Bike accessories?

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

So, after three years living here for college and determining that I really do want to spend the rest of my life in this area, I've finally gotten my hands on a bike. Woo!

Trawling the bicycle tag in this community has given me some fantastic advice and things to keep in mind about the actual riding, but I have a simpler problem to handle first --namely, that I have a bicycle, and nothing else.

So, where's an affordable place to get a helmet, lock, and lights? I'm a broke college kid, so I'm not looking to spend too much money (though I've already been told by virtually everyone to spend the cash on a u-lock rather than cable), and I live out between Porter and Harvard, so shops on the Cambridge side of Davis are much more convenient to me.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations!

~Sor

(eeeeeee, bicycle, eee!)

Comments

[ron_newman]

I buy my accessories at Ace WheelWorks on Elm Street at Willow Ave, but it may not be the least expensive place to buy them. Other places to try are Bicycle Exchange on Mass. Ave. past Porter Square, ATA Cycle on Mass. Ave. between Harvard and Porter, and Broadway Bicycle School between Central and Inman squares.

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

I remember a few years back that HELL was making sure everyone could have a helmet for free, but I don't see any recent Google hits for them. Do you have any idea if they still exist?

[ron_newman]

Who is HELL?

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

Looks like they are gone. They were a group that responded to some recent cycling deaths by producing and distributing free helmets:

http://www.urbanvelo.org/issue6/urbanvelo6_p30-31.html

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Internet :) I got my U-lock on Amazon and my helmet from nashbar.com, both on super-sale! My lights were from Target.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Worth noting though that generally it's better to buy a helmet in person. I know the size of my head and what fits it (thanks, graduation cap) but it's good to be able to try them on.

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

I'd stay away from ATA. Very sleazy and overpriced to boot. Broadway or Ace would be my personal preferences.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

The certainly cater to a different, more expensive crowd.

To the OP, I'd suggest Wheelworks if you want to buy locally. Most of the stuff you're looking for costs what it costs - the prices won't be much different between shops. You might be able to get a small break online, but many of the staff members at Wheelworks are very helpful and will make up for it.

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

Yep, I swear by Wheelworks too, with the caveat that if you get a bad staffer they can be pretty bad. Most of them are great.

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

I did try to save six or eight dollars on my U-lock by buying online, and wound up with one that was too big to be mounted on my frame. (D'oh.) Ace would've checked that sort of thing for me.

[kpht.livejournal.com]

I'd order a cable lock AND a U-lock, probably through Nashbar. Basically for the extra $15 or so, you can make sure you're not the slowest zebra in the herd, and whoever wants to steal a bike will probably deal with the path of least resistance and go for an easier steal. It takes an extra minute or so to lock up, but that's just my two cents.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

i just drape the corpse of a bike thief over my bike. i figure if it works for corn farmers, it'll work for me.

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

Ooo, do you have any spare? Being as this is my first bike, I haven't had time to set up the anti-theft laser system yet.

~Sor

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't severed body parts work better than the whole corpse? Dragging a corpse around can't be that much fun (though it does get you into the HOV lane).

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

yeah, the HOV thing is a side benefit.

however, most bike thieves are former* bike punk meth addicts so they only weigh about 78 pounds.

(Once you steal a bike, the honorable international society of bike punks revokes your membership, but they can't make you smell better so it's hard to distinguish.)

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

If you live in Medford, Go to City Hall. They sell new helmets (adults and children sizes) and I'm not sure what other bike gear at really discounted prices, just to keep bikers in our town safer.

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

That's super awesome, and while I don't live in Medford, I get out that way pretty often --do you know how late they're open? And are they gonna ask for like...proof of residence or anything?

~Sor

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

To start out, I would actually make a day of checking out all the places in the cambridge and somerville area (ace, cambridge bicycle exchange, broadway bicycle, then whatever that one in central sq are my favorites), you'll get familiar with all of them and learn what things should cost. Generally, local shops are all going to charge MSRP or a hair less, unless on sale.

LIGHTS: These things are often crazy overpriced. Target sells this $15 Bell LED set (a white for front and red for rear) that are rubber-snap mounted and sleek. We got ours near the target in Andrew Sq, but I'm guessing they all have them. Target also sells brand name helmets and bike locks, so if the price is decent it might be worth it. In general though, it's nice to support the local shops.

For helmets: This is one reason to check all the places. They're usually on sale somewhere.

Also: You know those silly "Value Pack" Coupon envelopes? They have an Ace Wheelworks coupon in there. You can usually find them lying around in post office junk mail boxes, etc. They also seem to get delivered to every address in the universe on a somewhat regular basis.

[ron_newman]

Sometimes they also have a Bicycle Exchange coupon.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

oh, yes! they haven't in a while, but the coupon they did have was much better.

check your health insurance

[totient]

some companies offer free helmets. Makes sense for them; they'll spend a lot less money putting your head back together if you're wearing one.

Re: check your health insurance

[masswich.livejournal.com]

Second this. I know that Harvard Vanguard sells helmets (I think only to people with some sort of health insurance but I'm not sure) for $10 or less. But I haven't done it in a while.

Re: check your health insurance

[cfox.livejournal.com]

I did the mail-in form for discounted helmets from BCBS, a few years ago; the price was right, but they were obviously inferior (in comfort and adjustability) to the cheapest retail Bell helmets. In particular, the plastic scaffold on the inside was not an adjustable band, just sort of a prong, and the strap adjustment was that much more finicky as a result.

The toddler version was fine; I've only ever seen the one model in the smallest size.

IIRC, processing the order was quite slow, too - it shipped from someplace in Texas.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Check out Quad Bikes (http://quadbikes.org), in the basement of a Harvard dorm in the Radcliffe Quad.

Juding by their prices for repair work, I suspect their prices are very good for accessories as well.

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

They were recommended as me specifically as a repair shop, but I was told they don't sell accessories, or at least not the ones I need most right now. Thank you though, and I'll go and see if I was misinformed.

~Sor

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I forgot to add: REI also sells a good amount of accessories at decent prices. They also have some sort of membership that gives you 15% back in mailed-in-later store credit. They have a nice selection of bike racks and bags. It's in fenway near the theater/best buy.