Top cycling gear for commuting and riding this fall

Here are our top choices for cycling gear this fall season, whether you’re commuting to the office, or to the nearest coffee shop on the weekend.

Opus E-big City electric bike, $3,499 CAD

There is no better way to get to work or another urban destination than a bicycle. It’s healthy, fun, and fast. Bicycle commuting also makes economic sense. But not all city bikes are made the same. An ideal bicycle for the city needs to be nimble, work well in all weather conditions, and be reliably safe to name just a few important points. That’s why it was such a pleasure to review the E-big City from Opus, an electric bike designed with the city in mind.

Let’s take a look at what makes this new bicycle, priced at $3,499(CAN), such a force in the urban wilds.

The past few weeks, we’ve been putting this bicycle through the paces on the streets of Canada’s biggest city. And, from the first pedal, the powerful Shimano E5000 motor and 418Wh battery that drives the E-big City impressed.

The battery is housed on the down tube. Although different models of e-bike have the battery in different locations, the down tube is ideal for commuters who can easily lock up the bike, and then unlock the battery and carry it up to work for charging before the ride home. Operating the locking system is a breeze.

This pedal-assist e-bike has a display control that sits beside the left handgrip. Here, basic information is displayed regarding speed and distance, as well as allowing riders to choose from three levels of power assist.

This feature is significant as it pertains to battery life, amongst other things. While traveling on flat roads or declines the highest level of assist isn’t needed, but going up any significant hills, it is easy to increase the assist, lower the gear to increase pedal stroke, and ascending is a cinch. The pedal assist and controls flatten and cut the city in half making any destination a reasonable and sweat-free ride.

The 1-9 gear ratio worked well, and we certainly weren’t missing anything on this point.

When Momentum first picked up the E-big City what followed was a bicycle trip of approximately 25 kilometers. One that includes a trip through the downtown core, along the waterfront, and up a significant hill to the final destination. So, there was no waiting to test out the battery life and the motor.

With the E-big City, the pedal-assist automatically cuts out at the legal limit of 32 km/h. So, this bicycle is not a speedster, and that’s just fine. It has its own purpose. It’s also got some weight to it, clocking in at 43.6 pounds with the battery.

The battery has a range of 125 kilometers on a full charge with will last approximately six hours. When tested on frequent jaunts of multiple hours there was never an issue of battery life, and the amount of energy remaining in the battery is clearly indicated on the display.

On the ride back from the shop, the 25 kilometers flew by with relative ease. And, one of the best features regarding the motor was the quickness of the assist that allows cyclists to almost immediately get up to a reasonable city travel speed and stay there. In urban areas, there is little use for traveling too quickly, especially without protected bike lanes. More protected bike lanes! But traveling at a good and steady clip, easily, is essential.

In addition, the city of Toronto always presents any number of hazards while commuting: streetcar tracks, massive potholes, construction debris, and just rickety old roadways. Not to mention random pedestrians popping up here and there.

The E-big City is equipped with the perfect tires to tackled city streets. The Kenda Kwick Seven.5 27.5 x 2.4 are substantial in thickness, but not overbearing. Meaning, there were no issues pedaling over obstacles, avoiding any streetcar track issues, or really anything the city threw in front of it. But, with an aluminum frame and fork, it was also nimble and maneuverable.

One trip included a somewhat brief, but quite hefty deluge of rain. What luck! To commute by bicycle means to handle the rain, whether on a regular bike or an e-bike. The E-big City is, of course, water-resistant, and continued to function admirably despite a serious amount of rain. The Shimano MT201 hydraulic disc brakes were sharp and responsive and provided very good braking power even when at high speeds in the rain.

The Opus E-big City is also equipped with front and rear fenders that did wonders, and are essential equipment for any serious two-wheeled commuter. There are also front and rear rack mounts, again a boon for city commuters.

For comfort, the saddle and seat post do a fine job. Nothing to get over the moon above. But enough cushion for the average rider. The handgrips are contoured and padded, although were a bit slippery during the rain.

There is a solid, well-functioning kickstand that we found ideal, and used all the time. Why doesn’t every bicycle have one of these? It’s such a simple thing. More kickstand!

The flat black colourway offers an understated style without drawing too much attention. Just how we like our bicycles.

So, is this the e-bike to tour long distances in the countryside? Maybe not. But it is a fantastic e-bike for the city, and would make commuting a breeze. We thoroughly enjoyed our time checking out the E-big City and were impressed by both its reliable power, and its myriad of features designed for urban cycling.

Opus bicycles are designed in Montreal, Canada, many of which are hand-assembled right at the headquarters. And we like that. The brand concentrates a lot of its efforts on bicycles made for cities.

Please, check out the E-big City if in the market for an e-bike city commuter.

Terry Bicycles Carving Skirt, $139US
Oh, this is a good one. There is a great pleasure that comes with pulling on a warm and puffy skirt like this over tights or leggings for cold-weather commutes. It’s a combination of puffy and stretch knitting to ensure a comfortable fit for cycling but keeping the coziness factor on high. It’s also got a little stash pocket and some stylish detailing.

Chrome Citizen Messenger Bag, $150
There are few things finer than a new bag for the fall, whether going back to back, into the office for the first time in a while or just to treat yourself. And, wrapping on a Citizen Messenger Bag from Chrome Industries will fit all of these scenarios.

