Bike versus Car

I'm exceedingly fortunate. When I 'go to work' I have a two flights of stairs commute. Most of you don't have that luxury and many people don't live in bike friendly environments. That's been changing in a lot of urban and suburban locales and while you may not have seriously given thought to adding a day or two of biking to your jobs during the work week here's a compelling article about what it could mean if more of us did use bikes as transportation.

http://sustainablelinfield.edublogs.org/2011/05/23/making-the-shift-moving-from-motor-vehicles-to-bicycles/

Bike Fitting Page Part 2

I added two websites that should help you fit yourself to a bike and get it adjusted so that it is comfortable for you. I still recommend that you go to a bike shop where they can professionally fit you to a bike.

Bike Fitting Page

I have added a Bike Fitting Page and will update it with some information about fitting a bike soon. If you have any suggestions for pages I should add or have any questions please don't hesitate to comment on any post. Check out the new page!

Welcome!

Just a quick note to welcome our first follower Chris S.

Chris has already made a contribution to the blog dealers section and I'd like to encourage all our readers to ask questions, leave comments, and, most importantly add whatever they would in terms of bike knowledge, their bicycling adventures, and whatever else they'd like to tell us.

Trail Etiquette

Riding is fun, good exercise and enjoyable for the whole family. However, it is very important to come in from a ride upright and not in the hospital. To do this you should always follow the rules of the trail, called trail etiquette. Several times while riding on the Mount Vernon Trail, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, or in Rock Creek Park I have witnessed cyclists not following these simple but lifesaving rules.

1) Always pass on the other person's left
2) Never walk or ride against traffic
3) Use hand signals to tell people where you are going
4) Look behind you before you pass
5) If you see someone standing on the side of the trail, ask them if they need help

If you follow these simple rules you can be sure that you a keeping yourself and the people around you safe, the ultimate goal of cycling is to have fun and get exercise while staying safe.

Choosing a Bike Shop

There are probably several bike shops in your area as is true in my area. You should try to go to a well-known bike shop that only sells bikes, not a place like Target, Walmart, or Toys 'R Us, because they sell non-related items. If you go to one of these places to purchase a bike or to get your bike serviced, you may not be as pleased as if you went to a bike-specific store. Better places to go might include Lands End, REI, Hudson Trail Outfitters, or L.L. Bean. I'm pretty sure these stores sell bikes at most of their locations, although they may not service all their bikes at these locations. If you go to these stores, you will certainly be more satisfied than if you went to the other stores mentioned above. The best places to go are bike stores like Performance or Spokes. There are certainly more bike shops, but most are local and you will have to find them yourself.

Bike Lanes

Choosing Your Trails

I bike on all kinds of trails almost every day. Bumpy mountain trails, paved trails, and gravel. I use my mom's ATB (All Terrain Bike) You need to choose the trails that you ride by the kind of bike that you have, or you could end up injuring yourself or damaging your bike.

You should ride mountain trails only if you have a suspension, either front shocks or front and rear shocks. Paved trails are for every kind of bike, but is just about the only place other than a road that you can ride a road bike, a bike without shocks and thin, high pressure tires. Finally, you can ride gravel if you have a hybrid, or a mountain bike (ATB) with or without shocks as long as they have thicker tires.

"What's Your Point?"

Riding a bike is one of the most fun and basic things a child can do. It is a slice of freedom combined with easy, healthy exercise. Imagination soars while riding a pretend motorcycle, racing in le Tour de France, flying in the sky on a two wheeled Pegasus. Even for adults, bicycling can help maintain health and fitness while giving a release from the every day care and concerns faced in our grown up lives.

Biking is fun and healthy...and it is also something that can be dangerous and deadly.

I was riding on a converted rail bed trail this week on two different occasions and saw things that were chilling. Riders with no helmets, riders entering the main path from the side paths at high speed without looking, parents not teaching their young children how to hold their line and staying to the right when riding, and people riding two and three across and NOT paying attention to oncoming riders.

At various times I said something, okay, shouted something like, "Hold your line!", or "Bike up!" I always let walkers, runners, and slower bicyclists know I was approaching them from behind and then would say, "Passing your left" just as I would overtake them.

During one ride this week a family of about six just ahead of us, two adults and four young children, veered sharply from the right of the path to their left and landed in a thud on the ground on the other side of the path. None of them wore head gear. One of the boys actually took the turn so sharply that he crashed onto the grass but seemed okay. We were about 10 to 15 yards behind them when this happened and as I passed the crashed boy one of the other children looked up at me.

