FWIW, bikes if you buy 'em brand new don't come with lights, lock, or pump either (& most not with a rack, unless you get a hybrid city-bike like mine, which I bought partly *because* it came with a rack).
You might want to get the brakes & gears checked over. ISTR that the shop up in Jericho has a decent enough rep; unless you know someone who could do it for you or have bike mechanical knowledge yourself (I have been doing bike classes & could check it but am not in Ox!).
I am assuming that you are planning to *get* lights & a lock... LED lights seem to have longer battery life but are less good for actually illuminating the road (not a problem if you're cycling in streetlit areas). *Do not* get a lock with a circular key - these are vulnerable to the Bic pen trick (i.e. breakable with a Bic in under 30 secs). And never leave it just locked to itself. Of course, for a 25quid bike you're going to wind up spending about double that on kit, but even a 25quid bike will vanish sharpish if it's left unlocked/not locked to anything solid, especially in Oxford :-( (though mind you, I only had one bike nicked in Oxford, & have lost 3 in London).
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Date: 2005-11-30 09:36 am (UTC)You might want to get the brakes & gears checked over. ISTR that the shop up in Jericho has a decent enough rep; unless you know someone who could do it for you or have bike mechanical knowledge yourself (I have been doing bike classes & could check it but am not in Ox!).
I am assuming that you are planning to *get* lights & a lock... LED lights seem to have longer battery life but are less good for actually illuminating the road (not a problem if you're cycling in streetlit areas). *Do not* get a lock with a circular key - these are vulnerable to the Bic pen trick (i.e. breakable with a Bic in under 30 secs). And never leave it just locked to itself. Of course, for a 25quid bike you're going to wind up spending about double that on kit, but even a 25quid bike will vanish sharpish if it's left unlocked/not locked to anything solid, especially in Oxford :-( (though mind you, I only had one bike nicked in Oxford, & have lost 3 in London).
Hurrah for bikes!