I am a little torn on a few things that I would like to get for commuting. My budget is about $350

Winter Riding Jacket: $130 https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/cycli...erproof_jacket I am a real big guy so I am limited to what will fit me

Light for Helmet: $136 https://bikeempowerment.com/Magicshine.html it is the mj872

Panniers: Would like Ortlieb: $170 (not sure where to buy them)

MTN shoes: $75 https://penncycle.com/product/10shima...es-52644-1.htm Do NOT want to use platforms at this time. I love my clipless pedals.

So the issue is I am over budget. Where should I budge? Panniers? Even if I take them totaly out, I wont have enough for any kind of saddle bag. Should I go with a winter riding jacket? Or use a jacket from the house and go with another layer of clothing?

Do I need a helmet light? I have one for my handlebars.

Any advice and opinins are welcome. Not willing to budge on the shoes (could go cheaper if I can find them) because I like my pedals and I am a big guy so coats are tough to come by in my size.

thank you!

imho you will be fine with the light you have and any old jacket will do. also, I got some barely used mtn shoes on ebay for 20 bucks

chris: thanks for the opinion. Hard to find shoes my size. I wear 50.

Nashbar has jackets in your size for much less. $130 is an awful lot to pay for a jacket, IMHO.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...8_10000_202487

A helmet light is nice but not totally necessary. However, DiNotte can sell you one for less money than the MagicShine, and their customer service is outstanding. Not that it matters to everyone, but DiNotte is a small, family owned, American company.

https://store.dinottelighting.com/lon...ight-p183.aspx

Panniers? Ortliebs are great but kinda overkill. I have a pair of Carradice Kendal panniers on one bike. They were expensive, they're handmade in England, will last a lifetime, blah blah blah.

I paid twenty bucks for a pair of Nashbar ATB panniers five years ago, abuse the heck out of them, and they're still holding up just fine.

If you want waterproof panniers, Nashbar will sell you a pair for sixty bucks.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7_10000_202599

Winter-specific cycling shoes are super expensive, and finding used ones in size 50 is going to be practically impossible. Your best bet is wool socks, neoprene socks over that, and then shoe covers. I don't know if you can find shoe covers in size 50, though.

There are two schools of thought on gear. One is always buy the absolute best, most expensive gear you can. The other is buy functional gear and save your money. Since you're on a budget, why not get the cheaper, functional gear and save your money? Use it to buy more wool socks. LOL

eBay can be your friend. I've found plenty of cheap deals there.

yes, I can see how that would be difficult.

if you love your clipless pedals, why not wear the shoes you use now?

schwinnrider: Thanks for the help. The nashbar links didnt work for some reason.

chris: I run thin iclicks on my road bike (which is not my commuter) and SPD's on my mtn bike.

Don't forget all of the small items you'll need to make the ride comfortable.

Gloves - For winter I use wind resistant outer shell and match the liner to the temp.
Skull cap - they really make a huge difference.
Shoe cover are very nice to have for rain and cold.
Rain gear. Been using the house brand stuff from LLBean. So far so good.
Wool makes for great layer options too. I get the wool hiking socks and long sleeve merino sweaters from Costco. The sweaters are $19 and I think the socks are around $12.

jet: working on that.

For gloves, I have my road cycling summer gloves and also wool gloves. I tried just wearing the wool gloves and they did not have enough pading so my next idea is to wear the padded gloves I have with the wool gloves. might be overkill. not sue.

skull cap.... got it.

no shoe covers yet. I have a friend who commutes in DE and he mentioned to wrap your feet with plastic wrap then put the shoe on. Not sure if it would work for me. I had shoe covers when I was youngert and commuted and I remember they all were sooooo small in size. I got size 15 feet.

Rain gear: Dont have any. I have underarmer base layer. Thats why I need a winter jacket.

Hmm. The Nashbar links worked fine for me. Their site is easy to use. Should be no problem for you to find "waterproof panniers" and the jacket in your size.

The DiNotte light puts out 200 lumens or more. That's plenty for a helmet light. Heck, that's actually plenty for a bar light. I commuted for years with a DiNotte 140L, putting out 140 lumens. Of course, now I have 600 lumens up front, and it's better, but I occasionally venture out with only the 140 and I'm plenty visible AND can see very well.

schin: thanks. must be my computer. it is getting old and sick.

I'd go with a vest with removable arms if you can find one (a vest is more practical most of the time unless it's really cold, windy or rainy), and depending on what light you're using on the handlebars, a flashlight for a helmet light should work fine. You can decide if you want something modern with the XML driver and 18650 batteries or something a little more old school would work, 200 lumens up there will make a difference and is enough to get drivers attention. The Nashbar ATB panniers work great for many of us, especially with the heft bagliners, have gotten many of us started with using panniers.

Hi ChefIsaac!

IMO you could possibly get panniers off of CL or Ebay for about $60 or less. Wear extra under garments under the jacket you already own. Buy MTB boots or shoes from Walmart or Payless (Forget about what you prefer on a tight budget during winter time!). Winter means platforms to me!

