Roody

Batteries--newer LED headlights take AAA. Four batteries will last a month with a 30 minute dark commute. Maybe longer if you use blinking mode.

A pump would be good to have, and Allen wrenches. Try asking your local bike club for help. Also, the LBS might have spare parts lying around for cheap or free.

Freecycle is a good resource--local Yahoo groups that hook people up with stuff that other people want to get rid of. Google freecycle with the name of your city.

Desert_Donkey

Definitely get him a U-lock, because I know the pain of fixing up someone's bike only to have a thieving scumbag ride off on it.

Helmets can be had for as little as $6.00-$10.00 on Pricepoint.com or JensonUSA.com, depending on the specials at the time. Lots of other parts are available there as well, which is how I was able to fix up my friend's crappy Walmart bike into something that would get him to and from work safely.

My helmet's off to the OP for doing a Good Thing. I hope things turn out well for the man and his family.

Raiyn

Heck yeah. It's how I got my kiddie trailer that I turned into a hauler.

jamesdenver

So those past instances should have an effect on the future? Why? When you flip a coin the result will always be 50/50, regardless of the history.

Maybe you should try again.

MyBikeGotStolen

good luck mike, karma will thank you.
But I am pretty sure that he would be disqualfied from the food stamps though, based on the fact that he is TRYING and he doesnt sell drugs or drive a Cadillac.

Roody

This cliche was stale, dishonest urban myth the first time I heard it, in about 1967. It's even less true now than it was then!

hotbike

Those rubber caps are NOT to keep the generator from slipping. The purpose of those rubber caps on the generator's shaft is to increase the diameter of the generator shaft.

I had to use one of those because I was going too fast , and burning out headlight bulbs.

The rubber cap lowers the RPM of the generator (and makes it a little easier to pedal).

Raiyn

<scratches head> I've been in line behind ladies on several occasions with wonderfully processed hair and immaculate talon fingernails who have gotten behind the wheel of a very nice vehicle with giant rims having paid for their order with an EBT card.

Say what you will about stereotypes, but there's always some that fit the bill.

That's hardly the point however, we're trying to help out someone in need not make judgments on the system and it's failings

wahoonc

That may be, but they also help with the slippage issue as well as keep the metal wheel from wearing out the tire side wall. I have never seen them sold for the purpose of conserving bulbs.

Aaron

gwd

I've ridden for years with a metal generator on a front tire without tire damage. I used it on a ten mile commute so in the winter I used it every evening. On another bike I tried wrapping the metal wheel in a slice of road tire and it would still pick up gunk from the road and slip in the rain or snow. Some generators have zener diodes and better quality lights also have zener diodes to prevent sending too much voltage to the light bulb.

Bikepacker67

I think a cheap charger, a set of AAA rechargables, and rear and front LED lights would be cheaper than a dynamo.

MyBikeGotStolen

Apparently you have never been in line behind someone buying 2 shopping carts STUFFED full of Cheeto's Pringles, Gushers and various other junk food items all for a grand total of $10.

And yes, they were all wearing nice clothes, nice cell phones, etc.

wahoonc

But we already HAVE the dynamo...

Aaron

Raiyn

The item I promised is in the mail Mike

mike

That is fascinating information, hotbike. Thanks. I wonder why they don't just make the contact rotor a bigger diameter so they don't have to have the plastic cap. Hmmmm. Why ask why, I suppose.

I guess the plastic cap might also help save the tire.

The plastic caps I had on my generators wore out pretty quick.

mike

GWD: Glad to know the tire will hold up with the generator. Did you run it against the tan part of a 27" tire (today's new tire, not gum)?

BY THE WAY, I DID get the generator light to work. Whew, it took me almost all day. I would have been better off giving him a new battery light and a year's worth of batteries. Anyway, it works now and it is throwing off a good beam of light. It should serve him well.

mike

I have the bike put together now. Thanks to Wahoonc for the brand spanking new tires and the gorgeous new fenders. Thanks to Raiyn for the ankle reflectors.

I think the bike is a good commuter now:

Base: Schwinn Sprint ten speed

Added:
*All new tires (thanks, Aaron)
* New Polycarbonate fenders WITH mud flaps (Thanks, Aaron)
*Two new ankle reflectors (Thanks, Raiyn)
*New grips on handlebars
*WALD sidesaddle baskets
*Generator light
*Cleaned up and greased all brake and derailure cables.
*Replaced frayed/bent cable housings
*Cleaned and lubricated front and rear derailures
*Trued wheels front and back
*Adjusted brakes
*Providing safety helmut (just kidding Raiyn - "Helmet")
*Provided cable and lock.
*Washed and waxed bike

All in all, I think his bike is very much improved both in repairs as well as in the functional additions.

I will deliver the bike tomorrow and report back on how it goes.

Raiyn

Of course you realize

mike

I delivered the bicycle to our happy recipient yesterday. The whole family was so happy. The wife had tears in her eyes. His two boys were jumping up and down saying, "oh Daddy, look at your new bike, look at your new bike!"

At first, he did not even recognize his own bike with all the upgrades.

He was genuinely touched by the kindness. I told him that some friends had contributed to the upgrades and he wanted me to thank all of you.

He knows that the fenders, lights and basket transformed his bicycle to a vehicle. Of course, all of us who use bicycles as primary transportation appreciate how much more convenient his life will be now.

Thanks to all of you for your contributions

I took some really nice photos, but I do not want to post them or his name on the internet - naturally.

You done good, Bike Forums folks. Good Karma is coming your way to be sure.

donrhummy

You NEED to contact "Bike Town USA" by Bicycling magazine. They do this for a living. They give bikes for free to people in need and they've had situations where they had to make basically puncture-proof, damage-proof bikes for groups in Africa.

https://www.bicycling.com/biketown/home.html

Tell them your situation and I'll bet they can help you do this for even more people in the area.

(Your story today was the best I've read on BF in a long time. Thank you.)

Business810

I concur, my hat is off to you.

I just wish I would have seen this thread sooner, since I have a practically new commuter seat sitting on my floor that I could have contributed.

mike

Our car-free friend is still here and riding every day. It's not like Christmas is over 'till next year. So if you would like to help by contributing a nice saddle, that is still very possible - and very kind of you. The saddle is one thing I did not change. Right now his bike has a foamy plastic thing from the 1980's.

Send me a Private Message through the forums if you would like to help. Thanks.

Neil_B

Or worked in a grocery store. I did when I was in college, and such things did occur.

Business810

I didn't know if you were still in contact with him, but since you are, you have a message...

wahoonc

+1

Aaron