Fifty Plus (50+) - Pimp my bike!

My second bike, a 2004 Giant Cypress, is an excellent "back up" bike. Now that cooler (and hopefully wetter) weather is approaching, I would like to outfit this bike to serve several purposes. I've talked about some of these before, but never got my lazy butt to do anything.

I want the bike for:

1. Grocery store runs

2. Riding to the gym since even losing weight isn't taking off the spare tire around my waist

3. Able to ride before / after sunrise / sunset when we lose daylight savings time

4. Anything added to the bike must be quickly removable for when it's locked and parked in front of the store / gym.

5. All the rides will be relatively short 2-5 miles one way.

So, I guess I'm looking for recommendations for panniers or other methods of carrying food purchases and/or gym clothes, lights, locks, should i put fenders on or not? I ride on 700 x 32 Specialized Pro Borough tires by the way. I have a rack on the back. I have a computer mounted on the bars.

The bike is black, but I think it's serviceable anyway.

I know most of this has been discussed before by lots of people but I thought it would be fun to put all the recommendations for this bike into one thread.

Get some fold up baskets...pure geek. Put your back-pack or grocery sack inside them.

Get yourself a cygo-lite with bottle battery that will fit in a cage. It takes but a minute to unclip the light and pull the battery from the cage and take them with you.

Check on the Gilles Berthoud stainless steel fenders from Wall Bike. Pure class.

Since it never rains in southern California, I doubt you need fenders. But if the song is wrong, and you are going to use it in the rain, then put fenders on it; fenders make riding in the rain almost fun but are unnecessary otherwise.

If you're riding in the rain, get waterproof panniers for the store/gym runs. I like Ortlieb back roller classics (http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prod-31.htm), very easy on and off the bike. These are pricey, and probably overkill.

If you're not riding in the rain, go with some grocery bag panniers (http://www.rei.com/product/47995013.htm). I've got these, too, and they work great.

I always feel like I'm extremely visible when using my Planet Bike Alias SC light (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3025.html) on flashing mode, but if I were buying a new light now I'd probably get an easy on-easy off light or one to mount on the helmet, since you'll be taking your helmet into the store or gym anyway.

Also get some kind of blinky red light for the rear; the Planet Bike superflash seems to be highly recommended on the electronics forum.

If theft is a big problem, the Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit U Lock (http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/LK4060) is top-rated. I just ordered one of these to lock up my expensive commuting bike when I run errands at lunchtime, since my cable lock isn't secure enough. There are cheaper, less secure locks out there of course, which may be ok depending on the risk of theft.

You need a woodie!

http://www.amazon.com/Woodpecker-Bell-Bicycle-Japanese-Cherry/dp/B000PEOBHO

Well, to pimp a bike, nothing works as well as streamers.

http://www.aztlanbicycle.com/images/products/lowrider-spinning%20wheel/GRIP_FLAME_W_STREAMER_33291.jpg

You also need a good sound system.
http://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/media/users/frankenslade/ghetto_blaster.jpg

For San Diego, you don't need fenders, but they will give the Cypress such a good cruiser look that you should go for them.

http://blbikeshop.com/images/library/large/planteb_70045_06_m.jpg

Good lights, perhaps a Cateye HL-320

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/images/products/large/7952.jpg

and a Planet Bike Superflash

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/acatalog/Smart_superflash_pic.JPG

And last but not least, a loud bell!

http://www.bikechina.com/images/p-bellside2.jpg

And you'll find out why black bikes are so cool.

DELETED by author

Ya know, I posted that real fast without giving it much thought. Now that I'm reading the papers and seeing the news reports I'm thinking I was kind of an ass for doing it. I'm old enough to know it's really serious for a lot of people.
I'll be deleting my post, but there may still be references here.
Sorry.

If the streets are well lit then one of the LED type lights will work, especially because they can be set into flashing mode (yes, even the fronts) to make you as visable as possible to cars.

I have some friends here who run the dual cygo light on darker roads and it is very acceptable for this sort of application. Its not quite bright enough to go bombind down a dark MTB trail at high speed but it sells at a very good price point for sane riding in the dark.

HOKEY SPOKES

http://www.hokeyspokes.com/hokey1.gif http://www.hokeyspokes.com/riderWithShades.jpghttp://www.hokeyspokes.com/images/design_1.jpg

Look at the Down Low Glow Lights:
http://www.rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow

If the streets are well lit then one of the LED type lights will work, especially because they can be set into flashing mode (yes, even the fronts) to make you as visable as possible to cars.

I have some friends here who run the dual cygo light on darker roads and it is very acceptable for this sort of application. Its not quite bright enough to go bombind down a dark MTB trail at high speed but it sells at a very good price point for sane riding in the dark.

If you want a brighter ride- Expose yourself

http://www.exposurelightsusa.com/

Lose all those excess gears and FIX IT :D

Oh, and a can of white paint wouldn't go amiss :rolleyes:

Richard

OK, cccorlew, I deleted mine too, but there's still a demented part of me that thought yours was funny.

If you want a brighter ride- Expose yourself

http://www.exposurelightsusa.com/

It would be hard to justify to myself spending more on lights than I ever did on the bike itself!

Look at the Down Low Glow Lights:
http://www.rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow

Those are SERIOUSLY cool.

For a short-range commuter/grocery bike, it can become a real pain removing countless bits from your bike every time you park. I prefer to remove anything not essential and bolt on anything that is.
My rear rack lacks a light mounting bracket at the rear, which is a pity this is the best location.
I have dropped and cracked several removable lamps so I have bolted a dynamo lamp to my forks and power it with a removable (sealed lead acid) battery but a generator hub is another good way.
For panniers I prefer flap-top to roll-tops, they are quicker to access and with an extendable collar can be overloaded with big, low density items. One large compartment and one external pocket are sufficient and you need good stiffening in the back and base to support heavy grocery loads.
Quick-release pannier mountings are important, they are quicker and more secure; there is no need to faff around with hook and elastic in the 21st century.
I store a shackle lock on top of the rear rack, under a bungie: quicker and more secure than the plastic mounts.
Bungies are useful for extra big items such as 16-packs of toilet paper.

My latest refinement to speedy cycling is a wallet with integral key compartment and purse. Only one item to stash . Lose keys can wear through your pockets in no time.