what kit do I need? advice for newbie?!?!?!?! i'm desperate!!!

[jclmellor]

Hi,

I've just taken the plunge and bought a second hand Dahon Speed D7 from ebay for £150. I'm completely new to folding bikes (and cycling generally!), however I need to smarten up pronto as I'll be cycling to work in a month. I'm a bit wobbly but I can practice on the lovely cycle path near my house! In a month I'm going to take advantage of the Evans Cycles training sessions so I can learn how to look after the bike.

I have a few questions that I hope people can help me with:

- can anyone recommend an excellent (but cheapish...) brand of: lock; lights (to see and be seen); bell?

- is it worth buying a bag for the Dahon to go into, folded up? it's coming on the train with me (and sometimes the bus)

- do you think i should wear a helmet? i won't be cycling fast and i'll only be riding on the cycle path, and helmets seem to be a pain to carry with everything else i need to carry for work. if i should get a helmet, can you recommend a brand?

- i asked in Halfords about trailers for the Dahon Speed D7 (we don't really have a local bike shop near us) and they said it's not possible to have a trailer on there... i'm not sure that they know what they're talking about though... if anyone knows a brand of trailer that can fit onto a Dahon Speed D7, could you let me know?

Many thanks for your help

xxx

 

[Adasta]

Ok, so:

• Lock - Kryptonite U-Lock. Have a look at which one suits you best. Look for something with a silver rating. If you're going to spend your money on one thing, let it be the lock!
• Lights - There are lots of options here, but, for the rear, you'll want LED lights with a high lumen count. Smart are a popular brand. I use the Blackburn Mars which gets good review. Two of those (at least) on the back! In terms of front light, I use a Trelock, but you can spend a lot on front lights.
• Helmet - A personal choice.
• Trailer - Go to an LBS (a Local Bike Shop) and ask. You're right to question Halfords: a lot of their staff really don't know. Independent bike shop staff are usually bike nuts, so I'm sure they'd love to try and answer all your questions.

I'm sure there will be others along to give you their advice!

 

[corshamjim]

Regarding a bag - yes I have an inexpensive one which is good for keeping the insides of the car clean when we cart the bike around.

It's this one -
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/109180.html

It's one more thing to cart around with you though.


And regarding the trailer, I wouldn't recommend a high hitch trailer, as it would put too much strain on the seatpost.

The main site in the UK to look for trailers is:
http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/

Also check out http://www.bikester.co.uk/bicycle-equipment/trailers.html
I've found bikester very useful for trailers and equipment, but they can be a little tardy both in delivery and replying to queries (ime they always deliver eventually though).

Any hitch which is permanently fitted to the bike may affect the fold of the Dahon which (if I recall correctly) is on the left - same side as most trailer hitches.

Some trailers will only work with specific wheel-sized bicycles so you'll need to check with the manufacturer of the trailer you are interested in whether it will suit the 20"-wheeled Dahon.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Lights - Plante X seems to have some very good deals on Smart Lunar light sets. If its just "to be seen" I would go for 2 of the 10 lux at £11. Fit bothe sets, have one on constant and one on flash...and keep some replacement batteries with you in your bag, just in case.
Planet X lights... http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/c/q/lights

10 lux light set... http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q...nar-10-lux-front-with-1-2-watt-rear-light-set

 

[downfader]

Cheap locks can be a waste of money in some situations. Don't buy a "cable" lock as tealeaves cut through these like butter, get a decent D Lock like an Abus or Krypto:

I like these for about £70+

I quite like these chains too (£110+)

You can go cheaper. I personally like to use several locks on rotation. If I'm locking up in public its two locks to secure both wheels and frame.

Lights:
For the money I'm a big fan of Smart. Cateye do some good ones, imo buy decent ones that give out good light and give you some side projection. Don't go for the cheapest. Knog do some great ones too for around £20 each. They self mount too with silicone moulded grips instead of fittings, so can be used from bike to bike... As with locks, dont skimp on the budget.

Helmet:

Any search through any cycle forum will show you how heated this gets. You have to make the personal choice, dont rely on internet anecdotes but read the various bits of research instead. Even then you may be undecided.

IMO its far better to aquaint yourself with the cycling sections of the highway code, even read Cyclecraft. Good understanding of road use and defensive riding is far more effective at making cycling safe. And in the most part it is very safe according to the stats so dont worry.

Have a look at the beginners sections on here too. General questions tend to have been asked so you might find solutions to things you havent thought of yet on there.

Welcome to the forums and cycling!

 

[Andy_R]

- i asked in Halfords about trailers for the Dahon Speed D7 (we don't really have a local bike shop near us) and they said it's not possible to have a trailer on there... i'm not sure that they know what they're talking about though... if anyone knows a brand of trailer that can fit onto a Dahon Speed D7, could you let me know?

As usual they're talking out of their own fundaments. Dahon actually make a trailer that fits any bike with a QR rear hub or with a long enough axle if it isnt QR, Linky and its a very nice little trailer too. My nephew used one to do all his shopping/load lugging with his Dahon (also a D7) when he was living in Liverpool, all he had to do was get the rear hub converted IIRC

 

[PaulSecteur]

Oh, and the other general cycling rule is...

