike

Every accessory guide is filed by the bike it is actually for, because a lock that suits a 4kg road bike is useless on a 28kg e-cargo.

Apparel & Gloves

Gloves, jerseys, bib shorts, rain jackets, base layers and cold weather kit.

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Computers & GPS

Bike computers, GPS navigation, sensors, power meters and phone mounts.

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E-Bike Accessories

Chargers, spare batteries, heavier duty locks, torque-rated racks and e-bike specific parts.

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Helmets & Protection

Road, trail and commuter helmets, MIPS and rotational protection, knee and elbow pads.

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Hydration & Nutrition

Bottles, cages, hydration packs, insulated bottles and on-bike fuelling.

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Kids & Family

Child seats, trailers, balance bikes, kids helmets and family cycling gear.

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Lights & Visibility

Front and rear lights, lumens versus beam shape, daytime running lights and reflective.

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Locks & Security

U-locks, folding locks, chains, security ratings and how to lock a bike properly.

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Pedals & Shoes

Flat pedals, clipless systems, cleats, road and MTB shoes, and what to ride in.

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Pumps, Tools & Repair

Floor pumps, mini pumps, CO2, multi-tools, tubeless kits and roadside repair gear.

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Racks, Bags & Storage

Panniers, saddle bags, frame bags, rear racks, baskets and indoor bike storage.

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Saddles & Comfort

Saddles, grips, bar tape, seatposts, shorts and everything that stops the aching.

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Latest buying guides

Updated as prices move and new model years land. Every guide states who it is not for.

There is a unique freedom that comes with two wheels and an open road. Whether you are navigating busy city streets,…

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Bicycle 4

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Best Picks

One product at a time, with an evidence label on every verdict so you know what it rests on.

Settle the argument

Head to head comparisons for the decisions that stall people for weeks.

Guides

The background that makes every guide on this site easier to read.

Guides

We are a small editorial team that rides year round: commuting, gravel, trail and the school run. Our recommendations come from riding the gear, reading the spec sheets properly, and cross-checking long term owner reports for the failures that only show up after a wet winter.

 

We never take payment for a placement. Links to retailers are affiliate links, which is how the site pays for itself, and they never change which product we put first. Read the full method.

Use case first. “Best” only means anything once we know whether you lock up outside a station or store the bike in a hallway.

Failure modes matter. We weight the things that break: seals, mounts, batteries, hinges and cables.

No fake precision. If two products are effectively the same, we say so and tell you to buy the cheaper one.

Updated, not reposted. Guides carry an update date, and we change the verdict when the gear changes.