Posted: May 18, 2010 at 11:25 am
Sorry for the lack of posts the past few days, I was out of town for a job interview.
This tip is about a polarizing issue in the cycling community, wearing a helmet. I still don’t wear one all the time, but I know that I should.
The fact is, even if you ride safely, accidents can still happen. Even at slow speeds, falling from your bike down to the concrete is enough to put a hurt’n on your noggin. A crash which would normally give you a little road rash with which to impress others could turn into a serious head injury. Sure they make look nerdy, but they could save your life or at the very least prevent a really bad headache.
I used to argue that people in Europe didn’t wear helmets and they have a lower injury rate than in America. I finally came to the realization that this isn’t Europe and riding here is not as safe in most cities. This is due both to lack of cycling infrastructure and the awareness of motorists towards bikes on the road. So now I’m a helmet convert (mostly) and you should be too!
Posted: May 14, 2010 at 3:28 pm
While riding a bike to work you may me tempted to put on some music to make the ride even more enjoyable… don’t! You may not realize it, but your hearing is a very important sense in keeping you safe on the road. Listening to music could stop you from hearing a car come up behind you that you had no idea was there.
You might think that you can visually check to see when cars are near, but sometimes this can fail you. I personally came close to being hit because I was listening to music, even after reading the same advice I am dispensing now.
Posted: May 14, 2010 at 10:22 am
In the current issue of Bicycling Magazine there is an article about how to drive around cyclists. This is one of the better articles I’ve seen in the 2 years I’ve been subscribing to this mag. Thankfully they’ve also put it online.
This is a great bit that I think every motorist should read. Often times I think close calls happen not out of spite or even lack of attention, but lack of knowledge about how to safely drive when cyclists are near.
Posted: May 13, 2010 at 4:34 pm
My ride today over fresh asphalt (which makes all sorts of grime stick to your bike) made me remember todays tip: clean your bike regularly.
Not only will this keep your ride looking great, but it will also prolong the life of the frame and components. I personally like to take a sponge or scrub brush with some simple green and scrub down everything I can once every few weeks. Be sure to hit the drive train especially, when grease builds up, it will trap dirt and other contaminates which will grind down on gears, chain, and dérailleurs. After cleaning and drying your drive train, apply a light layer of chain oil to keep things running smoothly. I’ve been using Tri-Flow for years with no problems, but any dedicated bike oil should do fine. Just remember not to use WD-40.
Posted: May 12, 2010 at 10:20 am
How often do people you encounter say something like “Oh, about a month ago I almost ran you over!”? This has happened to me a few times and again very recently. It’s always an odd conversation as they tend to laugh it off (and oddly enough so do I).
How do you respond when people tell you this?
Posted: May 11, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Just a friendly reminder to nominate Velobration for the Crankworld Cycling blog rankings. If you enjoy reading this blog, a nomination would be a most excellent way to express that. Thanks!
Posted: May 11, 2010 at 2:50 pm
If it seems like many of the commuting tips posted refer to safety, that is by no mistake. While bike commuting is a fun, healthy, and safe alternative to driving we are out numbered by vehicles much bigger and faster piloted by drivers who are not always on the lookout for cyclists. Making drivers aware of you is a big deal.
Exercising your right to ride on the road is one step, by being in traffic and not beside it, you force drivers to notice you more. This also goes with not riding on side-walks where you are more likely to be hit but a turning vehicle because they don’t see you coming.
Wearing bright clothing is also a big help, it’s no secret that yellow is a popular color in cycling apparel, this is because it stands out at all times of the day. If you can get something with reflective trim it will help after the sun goes down.
And finally, a good set of lights is essential. Even in a well lit area you should have both head and tail lights. The headlight can be set to blink mode if street lights provide enough lighting, set it to solid otherwise. The rear light should always be set to blink.
Posted: May 10, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Commuting in Summer, or in some places even Spring can mean you arrive to work sweaty and sticky after even a short ride.
There are a few was to combat this. If it is absolutely too hot to ride in your work clothes, wear something lighter and change once you arrive. When it get’s a little hotter here I’ll be riding in shorts and a technical shirt to stay as cool and try as possible during my ride. Once I get to work I’ll change into my work clothes after a quick wipe-down with a baby wipe and reapply deodorant. Even in a hot (100+ degrees) and humid summer this has worked very well for me.
Another option is to get a membership at a gym near work so that you can stop and shower before heading in.
If you don’t want to bring your clothes with you every day, pick one day of the week to catch a ride with someone and bring a weeks worth of work clothes with you to keep with you.
Posted: May 10, 2010 at 3:17 pm | Tags: movie monday
BMX has always amazed me, I’ve tried to ride them before but they just feel way too small. I realize that is the point, but It’s something I just can’t get used it.
Posted: May 8, 2010 at 7:07 am
If you ride long enough, getting a flat is a question of when, not if.
The easiest way to fix a flat is to not get one in the first place. Make sure your tires have the proper amount of air in them. Low tires can pinch the tube between the rim and the road when hitting bumps which will cause a “pinch flat”. Avoid riding on parts of the road with lots of debris, even if you never hit a nail, little shards of rock may be all it takes to make you flat. I’ve been surprised by how small the rocks have been which have caused flats in the past. And finally, a good set of tires can help. Some tires have an extra layer of protection built in often in the form of a kevlar belt which does wonders. Speaking personally, since I switched to the Panaracer Paselas with TourGuard, I haven’t had a flat since.
No matter how much care you take, flats happen and it is best to be prepared. Carrying a spare tube, pump, and a couple tire levers can mean the difference between finishing your ride and calling for one. Changing a flat is pretty easy, but it takes a little practice, Bike tutor has a great how-to on that subject.
