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.

[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...