Two Questions

Gong

Gong

Joined
Jul 2, 2003
Messages
674
A couple of weeks ago I purchased a SureFire flashlight from a knife shop. I got the G2(I think), it's about the size of a AA maglite. The lady at the knife shop said the Lithium batteries would last 4 years. I've used it every night to walk my dog on our block, it has no streetlights. I guess the it's the batteries... but the light is dead already. Is it just the batteries that need to be replaced?


And also, I'm going off to college next month, and I'll be living in an apartment about a 1/4 mile from the campus. I don't want a car so I'm going to buy a bicycle, for going to school and to the grocery store and stuff. Any suggestions? I don't know anything about bikes...

Thanks in advance! :D
 
I believe the woman at the knife shop meant that lithium batteries have a 4 year shelf life. My Surefires eat batteries like crazy especially if you use them a lot. If you're looking for a flashlight for walking your dog you should check out a LED light like an Inove X5. LED flashlights don't go through batteries as bad and some are very bright. I'm sure the experts will chime in shortly with more information.

Sorry don't know anything about bikes.
 
there is absolutely NO WAY that the batteries will last 4 years. as dewingrm said, the lady must've been talking about shelf life.

the X5 is an EXCELLENT light. 20 hours of runtime on a pair of lithium batteries, and more than bright enough for walking your dog. mine was thrown around, dropped in water a couple times, and even left ouside overnight when i was careless and it was still perfectly functional aside from cosmetic damage. then i lost it:(

i know nothing about bikes either...:D

Kenny
 
What they said about the batteries is right on.

Now, about that bike thing. Having worked in bike shops for 7 years and currently doing so, I think I can be of some help. First thing to determine is what you want to use the bike for. Will it just be for commuting to and from school/errands/etc or will it be used for fun and fitness riding also (longer distances then a couple miles)? Also, what sort of budget do you plan on having for this purchase? Would you rather have a nice, shiney new bike that is backed by a local bike shop or a older used bike that doesn't look pretty but gets you around just the same? Will you keep the bike on the road mostly or will it be going off rode for a little fun in the dirt?

My one big peice of advice about buying a bike....stay out of those d*mn department stores. The bikes are cheap, but they arn't even worth what they are asking. Bikes leaving those places usually need about $40 or more worth or mechanical work done to them when they are brand new. If your going to buy a new bike, find a good local bike shop. They will help you pick the bike, service it and offer other services to help you get started and keep it running. If your really on a tight budget, look for a quality brand bike that is used. A few years old Trek/Giant/Specialized/etc. can be a great deal.

If you want to get a little more specific about your wants and uses for the bike I'd be happy to share some more specific recomendations.
 
Hey, congrats on leaving for college! Good stuff! Where you going?

For a 1/4 mile bike ride, I say, avoid suspensions. Full suspensions, front suspensions, whatever. I hate em'. I see them all over campus here (university of michigan) and I don't get it: smooth asphalt, sidewalk, the occasional curb or pothole. Shocks cost more and every year or so need tuneups.

Go for a roadbike too. For 1/4 mile in the city, mountain bikes are added weight.

IMO, I say buy a new bike. Not to say buying used is bad, I've just had bad experiences. I bought a used Mongoose DX3.3 at the beginning of this year for my ~2mile commute to class. Used bikes are ok, but students, IMO, have the tendency to take less care of equipment like that. They just leave them on the rack in front of the dorm, house, etc. And with MI weather (or most weather any other place) it's just no good at all.

Should you buy used, here's some things that I can think of.
*Check to make sure the chainring(s) and rear cassette are not rusty or worn out. Look at the gears and make sure the teeth are not worn down. Maybe compare them to a new one? if you aren't familiar with what a new one looks like.
*Check to make sure the seat is not frozen. Bike seats are made of Aluminum, which will fuse to some steel frames given improper maintenence. So unscrew the locknut and check to make sure the seat can be adjusted to your height.
*Make sure all shifters/brakes are sensitive and working properly.
*Check to make sure tires are true. Turn the bike upsidedown and give the wheel a spin. Get a piece of chalk, and while holding it steady, lightly mark the side of the wheel. If the mark comes off the wheel, the tires maybe be out of true.
*Rust is bad.
*For good measure, if the chainrings/sprockets are not worn out and the bike chain is NOT a new on, it's a good idea to just put a new one on. You can't really tell when a bike chain is worn out. Or, at least, I can't tell when a bike chain is worn out. They sell special calipers that measure the distance between links, yadda yadda yadda... Bike chains are cheap and easy to install, so it's good to start off with a fresh slate and not risk an old one breaking/causing additional wear to sprockets/performing poorly.
*TEST ride it!!! At the beginning of the year, I saw A LOT of students walk into the bike shop, see a bike, and buy it w/o ever getting on it. Seriously.


