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12 steps to get your bike commute started
By Jenny C. McCune • Bankrate.com Need some guidance to get started on your eco-friendly commute? http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news...20060531b1.asp Biking to work Follow these 12 steps to ensure a safe and comfortable ride to work. Tips before getting started 1. Start off easy 2. Don't feel you have to go the distance 3. Figure out your route 4. Test it before you commute 5. Find a bike buddy 6. Learn the rules of the road for bicycles 7. Investigate parking 8. Devise a cleanup plan 9. Carry flat fix essentials 10. Learn emergency adjustments 11. Inspect your bike before every ride 12. Perform routine maintenance 1. Start off easy Instead of going from driving your car every day to exclusively riding your bike, commute by bicycle on a part-time basis, maybe once or twice a week, and only in fair weather. Even cycling to work one day per week can substantially decrease your car usage, says Arthur Ross, the pedestrian-bicycle coordinator for the Traffic Engineering Division in Madison, Wis. 2. Don't feel you have to go the distance If your commute is a long one, you may want to ride part of the way and then finish your commute by bus or train. Many municipalities, including Seattle; Salt Lake City; Austin, Texas, and Eugene, Ore., have bike racks on their mass transit buses or allow bikes on trains to help facilitate partial bike commutes. 3. Figure out your route Think like a cyclist, not a motorist. That means that the shortest route -- especially if it is on a major highway -- is probably not the best idea. Look for streets with bike lanes, and avoid high-speed routes with no shoulders. To find good routes, check your city's Web site. Many bike-friendly municipalities have maps that show recommended routes. Also consider when the best time to travel is and whether it makes sense to leave earlier or later to avoid rush-hour traffic. Finally, have a "Plan B" route in your back bike jersey pocket in case there's an accident or construction delay. 4. Test it before you commute Give your route a trial run on the weekend so you can work out the kinks and get an idea of how long it will take you. Then make adjustments as you go. For example, you may wish to find a different route when you discover "pinches" -- overpasses, for example, where there isn't a shoulder to ride on. 5. Find a bike buddy Safety in numbers definitely applies to cycling -- plus getting someone more experienced to show you the ropes is always a good idea. "Even if you only ride halfway together, having a bike buddy can really help you break into riding," says Elizabeth Preston of the League of American Bicyclists, a bicycle advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. 6. Learn the rules of the road for bicycles Most states have a department of transportation, which offers information on traffic laws, including how they apply to cyclists. Sometimes you can get the lowdown simply by visiting the DOT's Web site. Most states classify bicycles as vehicles, which means that bike riders must follow the same rules as motorists (riding in the same direction as other traffic, signaling turns, etc.). 7. Investigate parking Some cities, including Washington, D.C.; Santa Barbara, Calif., and Seattle, offer or are in the process of setting up "bike stations," secure parking stations for bikes, as well as other amenities. Otherwise, a simple bike rack at work may suffice. If there isn't one, see if your employer or the owner of the building is willing to put one in. Sometimes municipalities or local bike shops offer free (or subsidized) bike racks. Also, if office space is ample, you may be able to find a spare corner where your bike can stay while you're working. 8. Devise a cleanup plan Does your employer offer shower facilities or a discount on a health club membership? If you can't shower on the premises, you may be able to shower at a nearby health club or bike station. If not, you can use a restroom's sink to do quick a splash bath (clean up after yourself if you want to be welcome a second time). Depending on how hot it gets where you live and how long your commute is, you may find that you don't require a massive cleanup to be presentable. 9. Carry flat fix essentials If you ride regularly, sooner or later you may get a flat tire. Always bring along a spare tube, tire irons and a pump. Before you have to change a tire out in the field, practice at home. Have a more experienced rider or your bike mechanic show you how to do it. 10. Learn emergency adjustments Although flat tires are normally the worst thing you'll encounter on the road, it's a good idea to know how to perform emergency repairs. Knowing how to put your chain back on, how to keep your brake from rubbing and how to adjust your saddle can make the difference between a good ride and a bad one. Many bike shops routinely offer free maintenance clinics so you can learn emergency repairs and how to keep your bicycle in good working order. 11. Inspect your bike before every ride Check your tire pressure and pump your tires up to the appropriate pressure, and you'll reduce your risk of pinch flats. Also make sure the brakes are working and that your bike is shifting properly. 12. Perform routine maintenance Regularly clean your bike, lube your chain and inflate your tires. Chains get stretched and need to be replaced. Tires can lose their treads. Brakes get worn. The wear and tear of riding and hitting bumps can loosen handle bars and other vital parts. Have your bike regularly tuned up at a bike shop. How often you get a tuneup depends on how many miles you are putting on your bike. Try for a checkup every 2,000 to 3,000 miles -- or sooner if your bike stops working properly or starts making noises that you can't explain. Back to: "The bike-to-work alternative: Save money and stay fit" http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news...20060531a1.asp |
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A good article though I am not sure about carrying a tire iron.
On Nov 29, 10:58*am, Ablang wrote: 12 steps to get your bike commute started |
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![]() "Jorg Lueke" wrote: A good article though I am not sure about carrying a tire iron. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In this context, I am sure that "tire iron" should be interpreted to mean: any compact, light weight device that will enable you to pop the bead on and off the rim. OTOH, a heavy tire iron that resembles a car spring or abalone pry bar might be useful for fending off dogs ;-) |
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In article ,
"Leo Lichtman" writes: "Jorg Lueke" wrote: A good article though I am not sure about carrying a tire iron. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In this context, I am sure that "tire iron" should be interpreted to mean: any compact, light weight device that will enable you to pop the bead on and off the rim. OTOH, a heavy tire iron that resembles a car spring or abalone pry bar might be useful for fending off dogs ;-) I remember tire irons for bicycles. And that's what they were indeed called, and made of. Well, probably steel, but "iron" is more poetic. You know all that; you've got a few years on me. But I bet there's a bunch of youngsters here who've never heard of a tire /iron/, nor used a bumper jack, whose handle is a combination tire iron/lug wrench. My dad had a ratcheting screw jack whose handle was also a tire iron. IIRC, he said it came from a Model T. I used to have a set of bicycle tire irons handed down to me from my older brother, but I've lost them somewhere along the line. I wish I hadn't lost them. I still have the old cone wrenches, though. So, I still call 'em tire irons, even though their made from a different, more plastic-y material. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
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On Nov 29, 6:59*pm, "Leo Lichtman" wrote:
"Jorg Lueke" *wrote: A good article though I am not sure about carrying a tire iron. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In this context, I am sure that "tire iron" should be interpreted to mean: any compact, light weight device that will enable you to pop the bead on and off the rim. *OTOH, a heavy tire iron that resembles a car spring or abalone pry bar might be useful for fending off dogs ;-) I am sure, but I get a much different visual :-) |
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