Decluttering a bike
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Decluttering a bike
I’m after some tips and tricks that can be employed to declutter a bike so that it looks a little more stock, yet still has all of the essential accessories that are needed on typical rides - lights, bottle, bell, etc.
I’ve thought about mounting the front light upside down under the handlebar but some front lights cannot be mounted this way due to the lens pattern.
So, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried to declutter a bike purely for aesthetic reasons and what they came up with.
I’ve thought about mounting the front light upside down under the handlebar but some front lights cannot be mounted this way due to the lens pattern.
So, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried to declutter a bike purely for aesthetic reasons and what they came up with.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,063
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4408 Post(s)
Liked 1,561 Times
in
1,024 Posts
I have quick release lights and a quick release rear fender. I only mount them as needed.
#3
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,834 Times
in
2,229 Posts
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#4
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
The most clutter free bikes were made in the middle to late 80s when they had down tube shifters. BTW they were almost totally friction free too, and seldom went out of adjustment.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#6
Sr Member on Sr bikes
I’m after some tips and tricks that can be employed to declutter a bike so that it looks a little more stock, yet still has all of the essential accessories that are needed on typical rides - lights, bottle, bell, etc.
I’ve thought about mounting the front light upside down under the handlebar but some front lights cannot be mounted this way due to the lens pattern.
So, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried to declutter a bike purely for aesthetic reasons and what they came up with.
I’ve thought about mounting the front light upside down under the handlebar but some front lights cannot be mounted this way due to the lens pattern.
So, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried to declutter a bike purely for aesthetic reasons and what they came up with.
Maybe you can post a pic of your bike...as is...and we can make recommendations.
Dan
#7
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
My bikes only have the essentials which I find useful...A bell, full fenders and water bottle cages...Lights are seasonal and I only mount them and use them in the fall/winter. During spring/summer I take my lights off... I don't have any bike computers or smartphones on my handlebars because I find them annoying and distracting.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,973
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,677 Times
in
827 Posts
I commute, therefore I clutter.
#11
Senior Member
I’m after some tips and tricks that can be employed to declutter a bike so that it looks a little more stock, yet still has all of the essential accessories that are needed on typical rides - lights, bottle, bell, etc.
I’ve thought about mounting the front light upside down under the handlebar but some front lights cannot be mounted this way due to the lens pattern.
So, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried to declutter a bike purely for aesthetic reasons and what they came up with.
I’ve thought about mounting the front light upside down under the handlebar but some front lights cannot be mounted this way due to the lens pattern.
So, I was wondering whether anyone else has tried to declutter a bike purely for aesthetic reasons and what they came up with.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
I found that it's easy to just take everything off of it, except the under-seat bag and maybe bike computer, when I have a second bike ready to go with all that stuff on it. So if I want fenders, rack, light and so on, I can always grab bike #2 without feeling that I've compromised by cluttering or else doing without.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,973
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,677 Times
in
827 Posts
i found that it's easy to just take everything off of it, except the under-seat bag and maybe bike computer, when i have a second bike ready to go with all that stuff on it. So if i want fenders, rack, light and so on, i can always grab bike #2 without feeling that i've compromised by cluttering or else doing without.
#15
The Left Coast, USA
Why in the world would anyone need a bike computer, other than someone training for competition.
Are you being graded on your ride?
Crazy, a sign of the times.....
Are you being graded on your ride?
Crazy, a sign of the times.....
#16
Senior Member
If so, that is the only other bike I have seen one on. =)
I hate having to use a tailbag, it looks horrible on the bike.
I have been searching for a handlebar bag or a top tube bag but have not found one that looks good on the bike, or stays out of the way when out of the saddle.
Some bikes just looks better with nothing on them at all.
#17
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
Get a dedicated commuter bike. That way it can carry the lights, racks, fenders, etc all the time, and your other bike doesnt need more than a water bottle and a patch kit.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
As for an example of cluttering, here's the cockpit of my mountain bike:
On my fatbike I've decluttered a tiny bit by getting a clever dual-mount from Garmin that takes my Garmin Edge up top and a light (Garmin Varia UT800 which is Go Pro mount compatible) underneath it like this:
#20
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,834 Times
in
2,229 Posts
......and it was affordable.
Pray, show me a bike wearing another 1” threadless. Please.
#21
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,834 Times
in
2,229 Posts
All these replies........
hahahahahahahaha
any serious cyclist has a computer....
bell on bottom of stem.....
lights and blinkies for the trail.....
To declutter your bike, you must first declutter your Mind. At least on most of your non-commuting, non-touring, pretty bicycles.
hahahahahahahaha
any serious cyclist has a computer....
bell on bottom of stem.....
lights and blinkies for the trail.....
To declutter your bike, you must first declutter your Mind. At least on most of your non-commuting, non-touring, pretty bicycles.
#22
Senior Member
Sadly, I stripped a bolt and had to replace it.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Creede CO in summer & Okeechobee, FL or TX Gulf Coast in winter
Posts: 742
Bikes: Zenetto Stealth road bike & Sundeal M7 MTN bike
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 90 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
If bell needed this one is hard to see takes up very little space and works pretty good. Ring bell
#24
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
The cockpit on my townie / path bike is pretty clean. Single bottle cage and a small seat bag. Pretty much everything I need for any ride that's not a commute or training ride
Last edited by Ironfish653; 06-26-18 at 11:27 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Winfried
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
25
10-20-19 08:02 AM
daoswald
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
5
03-07-19 08:17 AM
matchpoints
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
0
11-14-11 11:49 PM
no1mad
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
15
05-02-11 07:11 PM