BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Computers: I've had good luck with the various Cateye comps. I think they have a low end model (Velo 5) with the absolute basics.

Pedals: I've got a pair of the Shimano M324s that has lasted across 5 years and three (four?) bikes. Not light, and kinda clunky, but they've been reliable. I also have the A520s; lighter and sleeker, but I've only got three years in and I'm noticing some creaking in the bearings on one of them.

Shoes: they may be dorktastic, but SPD sandals (Keen, Shimano, Lake) really have their points. They dry rapidly after getting soaked, and allow those sweet cooling breezes to flow across the toes. Plus, add wool socks and rain covers, and they're every bit as warm in crap weather as shoes.

I had these pedals for about a year:

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_502335_-1_201521_10000_200435

I just got rid of them in favor of dual sided clip pedals, but never had any issues with them. They are essentially the same as the shimano A530's but at less than half the price.

I would also recommend adding fenders/lights to the list.

Also consider padded shorts. You can get short liners from nashbar for 15$ or rei for ~20 I think.

One last thing would be some sort of tool pack. I use an old water bottle that has a wide mouth and in it I have a bike multi tool, a spare tube, tire levers and a patch kit. I also keep a pump on my bike, but if you wanted a co2 cartridge system that would be fine too.

Simple wired computer. Stay away from wireless. Pain in the A. I had one that told me my bike was doing 75 mph when I hung it on the wall, it's near some leaky fluorescent light ballast or something. I hate when my bike goes faster on the wall than it does when I ride it.

u-lock, comfy non-dorktastic helmet (so shes actually willing to wear it), lights, a rear fender at least, patch kit and tire levers (and a presta adaptor if she has presta valves)

What kind of riding does she plan on doing?

I've cycled (no exaggeration) 5k+ miles in Pittsburgh without any of the items you listed

+5 on the pump, tire levers, patch kit, helmet, lights, fenders (although I think you definitely need front fenders too)

helmet

lights

lock

the little saddle bag is nice if you also throw a little tool kit in there, like a hex multitool or something.

It makes a big difference if she's doing sport/rec riding or commuting/errands type of thing.

In either case:

- gloves, helmet, padded shorts

- glasses w/multiple lenses (clear & smoke)

- water bottle & rack (2 for long rides)

Riding for fun/exercise:

- seat pack or handlebar bag

- some way to stow a jacket - rack and bungees?

Riding as transportation:

- good lock (I have a modern u-lock with a cable)

- front & back lights

- rack & bungees, maybe a rack trunk w/shoulder strap or basket/pannier system

- fenders

- messenger bag with sternum strap (somehow they're more comfortable than backpacks but YMMV)

I would say a tube and tire levers, but I've actually never had a flat when riding (okay, once, but I noticed it 50 yards from the car on my way back), so I can't vouch for that. Obviously she needs a good pump at home, I like the ones with the gauge built in. Supposedly you can use a dollar as a temporary patch if you have tire levers and a pump.

For the cycle computer, if she has a smartphone she might get almost as much utility out of a GPS-based phone app that maps your route and tracks speed, etc. (But I keep buying computers and never getting them installed properly, so I don't really know what I'm missing.)

Finally, it sounds like she's really into the clipless shoes, but I never got the hang of that. I love, love, love my PowerGrips (http://www.rei.com/product/788129 ), you get good pedal contact, don't have to worry much about clipping in or out, and can wear any type of shoes. And they're way cheap.

For online shopping, Nashbar and Performance are the biggies but their low-quality stuff is pretty low-quality. I also like Price Point and REI-Outlet. Terry has an online store (premium quality women-specific gear at a premium price) but you can also find their stuff at Team Estrogen and occasionally at Campmor or Sierra Trading Post (all reasonable online vendors).

Yes, I'm an expert shopper. If I spent half the time doing my sports as I did shopping for the gear I'd be mighty!

The saddle bag is pretty important if you don't have any pockets in your riding clothes, which happens to women all the time. I routinely put my phone, keys, and a little cash in there. Though I also have to clean it out if I'm parking somewhere. (And recently since I'm paranoid about thugs in the East End I've been making sure to carry my phone on my body.)

Things that live in my seat pack all the time: rear blinky light, copy of my health insurance card, lip balm, patch kit (though I'm not sure what to do with it), rag for greasy hands after minor repairs.

@ ErinkK I think the dollar bill trick is for when the flat is caused by a sidewall blowout. The dollar bill holds the innertube inside the tire. The patch kit actually "patches" the hole in the innertube. So even in that instance, you still need the patch kit. But having a spare tube is preferable, because then you don't have to go through the patch routine on the side of the road.

Tube AND patch kit, for when you didn't get the shard of crap out of the tire the first time, and you find your new tube is flat a mile down the road.

Not that this has ever happened to me.

my list was in the interest of keeping it SIMPLE. you give her a list of 986875 things she needs to own and do in order to just ride a bike and you have just made it 986875 times less likely that she will actually ride.

Computer? Sigma BC 1200, cheap, reliable. Saw it on REI Outlet's site recently.

yeah i wasn't really looking for accessories so much as looking for where she could buy the ones she wants.

I would search the interwebs first and then if she can get what she wants locally to support her lbs she can do that. I use amazon in addition to some of the others mentioned above.

Last year when I started back into cycling, I was in the same position of wanting to get ok products, without breaking the bank.

This cyclocomputer from Planet Bike served me well http://ecom1.planetbike.com/8001.html Very easy to set-up and use while riding. Lots of info displayed on the screen at once and with a decent sized display.

She should check the LBS' near her, because I'm pretty sure I paid less than the price listed on Planet Bike's website.

Here's a list of the authorized seller's in the Buffalo area

http://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor/results.php?PHPSESSID=7dc6818bd97d81674fc9a81b17c6251f

I gave up having pedals that needed special shoes after I picked up these last year-

http://www.velo-orange.com/mksgr9pedal.html

with these-

http://www.velo-orange.com/vodehacl.html

$36 total and you can wear your favorite sneakers.

so, like, are there any good places online to buy stuff? e.g. if someone asked me where they should buy computer stuff, i would immediately direct them to newegg.com. is nashbar all there is for bike stuff?

just a suggestion, but i have always found computers to just be a useless distraction that could potentially be a dangerous one. it's not like you're going to get pulled over for breaking the speed limit.