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Pedaling Protection
BIKE ACCESSORIESHave you ever ventured into the wide, broad world of Bike Accessories? Have you ever wondered which ones are actually going to be USEFUL when you ride your bike? Well, that's why we're here! This report is about all the different kinds of bike accessories that exist.
HELMETS • LIGHTS • LOCKS • ALARMS
PRICES & NEEDS
This accessories wall is just "Too Cool"!
ARMORED CABLE LOCK
This is a very strong lock. This lock is also known as the link lock; it works by links connected by ball joints. Very flexible, it fits around awkward shapes.
STEEL U-LOCK
This is also a very strong lock in the shape of a U. It has a harnessed lock that's pick-proof. It's great for high crime areas. It has a T-shaped pipe, too, but it is heavy and awkward to carry.
SSB BIKE ALARM
If disturbed, it emits a very powerful 95- decibel noise. Like car alarms, it has a time-delay mechanism for both locking and unlocking. It also has an automatic reset button for false alarms.
BATTERY LIGHTS
Halogen battery lights produce a diffused, widely dispersed beam that is better seen by other road users, but is too dim for you to see by when riding on a dark road or track. These are very convenient, as they can be put on easily and slipped on and off during lockup, but they are expensive to run. Halogen bulbs give more light, but waste batteries.
DYNAMO LIGHTS
These are cheap to run and do the job, too, as you get enough power to let you see where you're going. A Dynamo has a motor and a stick that comes out of the motor and rests on the wheel. When the wheel turns, the stick turns with it and generates power in the motor which is sent to the light mounted on the handlebars. Dynamos are reliable because they press against the side wall of the wheel.
RECHARGEABLE UNITS
If you want serious lighting, come here. You get some of the best lighting in the land if you use rechargeable units, but like all great deals, it comes with a catch. For Max performance, you should use 6-12 volt rechargeable bulbs using from 6 to 50 watts. The batteries should be lead-acid, also known as gel-cell, or nickel-cadium, usually called ni-cad, with life from 1 to 6 hours, depending on the light. This kind of lighting is expensive, but high quality. Options include dual head-lights or mounted bike-lights. They can also be fitted with flashers units, but not all units can be.
If you asked, "What are the 2 best accessories for me?" I would probably say that the two ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY accessories would be:
1. A helmet (Helmets aren't exactly accessories, because they're required by law in many communities.)
2. A lock.
If you are going to buy any accessories at all, you MUST have these. This is obvious because the helmet will help keep your head from cracking open, and the lock will keep your bike yours. If you are on a limited budget, the prices range from $1.00 (It's a little brass thing that lets you go to the gas station and fill up your tires with air) to hundreds of dollars. Try going to your local police station. Some of them sell bike helmets cheaply (although they're not as pretty), or they give out coupons to get them at a store for less. The only difference between the less expensive kinds and the expensive ones is that the less expensive ones have less air holes, so you can't release the hot air as easily. Or you could scout around for coupons-in newspapers, magazines, the annoying little letters that you get in the mail that have about 100 coupons, and so on.
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