Beginner Cyclist needs help!

UnclePsychosis

Hi folks

Know there's a few cycling fans here, was hoping for some advice. I'm going to start cycling to work, its a short journey along a cycle path so thankfully an easy ride. 

I need to buy some locks and a helmet. 

I was looking at this lock:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005YPK8G2

Any thoughts? My bike will be locked up in my employer's underground car park when I'm at work so it will be relatively secure anyway, other than that it may occasionally get locked up for a bit when I'm in a shop or whatever. 

Also, what's the "best" way to secure a bike? Any tips or guides? 

Also, I need a helmet. I'm going to go to a shop and try some on, is there anything I should look out for or be wary of? 

Cheers 

crunchman

The link for the lock isn't opening properly for me at work.  Sometimes insurance companies want a certain rating of lock before they will cover you.  You get labels like Silver Secure and Gold Secure.  If you do want your bike covered on an insurance policy (often you can get them covered on your home insurance) then it might be worth checking the small print to see what you need.  I think a Silver Secure rating would be enough for most insurance companies as long as you don't have an expensive bike.

Where I am in London the recommendation is normally to have 2 locks of different types if you want to be really secure but for your employers car park you should be fine with one.  On the streets it depends where you are.  Some places I just use one lock.  A place I go to in Lambeth I always use 2.

Having said all that, Kryptonite are normally pretty good and that's probably a good lock to get. 

I don't normally wear a helmet, but if you are getting one, the more expensive ones tend to have better ventilation so you don't get so sweaty.

This time of year you will need lights as well.  Get some USB rechargeable LED ones - and don't skimp on them.  If you are on roads at all then get a reflective coat.  If your budget is limited then buy these ahead of a helmet.  Making yourself visible and getting seen so that you avoid an accident in the first place is much better than relying on a flimsy polystryene helmet when you have an accident.

UnclePsychosis

Thanks. 

I've already got a safety yellow/reflective cycling jacket and reflective/yellow gloves. 

Going to buy some cateye lights as well i think 

roundthebend

Locks - the D lock (shackle?) are generally the most secure. The one you've linked to is probably Silver/Gold rated but that will only be the D, not the accompanying cable. The cable can be snipped with relative ease.

When locking up your bike, best technique is to ensure the lock goes around the frame, part of the rear wheel, and then whatever immovable fixture you are locking to. That means the lock has to be compromised to get any significant part of the bike. Generally, use the cable to then secure your front wheel and you're pretty safe.

Helmets - all helmets are tested to the same standards, so just get a comfortable one. You won't notice much difference with vents etc. It needs to fit comfortably and not wobble about when only adjusting mechanism is used. The chin strap serves little purpose other than to keep the helmet on should you go over some rough terrain or a strong wind etc.

dchwhite

This is a gold sold secure d lock for fairly cheap:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.OnGuard-Pitbull-Shackle-U-Lock-Plus-Cable-Gold-Sold-Secure_61144.htm

It comes with a small cable too.

I *think* this is the one I use, together with a second, longer cable, and always a secondary lock (I leave a padlock and chain at work).

Good advice above about locking techniques and not skimping on lighting - you can buy 'see' or 'be seen' lights and I think the 'see' lights are worth the extra even just for in town. Side lights are a bit less essential

http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/monkey-light-review/

UnclePsychosis

Thanks  that onguard lock looks great. 

Any light recommendations at the budget end? I need front and rear. 

rlw

Hopefully, there won't be any on the cyclepath but, it there are, DON'T GO DOWN THE INSIDE OF TRUCKS OR BUSES OR CARS NEAR OR AT A JUNCTION.

Hertz32

Hiplok are great chain locks, and you wear them aroubd your waist when riding. They do gold standard ones too. 

Knog do some decent stuff too regarding lights as long as you dont opt for the cheap stuff. 

stimpsonslostson

Are you using the bike to work scheme? It can save you lots of money on bike, lock, lights and kit (clothing, accessories etc). 

I leave my good but HEAVY kryptonite lock at work & carry a wee cable lock in my bag for when I stop at the shops. 

Wrt lights I have some reelight ones- permanently mounted on the bike & always on without batteries. Great for visibility & a real fit & forget option. I supplement them with other lights in winter. 

If you're commuting I'd never go without panniers and mudguards- they'll save you getting muddy/sweaty. 

strtdv

Have you got a bike yet?

Basically get the best lock you're prepared to spend the money on, particularly if it's an expensive bike.
If you're commuting you'll want at least mudguards, and ideally panniers too. The other advantage of panniers, other than bringing your work clothes, is you can just chuck the lock in the pannier when not in use, so a bulky lock is less of an issue.

For ultimate security, use a D lock through your rear wheel and rear triangle and whatever you're locking the bike to, and take your front wheel off and lock that in too.

The best rated one I've seen is an Abus Granit X-lock.

