Help me pick something!

[NoNo]

So today my company gave me my service award for 5 years with them. I have $80 to use at either JC Penny's or LL Bean. Naturally, I'm going with the Bean. They have some cycling gear there, but I have no idea what to get! Do I want a jersey? A jacket? Do I use the $80 to take a chunk off a more expensive item, or try to buy 2 smaller things? Of course yesterday I got the Descente Axiom jacket on Chain Love, or I'd jump on the PI Whisper jacket. I don't have anything in screaming yellow, and I think I really need at least a vest that I can throw on over my jersey in case of a later ride. Or I could get a rack for my car. Sure, I can fold the seats down and fit 2 bikes in the back, but if I want to have more than one other person in the car that doesn't work. So ladies, I need your wisdom to help me choose!

LL Bean Cycling Gear

[batsheva]

a nice little garmin??

they are on the ll bean site mapping GPS's from $99 and up...

[7rider]

Are you a commuter?
DivingBiker just recommended a little lunch bag for hauling lunch to work in your panniers. Won't put much of a dent in your award, but it's an option....

[Veronica]

Think about what do you really need/want.

Do you need more jerseys?

Do you need to put three people and bikes in your car?

Do you want to be practical or frivolous?

I'd use it to get a pair of Keen Calistoga sandals in flamingo. It's a frivolous purchase, hard to justify. I don't need sandals and certainly not flamingo colored ones. But I like them.

V.

[NoNo]

I just got the Polar 400 for Christmas, so I can't ditch that for a Garmin so soon. Plus the Garmin doesn't meet my mapping needs (I'm a cartographer, I'm very picky about such things). Perhaps future variants will sway me, but the current crop doesn't cut it.

I sort of want to be practical, but then again, this is free money, so it's a great excuse to be frivolous. I've only had one occassion where I had to transport 3 bikes/people, and for that I borrowed my uncle's rack. I don't suppose it'll happen that often, but it's an excuse to buy something that I might need but wouldn't necessarilly spend my money on. Can one really have enough jerseys? I have two summer ones and one true cool weather one. Perhaps a winter jacket would be good, but I keep thinking about a screaming yellow vest. I could use that year-round and feel a little better about my visibility in less-than-optimal lighting conditions. There's always the option of some socks and full-finger gloves, which I'm currently lacking. Oh, I'm going to agonize over this, there's so many things I'd like to get!

[mudmucker]

I often have a practical and utilitarian nature. I'd opt for the hi-viz vest that can be used in cool or warm weather, if you have no hi viz clothing at all.

[jesvetmed]

I love the hot pink She Beest Jersey with the frog on it (not as much in green, but the pink is fun!) And to me, NO, never too many jerseys!!!
Jes

Oooh... and THESE to match!

I like this game!

[Veronica]

You need more jerseys. But do you like any of the jerseys Bean has?

It looks like neither the Brooks nor the PI vest has back pockets. That would be a hard sell for me. I usually wear vests only in the winter and on long rides. I like to put my camera in my back pocket and reaching under the vest is a hassle. Vests are very practical with a wool jersey underneath and arm warmers, however.

V

[ilima]

That lunch box is very cute. And cheap, to boot!

[sundial]

Ok, I'm gonna chime in here. I bought hubby a long sleeve jersey for Christmas last year and of all his jerseys, the LL Bean is his favorite. No elastic at the hem, it is wicking, ant-bacterial, and can be worn 3 seasons. The only down side to the jersey--if it's actually a negative thing--is the 1 large zip pocket in the back. The jersey drapes like a touring type jersey. I have the ladies high vis short sleeve jersey. At first I wasn't sure about the cap sleeves, but I've now bonded with it. It also has a flattering fit and style and none of that creep up from the bottom elasticized hem. I wore my high vis jersey with my yellow Hawaiian flowerdy skort today and I felt like a lightbulb on wheels.

If you wait closer to Christmas, LL Bean has some fantastic sales. They also sold the Bike Cube for the best price last year.

[jesvetmed]

What is the "BIKE CUBE"? I'm feeling out of touch!

[sundial]

The Bike Cube is a neat storage system for toting your cycling stuff. Early this spring Terry offered a Cube made of recycled materials and lined with a flowerdy print but may have sold out.

I wish TE would carry it.

[NoNo]

Thanks for the info, Sundial! There's a potential kink in my plans The form stated the item had to come from either a store or the catalog. Does anyone know if LL Bean has the cycling stuff in their catalog (I know, I'm the last person on Earth to not get the Bean catalog)? If they don't, I'm not sure what I'll get.

[beccaB]

LL Bean had a nice pair of baggy bike shorts. The padding isn't as good as some high end ones, but I like to wear them whenever I know I will be going in someplace to eat.

[HillSlugger]

Thanks for the info, Sundial! There's a potential kink in my plans The form stated the item had to come from either a store or the catalog. Does anyone know if LL Bean has the cycling stuff in their catalog (I know, I'm the last person on Earth to not get the Bean catalog)? If they don't, I'm not sure what I'll get.

You may have to contact them for a specialty biking catalog.