Reddit reviews BV Bicycle Light Set Super Bright 5 LED Headlight, 3 LED Taillight, Quick-Release

Bike Lights for $9: https://www.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-Headlight-Taillight-Quick-Release/dp/B00A6TBITM/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1503144942&sr=1-4&keywords=bike+lights

Helmet $25: https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Adult-Orange-Titanium-Helmet/dp/B00TS3FZFU/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1503144980&sr=1-4&keywords=bell+bike+helmet

I ride 3 miles roundtrip rather than 7 usually on a steel beast. If you can find a lighter frame and don't carry as much it should be fairly easy. Note, there is an evil 1% grade from Grant to like Elm and the wind tends to blow in that direction.

A bike is a pretty convenient thing to have on campus, especially if you can't bring a car. You can get to classes quicker (more time to sleep), get around town, and get to work. Plus you'll get a little bit of fitness in the process.

I would look at the used market for a steel-frame single speed bike for simplicity in that there will be less to worry about mechanically and maintenance wise. I'd advise you be as price conscious as you can be since unfortunately bikes are a target for theft or vandalism on college campuses and even the best bike locks are temporary deterrents to a thief. Sometimes having the least desirable bike in the rack is a good thing.

Riding in the rain isn't very difficult, just don't corner hard and give yourself more room while braking. Riding in the snow is a different story. I would look out for some all-condition type tires that have some tread on them to help you get around in the rain. This light set can be had for <$10.

Understood:
Front and back bike lights - $8
https://smile.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-Headlight-Taillight-Quick-Release/dp/B00A6TBITM/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1500239069&sr=1-4&keywords=bike+lights+front+and+back

I bought this and while they're not bright enough to illuminate the path, they make me visible to cars, take AAA batteries, and still work after 1+ years. For $8!

I have always gotten lights that run on AA or AAA batteries, and I use rechargeables. On sale from Canadian Tire, or cheap off Amazon, rarely more than $10 for a front and back light. Only every had to replace the lights due to my own carelessness (misplacing or dropping them).

Even the cheapest LED based lights are bright enough to be visible and provide illumination far enough ahead to be safe at the speed I ride.

I guess for someone biking daily at 35km/h down a lonely country road, super-duper bright lights might be useful. At that point might as well get a good flashlight that also has a bike mount, that would be more versitale, and would still be less than $70.

If you're in a city with street lights and you're mostly concerned with being seen than seeing by your lights, almost any cheap lights will work. Here's something picked at random from amazon under $10:

https://www.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-Headlight-Taillight-Quick-Release/dp/B00A6TBITM/

As something of a side note, blinky rear lights are fairly directional. If they're not pointed straight back they almost might as well not even be on. I routinely see people with tail lights mounted to helmets, clothing or just pointed downward while mounted on the seatpost and they are barely visible from more than 30 feet (but if aimed in the right general direction they're extremely bright).

Also, regarding hi vis vests that people are recommending, they really only work as a reflector. While they are decent to make you visible to cars behind you, they in no way replace having a headlight. Headlights are to make you visible for people who don't have their headlights pointed at you (ie those who are crossing your path). This is why many locales only require a headlight and a rear reflector after dark (but you should really have a rear light anyways).

$30 is probably worth it..but I did go to a bike PGH event where they gave out free lights to everyone that attended. Maybe if you reach out to them they could hook you up?

Edit: found this one for under $10 on Amazon BV Bicycle Light Set Super Bright 5 LED Headlight, 3 LED Taillight, Quick-Release https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6TBITM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_ArVywbN1SWFR6

Couple things to add for the shopping list: especially for the 3am part:

Safety Vest

Slap light for left ankle to identify your edge

Lights

About $25 for the above.

Rear mirror

Make sure the bike has the standard reflectors on the spokes, pedals, front and back as well.

Reflective tape if you are riding an all black or dark bike - wrap strips around your spokes, frame and seatpost

Some would say ALL THE ABOVE TOGETHER Is overkilling it and maybe it is all it takes is one semi-drunk who did a couple too many shots blasting down some rural road at 4am doing 90mph to end you.

Even just a glancing blow off the side of a big 4x4 mirror rig could fuck you up bad and NOW YOU'RE DOWN.

