Reddit reviews Schwinn Thrasher Bike Helmet, Lightweight Microshell Design, Adult, Carbon

No, but you really should go buy a helmet. You can get a decent servicable one for less than $30. For example: http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Thrasher-Adult-Bicycle-Helmet/dp/B00012M5MS

But go to your LBS and make sure it fits, etc.

Congrats, fellow bike commuter (well, I may be exaggerating, I split my commutes between biking and busing).

Helmet. Going cheap is better than nothing, since to be sold as a bike helmet in most civilized nations, it needs to meet certain minimum safety standards. Spending more money mostly gets you better ventilation, less weight, and a more comfortable fit. Right now I'm still wearing a 25$ helmet I got from CostCo. It works quite well for my needs, but I've worn nicer helmets and I almost wish I had not because it made me very aware of the magnitude of the difference in cooling and weight.

For a lot of my more "daily need" (rather than specialist hobby) type things I've been going to the review site The Sweethome. I recommend reading their bike lock review, lots of information, even if I don't like their top pick as much. Their top recommended helmet is actually also a Specialized product. They also recommend for those on a budget the Schwinn Thrasher (this is a charity link, if you get this and care about such things you might want to go to Sweethome's helmet review and click on their referral link to pay them for their research).

Security. Locks are interesting. Any lock will make your bike that teeny bit less interesting to a thief, but at the end of the day, somebody with a semi-decent battery powered angle grinder can get through any U-Lock in less than five minutes. But to avoid losing out to a 2 second lever attack (a crowbar can bend nearly any U like a pretzel), or worse, a 1-second bolt cutter attack if all you've got is a cable, you need a quality u-lock, made of thick, heavy steel. You want to try and get the shortest one that you can lock through your wheel(s*), a post, and your frame, because this gives the least room for levering. (*: If your wheels are expensive enough, it's worth it to get a quick release for the front, and when you park, take it off and lock it together with your rear wheel through the frame. If not, the standard cable loop will do for securing the back wheel, with u-lock through front and frame.)

Some people are so concerned with weight that for a work and back trip, they will buy a spare u-lock and leave it at their job.

Next level paranoia is to combine a U-lock with a hardened security chain that must have its own separate lock (which will look like a pad-lock sized u-lock), but that's only for a very expensive bike that needs to spend some time in a quite low security area.

I'm using a less expensive ABUS u-lock because it can share a key with the frame lock on my commuter bike and I had some money to spare (it costs too much if that feature isn't valuable to you). Before that I had an OnGuard Pitbull, though even the step down lock from them, Bulldog, is worthwhile (thick, hardened, latch on both ends of the U).

The Crosstrail doesn't come with a Brooks saddle, which are one of the most common targets of saddle theft, but you might want to get a little permanent cable to secure it anyways. The traditional security is an old piece of bike chain, but thieves are wise to that now, and will carry a chain tool with them (especially in places like New York or San Francisco). Again, some of the more paranoid specifically get a quick-release on their saddle, take it off when parking and put their u-lock through the saddle rails. A different species of paranoid use JB-weld to put a ball bearing in the hex hole of their saddle adjust and post adjust nuts, though this requires a blow torch any time you want to use them.


Tools. If I'm interpreting right, the cross trail doesn't come with quick-release skewers. for the wheels or the seat. In this case, you'll need 10 and 15mm combination wrenchs (or box or open, whatever). You can get short ones from Amazon for under 5$ together. Some bike tool companies make a combination wrench device that will cost much more but weigh less (eg, Pedro's Trixie, 20$, but also includes lock ring wrench, 4mm hex, and 5mm hex)

You'll want a small Phillips head screwdriver (though maybe it's slot? It's been a while since I've had a normal derailer, you should check). If you don't have or get a multi-tool, look for the kind that are meant to go on a keyring.

You'll want hex wrenches for all of the many hex bolts and adjusters you have now. Since there are probably a few, you might want to just bite the bullet and get a bike multi-tool, or at least a multi-hex wrench. Sweethome recommends this one by Topeak.

You will definitely want tire levers. I hear Pedro's' are the best.

Maybe not now but at some point you'll want a spoke wrench for the size of spoke nipple you have; and a chain tool.

If it ever rains where you keep your bike and your saddle isn't water proof you want a rain cap for it. You can improvise one of these out of a plastic grocery bag though.

WD-40 is a water displacer and solvent, not a lubricant. I'm not an expert, but I honestly recommend a dedicated bike lube, since they're formulated for the particular combination of element exposure and speed of movement that bike parts undergo. I see Boeshield T9 recommended often.

To be prepared for tire blow outs or leaks, you'll want to carry either a spare tube or two (I have panniers, why not), or at least a patch kit. More than one bicycle gear review I've seen says Rema Touring Patch kit is the best. You'll also want a portable pump. This is another case like my helmet where it's barely adequate, so it's far down the list of things to upgrade, but a quality model is almost painful in how much better it feels to use. Sweethome recommends either the Lezyne Pressure Drive (which I've used, and is amazing) or the Topeak Road Morph G (slightly less expensive, includes gauge, but bigger and heavier).

Clothes and Bags. Despite my bold heading I can't give much advice here. I've never worked anywhere with a strict dress code, so the most changing I've done was bike there in a sweat-wicking t-shirt, and then change there into a wrinkle-free button down shirt I bundled up in my messenger bag. And my pants are quick drying travel pants, so I've also never felt the need for rain pants. If things are different for you, you'll definitely want a rack and panniers for a change of clothes. I'm making my own (shoutout to /r/myog), but I'm basing the design on the Arkel Bug, which impresses me. And of course, you may want a little pack you can hang on your bike for your bike tools and supplies. But I keep mine in a pouch in my messenger bag.

Good luck!

This is my commuter helmet:

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Thrasher-Adult-Bicycle-Helmet/dp/B00012M5MS/