Bike to Work
Posted on | June 28, 2007 |
Trying to beat the gas prices by biking to work? Or perhaps you’re just doing it to “go green.” Either way, you’ll need to practice good bike maintenance and know the rules of the road.
We’ve pulled some of our best tips from cyclists and bike mechanics for you:
1. Have your bike checked out regularly. Tune-ups should be every six months or so, depending on how often you ride. Why get a bike tune-up? After many rides, the bike’s cables and chains tend to stretch out, lose their effectiveness and cause shifting problems.
2. Replace your chain every 1,000-1,500 miles. Start tracking your mileage in a notebook - write down the date and number of miles you bike each day.
3. Before each ride, grab an extra water bottle and a plastic bag. Put the following inside the plastic bag.
- Cell phone or change for a phone call.
- Photo ID
- Emergency Information Sheet (name, address, allergies/conditions)
- Emergency medicines
Then seal the bag, place it inside the water bottle and bring it with you on your ride. (Install an extra water bottle holder for this or attach it to your bike with a bungee cord.)
4. If you listen to music while biking, be sure to have at least one ear free to listen for the sounds of the road.
5. If you need to use your cellphone, use an earpiece to keep your hands free.
6. Know the rules of the road (hand signals, ride with the traffic, not against it, etc.) and follow them.
7. More tips from those the know…
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