In our book, Becoming A Consummate Athlete, I wrote a lot about the importance of editing (paring down) and organizing your gear. This isn’t just so it looks tidy, this is to save you serious time getting ready to ride or run. If you think about how much time you waste most days hunting down your multi-tool, glasses, matching socks, kneewarmers, etc. plus ensuring that your devices are all charged, it can be a huge time-suck.
I also believe that your gear should spark joy for you, Marie Kondo style. I think that the nicer your gear looks, the more exciting it is to put it on and get out the door, and the more you appreciate the gear that you do have. I remember a friend of ours had a sunglasses rack she’d gotten at a shop that was shutting down and it was in her gear room, and it honestly made her old sunglasses suddenly look like a million bucks. It also inspires you to keep your gear clean when it’s nicely displayed! Accessories are among the toughest bits to organize, especially for easy access.
So, if you’re thinking about upgrading your gear, first, I urge you to think about upgrading your storage first… You know how gear looks amazing when you see it on sale online, or in a store like one of the Rapha Cycle Clubs? It turns out the same gear, once you buy it and chuck it into your messy gear pile, doesn’t have the same allure. For the price of a new pair of sunglasses or a helmet, you could get ALL of these things, and make your old gear potentially feel a little more ‘new’ again. It’s always worth asking if you can clean or re-organize before upgrading.
The other bright side? If your gear space looks like this, your partner is much more likely to let you keep more stuff out/bring more stuff in, versus if it’s all crammed into random bins and boxes and looks like garbage.
Hanging Rack
I actually LOVE the idea of a hanging rack for your in-season/oft-used gear like jackets, shoes, helmets etc., whether you have it in your gear room, your garage, your bedroom or near your trainer set up. I think it instantly makes your old cycling jackets and bibs look much nicer—and easier to grab what you need. Bonus: For hang-dry only clothing, it’s an easy way to put away clothes at the same time you’re hanging them to dry! (Get it here.)
Got garage space? I really love this industrial pipe clothing rack that mounts to a wall for a truly boutique-y feel for your kit.
And of course, the real key here is matching hangers. I love a velvet hanger since it keeps slinky spandex from slipping.
Clear Shelving
Seriously, how boutiquey does that picture look? Of course, if your aesthetic is more natural, you could go with wooden shelves and some potted succulents hanging off of a corkboard-style pegboard, but I love the sleek vibe that these floating clear shelves have. As someone who’s a total sucker for presentation, I deeply appreciate that these make sunglasses seem way fancier, and on a practical note, I think displaying them like this helps push you to keep them clean and wiped down. Get them here
… Or if you have a counter space but no wall space, you could go with a stackable acrylic organizer like this one for displaying glasses/GPS computer/sunscreeen/chamois cream/etc. for a boutiquey vibe—which honestly makes such a big mental difference when it comes to loving your gear you already own! Get it here
Pegboard with Accessories
I love that for under $50, you can get a 22×22 inch pegboard kit with Pegboards and Accessories. This is so good for the little odds and ends, as well as displaying your favorite cycling caps. I’d also use it for things like gels, plus use the clips to hang gloves and headphones and put things like multitools and pumps in the little containers. (I do have this pegboard and I’ve actually used it for toiletries on the inside of a cabinet drawer in our bathroom to great effect as well! Get it here
Charging Station
Don’t sleep on a charging station! This has been one of the most useful upgrades I’ve made to how we get ready to ride and run. I love a charger setup built into the pegboard, which I absolutely love, but wherever you put one, having a spot for all of your devices is an absolute must.
Just the outlet: I love these new powerstrips-in-an-outlet that come with regular plugs as well as USB options, so you can have your bike, GPS, lights, whatever, all plugged into the same spot. Get it here
Or get a more crafted charging block so it all actually looks great and avoids wires getting knotted together. Get it here
