supadupamikey

hey guys, hows it going?

after lots of research, i finally settled on a bike... and this past Saturday, I brought home a Felt SR91 for myself, and we got a Gary Fisher Tiburon for my girlfriend.

we bought the 2 bikes and a water bottle cage for each, and also got a kickstand for my girl's bike. they didnt have a kickstand to fit my felt... he said they could order one that would fit all the way at the rear of the frame... but, the other ones they had wouldn't fit because of the clearances... no big... i dont care if i have a kickstand or not.

anyways, we've been out on them the last couple days and i'm really wanting to get one of those little computer things to record my distance, speed, etc... i also want to get an air pump to keep the tire pressures in check... and i'm thinking i want to get some riding gloves (with the gel insert) as well. i broke my hand this past summer and having a majority of my weight on my hands was getting kinda numbing... and since im completely new to this... i was just looking for some suggestions on products

1.) What kind of computer should I get? The bike shop had some Specialized ones... the basic one was like $25... sounds alright to me... wireless and stuff would be nice, but, we're on a pretty strict budget, i just want speed, distance, etc... comments/suggestions?

2.) What kind of air pump should I get? I want one of the kind that you stand up and pump... they had a Specialized one for like $28... that decent?

3.) What kind of gloves should I get? Does the insert really make a big difference? What about the lengths? Is there a big difference between full-finger and half-finger? Also, I figure the gloves might also keep my hands warm... because, I want to start commuting to work soon... its gonna be about 7 miles each way... and for those 40-50 degree mornings down here in southwest florida

4.) Is there anything else thats like a absolute necessity? Or just an awesome convenience? Or something that you get and afterwards you wonder how you lived without it?

5.) Oh, whats a good style of bag to use/carry/wear when biking? If I commute, I'd like to be able to bring my lunch with me... and maybe a change of clothes or something...

6.) And, theres no cover thing over the sprocket (guess thats the 'norm' for this type of bike) and i got some little grease marks on these cotton baggy pants I was wearing... What do you guys do? I also got my shoelaces caught on the sprocket and that was quite a surprise... but, I started tucking them into my shoes... heheh...

thanks for any info you can provide =)
-mike

djbowen1

DO not put a kickstand on your felt. Just dont do it.

1. Cateye makes a nice comp for $ 29 Mity3 or another one.
2.Joe Blow Sport for the same price works good.
3. Half finger are generally for warmer weather.
4. Bike shorts are great to have. tight ones or loosies. Clipless pedals and shoes if you do alot of riding.
5?
6. They sell a strap that goes around your pants to stop that from happening.

Kev

Djbowen covered most of it, I would suggest a patch kit, a frame or mini pump and extra tube to take with you on your'e bike all in case of a flat. And a multi-tool is also very helpful for those ride side repairs needed now and then. Another good thing to do practice taking off the tire and replacing the tube. Alot easier to practice at home then on the side of the road later down the line.

AndrewP

When you are off your bike you need to lock it, to a rack or fence or post, so you wont need a kick stand.

Get a pump that has a built in pressure guage.

Other things you will need - A few tools for making adjustments (hex Keys) tire levers and puncture repair. Locks - heavy strong ones which you can leave at your parking places and a light one you can carry with you. A helmet and a small mirror you can mount on your glasses or helmet. A flashing tail light, which will make you more visible to motorists in both the day and at night.

Michel Gagnon

I have a Cateye Mighty 2 computer. Right now, replaced by the Mighty 8 or Enduro 8. Has two wheel diametres (if you switch between two bikes), distances A, B and total odometre, plus the usual stuff (speed, average speed, maximum speed, time). About same price. And it has proven to be waterproof. I tend to prefer wired technology, because it's cheaper, has less interferences (especially with a generator) and it doesn't eat batteries. AFAIK, all cyclocomputers are equally precise, so the remaining questions are price, functions (especially distances A and B), display (are you able to read digits easily) and waterproofness. The only drawbacks I see with my computer are :
- I would like to display permanently mileage and time of day, whereas the display always have speed and one other element (minor problem);
- I would like a button to get a backlit display. There is none.

The only one I like is the Topeak Road Morph. It's portable -- though not as compact or lightweight as minipumps --, but it has a flexible hose. It's the only pump with which I'm able to pump tires at full pressure without getting sore wrists and elbows, without getting too hot and without fear of breaking apart the valve stem. In a nutshell, it's almost as good as a floor pump. Only caveat: the pump headvalve snaps if you try to use the pump at -20 C.

I would suggest you get half-fingered gloves for 3 seasons and full fingered "regular" gloves for winter. You probably won't ride as much in winter anyways and the padding you get in regular gloves will probably be sufficient for that. As for which cycling gloves are the best, I would suggest that you ride for 1 hour, then go shopping for gloves And while you have them, try them on a bike. That way, you will quickly see which gloves have a seam in the wrong place.


