gear

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16357902.post-1125970347055677462005-09-05T08:02:00.000-04:002006-04-05T22:36:50.686-04:00gear<ul><li><a href="#helmet">Helmet</a></li> <li><a href="#bell">Bell</a></li> <li><a href="#mobile">Phone</a></li> <li><a href="#panniers">Panniers</a></li> <li><a href="#lock">Lock</a></li> <li><a href="#water">Water Bottle</a></li> <li><a href="#lights">Lights</a></li> <li><a href="#rain">Rain Gear</a></li> <li><a href="#pump">Pump</a></li> <li><a href="#toolkits">Toolkits</a></li> <li><a href="#pedal">Pedal Grips</a></li> <li><a href="#clothing">Clothing</a></li> <li><a href="#shoes">Shoes</a></li></ul> When you go to the bike store to outfit your bike for your first commute, don't be tempted by all of the shiny gear on display. Most of it is overpriced crap, dictated by glossy bike magazines, fashion-concious riders, and a misguided sense of practicality. Colorful spandex is to cyclists what black leather is to Harley riders. People think it's necessary, yet it's really all about the image. $30 gel gloves? Please. If you really need gloves, get an old pair from the closet and cut off the fingers at the middle joint. $60 spandex pants? Uh-huh. For top riders it may increase aerodynamic efficiency by a few percent, but for the average joe it will serve no practical purpose. Get a pair of ordinary shorts, which besides costing 1/3 the price, will have actual pockets. I could go on about this, but I think it's more important to discuss what gear you will actually need to get started with bicycle commuting. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6206/464/1600/bikeside4-200.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6206/464/200/bikeside4-200.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a name="helmet">Helmet</a> If your helmet is more than 10 years old or cracked, or doesn't fit anymore, throw it out. Decent new ones start at $30, although many others see this as too cheap, considering what it is protecting. How did that old ad go, from the late 80s? "Is your head only worth $10?" (Browse <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=fidelityobser-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=sporting%26keyword=bike%20helmets">Bike Helmets</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fidelityobser-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />) <a name="bell">Bell</a> this is a very practical safety item that can help you avoid an accident with pedestrians, other cyclists, and even cars. They cost $10 or so. <a name="mobile">Mobile phone</a> Next to the helmet, the bell, and possibly the lock, this is the one thing I would consider essential to any bike commuter. In case of a problem or accident, you can use it to summon the police, call your spouse for a ride, tell your boss you'll be late, or contact the nearest bike shop. Mobile phones have saved my bacon twice following mechanical problems, once on a long-distance ride in a rural area, and once during a commute. In the first instance I was able to call home for a ride, and in the second, I was able to tell my wife I'd be really late. (Browse <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=fidelityobser-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=wireless-phones%26keyword=mobile%20phone">Mobile Phones</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fidelityobser-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />) <a name="panniers">Panniers</a> If you don't have much to carry, you can use a bookbag or sling something across your back, but this runs the risk of making the place where the bag meets your back really sweaty. Instead, I recommend a set of panniers, and a frame to mount it on (this is standard on many bikes, or can be added on for a minor fee). My snap-on, rear-mounted panniers carry my work outfit, shoes, lunch, parka, and towel. The Vaude model I have also has a day-glo rain cover, which has come in handy a few times. Additional protection can be had by placing things like wet towels and shoes in plastic bags. (Browse <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=fidelityobser-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=sporting%26keyword=panniers">Panniers</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fidelityobser-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />) <a name="lock">Lock</a> Kryptonite is the standard. If you have an old Kryptonite, replace it -- a few years back there was a widely-publicized trick that allowed people to open the lock with a plastic pen. If you want to secure the other wheel without removing it, you can by a high-strength extension cable that loops through the U section of the lock. (Browse <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=fidelityobser-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=sporting%26keyword=bike%20lock">Bike Locks</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fidelityobser-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6206/464/1600/bikeframe1-200.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6206/464/200/bikeframe1-200.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a name="water">Water bottle</a> Make sure you have a holder of some kind mounted on your frame, or at least bring a bottle in your bag. It's very important to stay hydrated, especially in the summer. <a name="lights">Lights</a> Bike stores sell high-intensity red flashers with a mounting clip for $10 or $15. Get one for the front and back. These are very important for safety after dark, because reflectors don't stand out on a busy night-time street. <a name="rain">Rain gear</a> If you intend to be an all-weather biker, you'll have to dish out some coin for this. Waterproof pants and a jacket will cost you, and you have to bring them along with you on cloudy days, or leave a set at the office. As I mentioned before, I don't ride in the rain, but if I do get caught out, I have a simple plastic parka and a cover for my panniers. I also bring an extra plastic bag to cover my seat with. The biggest problem I have in the rain is it either fogs up or beads up on my glasses - anyone know a solution for this? <a name="pump">Pump</a> I carry a cheap plastic pump with me, but don't think it's necessary. I used it once with a slow leak, but as is often the case, slow leaks have a way of turning into fast leaks, in which case a pump won't help. <a name="toolkits">Tooklits</a> I have one of those jackknife doohickeys with the different-sized hex tools, which is fine for adjusting or removing brakes, or rethreading the gearshift cable. They cost like $15, and it's probably a good investment. I know others bring along leak repair kits, but I wouldn't bother - not only do I not know how to do this on my own, but I suspect that if I did it would take me more time to fix than it would take me to walk to the nearest bike shop, or have someone pick me up in their car and drive it over. That's important to remember - even if you have a total breakdown during your commute, you don't have to deal with the problem immediately. You can always have someone pick you up, or you can walk the bike to the nearest shop, or you can just lock up the bike and pick it up later. If you are really stranded on a commute of less than 10 miles, it will probably take you no more than 2 hours to walk to your home or office, whichever is closest (I'm speaking from experience, here!) <a name="pedal">Pedal grips</a> Is that what you call them? These are the strap-like things that attach to your pedals and prevent your shoes from slipping off. They also help you maintain a steady clip, and there are techniques you can use to really improve the power delivered to your wheels. <a name="clothing">Clothing</a> Pay no attention to what the slicksters at the bike store will tell you. An old pair of shorts and T-shirt will do fine for the commute. When the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (about 13 degrees Celsius) you will probably want to wear sweatpants and a windbreaker. <a name="shoes">Shoes</a> Some people will spend way too much for special biking shoes, and I'm afraid they're being taken for a ride. An ordinary pair of tennis sneakers will suffice, or even low-top walking shoes with a slim profile. I have a beat-up yet wicked comfortable pair of hiking shoes that fit in my pedal grips just fine.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16357902-112597034705567746?l=bikeworker.blogspot.com'/></div>iannoreply@blogger.com