This is the one that started the messenger bag trend, and it continues to improve and lead the way with its signature quick-release seatbelt strap at the ready. This bag is made for commuting by bicycle. It’s easy to sling over the shoulder and snap on and slide it around the front to access the massive storage space without having to take it off. Inside, the floating bucket liner offers separate wet and dry compartments.

There are reflective compression straps to secure valuables and a slew of pockets for everything from a u-lock to a laptop. There’s even a bottle opener behind the buckle. What more do you need?

Lem Express Commuter Helmet, $55US
Investing in a new helmet is a solid fall tradition. And a Lem Express Helmet offers a great mix of style and function. The Express is an everyday cycling helmet that features a three-mode rear LED light, a removable visor, and side/rear reflective decals.

The Lem, which has been making helmets for 45 years, is packed with features, but what sets it apart is the GelMotion technology for the management of high and low-energy impacts as well as rotational and oblique impacts. Long story short, a lot of thought and research went into making this helmet very protective for those commutes along busy and often sketchy city streets.

Other features include quick-release buckle and strap adjusters, reflective strap webbing and reflective read and side decals, 11 vents, and a micro-dial to ensure a snug and customized fit.

Endura Luminite Jacket II, $159.99US
If one is in the market for a solid all-weather cycling jacket, one of the best is the Luminite jacket from Scottish brand Endura.

Between fall and spring, bike commuters would benefit from a jacket that offers protection from the elements, while moderating temperatures inside the jacket so riders don’t overheat and get all sweaty on the way to their destination. The Luminite has a waterproof rating of 10,000mm and taped seams ensure water doesn’t get inside while it also offers exceptional breathability. The rating means the Luminite should be protective enough to keep the water at bay during light to moderate rains, but perhaps not serious rainstorms.

The fact that it is super bright and has plenty of large reflective panels all over the place is another benefit, especially when we begin to lose daylight. In addition, there is a zippered chest pocket, handwarmer pockets with a microfleece lining, and large underarm vents for cooling down.
Overall, this nicely cut jacket will keep you dry and visible this fall.

Craft Cadence Cycling Wallet, $43US
This cleverly designed product is a fantastic addition to a fall commuting gear quiver offering a super-dry case for smartphones, while also giving in-the-know cyclists a great wallet and tool organizer at the same time.
Craft Cadence has designed the cycling wallet to replace a saddlebag and is easily stored in your jersey pocket.

According to Craft Cadence, the wallet had dedicated pockets for the following items: a smartphone up to 6.8 inches, coins, and patches, cards, cash, keys, tools (CO2 canister, inner tubes, tire levers, mini-pumps, small Allen keys), as well as snacks like gels.

The case is seam welded for serious rain protection and as rain-resistant zippers for durability.

Velocio Women’s Micromodal Long Sleeve, $149US
This stylish and warm jersey offers plenty of versatility for those fall rides that start chilly and misty and end up warm and sunny. You know the ones. We love them, but preparation is key. This shirt has great moisture wicking thanks to the natural fibers, while it is also strongly anti-microbial. And we all know how important that is. There is no zipper, and it has a few sweet colourway that would fit on a longer fitness ride or commute, or even a jaunt down to the coffee shop on a Saturday morning. It doesn’t have as much of a compressed fit as other cycling jerseys, which we like. And it is UPF 30+.

Sogreni Fenders, €148,00
Those bicycling commuting would benefit greatly from a set of mud flaps, or fenders, anything to keep the muddy waters at bay long enough to make it to a destination high and dry.

Sogreni is a Danish bicycles and accessories brand that has been turning out some pretty fantastic and functional wares such as these mud flaps for the past 40 years.

The slim and stylish fenders, which come in widths of 50mm and 33mm, are constructed of solid materials such as wood, aluminum, brass, and copper instead of plastic, and are sold in sets of two. Each set comes with all the necessary hardware and comes pre-bent to the curvature of a bicycle tire from 20 to 28 inches.

Kryptonite New York Lock, $119.95US
While the pandemic introduced even more people to the wonders of the humble bicycle, it also gave evil bike thieves many new targets. New bicycle owners are often unaware of just how often thefts occur and are even unaware of the best practices when it comes to locking up a bike.

Rule number one, no bicycle locks are not all created equally. Yes, most thieves with some experience will eventually break a lock, but it is often about being fast and unseen. And that means targeting bicycles with sub-standard locks.

The New York Lock by Kryptonite is one of the highest-ranked locks for security. And that’s what you want. You want a would-be thief to see a difficult lock and move on to the next one.

The New York Lock has a 16mm hardened steel shackle, and the highest security disc-style cylinder, which is resistant to drills and picks.
It also comes with a flex-frame u-bracket, and a dust cover to protect from dirt and street gunk.

Duer Performance Denim Relaxed, $129US
This popular brand boasts of its place amongst the world’s most comfortable pants, and we don’t think they are far off, which is what makes them so popular with cyclists. Pants such as the Performance Denim line or the No Sweat line look great and are comfortable and flexible enough to offer a full range of motion when commuting. From the bike to the office is a cinch. The Performance Denim pants are composed of cotton, Coolmax all-season polyester, and a smattering of spandex for good measure.