Somehow, I remembered to get lights when I bought my bike, but not a helmet. So I biked back over to Helen’s Cycles today and tried one on.
Me: Wow! My head looks huge!
Bike guy: Yeah — That’s what helmets do…
Over time, I’m hoping I’ll get used to looking alien-esque while riding my bike, at which point I’ll post a pic of me avec helmet. For now, here’s one of the helmet, sans ma tete–
I also got a lock — Till now, I’d been using one I borrowed from Summer. The nice bike guy recommended a U-lock or these handcuff-like thingies, but using one of those would mean taking my front wheel off every time. He showed me how to do it, but it seemed too stressful — I opted for a cord instead…
Then I biked over, helmet on, to the Santa Monica Library, which is where I am now — There’s free city wifi!
Update, 5/19/06: Step 4’s here.
You *do* want to take the front wheel off. Or get a second lock. Unless frame and both wheels are securely tied to an immovable object, somebody *will* steal parts. Or the whole thing.
(A friend of mine has a store in Santa Monica, and he experienced exactly that. With the bike right in front of his store)
Comment by Robert 'Groby' Blum — May 13, 2006 @ 12:56 pm
But the cord is long enough to go through both wheels –
Comment by Siel — May 13, 2006 @ 1:13 pm
Siel, that kinda looks like a hemlet I once owned. It made my head look really big, but its hard to look fashionable when you are sweating and out of breath :-)
Does yours have a strange detachable plastic visor on the front? That bit always looked dangerous to me, it could come off too easily in an accident and fly towards your face. I was never sure if the one on my helmet was broken and loose or meant to pop off easily.
Comment by Declan — May 13, 2006 @ 5:20 pm
On lights, two kick ass options you should look at: the volcanic - generated by your pedal power. So bright at night they look like a crazy carnival, amazing!
And then a bit pricier but maybe the coolest light I’ve ever seen,the Down Low Glow check it out, put it on your wish list, its RAD.
Comment by Anna — May 14, 2006 @ 7:54 am
oops, the Down Low Glow
Comment by Anna — May 14, 2006 @ 7:56 am
Declan — After reading your comment, I realized that the visor is indeed detachable — and has now been duly detached, mainly for aesthetic reasons. Weirdly, I had initially asked for a visor-free helmet — but those cost twice as much as the ones WITH visors! I wonder if the now-detached visor’s recyclable…
Anna — I’ll def. check out the new lights once my current ones run outta juice. Damn — I shoulda asked you about this before just buying the ones I have now –
Comment by Siel — May 14, 2006 @ 11:44 am
Best to hold on to the visor for a while just incase there is something wrong with the helmet and you need to bring it back. After that the one I had was just black plastic so I presume it could be recycled.
Comment by Declan — May 14, 2006 @ 3:17 pm
Amusingly, I like the visor for two main reason:
1. Your head looks less bulbous (grin)
2. I do not wear dark glasses when biking, and the little visor is JUST enough better when faced into the sun on a summer day that I like them.
I doubt seriously the visor would have any affect on a collision.
Although a headlamp is required, good rear lighting will go a long way to helping you be seen. And if you are doing any serious night riding, one of those day-glow windbreakers or vests with reflective tape can go a long way.
Similarly, there are day-glow pant leg straps that have reflective tap that help you be seen — and they work.
Comment by Roger, Gone Green — May 14, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
I have front and rear lights for now — with strobe settings! It’s like a party on my bike :) Don’t plan to do too much night riding though — more like evenings maybe, on my way back from happy hour.
Still, I might go for a glowing windbreaker later — too bad the 80s are over –
Comment by Siel — May 15, 2006 @ 2:58 pm
Have you gotten used to the helmet yet? I have a similar helmet and I’ve only worn it a couple times. I feel kind of weird with it on. My office moved downtown just this week so now I am riding my bike to work, but I haven’t yet worn the helmet (bad, I know) because 1) I still feel weird with it on, and 2) I don’t want to be at work all day with “helmet head”. I have to say, I’m loving being almost car-free.
Comment by Russ — May 24, 2006 @ 10:45 pm
I’ve sorta gotten used to the helmet, but I do sometimes not wear it if I’m going out for happy hour type stuff, cuz 1) helmet head, and 2) where do I put the helmet while I’m at the bar? Hmmm…
Comment by Siel — May 25, 2006 @ 2:10 pm