Need lights and a Lock

On 31/10/2007 18:52, John said,

Quoted message said:

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the bike.

£60 for lights and lock? That's pushing it! Anyway, can we assume not
dynamo lights? What sort of riding at night will you be doing - dark
country lanes or bright street lights? How much time will you spend
riding in the dark? Just to get an idea what sort of lights/lock
proportion to spend your money on, based on a lock being around 10%
minimum of the bikes value.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

"Paul Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 31/10/2007 18:52, John said,

Quoted message said:

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and
safety via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for
the bike.

£60 for lights and lock? That's pushing it! Anyway, can we assume not
dynamo lights? What sort of riding at night will you be doing - dark
country lanes or bright street lights? How much time will you spend
riding in the dark? Just to get an idea what sort of lights/lock
proportion to spend your money on, based on a lock being around 10%
minimum of the bikes value.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Probably most street lights and hopefully 3-4 hrs per week... As the bike
cost £400, then the lock is £40, thus leaving £20+ for lights. You are
right, no dynamo lights....

Remember, it has to come from Halfords as that the old place I can spend the
vouchers...

John said:

"Paul Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 31/10/2007 18:52, John said,

Quoted message said:

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and
safety via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for
the bike.

£60 for lights and lock? That's pushing it! Anyway, can we assume not
dynamo lights? What sort of riding at night will you be doing - dark
country lanes or bright street lights? How much time will you spend
riding in the dark? Just to get an idea what sort of lights/lock
proportion to spend your money on, based on a lock being around 10%
minimum of the bikes value.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Probably most street lights and hopefully 3-4 hrs per week... As the bike
cost £400, then the lock is £40, thus leaving £20+ for lights. You are
right, no dynamo lights....

Remember, it has to come from Halfords as that the old place I can spend the
vouchers...

It depends on where you lock it up, you want something like a magnum
u-lock (35ukp) to lock the rear wheel, through the frame to a fixed
object, and cable lock to lock the front wheel to the frame..

For your use, get LED lights.

For the rear light you want a cateye LD600:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_199547_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_31362_crumb_33980_parentcategoryrn_31362

With a white LED for the front.

This will come in at about 80-90 pounds.

Also in the long term you should be looking at getting a pump, spare
inner tubes, puncture repair kit, tyre levers, and mini-tool.

On 31/10/2007 19:35, John said,

Quoted message said:

Probably most street lights and hopefully 3-4 hrs per week... As the bike
cost £400, then the lock is £40, thus leaving £20+ for lights. You are
right, no dynamo lights....

Remember, it has to come from Halfords as that the old place I can spend the
vouchers...

In that case I would go for a £40 chunky U-lock provided it will fit
around whatever you need to lock it to, a good LED back light, and with
whatever's left get an LED front light. For that sort of usage, see if
your local Halfords has those bulk packs of their "own-brand" alkaline
batteries. Allegedly made by Duracell, these will be less faff than
rechargeables - they'll last for ages, and you can carry a spare set
with you anyway.

In practical terms I would put a back light higher priority than the
front because you'll mostly need to be seen from behind, but not need
the light to see where you're going. My own commute is pretty much the
other way around!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

John said:

Hi,

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the bike.

Any recomendations ?

One of these:

www.silverlinetools.com/images/library/stock/webbig/580457.jpg
£11.10 without the padlock,

and a DCL1 lock:
www.squirelocks.co.uk/html/dcl_range.htm
£16.50.

It provides a cheap, secure and flexible locking system - though it is
heavy.

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the
bike.

Any recomendations ?

Poundland do lights and locks for a quid.

£60 would give you 30 of each :-)

Bikehut Ultra Bright LED Bike Light Set
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_219842_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_31362_crumb_33980_parentcategoryrn_31362
for the lights (I think they are/were made by Hella), leaving £17-68
for a bronze rated cable lock
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_159433_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_31389_crumb_33980-31270_parentcategoryrn_31389
or perhaps a bit more for a D-lock? Guess it depends where and for
how long you are going to leave it?
(Disclaimer: not used any of this, but you did ask, and I have been
happy with my old Halfords combination cable lock - so far.....)

John said:

Hi,

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the bike.

Any recomendations ?

Cheers,
John

The Kryptonite Kryptkeeper and a set of CatEye front and rear lights
should be able to be bought within your budget. However that lock
won't put off the most determined of thieves.
But you can always upgrade later. Just don't leave the bike in places
where the scrotes have loads of time to do their evil deeds. For
example, if you work in an office is there a storeage cupboard with
space for it (still locked mind)?

OG said:

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the
bike.

Any recomendations ?

Poundland do lights and locks for a quid.

£60 would give you 30 of each :-)

The OP has to spend it Halfords; why when such value locks & lights are
cheaply available elsewhere I can't imagine!

PS I spent nearly £3 on a 3 LED front lamp/torch from Hypervalue.

Marcus Red said:

OG said:

"John" wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the
bike.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any recomendations ?

Quoted message said:

Poundland do lights and locks for a quid.

Quoted message said:

£60 would give you 30 of each :-)

The OP has to spend it Halfords; why when such value locks & lights are
cheaply available elsewhere I can't imagine!

PS I spent nearly £3 on a 3 LED front lamp/torch from Hypervalue.

The LEDs from Wilkinsons are about 3 quid and are very bright to be
seen by. I'd get those and spend all the 60 quid on a lock. Do you
need to carry the lock with you or can you get a heavy lump to leave
in your usual parking place?

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Just been told my bike (Trek 4500) has arrived at Halfords (cycle2work
scheme). I now have £60 to spend (under the scheme) on security and safety
via Halfords vouchers and want to get a decent lock and lights for the
bike.

Any recomendations ?

Cheers,
John

Thanks for all the replies - definately something to consider...

For the lock, I suppose I'd better see what the insurance company
stipulate - which reminds me, I need insurance as well...

For the lights, I discovered a £3 set from Lidl still in their box at the
back of the shed - perhaps I got then in advance, but will probably stick
them on for now (until the batteries run flat at least).

I collected the bike this morning from the Halfords store in Westcliff. The
ride back home to Leigh-on-Sea (short) was an utter dream, so much so , I
just popped out for a 30 min quick blast around Hadleigh (supposed to be
working from home today)...

John

John said the following on 02/11/2007 14:40:

Quoted message said:

For the lock, I suppose I'd better see what the insurance company
stipulate - which reminds me, I need insurance as well...

Check your contents insurance if you have any. You will probably find a
bike of that value is included or can be added, and it will probably be
better and cheaper cover than the specialist bike insurers!

Quoted message said:

I collected the bike this morning from the Halfords store in Westcliff. The
ride back home to Leigh-on-Sea (short) was an utter dream, so much so , I
just popped out for a 30 min quick blast around Hadleigh (supposed to be
working from home today)...

Excellent - another cycloid on the books :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/