I say all this, b/c this is all stuff that got me when I bought my used bike. Crappy tires, worn out sprockets, rust, fuzed seat, nearly broken gear cables (they broke not long after I took it home), the works. I did test ride it, but I wasn't thinking about the little stuff. Ended up putting 140.00+ repairs and work on the bike to save the 60.00 or 80.00 it saved me to buy a new one. I feel/felt like a jackass. Live and learn, right?

I'm seriously a noob, these are just some of my impressions. Talk to Slide13, I bet he's got what you need.
 
Gong, you got bad advice on the flashlight, but at least you got a good flashlight. The lithium 123 batteries cost anywhere from $1.25 to $4.00 apiece, depending on where you buy them. They can even cost more off a convenience store rack. But they have a shelf life of 10 years, so if you need a good, strong light for occasional use and emergency situations, Surefire is it. The batteries are rated at only about an hour total use in that flashlight, though.

The Inova X5T takes the same two lithium batteries as the Surefire, but it's rated at about 20 hours. What I have found, having a Surefire and an Inova, is that my depeleted batteries from the Surefire will still run the Inova for about ten hours! The Inova is great for close area lighting, right out in front of you. It is also as durable a light as you can find.

So get an Inova as a companion piece. Anytime the Surefire batts run down, put them aside to use in the Inova. And you're back in business! :D
 
slide has good bike advice

Here's my advice. When you get to town head over to a local bike shop and ask them for a good source of cheap used bikes. Talk with them about what you want, what size bike to look for, and what you can afford.

My last campus experience was a job I had working for Iowa State U. I purchased a bike there from campus security from their yearly auction. It was a raleigh 10 speed touring bike with water bottle cage and rear rack, 17 dollars. I got a new tire, trued the wheels, adjusted the brakes and derailurs and rode this bike to work for almost an entire school year. It was an ugly POS so I never had to worry about theft, even with a flimsy lock.

A bike shop would have charged about 40 dollars for the work I did on that bike. If you are going to school in a rainy area, fenders will be a great investment. A rubber band for your pants leg or stuffing them into your sock will save you a few grease spots too.

Plan to spend another 30 dollars for a rear LED blinky light and a front LED headlight (www.planetbike.com) LED lights offer good visibility and are easy on batteries.
 
I just noticed slide13 is from Ames Iowa, its a small world.

What bike shop are you at? "My shop" was the one on the corner downtown, can't remember the name. They sold Kona.
 
I just bought a 6P a few weeks ago; I did replace the head with a KL3 LED head, and many thought I had made the wrong choice. Battery life was important to me, and I could always replace the hot-bulb head if the job required it. I also bought am E1e for mundane tasks.

Neither one has required a battery change despite the fact that I use them all of the time, and I admit that 'playing with it' is fully 50% of their use! I like new toys.

As for bikes, my wife and I live in an expanding suburban area, and we both chose mountain bikes. Lots of poor pavement, clods of dirt from construction sites and some open fields. We are both in our 50's and my wife commutes on hers to her job.

I don't think a college age student would then have problems with a mountain bike while a typical road bike might be faster and a bit more comfortable. (We both changed to gel seats.) Newer bikes are really light. I might not 'race' every day, but I sure do stupid things every day that might hurt a nice cruiser. And, of course, neither my wife and I are 'light weights.'
 
Sounds like your battery question has been answered.

As far as bikes go, if you're just going to use it to commute, I'd go with a hybrid (street/mtn) bike. Lighter than a full on mtn bike but not as specialized as a full on road bike. They're usually a little cheaper too. If your budget allows, I'd get something new from a bike shop. I'd looks for something middle of the line (I'd suggest something but I've been out of the market for a while). Definitely get a helmet. You might feel like a dork but I guarantee the first time you knock your head on the asphalt, you'll forget all about it. When I was in your situation, I bought a high/middle end mtn bike and it was perfect for going to class, commuting and riding in the mtns and I still ride it today (almost 15 years later). Something to be said for buying a decent quality bike vs. the cheapest you can find. (keeping up with and/or doing your own regular maintenence doesn't hurt either).