You're laying on the side (if you're lucky and didn't get hung up and dragged) of a rural road at 5am waiting for the next drunk to come along and finish the job.

This is a real concern.

Now if this happens and you are wearing dark clothes on a black bike with no reflectors they could end up hitting you before they ever see you especially when you add dark (limo) tinted windows + stereo blasting and subwoofers thumping.

Now add texting on the phone to the equation.

It's all over. You're roadkill.

You need to make yourself more than just a little visible. They need to see you from a fricken mile away. even if you are sprawled out in the street.

TIP: I use the slap light so they can see where the edge of me actually IS. I usually hang it on the left end of my handlebar - on my rearview mirror. Or on my left ankle so there is a light moving up and down along with pedal reflectors - that says 'dude on a bike up ahead'.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A6TBITM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is this sufficient? https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00A6TBITM

I bought my first bike in years to go to school to save on bus fare. I bought a pretty cheap bike, a Supercycle Nitro XT http://i.imgur.com/0UNKQ96.jpg (not my bike in the picture, just a picture I found online. I didn't want the cheapest bike there but I definitely had a budget lower than $200, it was only $169.99. I mean it does get the job done but it still doesn't feel great and I don't know if I want to replace that soon or not. I've owned this bike now for 5 months, it's starting to rust (I don't know if I should've done something to prevent that) and even doe I try pump the tires weekly, try to clean dirt, leaves and snow off of it, the bike still feels like it's dying fast.

If I weigh 250~ pounds and I'm riding for distances no longer than 20 minutes in the city (3km~ but with a lot of traffic lights) multiple times a day 5 times a day, what would be a good bike to have for that? What kind of prices would I be looking at? Realistically I know bike's can run for multiple hundreds of dollars and I'm more inclined to buy something more expensive this time. Should I even replace my old bike? Planning on perhaps some time in the summer to buy a nicer one. Should I be looking at road bikes? Mountain bikes? Something else?

My current bike does kind of feel like it's dying even after owning it for only 5 months. What kind of maintenance should I be doing on my bike?

Should I be riding on sidewalks or roads? I know roads are probably safer because I'll be more visible by cars but on my commute there aren't many pedestrians on the sidewalk and there are no bike lanes. Also I don't have to go into traffic too much anyways.

Is there anything I should be buying? I.e. a bike light for riding at night? Maybe sunglasses if I'm riding in the morning? A helmet?

Recently my bike fell over in my balcony because it was a windy day and the light broke off the little handle that it clips into. The light itself is fully intact but the clip itself is the only thing that broke. I've tried to fix it but I can't, is there any way to fix this? This was the light I bought https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00A6TBITM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I feel like my brakes are a lot weaker than they used to be. Maybe I've just been riding faster but I used to be able to stop on a dime by only using my rear brake now if I use only the rear I'll slide for half a second.

My bike's beginning to rust a bunch. The chain, the pedals, the screws, and the bike is only 5 months old. Should I be leaving it downstairs outside where it'll get hit by rain and snow or should I be bringing it up to my balcony and maybe putting a tarp over it or something?

On cold days and nights where the weather gets below freezing, should I have some kind of facemask or hat? I've got a pair of gloves but they're cheap and ripped from work, should I buy a pair exclusively for riding my bike?

Is there any good rule of thumb to follow on what gears I've got my bike on? I've got a cheap mountain bike that I ride on the sidewalk and I weigh 250~ pounds and I typically keep my left gear on the highest setting and my right gear on 3/7 default, changing depending on up/downhill. Is it just preference?

Just a front and back lights. Something like

http://www.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-Headlight-Taillight-Quick-Release/dp/B00A6TBITM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380767085&sr=8-1&keywords=bike+lights

or

http://www.amazon.com/CatEye-Head-Light-Combo-Black/dp/B0041D5ACA/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1380767085&sr=8-15&keywords=bike+lights

edit: Second one is probably too expensive, but just something cheap and cheerful like that

I'm cheap, but I just ordered these for myself. I had them a while back but lost them in a move over the summer and haven't needed them yet this year.

How do I fit both my Nite Ize Handleband phone mount and my cheap bike light on my drop bars? The light can't go past the bar tape, so it's too close to the stem. When I mount the phone mount on my stem, my phone will hit the light.

EDIT: I ended up putting the phone mount on the top bar.