UnclePsychosis

I've got the bike - Dawes hybrid that someone gave me. Like I said its not getting left anywhere unsecure and it's not particularly valuable so should be ok with a decent but budget lock. 

Mudguards I'm going to buy this weekend  - need to get to a shop and check they fit! 

dchwhite

UnclePsychosis said:

Thanks  that onguard lock looks great. 

Any light recommendations at the budget end? I need front and rear. 

Stimpson makes a good point about weight though - the lock is good quality, good standard etc but that also means it isn't light. In some ways of course, that's exactly what you want...

Lights - what's the budget and where will you be riding? Well-lit roads or dark bike paths? 

If you want a second set in addition to your main ones, I just use an energiser head torch with a cheap rear light from Tacky Macky's around my hat. If I had to replace them, I would try not to buy from Amazon but something like

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0022NHN4E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Am-Tech-LED-Rear-Bicycle-Light/dp/B00A3A053O/ref=sr_1_1?s=officeproduct&ie=UTF8&qid=1478720508&sr=8-1&keywords=am+tech+rear+bike

But these would be supplementary to a proper set and just a cheap way to put a bit more light about.

roundthebend

For front light I use a small hand torch with a CREE LED. I bought it from DealXtreme and also got a velcro handlebar mount. They take chunky 18650 rechargable batteries and it's worth getting spares and a charger obviously. Lasts about 2 hours on max power which is extremely bright. I got mine 4 years ago and cost about £30 for the whole setup including shipping from China.

You can get similar stuff in the UK now, probably better quality.

roundthebend

Here you go, a decent priced base kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrafire-WF-502B-CREE-XM-L-T6-5-Mode-1000LM-LED-Flashlight-Lamp-Torch-18650-/271075922889?hash=item3f1d6253c9:g:0roAAOxyhTFSTfNN

Add a velcro mount
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Velcro-Bicycle-Torch-Flashlight-Handlebar-Mount-Bracket-Clamp-Bike-Lockblock-/302073677178?hash=item4654fe857a:g:~d0AAOxy79JRg~i9

And spare battery
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-UltraFire-18650-4200-3-7V-Rechargeable-Li-ion-Battery-for-Flashlight-torch-/331540532111?hash=item4d315b0b8f:g:skoAAOSwstxVPjgc

Or 2 batteries
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-UltraFire-18650-4200-3-7V-Rechargeable-Li-ion-Battery-for-Flashlight-torch-/331540533392?hash=item4d315b1090:g:w6IAAOSwymxVPjij

UnclePsychosis

Thanks guys

Big shout out to @mtb who made me a really generous offer to help out. 

Think I'm sorted now (other than working out how to get a bike on the train...)

Drew_TNBD

@UnclePsychosis ; - if it hasn't already been said (dunno, haven't read the whole thread) get two locks.

djspecialist

Two suggestions regarding lights:

1. Two pairs are better than one

Lights break, batteries run out (albeit less likely if you get a rechargeable unit ... providing of course you remember to plug it in).  Not good if your only light stops working just when you're relying on your bike to get somewhere (for example home from work).

2. Don't (just) flash

Many lights have the option of a constant beam, or a flashing one.  A lot of cyclists use the flashing mode because they think it is more likely to catch the eye of other road users.  That may be true - and it's legal according to the Highway Code - but it's also much harder to judge distance based on a flashing light alone.  The HC allows for flashing rates as low as 1Hz - think about how far a car travels in one second, and how many other things the driver may need to look at during that time.

Some fancier units have a "pulse" mode, where the intensity varies over time but the light is always on.  If yours doesn't have that, consider using two lights (see point #1) with only one of them in flash mode.

djspecialist

And one other suggestion about road craft:

Don't always ride in the gutter

I see a lot of cyclists doing this.  I understand completely why - people generally don't want to feel that they are getting in the way of others, and when large metal objects are passing you at speed, it's natural to want to get as far away from them as possible.

But

• It can encourage drivers to pass too close.  On a narrow carriageway (i.e. just a bit wider than a car), a minority of drivers will squeeze past a cyclist who is riding close to the kerb.
• It forces you to swing out to avoid debris or potholes.

I'm not suggesting that you always ride exactly in the middle of the carriageway, but in almost all situations you should keep a reasonable distance from the kerb - I reckon I typically leave 60-80cm.

dchwhite

UnclePsychosis said:

Thanks guys

Big shout out to @mtb who made me a really generous offer to help out. 

Think I'm sorted now (other than working out how to get a bike on the train...)

I suppose it depends what route you're on. We're lucky here - Ely to Cambridge has enough trains that certain ones are usually alright to take a full size bike aboard, whilst others are so rammed it's a struggle even for the folding-bike people to find room. Good luck

DrJazzTap

I always used to wait twenty minutes after work for the rush hour traffic to die down.

UnclePsychosis

Thankfully I have flexibility at work so I intend to do my commuting at both ends before rush hour starts :-D