Later,

Rob
 
Wow, small world it is! I'm going to ISU right now. I work at Bike World. We're currently over on S. 3rd St. but we used to have a shop downtown, across the street from another downtown shop. Could have been either I suppose, I'm not sure if we used to carry Kona or not...I'll have to check. If it wasn't us it was Michaels Cyclery, but they are closed now.

If you have the cash for a new bike, they are deffinetly more reliable and the bike shop will often offer some free service along with the bike. Best if you don't know how to work on a bike. If your on a tight budget though, used can be a great value. Especially used, older road bikes. Seems nobody wants older low end road bikes very much so they can usually be bought cheap. For the sort of distances your talking about the type of bike won't make a huge difference. A mtn bike with knobby tires will have some extra rolling resistance and be a little heavier. A hybrid will have lower rolling resistance because of the smoother tires and the increased wheel diameter. A road bike will be the lowest rolling resistance of all, narrow smooth high pressure tires roll fast and smooth.

My only bike is a Surly Cross-Check. It's a cyclocross bike....basically it looks like a road bike but designed to be taken off road with heavier frame and clearance for knobby tires. I like it because I can set it up with road tires and it makes a great road bike substitute for long rides and commuting, then I can throw on some wide knobbies and take it off road on the trails. Great for somebody who wants to do it all with only one bike.
 
You get an hour of run-time on two CR123As with the P60 lamp (probably the one you have), 20 minutes of run-time on the P61 lamp (which is almost twice as bright: 120 lumens).

Shelf life for lithiums is around 10 years.
 
Originally posted by slide13
Wow, small world it is! I'm going to ISU right now. I work at Bike World. We're currently over on S. 3rd St. but we used to have a shop downtown, across the street from another downtown shop. Could have been either I suppose, I'm not sure if we used to carry Kona or not...I'll have to check. If it wasn't us it was Michaels Cyclery, but they are closed now.

My only bike is a Surly Cross-Check. It's a cyclocross bike....basically it looks like a road bike but designed to be taken off road with heavier frame and clearance for knobby tires. I like it because I can set it up with road tires and it makes a great road bike substitute for long rides and commuting, then I can throw on some wide knobbies and take it off road on the trails. Great for somebody who wants to do it all with only one bike.
Click to expand...

Surly Cross-Check!!! You da man! I have had many many bikes over the years and the cross-check is a keeper!


Gong: listen to slide, he knows what he's talking about AND he has good taste.
 
Originally posted by slide13
My only bike is a Surly Cross-Check. It's a cyclocross bike....basically it looks like a road bike but designed to be taken off road with heavier frame and clearance for knobby tires. I like it because I can set it up with road tires and it makes a great road bike substitute for long rides and commuting, then I can throw on some wide knobbies and take it off road on the trails. Great for somebody who wants to do it all with only one bike.
Click to expand...

HOT BIKE. Y'all both know what's up. I don't have one, but have lusted for years... That's a tough, reliable, economical bike you can do just about anything with; perfect for here-there-everywhere.

Flashlight:
If you are on a bit of a budget, try the streamlight 'twin-task 1L'. It runs on one lithium, and has LEDs AND a Xenon bulb- you can switch back and forth with a click of the button. Waterproof too. Just got one and I take it everywhere. I do sooo love my OG(before the anti-roll bezel, etc.) 6p however....
:)
 
Originally posted by slide13
Wow, small world it is! I'm going to ISU right now. I work at Bike World. We're currently over on S. 3rd St. but we used to have a shop downtown, across the street from another downtown shop. Could have been either I suppose, I'm not sure if we used to carry Kona or not...I'll have to check. If it wasn't us it was Michaels Cyclery, but they are closed now.

My only bike is a Surly Cross-Check. It's a cyclocross bike....basically it looks like a road bike but designed to be taken off road with heavier frame and clearance for knobby tires. I like it because I can set it up with road tires and it makes a great road bike substitute for long rides and commuting, then I can throw on some wide knobbies and take it off road on the trails. Great for somebody who wants to do it all with only one bike.
Click to expand...

Surly Cross-Check!!! You da man! I have had many many bikes over the years and the cross-check is a keeper!


Gong: listen to slide, he knows what he's talking about AND he has good taste.
 
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