First bike, accessory advice required

Slinkie

Slinkie

Slinkie

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Hi all,

I have recently decided to get into triathlons after a long time of being a distance runner. I have purchased a bike/ helmet/ shoes pedals etc but need to last few accessories which I need advice on.

I need lights as I train before work and so am out early, what do you recommend?

I also need a puncture repair kit and a lock. I tried looking online but there are so many options that I am a bit overwhelmed so I am looking for recomendations for these too.

Thanks
 
You don't want to be repairing punctures at the road side - better to take a spare inner tube or two with you and then worry about repairing the puncture at home if you can be bothered. Get a saddle bag and some spare tubes, tyre levers (lezyne or park make good ones) and maybe some self adhesive patches just in case you get through all your spare tubes on one ride. You'll need a mini pump or co2 inflator as well - the lezyne cfh is a combo pump/inflator and is not too expensive.

Where are you planning on locking the bike up? Is this a lock to take with you or one that's going to stay put at home/work?

I'm not so good on lights, but you can easily spend hundreds on them.
 
Two choices with front lights

a) Lights to be seen with (ie you are riding in areas with street lights, so they are for your safety)
b) Lights to seen with (ie riding in unlit areas, so you need to see the road for hazards but obviously still need to be visible to other road users)

For b there's lots of choice, perhaps a MagicShine for £60:

http://www.magicshineuk.co.uk/featured-products/mj-858-1000-lumens-2015-model.html

I've found you don't need off-road lights running at full power on road - they'll also dazzle other drivers

eBay has piles of choice of lights made in China
 
The lights are just to be seen really rather than to see. The bike lock would be used for work mainly.

I'll have a look around but I was after recommendations as there is so much choice to all of these I have no idea where to start. Eg, Is a £50 lock a lot better than a £10 lock, same with lights etc.
 
Generally yes better locks are both heavier and more expensive. Decent ones are rated sold secure bronze silver and gold.
A £10 lock will be junk.

You need to decide what's best, a chain style lock or a D lock. D locks are generally better but also heavier. Do some reading, plenty of articles on bike security and whats best, but ultimately its a balance between risk (where will the bike be locked) weight and price.
 
I've a mini 5 with cable, awesome lock for the price but I wouldn't want to be lumping it around due to the weight (I leave mine at work).

As for lights, are you riding on open roads in all weathers/conditions? If you I would advise at a minimum a 500+ lumen rated light from a quality brand. Anything less and you'll struggle - I ran a Volt400 and found it struggled at night in wet weather, I just couldn't see enough road when travelling at any speed. I now run a Volt800 but I've not done much night riding with bad weather since... Give it time! Winter is coming! ;)

I'd recommend Cateye, Exposure & Leyzne lights designed for road riding (focused/angled beams to avoid blinding oncoming cars). Anything that can conform to German road regs is good.
 
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