FREE BIKE HELP

If you've taken up bicycling outside for exercise during this pandemic time, you've likely been riding for a few weeks or months now. In some of my prior posts, I've pointed out my personal preference for riding on  roads rather than paths and trails, because it's easier to keep physical distance from people on roads than on paths. Last week we talked about path riding anyway, because many people prefer it as a less intimidating way to start out than riding on roads. This week, we'll get back to the road. If you are new to riding on roads, you may by now be discovering a desire to roam further beyond your neighborhood streets. But that might involve some larger roads. Riding on streets with more traffic can be scary, and can bring up some questions that didn't seem so important on your neighborhood streets. Chief among  them is: where am I supposed to ride? A few weeks ago we covered the most basic answer, that you should ride on the right side of the road,...

But first, a word about about where to ride: Path vs. Road? Many people prefer to ride on paths, because cars. Understandable. But in my opinion, riding in the road is the medically safer option for everyone during this pandemic time. Even in normal times, paths can be pretty crowded, and more so now that exercise is one of the few socially acceptable reasons to leave the house. Can you always keep proper distance on a path? At bicycle speed? It can be difficult. On the road, you have plenty of room to keep your distance from any other people you may encounter outside of cars. And you'll be leaving a bit more space on the multi-use paths for the pedestrians. Scared of cars? We'll talk more about how to keep a safe space around you on the road in later posts, or you can cut right to the chase here . But if you still want to incorporate a path into your route, read on... I was emailing this week with a local bicycling friend about the "Riverwalk" path we have ...

But first, a word about where to ride: Path vs. Road? Many people prefer to ride on paths, because cars. Understandable. But in my opinion, riding in the road is the medically safer option for everyone during this pandemic time . Even in normal times, paths can be pretty crowded, and more so now that exercise is one of the few socially acceptable reasons to leave the house. Can you always keep proper distance on a path? At bicycle speed? It can be difficult. On the road, you have plenty of room to keep your distance from any other people you may encounter outside of cars. And you'll be leaving a bit more space on the multi-use paths for the pedestrians. But what about those cars? We'll talk more about how to keep a safe space around you on the road in later posts, or you can skip right to the chase here . But now, on to our featured topic: WHY DO WE WALK AGAINST TRAFFIC, BUT BICYCLE WITH? Riding against traffic is one of the most common mistakes that many beginni...

The “ ABC Quick Check ” is a phrase to help you remember how to check your bike for safety and mechanical soundness. Previous posts discussed the first two letters, which stand for Air and Brakes . Today we bring you "the rest of the story". C is for Chain Check that the chain is clean and lubricated. If you have a bike that you can pedal backwards (that is, not a coaster brake or " fixed gear "), try running the chain backwards while holding the bike stationary to make sure it runs smoothly. (If the gears have been shifted while stopped, you might have to get the bike properly into gear first by lifting the back wheel and moving the pedals forward until the chain gets onto the correct cog.) If your chain is too rusty, you will probably need a new one. Otherwise, you can probably just lubricate it. What should you use? There are various opinions on this question, but all mechanics agree on one thing: Do not use WD-40! Why ? WD-40 is a de-greasing solvent. I...

The “ ABC Quick Check ” is a phrase to help you remember how to check your bike for safety and mechanical soundness. In the previous post , we discussed the important of Air in your tires, and how to maintain it. In this post, we cover the next letter. B is for Brakes Good brakes are important. If your brakes are only partially functional, you may not be able to stop in time in an emergency situation. You cannot ride safely at any kind of practical speed without working brakes. Many kids with BMX bikes remove the brakes from them. We think this is a bad idea. It renders the bike unsafe for any riding beyond trick riding in the bike/skate park. You need to have more than "sneaker brakes" when that car is pulling out in front of you! Basic check: Stand beside the bike and apply each brake in turn while you push it forward. The brake should hold well enough to prevent the wheel from turning. The left brake lever operates the front brake, the right lever operates the re...