Pimping my bike...and other tales from the road
Got on the bicycle again today. I'm enjoying it more and more. Even if I'm not feeling like riding, I'll just get going and in a few minutes something clicks and I'm doing just fine. Thought I would throw out a few observations and thoughts on what works for me.
Tire inflation and being in the right gear makes all the difference in the world. Having a bike mechanic in your back pocket can be just as important as having a car mechanic there. We have all heard of riding defensively...Well it's true!! Don't assume cars see you out there. I'm going to get some reflective gear to make me more easily visible.
I carry a backpack (my daughter's old one...works fine). Things I keep it in; small bottle of water (I may switch to a power drink soon), antiseptic wipes and a towel...in case I get into an accident (apply direct pressure), cell phone, some Splenda (for the coffee shop), a Tupperware container (for the leftovers from the coffee shop), reading glasses, some trail mix and crackers in a baggie, a couple of rubberbands (in case I forget my pant leg clips), and a good (easy to lock and unlock) bike lock.
As I adventure out, I am starting to find which roads are good for riding and which are filled with potholes. Even some bike lanes can be filled with bumps and potholes.
Again I love riding now. Sometimes at sunset I will ride for 20-30 minutes just around the neighborhood. Like a 10 year old with nothing to do. I'm thinking of getting an I-Pod...Don't know how safe it is to use while riding. Remember when the Sony Walkman was the coolest thing on the planet!! Well I may need to adapt and change. I'll try my daughter's and see if it works. Just some thoughts. Enjoy the ride. Brian
Tire inflation and being in the right gear makes all the difference in the world. Having a bike mechanic in your back pocket can be just as important as having a car mechanic there. We have all heard of riding defensively...Well it's true!! Don't assume cars see you out there. I'm going to get some reflective gear to make me more easily visible.
I carry a backpack (my daughter's old one...works fine). Things I keep it in; small bottle of water (I may switch to a power drink soon), antiseptic wipes and a towel...in case I get into an accident (apply direct pressure), cell phone, some Splenda (for the coffee shop), a Tupperware container (for the leftovers from the coffee shop), reading glasses, some trail mix and crackers in a baggie, a couple of rubberbands (in case I forget my pant leg clips), and a good (easy to lock and unlock) bike lock.
As I adventure out, I am starting to find which roads are good for riding and which are filled with potholes. Even some bike lanes can be filled with bumps and potholes.
Again I love riding now. Sometimes at sunset I will ride for 20-30 minutes just around the neighborhood. Like a 10 year old with nothing to do. I'm thinking of getting an I-Pod...Don't know how safe it is to use while riding. Remember when the Sony Walkman was the coolest thing on the planet!! Well I may need to adapt and change. I'll try my daughter's and see if it works. Just some thoughts. Enjoy the ride. Brian
A few items you may want to add are bicycle tubes, a pump, and tire inflation canisters. My brother says the cheap way to get them is to buy the packs they sell for paint guns--they're the same ones used to inflate bicycle tires on the road. At least you don't have to be on the lookout for the old flip-tops that used to be on cans--the type that didn't stay on the can once you opened it. They were the bane of many bicycle riders. Bob
NIcely done, Brian and thanks for spreading the cycling tips. Here are some more specifically related to riding safely:
1. I never use an ipod when biking in the city or on shorter rides. You need to be able to hear the traffic behind you. As a matter of fact, it's illegal in Colorado to use an MP3 player while biking and all the organzed rides specifically prohibit their use. That said, I break the law on my longer rides out in the country where I know there is minimal traffic. Listening to music on a 3 hour or so ride helps pass the time. Most of the time, I'll only have my right ear bud in so I can hear a car coming and still listen to music.
2. When turning, don't just stick out your arm but flap your wrist to make your signal more visible. I "flap" coming up to the turn, then stop when I'm making the turn. If I'm at a red light, I'll won't signal while waiting but do the flap again when the light turns yellow to remind the cars, I'm turning left. Left turns are the most dangerous.
