i'm getting a new bike on saturday and it's going to be 99% for city riding. so now i have to invest in a helmet and lock. do any of you riders have any suggestions/recommendations? I don't need anything fancy, and I'm not looknig to break the bank. Just something that works. The only time I'm really going to lock it up is when I go somewhere during the day. At home I'll just keep it in my garage. I imagine a U-lock is the best type? and buying a used helmet off of craiglist/ebay would be kind of like buying someone's used socks, right

what bike are you buying

actually, a friend of mine who only spends money on bikes and computers is giving me one. he has five bikes. i'm getting the Gary Fisher Joshua Y.

i'm pretty excited to use this as my main mode of transportation to and from work

does he need any shirts

Never buy a used helmet. The structural integrity can be all messed up and you would never know it. Also, buy a new lock as it was discovered that some old Krypto locks can be opened with a Bic pen.

i'll ask him.
i think the very least I can do for this fine gentleman is make him a fantastic steak dinner.

yeah, i definitely am going to go new for both the helmet and lock. My friend says Giro helmets are good? And people can get thru a chain lock easier than a u-lock, right?

Yeah U's are better.

Yeah you can't go wrong with a Giro or a Bell helmet.

With a U lock, you'll have to take the front wheel off when you lock the bike up, or else someone will take it. On my commute, I use a Kryptoflex cable ( http://www.kryptonitelock.com/inetisscr ... em&pgrp=20 ) and a combo lock- the cable is long enough so you can lock the bike to just about anything, and still lock up the front/rear/frame.

As for helmets, there's a lot of good ones. Giros seem to be priced higher than others around here. They all fit differently- you'll have to try several on and see which conforms to your noggin best. Some are one size fits most, with an adjustable retaining device on the back that kinda clamps the helmet to your skull. That's pretty convenient. Make sure you have an expert fit you so you're not wearing the helmet tipped back on your head- you want it sitting level for the best protection.

fp

oh no shit, i didn't realize that you have to take the front wheel off w/ a u-lock. wouldn't that be a pain in the ass after a while? then again, so is getting your bike ganked. do you have to disassemble anything when using that cable lock you linked to?

i apologize in advance if any of these questions are stupid and/or redundant. I really don't know anything about bikes except for how to ride them.

I go with 2 locks as well...a U-lock, & a cable with a combination lock on it. KC SUCKS for places to lock up yer bike. I used to just use the U-lock, but it was damn near impossible to find places I could use it. So I went with the combo.

If you're not going through the absolute ghetto, I'd go with a flexible lock, because they are 400% easier to use (scientifically verifiable figure). They also stow easier in transit.

Helmets... try them on, don't blow a ton of dough. Also, don't be shy about ordering this stuff somewhere like Supergo.com or Pricepoint, because as much as I dearly love my local bike shops, those place are CHEAP! And shops make a wad on accessories.

is it pretty naive of me to think that for the most part, as long as if the bike is in my sight, it should be ok with any lock? at home, it'll be in a garage. at work, in work. when I go to a friend's place, i'll most likely bring it in. so the only times that I can really see me locking it up is if I go to somewhere during the day to grab a burger or something.

I got my helmet ( a Bell ) at Costco for like, 15 bucks.

believe me.

And I'd lock it up all the time - just to be safe.

i use this chain:



with this lock:



and run this through the seat:



yeah, it's a lot of hardware but no one's getting my bike! no one!

don't assume this! bicycle thiefs can be pretty brazen. and believe me, 9 times out of 10 no one will do anything if they see someone working your lock with a bolt cutter - at least they wouldn't in toronto.

yeah that's what I thought.

thanks for the info, dudes. now lets talk hot pink biker shorts

I DARE you...

PINK, cap'n, pink.

I stand by my original ascessment. I believe OPA would support me on that, too.

Be shy- online is no place to buy a helmet unless you know exactly what model to buy. You can't try them on online, and different helmets fit differently (even within the same brand).

Your LBS (local bike shop) might have some '04 models left that you could pick up for cheap(er). The Performance near me had some Bells they were blowing out at $20.

fp