Starting out - Some advice

[Nigelnaturist]

Going to pop to Halfords later for some lights, as I completely forgot to get some at the shop. Are there any that are worth getting?

.

These Cree T6 are the best cheap lights.

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/lights-cree-xml-xm-l-t6-u2-etc-thread.117285/

They are bright enough to ride dark lanes at night.
This is useful too
http://www.amazon.com/MagicShine-Ge...cludes/dp/B004WLCLQY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[MikeW-71]

Had a couple of other shops to pop into today (just as its decided to rain!), both were stockists of Giant, first one had the Giant Defy 3 in my size, so guess what is currently sat in my lounge at the moment? £100 off as it was the 2014 model, which seems to be the going price online.

Got a Abus helmet as well, it was the best fitting of the ones I tried on. Going to pop to Halfords later for some lights, as I completely forgot to get some at the shop. Are there any that are worth getting?

Blimey, that was fast!

As far as lights go, are they needed to be seen with or to see by? I've found Cateye lights are great, particularly the "to be seen with" ones I use when commuting under street lights. Their Nano Shot is a surprisingly powerful small light that is good enough to light your way in the dark. It won't match the Cree ones mentioned above though.

 

[Kier]

Locks wise, the best regarded are the Kryptonite fahgetttaboutit and the Abus Granit X D locks, both are around £60-80

Avoid cables other than an a secondary for securing the second wheel, saddle. D Locks, the smaller the better to avoid the scrotes jacking them open (need to be usable though depending on where / to what you are securing them)

Thanks .

Blimey, that was fast!

As far as lights go, are they needed to be seen with or to see by? I've found Cateye lights are great, particularly the "to be seen with" ones I use when commuting under street lights. Their Nano Shot is a surprisingly powerful small light that is good enough to light your way in the dark. It won't match the Cree ones mentioned above though.

Yeah I'm terrible for impulse buying...

At the moment to be seen with, however, I would like to some to see by just incase.

 

[MikeW-71]

Cateye EL135 for the front and the 5 LED one for the back, quite cheap and gets seen no problem. Good mounts too.

 

[Gravity Aided]

You had a pretty good impulse, seen a lot of folk do a lot worse at impulse buys. The Defy should get you going, and serve you well for years. I tried one when our LBS had a tent sale, and almost got sold on one. Me, on a new bicycle? Not very likely, in the end. I think your choice is a good one. Many good miles to you both. I have Blackburn lights fore and aft, and like them for the being seen aspect. I may go with Cree if I need them for the seeing aspect.

 

[Kier]

Thank you . I shall have a look for them tomorrow. Tried to pop into Halfords this evening but lost track of time and they had shut.

Lots of questions I know, but I also want one of the cycle computers, just something basic that covers distance, total distance, speed and perhaps average speed from when it was last reset.

Can anyone recommend one? I've got Strava downloaded on my phone, but worried about it draining the battery etc (plus does it use data while being used?).

 

[MikeW-71]

Strava doesn't use any data on the phone, but it does eat battery life.

A good basic computer that can also record rides to upload to Strava, look at the Garmin Edge 200.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Or the Bryton Rider 21, this is Ant+ compatible i.e. can support speed/cad and HR monitors is I think also more accurate with elevation, but is a copy and upload to strava rather than a sync, easy enough though, it doesn't do the breadcrumb trial the Edge 200 does.
I use a Rider 20 as backup to my Edge 705 (as it throws a wobbly sometimes) and its never once failed me, except when I let the memory get full.

 

[Kier]

Thank you . Garmin Edge 200 was the one I was looking at.

Looking forward to my first ride tomorrow .

 

[bloodlett]

Thank you . Garmin Edge 200 was the one I was looking at.

Looking forward to my first ride tomorrow .

my avatar pic was taken today on my first ride last time I was on a bike the year was 1979 we called them 10 speeds back then I use the Garmin edge 500 was going to buy the 200 but I found a reconditioned 500 for 129.00 us dollar on flea bay with free shipping with a 1 year warranty

 

[Kier]

Well first ride has been done. 7.7 miles in 37:52, no idea if that is good or not, but I'm pleased for my first time on a bike in years (well properly on a bike, other than messing about).

My water bottle isn't big enough though, drank most of it within my first break!

I also need to find somewhere that doesn't have so many hills on the way back!

Enjoyed it overall though, just hoping the weather stays nice for a while so I don't lose motivation too quickly.

 

[Cycleops]

my avatar pic was taken today on my first ride last time I was on a bike the year was 1979 we called them 10 speeds back then I use the Garmin edge 500 was going to buy the 200 but I found a reconditioned 500 for 129.00 us dollar on flea bay with free shipping with a 1 year warranty

You might like this site then: http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well first ride has been done. 7.7 miles in 37:52, no idea if that is good or not, but I'm pleased for my first time on a bike in years (well properly on a bike, other than messing about).

My water bottle isn't big enough though, drank most of it within my first break!

I also need to find somewhere that doesn't have so many hills on the way back!

Enjoyed it overall though, just hoping the weather stays nice for a while so I don't lose motivation too quickly.

Its good because you were out, and better than my first ride out.

 

[bloodlett]

Its good because you were out, and better than my first ride out.

if I did my math rite that is 12.31 mph average better then my 9.6 mph average on my first ride

 

[Kier]

First ride in nearly two weeks today, due to crappy shifts at work and meetings.

5.7 miles, average speed of 13.6mph. Got to wear my padded shorts today and so much better!

Not able to get out tomorrow due to work, but hopefully Wednesday before work.