Advice on bike locks and other accessories
 

OK
ski season is over and I am geared up (yes the pun is intended!) to start biking!
finally found decent used bikes off Craig's list for each of my 3 daughters.

our first big adventure . . .. . in 2 weeks to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms . .. . staying in Arlington VA. and plan to ride around DC . . plus a guided tour with a park ranger one of the days.

my question is this. . .used children's bikes-- est: $50 each. . . . how much do i spend on locks?? I have been researching this and I am questioning spending the same amount or more on the lock then the bike

also . . . would like to get the girls:
- water bottle cages
- handlebar bag for snacks etc.
- rear bike rack disc .. (?) for the bike lock and to bungee that extra sweater/wind breaker they may want

any thoughts on getting this stuff either used or at a very good price????

thanks M

I like the Abus Bordo folding locks, myself. They're compact, and pretty tough. I use one for my commuter, and I have a coworker who uses the extra long version to lock up his and his kids' bikes when they go for rides. Depending on where you'll be locking your bikes up, and for how long, it is well worth the investment to get a good quality lock, whether a folder, a U-lock, or whatever else. Like anything, the better locks may end up costing a bit more, but that cost is often tied in with the durability and reliability of the product's materials and manufacture.

As for bottle cages and bags, those are pretty universal, and you can typically find a wide variety of them at your local bike shop. For rear racks, you'll want to be sure that you have the proper mounting points on the bike(s) to attach a rack, and the proper size rack as well. That's another thing that you can find help with at a bike shop. Best of luck to you!

I picked up one of these OnGuard Bulldog Mini U-Locks w/cable sets. Pretty good outfit.

OnGuard 8015 Bulldog Mini DT U-Lock with Cable - Bike Locks

This gives you a size comparison:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=371819

thanks this is very helpful . . . it looks like 1 lock would work for all 4 bikes

will the mini lock fit around the tire and frame???

They're $50 children's bikes. That's quite a theft deterrent in itself. What's the black market value of a pink huffy?

I've got a longer cable with a loop on each end that I run through my front wheel and hook up to my u-lock. Helps keep the wheel from wandering off. Figure I could probably run that through the frames of several little Huffys on the way to my wheel if needed.

& a long cable ? FYI Kryptonite makes a pretty long cable ,, LBS uses it to secure the rental fleet in a row outside the shop .

they're 3/8"(10mm) x 30 feet..
https://www.kryptonitelock.com/Pages...PNumber=830504

bike accessories
 

You could try this website: urbicycle.com. They have a great selection of accessories and apparel for children and adults.

For their kids' bikes, my daughters use basic cables with built-in combination locks. Used kids' bikes don't generally sell for much, so I don't think thieves are likely to bother breaking any lock to take them. Halfway decent adult bikes, on the other hand...

Other thoughts: You mentioned a "rear bike rack disc(?)" to carry things. When pedaling around with my own two daughters, I use a rack and panniers (bags) to carry stuff. I really like the Axiom Journey rack - here's the disc brake compatible version - and the panniers just hook on to the sides. When you park the bikes, just unhook your pannier(s) and take 'em with you. Panniers come in a huge range of sizes, configurations, and prices. I bought some basic ones for $25-30 or so and they've been great to haul around locks, lunches, ball gloves, jackets, and whatever.

Thank you to all . . . . we had a great trip biking in DC and enjoying the cherry blossoms!
my daughters enjoyed the biking so much . . . they did not want to go into any museums - - just biking and stopping at outdoor places ex) monuments, Hains Point, Arlington Cemetery, zoo etc.

We went with combining a moderately priced u-lock and cable --- each. I taught them to focus on the both the rear and back tires as well as the frame. they became little experts at either locking up their bikes solo or partnering with a sibling!!!

again -- thank you for all the advice and help . . . .next post questions to come!!