Equipping your bicycle

[Balladeer08]

Lots of interesting new gadgets, some of them even useful.

I use an ebay bidding sniper and have gotten some great deals

What are your favorite items you've added to your bicycle? (add links, please)

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Lots of interesting new gadgets, some of them even useful.

I use an ebay bidding sniper and have gotten some great deals

What are your favorite items you've added to your bicycle? (add links, please)

The best thing I've ever added to my bicycle is me.

 

[Balladeer08]

Turn signals!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-A-Pair-...343?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item232f0cccaf

Very clever. These go into the ends of your handlebars (you have to cut the rubber off). Press the light once, they start blinking. Again, a steady light. Third press, they are off.

Lots of them listed, various color metal rings to go with your bicycle. And around $4.

The sellers play a game with shipping rates, be sure to check your totals. I got mine for $2.56!

 

[Balladeer08]

The best thing I've ever added to my bicycle is me.

Spoken HUMBLY, by God!!!! 8)

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Spoken HUMBLY, by God!!!! 8)

How is the cycling in SoCal?

 

[Balladeer08]

Tail light with laser bike lane marker!

These are genius. It has a tail light, which you can set to steady, blink, side to side blinks etc.

But the genius is a pair of lasers that show a red bike lane marker behind your bike, about a foot to either side.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Bicycle...938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a30d1f2a2

Patience and a bidding sniper, you can get one for less than $5.

 

[SkAoUt]

Panniers and racks would be the most useful stuff I've got on my bike. Easy to use as many bags or as few as necessary. I hate wearing a backpack when cycling and of course they're awesome for touring.

 

[Balladeer08]

How is the cycling in SoCal?

I like it. Depends on where you are, of course. But there are a fair number of bike paths, bike lanes, organized and disorganized rides. Usual sprinkling of idiots, but some days you don't cross paths with any.

Riding along the beach is dangerous. All those atomic bikinis!!!

 

[Balladeer08]

Panniers and racks would be the most useful stuff I've got on my bike. Easy to use as many bags or as few as necessary. I hate wearing a backpack when cycling and of course they're awesome for touring.

Nice setup! I've only gone with the rear rack and panniers so far.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I like it. Depends on where you are, of course. But there are a fair number of bike paths, bike lanes, organized and disorganized rides. Usual sprinkling of idiots, but some days you don't cross paths with any.

Riding along the beach is dangerous. All those atomic bikinis!!!

I'm in Orlando. As a whole the city isn't really made for bicycles. There are parts of town, usually the more densely populated, which are great for cycling. The further you venture out of the downtown core, the faster the speed limit and distance between destinations increases. I'm about 4 miles from work, and I'd say 80-90% of my ride is in a bike lane.

We're getting commuter rail soon and they are expanding bike friendly areas. One would be able to bring their bike on the train, and they are opening bike rentals in and around downtown.

Summers in Orlando may not be the best time to ride, but from mid-to-late October until late May is a great time to ride.

 

[Weird Harold]

What are your favorite items you've added to your bicycle? (add links, please)

Union Bicycle Generator Light Set: http://www.amazon.com/Union-Bicycle-Generator-Light-Set/dp/B000AO7E64

The headlight is round, but the light beam is rectangular and even, without dark spots. It can be purchased with halogen or regular incandescent bulbs, but either stays bright enough to be usable down to less than walking speeds.

LED headlights might be cheaper, but I doubt you'll find anything better.

 

[Saint Peter]

I happen to know that thør loves these.

 

[SkAoUt]

I happen to know that thør loves these.

And Zappa. Frank would've rocked that shit out.

 

[Balladeer08]

Union Bicycle Generator Light Set: http://www.amazon.com/Union-Bicycle-Generator-Light-Set/dp/B000AO7E64

The headlight is round, but the light beam is rectangular and even, without dark spots. It can be purchased with halogen or regular incandescent bulbs, but either stays bright enough to be usable down to less than walking speeds.

LED headlights might be cheaper, but I doubt you'll find anything better.

And at $46 looks like a bargain! I looked for them on ebay, just to see if I could snipe one on the cheap. Someone there is selling a VINTAGE one for $116. GULP! But take heart, they are throwing in free shipping. Awfully decent of them, what?

Generator lights are great. I thought they were the only way to go, before l.e.d.s. Standard lights just eat the batteries too fast!

What is the sound like with yours? I had a set that worked okay, but they made a whine at a pitch that just made my teeth itch. Couldn't bear it.

 

[Balladeer08]

I'm in Orlando. As a whole the city isn't really made for bicycles. There are parts of town, usually the more densely populated, which are great for cycling. The further you venture out of the downtown core, the faster the speed limit and distance between destinations increases. I'm about 4 miles from work, and I'd say 80-90% of my ride is in a bike lane.

We're getting commuter rail soon and they are expanding bike friendly areas. One would be able to bring their bike on the train, and they are opening bike rentals in and around downtown.

Summers in Orlando may not be the best time to ride, but from mid-to-late October until late May is a great time to ride.

One of the weird, mysterious things is what businesses do or do not have bicycle racks.