There are many theories. I prefer by far the "everything on the bike and nothing on me" approach. I have a rear rack and use panniers for commuting. I generally carry only one pannier, with my pump (that way, it doesn't stay on the bike when I lock it), tire patch kit, spare tube, rain gear, bungee cords, taillight (I have a wired on generator headlight) and lunch. When I plan to shop, I also bring the second pannier. If your bike doesn't have a rack and can't have one, another approach is the Carradice bag attached to the saddle. You'll see what I mean if you visit https://www.wallbike.com and https://www.peterwhitecycles.com

MichaelW

Gloves are safety items. If you take a fall, they will protect the palms of your hand from a skinning. Essential in all conditions, but they also keep your hands warm in winter.
Basic puncture repair kit; carry it any time you dont want to walk back.
Are you using retaining pedals, toe clips or clipless. When you can ride and balance confidently, they will improve your safety and efficiency. Dont use clipless if you are still learning how to ride.
For commuting, fit fenders and a luggage rack. You need a bag to put your stuff in, a rack-top or single pannier bag will do the job better than a back pack.

shokhead

Man,i have an 03 SR71 for sale. Should have talked to me first.You'll like your felt.

franklen

For sommuting I have been using a backpack since day one and find it fine. I can easily hope on and off my bike with it for multiple stops, and easily fit in a change of clothes, a lunch, a binder with work items, and more if I stop at a shop for instance. Plus numerous side pockets for tools, raingear, etc, that you never need to bother with till you need them. Don't worry about the summer, yeah it will get a little warm but youre going to sweat anyway if you are in high heat and humidity, but if it bothers you that bad, or if you have a superlong commute, then maybe its not right for you.

Urbanmonk

Yeah, the backpack is a good idea. I still use a single strap gym bag with carrying side handles, but am thinking of getting a backpack style. This would come in handy in the winter, but I don't know about the summer's early mornings when it gets in the mid 90s at 6 am. Maybe I'll switch between the two. Also, get two blinkies and use them. Some of my buddies swear, from a mile away, I look like a sqaud car pulling someone over--it works. Check out the winter cycling forum here. Good luck!

Urbanmonk

supadupamikey

I'm thinking your frame was too big... was it 56cm?... mines only 50cm...

supadupamikey

hey guys,

i been kinda busy, but, i just wanted to say "THANK YOU! =)" for all the replies

I'll write back later if I come up with any more questions... and I'll let everyone know what I decide to do...

thanks,
-mike

supadupamikey

we hit the bike shop yesterday...

came home with 2 Specialized Speed Zone Classic computers, and a Park Tool floor pump...


https://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProd...edhrxov.j27006


https://www.parktool.com/tools/PFP_3.shtml

thanks for the help so far!
-mike =)

froze

You got really excellent advice here so read all the posts well then make your decision.

My opinion for the computer would go along the same lines as the Cateye Mity 8 or if you want to save more money the Sigma Sport BC800 is cheaper by about $10 each and has all the basic functions-a good starting computer.

Performance has a floor pump that cost $20 when on sale OR you could buy one of those $20 electric air pumps from a auto supply store or Walmart, then you kill 2 birds with 1 stone because you could use it to pump a car tire up if needed; then just buy a brass schrader to presta converter for a buck and leave it attached to one of your bikes wheels so as not to lose it.

Gloves I use Trico Sports gel 1/2 finger that cost me $15 and way out lasted the Pearl Izumi gel-lite that cost $35!

As far as what is needed that varies, I also commute on the bike and like to bike to remote areas so I carry a expandable rear seat wedge bag made by Road Gear that cost $15 and has a reflective strip around it, this is where I have 2 mini tools-one from Park MTB1 that is a bike specific too and a Eddie Bauer with pair of needle nose pliers and some other tools I got from Target for $10 and it's real small. I also carry in the seat bag a dozen glueless patches, new tube in its box to protect it, a ultralight folding Torelli tire, tire irons (plastic will prevent marring the rims), a thing called the VAR I got from Rivendell that makes installing the last section of tough tires a snap without any possiblity of damaging the tire, tube or rim, spare batteries for tail light and computer, ID with blood type and phone number (also write your blood type inside your helmet), $20.50 for food or whatever and maybe phone, phone card (in case phone won't work with coin), mini first aid kit-not much use for major problems but will handle small scrapes and cuts, I know I'm leaving out some stuff but can't remember what. BUT this stuff you can add piece at a time as money allows and/or importance dictates.

You also need a pump to take with you, either a frame pump like the Zefal HPX or a mini like the Torelli Aria which is what I use and it attaches to the side of one of your bottle cages.

I just take a backpack when commuting for my lunch and shoes; I don't take a change of clothes because I only live 3 miles (now only 1 mile since I moved) and I ride a slow pace in the morning so no sweat issues. The ride at night is when I detour about 12-15 miles home. You can get low cost backpacks from Walmart or Target, but try to find one that has a reflective beading on it's back.

If your commuting your also going to need a light system of sorts, you will find this key to your survival!! The headlight can either be one of two types-self contained batteries or a seperate battery pack. Cateye EL300 is the brightest of the self contained and cost about $35 but for $10 more you can get the Cygo Metro (I have this one) that has 12.5 watts total power based on a dual beam light-6.2 watt flood and a 6.3 spot and it runs off of 6 D batteries that last 5 hours on one beam and 2 1/2 on both if you run it continously. It totally blows away the Cateye 300 with just one beam! And last season my batteries lasted 4 months of commuting. I get a 12 pack of D's from Walmart called EverActive for $8. Taillight the best is the Cateye TL-TD600 and cost about $20, also theres a new taillight that you mount one in each end of each side of your handlebars and it's extremily bright and cost $20 for the 2. I use both and I have had people come up to me in there cars and remarked how well they could see me from far away even.

You can get pant straps that have a reflector built into them for about $10, they will help you even more to be seen. get the widest you can find.

Also get a helmet-if you haven't already. Any bike helmet will work, even the cheap $20 ones at Walmart, they all now have to pass the same regulations as even the expensive ones called the CPSC certification. The expensive helmets have better air flow and better "cool" factor.

sm266

Check out some bike shorts/tights. More comfortable than baggy cotton.

BTW, I'm picking up a pair of Felt F60's for my fiance and I this weekend.