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25 Bike Upgrades For $25 or Less

Written by

Andrew J. Bernstein

If you're Chris Froome, you need those $4,000 wheels. The rest of us should first consider these clever, intuitive, and eminently affordable improvements.

Made from BPA-free plastic with a glass-infused inner surface, this bottle keeps potential chemical nasties from leaching into your water. More important: The Heart Valve cap delivers a robust stream of fluid with each squeeze and prevents drips—even if you leave the top open in your gear bag. It's available in a rainbow of hues to go with any frame color.

Free advice! Throw your bottle into the dishwasher after each ride to clean out gunk from drink mixes. No dishwasher? Buy a bottle brush to clean all the way inside.

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It's a little-known fact that a dropped chain can damage your bottom-bracket shell. The Dog Fang sits unobtrusively on your seat tube behind your crank and guides a misdirected chain back onto the little ring.

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Latex tubes save you (a little) weight. Even better: The thinner, flexible material can help improve road feel and decrease rolling resistance.

Free advice! Before installing an inner tube, partially inflate it and drop it into a plastic bag with a few sprinkles of talcum power. Shake the bag (hold the top closed) to coat the tube. The powder keeps the tube from sticking to the tire's casing, preventing wear. (Is it worth it? How to decide When to Splurge and When to Save on your bike gear.)

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Sound a friendly warning to pedestrians as you approach them, or just express your unbridled enthusiasm for riding a bicycle. This classic bell is one of our perennial favorites because of its bright, high-volume ding.

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Make your bike feel new again with Cinelli's cork tape. It's grippy enough to keep your palms in place--even when you're sweating--and provides just enough cushion to prevent sore hands. There are colors to match just about any bike.

Free advice! Black bike? White bar tape.

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Brighten your cockpit with these colorful hoods for Shimano, SRAM, or Campagnolo levers.

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Instead of cramming one more gel into your jersey pocket, use this elastic strap to secure snacks to your stem.

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Wrap this rubber tape around your mountain bike's chainstay to shield the vulnerable spot. Seven feet offers plenty of protection for even the most abused bikes.

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Whether you ride a Bush-era beater (the first Bush, that is) or an $11,000 race bike, Zipp's bar-end plugs add a touch of flair that even the most jaded rider in your pack will notice.

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Sometimes you don't realize how much play is in your pedals until you get new cleats. Most cleats have wear indicators that show when you're due--check them regularly and replace them before they're worn out.

Free advice! Mark the position of your old cleats with a marker before removing them.

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Drops too short? These aluminum end plugs lengthen your reach by a few critical centimeters for extra leverage.

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Cleats wear out quickly when they come into contact with pavement. Kool Kovers—available for Shimano, Look, and Speedplay—help them last longer.

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Wet your bike, spray on this biodegradable cleaner, and use a brush to loosen dirt. Rinse thoroughly, then admire the sparkle.

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This thin lubricant contains a special formula that discourages grit and grime from accumulating on your chain so it stays cleaner for longer.

Free advice! Apply ProGold, then wipe it off thoroughly by holding the chain with a clean rag and turning the pedals backward.

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Whether you run tubeless tires on your road or mountain bike, Stan's valves make setup smoother. Instead of pouring sealant into the tire before seating the bead—and risking a spill—unscrew the valve's core and inject the liquid through the stem for a mess-free install. Lose your core? A new one is just $2.

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Stay safe by making yourself visible on rides that stretch past sundown with this low-profile, easy-to-install light. Seven LED bulbs provide 220 degrees of illumination for visibility up to a mile.

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Clip these plastic mudguards onto any 26-inch bike for rattle-free protection from water and grime. Your feet still get wet, but your butt stays dry.

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Protect your private equipment from chafing with a healthy dose of chamois cream. There are many options, but Paceline is known for its consistency, easy application, and long-lasting comfort.

Free advice! Apply chamois cream to the pad of your shorts before putting them on.

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It's no more functional than a standard headset cap, but this kit lets you install a beer-bottle cap on your headset, boosting your bike's character. The acronym stands for "you are what you drink." Cheers.

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Handmade in Colorado, these elegantly simple cages are the perfect counterpoint to bold carbon frame shapes. The steel holds your bottle tight so you'll never suffer pothole-induced thirst again.

Free advice! Grease the bolt threads when installing cages to make them easier to remove and to keep rust at bay.

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Not just a classic accessory, this is a near-mandatory addition to your around-town ride.

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These slick, corrosion-resistant cables ensure smoother shifting on any bike, but especially ones with internal routing.

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It's surprisingly easy to damage costly components by overtightening bolts. Increase the longevity of your parts with this incredibly useful and money-saving torque wrench. It's set to the ideal force for cockpit components on most bikes and is small enough to fit in a jersey pocket or seat bag.

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The gritty texture increases friction so carbon stems, seatposts, and handlebars stay in place with less torque than they'd otherwise need. That way, there's less risk of overtightening and ruining expensive parts.

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This tiny bag has just enough space for a spare tube, CO2, tire lever, and a wadded-up Jackson, making it perfect for riders who reserve their pockets for food, clothes, and a phone. Three hook-and-loop straps secure it to your saddle and seatpost. Once installed, the bag all but disappears—until it's time to fix a flat.

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