I've yet to find a Denny's with a bike rack. And if I can't lock my bike up, preferably somewhere in sight from the restaurant, I'm not going in.

I like to do "food rides", where I take a day on the weekend and ride out for a leisurely breakfast, then ride somewhere else for coffee and read the paper, then ride somewhere else for lunch, then ride somewhere else for dessert... stopping in at anyplace that looks interesting. It's a fun way to spend a day. And if you make the rides between places long enough, you probably burn more calories than you consume.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

One of the weird, mysterious things is what businesses do or do not have bicycle racks.

I've yet to find a Denny's with a bike rack. And if I can't lock my bike up, preferably somewhere in sight from the restaurant, I'm not going in.

I like to do "food rides", where I take a day on the weekend and ride out for a leisurely breakfast, then ride somewhere else for coffee and read the paper, then ride somewhere else for lunch, then ride somewhere else for dessert... stopping in at anyplace that looks interesting. It's a fun way to spend a day. And if you make the rides between places long enough, you probably burn more calories than you consume.

I don't actively avoid places that don't have a bike rack, but I find that I'm frequenting places that do have bike racks close by.

 

[Ajax_Prime]

Sounds like a bunch of weight. I've stripped mine down to as little as possible.

Spare tube, CO2 cartridge, 2 tire wedges, and whatever food I'm going to be eating for the next few hours.

 

[Balladeer08]

My favorite cycling app for my Droid phone: CycleDroid.

I usually connect to 18-23 satellites, so it is pretty accurate.

And free. 8)

Current speed, average speed, maximum speed, distance, ride time, altitude change, pace netto, pace brutto, burned calories, burned fat, consumed oxygen, elevation ascending, elevation descending, minimum altitude, maximum altitude, total time, time brutto, tracking for different rides, sharing routes, map, auto-scrolling map....

If I can find the right button to push, it would probably pedal for me.

 

[Balladeer08]

Sounds like a bunch of weight. I've stripped mine down to as little as possible.

Spare tube, CO2 cartridge, 2 tire wedges, and whatever food I'm going to be eating for the next few hours.

CYCLE NUDE! 8)

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

CYCLE NUDE! 8)

I've heard rides like those actually exist.

 

[Balladeer08]

I've heard rides like those actually exist.

I've seen pictures of them.

What I've never understood is why they don't do the obvious (to me) charity auction afterwards.

I'm convinced there would be no shortage of bidders on line for some of those bicycle seats.

You KNOW it's true.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I've seen pictures of them.

What I've never understood is why they don't do the obvious (to me) charity auction afterwards.

I'm convinced there would be no shortage of bidders on line for some of those bicycle seats.

You KNOW it's true.

You're probably right. I don't think the people whose saddles would be in demand are doing it for that reason though. Might creep them out.

 

[Balladeer08]

You're probably right. I don't think the people whose saddles would be in demand are doing it for that reason though. Might creep them out.

Awwww... "But it's for THE CHILDREN!!!" 8)

Might? No doubt.

Then again, there are chicks who would get competitive about it. "My saddle sold for more than yours!"

Oh! Lady Gaga, vs Madonna, maybe?

Playmates less likely than Penthouse Pets, who are less likely than Hustler Beaver Hunt participants... just guessing.

I should contact the organizers of one of these rides and suggest it. The reactions could be amusing.

Then somebody will do it, make a ton of money and get tons of free publicity...

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Awwww... "But it's for THE CHILDREN!!!" 8)

Might? No doubt.

Then again, there are chicks who would get competitive about it. "My saddle sold for more than yours!"

Oh! Lady Gaga, vs Madonna, maybe?

Playmates less likely than Penthouse Pets, who are less likely than Hustler Beaver Hunt participants... just guessing.

I should contact the organizers of one of these rides and suggest it. The reactions could be amusing.

Then somebody will do it, make a ton of money and get tons of free publicity...

Organize a ride.....

 

[cleaver]

One of the weird, mysterious things is what businesses do or do not have bicycle racks.

I've yet to find a Denny's with a bike rack. And if I can't lock my bike up, preferably somewhere in sight from the restaurant, I'm not going in.

I like to do "food rides", where I take a day on the weekend and ride out for a leisurely breakfast, then ride somewhere else for coffee and read the paper, then ride somewhere else for lunch, then ride somewhere else for dessert... stopping in at anyplace that looks interesting. It's a fun way to spend a day. And if you make the rides between places long enough, you probably burn more calories than you consume.

big advocate of the urban day ride...
i regularly do a 45/55 mile loop
from the ocean up into/ around the city center
then back...

basically the reverse of the marathon route in and then...

there's my coffee spot at about mile 20...
farmers markets along the way
museums/events/yes... good food...

the ciclavia now quarterly, as well

my bike is no speedster:
an old heavy trek pre"hybrid" hybrid
on slicks with a gel seat...

won't win a race, but... up to those distances...
quite adequate.

my favorite recent add on was:
a super bright (1800 max lumen) 4 phase led headlight (like this)
with an additional fresnel to aim/throw the light into a broad swath... (like this)

at night, they know you're there...