I asked him, "Did you look over your shoulder before you did that?" He had no answer and a few yards further down the path I heard the mother shout, "What's your point?"

What's the point mom? Really?

Bike safety is the point. People die from bike accidents, people suffer concussions, neck injuries, broken bones, and dislocated shoulders from bike accidents.

The first thing we taught Robert and Esther after they learned to get and keep a bike moving was to ride in a straight line and stay to the right. We taught them to always wear a helmet and be respectful of other riders and anyone else on the bike path.

What's my point in writing any of this?

I just want people to totally enjoy the simple joy of riding without feeling they have to worry about inconsiderate riders. It's said that it takes all kinds of people to make up the world. The microcosm of the bike path certainly reflects that. There are few uniformed police on most bike paths, the Mount Vernon trail in Northern Virginia being one exception. Riders have to police themselves.

And when it's clear that adults are not teaching their children proper bicycling safety sometimes someone else has to draw attention to that fact.

That's my point, lady.

Bike Adjustments

Today my dad and I put in 44 miles on our road bikes. Throughout the ride I was slightly uncomfortable because my bike is not completely adjusted to me and I am riding on a seat that is new to me. This is me reminding everyone reading that it is very important to make sure your bike fits and is comfortable for you before you ride so that you can enjoy your ride and can get the best workout possible. You can get your bike adjusted at almost every bike repair shop and can even do it yourself if you want.

Bike Tires Direct Sale

Click the link below to go to Bike Tires Direct. You can get up to 50% off bike stuff- found some good deals!

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/

"Resources"

As you may have noticed, there is a new page labeled resources in our blog. On this page you can find links to many different bike-related sites, including some of our favorite brands, components, tools and dealers. We hope that you find it helpful, please feel free to offer suggestions for more sites!

Your Emergency Kit

When you ride you should always have an emergency kit with several key tools and extras of items you may need to replace on your bike. Included is a list of the items you will need and links to Amazon where you can find the best of them.

You will need-

Kit- hangs on the back of your seat or fits into a corner on your frame. Where you put all of your emergency stuff.

Topeak Aero Wedge Pack with Buckle (Medium)

Tire Irons/Tire Levers- for changing your tires or tubes. Some people can use just their hands, but most of the time it is easier to remove the tire with these.

Minoura Tool Alloy Set Tire Levers

Patch Kit- repairs holes in your tubes and saves you from having to carry extra tubes, although it is a good idea to have some.

Park Tool VP-1 Vulcanizing Patch Kit

Tubes- size will depend on your bike. Check with your local shop if you don't know what size or type you need.

CO2 Pumps- quick and easy pump. Inflates your tires in no time and lasts the duration of your ride. You will want to empty your tires when you get home and fill them with regular air.

Innovations Ultraflate Plus CO2


Hand Pump- if you run out of CO2 or have to change many tubes, pumps are an easy and efficient way to fill your tires and get going again. This pump will mount to your water bottle cage and is an easy install.

Hurricane Micro Mini Pump

Changing Tubes

Changing tubes can be a pain if you don't have the tools or the experience to do it. It is much easier to use metal tire "wrenches" because they allow you to push harder and give you more mechanical advantage. In your kit you are going to need an extra tube, wrenches and possibly a patch set. In case you get a hole in your tire, if you can pack a dollar bill in your kit. When you change your tube, put the dollar over the hole in the tire to spread out the pressure of the tube against the tire. This will help ensure that you don't blow out your tire before you replace it, which I highly recommend you do. When you go to change your tubes make sure you use a good tube that has no holes in it and check the inside of your tire and your rim to ensure there are no irregularities that could cause a flat. *You may need find videos on Youtube so you do it right.

Riding Tips (Riding Safe and NOT Crashing)

1) Never ride angry.

2) Always wear a helmet.

3) Ride within your comfort zone. (not too fast)

4) Keep identification on you in the even that you do crash.

5) Tell people when and where you are going to ride so that they know the general area in which you will be.

6) Bring a cell phone in case you need help.

7) Pack an appropriate kit with tools for changing tubes and pumping tires.

8) Be aware of your surroundings.

9) Ride in groups.

10) Use hand signals and vocals when you are around other cyclists and cars.