Quote:
Originally Posted by StormShadow
One last quick question... since im biking fairly early in the morning.
If I come to a red light that requires a vehicle to activate the sensor to change the light should I just run the light or move over and hit the pedestrian walk button? Not sure what protocall is in such a situation.
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Breaking the rules is one of the reasons bike riding is great. Just go when it's safe to go.
I'd agree with pretty much everything that you've been advised to do so far (with the possible exception of the cycling shorts - not necessary if you've got decent sports draw's). Wet weather gear is pretty much essential (lots of overlap with windbreaking gear here) and in particular rain booties if you're going to be riding in the rain or slush.
As for your budget, expect to add about $300-$400 to the cost of the bike just in getting your kit together. Rack, panniers, good u-lock, jacket, pants, booties, gloves, lights, allen-key set, portable pump - that'll pretty much get you there. Don't cheap on the big-ticket items either, as you'll just end up having to replace them later. Much better to go high quality right out of the gate if you think you'll be riding quite a bit.
You'll probably want to do about $100 bucks worth of further alterations once you've had time on the bike too - things like grips, handlebars, saddle, seatpost, and tires can all be switched out easily based on your personal preferences.
Good for you for making the switch to two wheels - you won't regret it, and it will save you about 3 months of your life as a consequence of exercise and the absence of road rage.