3. When I come to an intersection where either a car is turning left in front of me or if a car is entering the street from my right, I wave at them to make sure they see me. If they wave back, all's well and I steam ahead. If they do nothing, I slow down and proceed with caution.
4. When I turn left, I always stay in the bike lane or far right as long as I can then will cut left in the final 50 feet or so assuming the traffice permits. It's always better to miss the left turn then wait for traffic to clear than enter a congested intersection. Remember that being on the right side of the road is always safer than having "cars to the left of me, cars to the right...... here I am, stuck in the middle again." Lyrics from an old song. Sorry about that.
Betcha, nobody can name that tune and who sang it.
Boner
1. I never use an ipod when biking in the city or on shorter rides. You need to be able to hear the traffic behind you. As a matter of fact, it's illegal in Colorado to use an MP3 player while biking and all the organzed rides specifically prohibit their use. That said, I break the law on my longer rides out in the country where I know there is minimal traffic. Listening to music on a 3 hour or so ride helps pass the time. Most of the time, I'll only have my right ear bud in so I can hear a car coming and still listen to music.
2. When turning, don't just stick out your arm but flap your wrist to make your signal more visible. I "flap" coming up to the turn, then stop when I'm making the turn. If I'm at a red light, I'll won't signal while waiting but do the flap again when the light turns yellow to remind the cars, I'm turning left. Left turns are the most dangerous.
3. When I come to an intersection where either a car is turning left in front of me or if a car is entering the street from my right, I wave at them to make sure they see me. If they wave back, all's well and I steam ahead. If they do nothing, I slow down and proceed with caution.
4. When I turn left, I always stay in the bike lane or far right as long as I can then will cut left in the final 50 feet or so assuming the traffice permits. It's always better to miss the left turn then wait for traffic to clear than enter a congested intersection. Remember that being on the right side of the road is always safer than having "cars to the left of me, cars to the right...... here I am, stuck in the middle again." Lyrics from an old song. Sorry about that.
Betcha, nobody can name that tune and who sang it.
Boner
Bama got the band, Stealer's Wheel and I admitted to screwing up the lyrics as normal. I didn't know Gerry Rafferty was the lead singer though....Baker Street, great song! Well done, Clapton.
Boner
PS: A little known but impressive wiki about Gerry Rafferty....
In 1978, Rafferty cut a solo album, City to City, whi*****luded the song with which he remains most identified, "Baker Street". The single reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 2 in the U.S. The album sold over 5.5 million copies, toppling the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in the U.S. on 8 July 1978.
Boner
PS: A little known but impressive wiki about Gerry Rafferty....
In 1978, Rafferty cut a solo album, City to City, whi*****luded the song with which he remains most identified, "Baker Street". The single reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 2 in the U.S. The album sold over 5.5 million copies, toppling the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in the U.S. on 8 July 1978.
Concerning MP3 players and riding, some states make it illegal to use adevice with ear buds while riding, as others have stated here. In Virginia, you can get away with using a player with external speakers, however.
Take a look at ThinkGeeks.com. They have all kinds of gadgetry for pimping your music player, be it iPod or something else, and the itty bitty external speakers are always a big seller. If you've got moobs, you can probably find one of those jiggle bras that will charge it up, too.
Take a look at ThinkGeeks.com. They have all kinds of gadgetry for pimping your music player, be it iPod or something else, and the itty bitty external speakers are always a big seller. If you've got moobs, you can probably find one of those jiggle bras that will charge it up, too.
A couple of other thoughts since riding this afternoon. Speed bumps are not our friends. They were created in the depths of Hades. The wind will always change directions while you're riding...You'll always be facing a headwind. Eating mexican food and drinking coffee before a ride is a big no no...eat basic boring stuff...plus it's hard to get a burp while riding. I can't get rock hard abs (abs of steel) while riding. Unless I work at it, I'll get a beer belly rather than 6 pack abs. Brian
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