"Dont go to Halfords looking for advice"

They do sometime have a good deal on, and they do sell some decent products BUT going in without researching what you want and prices is asking to be sold items at a high mark up and probaly worse quality than you could have gotten by researching or asking on forums.

 

[BSRU]

I quite like these chains too (£110+)

It's too small in many ways, 1.1metres will mean it is a very tight fit and 10mm chain link is too thin, a serious chain should be at least 16mm such as the Almax I have.

Never use a cable lock of any kind as your only lock, they are rubbish but will be ok if combined with a decent D-lock, Abus or Kryptonite, cheaper D locks are not worth the saving, or a big chain.

 

[downfader]

It's too small in many ways, 1.1metres will mean it is a very tight fit and 10mm chain link is too thin, a serious chain should be at least 16mm such as the Almax I have.

Never use a cable lock of any kind as your only lock, they are rubbish but will be ok if combined with a decent D-lock, Abus or Kryptonite, cheaper D locks are not worth the saving, or a big chain.

I tend to use the chain with the D lock. Never on its own tbh. I also use security skewers

 

[ufkacbln]

I tend to use the chain with the D lock. Never on its own tbh. I also use security skewers

The trick where possible is to use two "different" systems. That way the oportunistic thief has to have more than one type of tool to be sucessful in removing both locks

 

[jefmcg]

Welcome,

I've been using a folding bike around London for 3 1/2 years using it almost daily, and I don't own a lock and only got a bag when I wanted to take the bike on Eurostar.

The abus lock above weighs 2 1/2 kg. That's fine in a pannier or attached to the frame, but lugging it up and down stairs as well as your bike and everything you carrying.

In 3 years, I vaguely missed a lock about 3 times. I just fold the bike and take it with me.

If you want to find people obsessively nerdish about folding bikes, try http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?221-Folding-Bikes

 

[SportMonkey]

I'm not a folding bike user, I commute on a racer.

However:

I've not bought lights yet - I will do when the nights start getting dark - but you've got a couple of months.

I wear a helmet; I've been hit twice, I'm not sure if it's done anything, but I've not been KO'd so I'm happier with one. Wearing a helmet isn't about what speed you go. Although the comments here about reading Cyclecraft are right, prevention is best.

I have a D-Lock and chain, they stay at home. They weigh too much to constantly carry and my bike is either by my desk at work, or by my desk at home.

Oh, and imho bells are quieter than yelling. I quite like to yell.

I also use a pollution filter if nothing else it improves your draw.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

If you're just using your bike on the train, don't bother getting a cover/bag. I've taken my Brompton on the train for years now with no cover and have seen others do the same with Dahons. Be aware that some bus companies do have rules about bikes needing to be in bags. Even then, you could just carry a bin bag and use that if challenged...

I don't use a lock for work as I can store my bike under my desk - if you can do the same with your Dahon then you may be able to save yourself some weight and make your commute a little bit easier.

Others have given you better advice on brands of lights than I could but I would say have two lights on the front and two on the back if you can. That way you've always got a backup if one fails.
As for helmets... I'm staying out of that one

 

[StuartG]

Helmet:

Any search through any cycle forum will show you how heated this gets. You have to make the personal choice, dont rely on internet anecdotes but read the various bits of research instead. Even then you may be undecided.

And if you are not undecided you may need to read (all) the research again.

Go with the choice you feel most comfortable with. It may save your life or be a contributory cause to a collision. On the basis of current knowledge its a gamble. Thankfully both ways the bets are stacked in your favour.

Whereas the other questions you can do something to change your chances. Re locks - the crucial question is because it is a folder will it be kept in a reasonably secure environment at all times? A cable lock to your desk leg is going to beat the toughest D-Lock in the car park. Security is really important and there are simple lessons that many novices miss and with the loss of their first bike are lost to cycling. Check out the bike security YouTubes and ask other local cyclists. They will know the places to avoid, they will know where it is relatively safe. But never, never leave your bike insecured out of sight.

Lights - spend the money on the rear light. Maybe two. If you are in town a flasher on the front is best. You will be wanting people to see you. Street lighting is hard to beat for potholes. Out of town is a very different matter. And there is a play off between power and battery length. Research suggests that the characteristic up/down reflectors on the pedals and/or ankles is the best way to be recognised. Plain Hi-Viz just shows you are there, it doesn't show what you are doing. It may fool a motorist to assume you are a worker stationary at the side of the road - not doing 20mph and about to pull to the right to avoid a pothole.

 

[Tynan]

locks are expensive and heavy and the fact that you might be using one means you;re leaving your bike somewhere unsecure, in which case a proper bike thief will be able to break your expensive lock, likely surprising quickly and discretely

try very hard to have a place at home and work that is secure, if necessary have a cheaper lock at work to secure from site visitors etc rather than the entire passing world

if you can imagine hitting your head on the road, I'd say wear a helmet, I've worn one routinely for 20 years, actually made use of it once, enough for me to keep wearing one