Otherwise go to: www.performancebike.com to get panniers and/or saddle bags. Hopefully you have gloves. Use plastic bag over 2 pair of wool socks for winter riding. Tie scarf around neck and use another as headband to wrap around ears. Extra cash should be used for warm gloves, additional thick wool socks, and a bright reflective vest.

- Slim

PS.

Click on Bike Tools & Transport at the Performance website .

Use this Cateye light for additional headlight on handlebar:

thanks slim. I have a lot to think about. Yikes.

I cant make out the picture of the cateye. Do you have al ink for it?

I need to find saddle bags or panniers that fit on this: https://bontrager.com/model/06971

is it stupid to only go with one pannier versus a set?

Just click on the image..

Here's a better image of the Cateye Light and the link:

www.rei.com/product/793783/cateye-sl-ld110-loop-rear-bike-light

The place to get Ortleib panniers is from Wayne at TheTouringStore.com. One caveat, you have to call on the phone and actually talk with him (or the other fellow who works for him) to place your order. If you don't like talking to strangers on the phone, that could be a problem. I've enjoyed all my conversations with Wayne, and his suggestions have helped me to make better choices.

That particular MagicShine light is a wide-angle one. Those are fine for trail riding, but for commuting I prefer a narrower beam that carries farther. I also can't see the point in lighting up passing shrubbery and bridges overhead.

As for helmet mounting, there are two schools of thought. First that they're fantastic and the greatest thing since sliced bread, and two, not so much. I fall into the latter group.

Once upon a time when lights were both small and wimpy and couldn't easily be distinguished from background lights, there may have been an advantage to helmet-mounted lights to get a motorist's attention.

These days with the larger and brighter lights we have, I don't see any advantages. I refuse to ride with a someone who has one since invariably when we talk they blind me with the thing. I have a sense the same thing happens to motorists. It seems like an aggressive and counter-productive thing to do. A blinded motorist is neither happy nor safe.

They also seem to encourage riders to take in the sights rather than pay attention to the road and traffic. Whenever I encounter cyclists coming towards me with a helmet light, they invariably are looking around at houses, yards, and stuff instead of the road. Then, just as invariably, they look straight at me and blind me. It's the one time I want to ride like a ninja.

I also don't buy the "I can see around corners" argument. I have yet to see one equipped with a mirror 20 or 30 feet out to point the light around a corner and reflect back the image. Then again, I ride in the city and you can't see around corners in the sunlight either.

Out on single-track where they can't ride beside you or come at you, and at single-track speeds, there might be an advantage. But this is a commuting thread. On a commuter, IMHO, they are both discourteous and unnecessary.

Helmet light is optional in my opinion, or some people say their LED flashlight is effective, strapped on with plastic cable ties. That could save a bit.

I've used two canvas bags in lie of panniers, which would save $170 off your budget.

Helmet light suggestion: Bell Beacon. $17.66 right now, front + rear LEDs, includes batteries. More than enough for a helmet light (unless you are doing serious MTBing).

https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Beacon-He.../dp/B004J2F2VM

re#15 with a beam rack, you could fit the thing out to carry a
duffle bag,.. a side opening drybag version of the same.. on top.
there are racktop bags made for them too, add supports and there are
'spaniel ear' versions of those...

or as a support base for a large transverse saddle bag,

but there are lighter resolutions for those than a beam rack,
such as Carridice bag and their bagman support

the use of NEOS overshoes and platform pedals might be good.
then you wear the at the job shoes in them..

And i have a XL Burly best WPB cycle commuter rain jacket FS,
its way too big for me

and when the skys open up i get out my rain Cape

Summer gloves & wool isn't going to cut it as it gets colder. I find a top wind-proof layer to be essential (also good for 10 deg of warmth once I get going) for head, hands, feet, and core. Legs seem to take care of themselves - leg warmers (even the cheap set Nashbar & Performance sells) get me down to approx 30-32 deg. Gloves have been the hardest thing for me to settle on (I now have amassed quite a collection!).

Lights - I like one on bars and one on helmet. Provides back-up and aimability at moving shadows (dog? deer? ninja jogger or rider?) and drivers, especially those coming into the roadway from a side street, driveway, or parking lot. I am a Dinotte fanboy and have purchased several of their lights.

Ortleibs are very nice but are overkill IMO for commuting and especially on a budget. I pack my clothes in large ziplocks as the rain cover for my bags (Axiom) doesn't always work. I used to use a set of Performance/Nashbar panniers; didn't like the retention mechanism. Check craigslist and ebay for someone getting rid of a lightly used set, or even start with a backpack (sweaty back is less of a problem this time of year).

Check places like Target, etc. for off-brand/house-brand base layers and fleece; I've had very good results with Target's "Champions" line as a base layer.

REI has Orleib panniers and products on sale for 25% off starting Nov. 18. They also have the Gore Phantom jacket on sale for 25% off. I've ridden in my Phantom jacket down to the teens very comfortably with proper base layers. It is also very breathable, wind and water resistant, and has removeable sleeves if weather warms up a lot during a ride. Regarding lights, the Niterider MiNewt 600 cordless is getting good reviews, and also on sale at REI.

One pannier is fine if all your stuff fits in there, and with big feet you may have issues with your heels striking the pannier(s).

damn. so muchto think about!