bike question help

[lotsofplants]

I should've thought to ask this sooner.

I got a free bike. I need a helmet and a lock. I would prefer to pay less than $50 for these two items. Anyone have suggestions on:

- good stores to purchase such for reasonable prices?
- brands to look for / brands to avoid?

Comments

[adularia.livejournal.com]

Recycled Cycles is my favorite. They're on Boat Street in the u-district, near Portage Bay and UW Surplus and the UWPD office. The UW bike store sells U-locks for about $20. Recycled also has very friendly mechanics who don't try to sell you the top-line whatever, so I like them better than Gregg's or Montlake. I am told that Costco carries helmets in the $20 range, but have not tested this theory.

If you have a U-pass, you can get a helmet and lights for $12 each through the U-pass office. If you don't have a U-pass this quarter, I'd be willing to help out.

Brands:

The Bell "Arc" helmet (the one I have) is $30 and is just fine. As an endorsement, my last helmet was also a Bell Arc; its pieces are now hanging on the wall at Recycled Cycles, but I got out of the hospital without a head injury. :) I will never understand how Giro can sell a helmet for $200 - it's just fancier molding, I guess.

Bell also makes U-locks, but I had a problem with my old one where the key broke off inside the lock; they sent me a new, nicer model for free upon request. Kryptonite is another good lock brand. I would also recommend getting a small toolbag for hex keys, wrenches, and tire irons and patching supplies; I got an under-seat bag for $12 at Velo (12th and Pine, near Neuro's place). Montlake Cycles (on the 43 route, near the bridge) sells a complete patch kit with 10 patches in a cute little box for $2.50. You may also want a rack ($10-20) and bungie cords. Recycled has a selection of new and used racks which are in perfectly usable shape.

Re:

[ionan.livejournal.com]

I can vouch for most of the advice given. However, also keep in mind that you can come to your favorite local family-owned hardware store and obtain many of the supplies listed above (sans helmet) for employee discount prices, just by finding me. Hardwick's sells hex key sets, u-locks, tire irons, and patches for non-inflated bike store prices, plus 20% off if you can find me wandering around. And the expert advice of our resident bike culties(none of whom are me), who will be happy to give you loads of good pointers.

And you get to talk to me. This may or may not be a selling point.

[adularia.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Could you put Sarah in touch with Colin? (that's his name, IIRC - the cute one with curly hair and blue glass necklace.)

Re:

[ionan.livejournal.com]

Possibly. I've been to RecyCyc's with my coworkers/ bike culties, and they treat said coworkers like gods. It's scary. Plus, they give mad discounts. We shall see.

[plantae.livejournal.com]

Hrm. Do you know what kind of helmet the Upass office supplies?

[adularia.livejournal.com]

For future reference, I am teh wr0ng about the U-pass office.

From http://www.washington.edu/upass/getting_here/bike_equip.html (http://www.washington.edu/upass/getting_here/bike_equip.html):

Bike helmets are being sold at the Wellness Resource Center in room 213 on the second floor of Hall Health, which is located across the street from the HUB.

U-PASS holders can purchase them for $12 and non-U-PASS holders can get them for $14. The helmets come in all sizes and a variety of colors. Stop by the Wellness Resource Center or call ahead at 206.616.8476 to be sure someone is there to do a free fitting.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

My sister, who tends to be more price conscious than I, speaks highly of recycled cycles. But let me look around -- I think we might have an extra bike lock. (Heavy cable style...) U-locks are a good idea, but cable is probable fine for a cheap bike. (And if you have a nice bike, you use both, because either can be broken into, but few people carry both a jack and heavy cable cutters, so both will usually keep you safe.)

I think my bell helmet (with visor -- and oh! I love my visor, keeps the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my glasses) cost me about $30 at costco... Heh. Come to think of it, I don't think Craig has worn his helmet in well over two years...

[plantae.livejournal.com]

I would be happy to take an extra bike lock off your hands if you'd like it to have a new home. :)

I'd offer to take the helmet too, but suspect craig isn't interested in parting with it--doesn't he still ride a bike periodically? :)