Bike Mods

[ase]

Now that I've bashed off and replaced my pedal reflectors, added a bottle cage in the REI parking lot (while thinking, is it really this easy? Huh), and stayed out until past midnight with bike party people, I am thinking about serious upgrades for my commuter bike. Toe-clips and straps, a cargo rack, fenders, and additional visibility options, including fancypants lights have been catching my eye. There are some even flashier wheel spoke lights available too, but I am exercising a little taste and restraint.

My morning commute is starting the slide from foggy early morning into foggy darkness, which is one reason I'm eyeing the fancypants lights. It's likely some classic bike gear is in my future: one of the "please don't hit me" electric yellow jackets, maybe LED ankle-straps, and almost certainly a helmet or bag rear light. Sure, drivers will probably think I look like a dork, but if they're noticing my dorkiness they're not blindly sideswiping me.

The cargo rack is looking more and more appealing as I discover the real estate constraints of a 15" frame. (Most likely spots for the lock bracket clash with the bottle cage. This is a problem.) Ortlieb seems to be the preferred brand for the discerning Caltrain commuter; Ortlieb bags are also a mint. So getting the rack and some bungee cords for a few paychecks may be the way to go. Getting the bike lock out of my bag will be enough of an improvement for the moment.

Comments

[ashcomp]

Seems likely to me that the sort of folks who'd steal bicycle seats (how many of those did you lose?) would just go nuts over a $200 cargo bag. Just sayin'.

[ase]

Two seats, both at metro. The cargo bags don't get left on the bike; when you're not on the bike, they're on you.