Making Sense Of the Bike Shop

I have heard from more than one person, they are intimidated by the thought of buying a bicycle. And, I cannot say that I blame them. There seems to be so many choices and the price ranges vary so much that it could be a difficult thing to deal with coming right off the street. The point of this blog post is to help try to make it easier to walk in and feel a little more at ease.

I think the best way to start is to just describe the different styles of bicycles. I would define as bicycle as any two-wheeled, human powered vehicle. But, there are road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, cruisers, and many other styles. I am going to go over the most common types of bike out there and break it into categories.

I am going to start first with the road style bicycles. I would define a road bike as any bicycle that is meant to be traveled pretty much exclusively on the pavement. When I was growing up, they were often called 10-speeds. Road bikes tend to have narrow tires, "drop"-style handlebars (they curve out and around) and are built for speed. Most modern road bikes are made out of aluminum for a entry-level model and carbon fiber for expensive models. Here is an example of a typical road bike:






There are two other road-style bikes I will mention that at first glance appear to be road bikes, but really are a bit different. The first is a "touring" bike. A touring bike will often have drop style bars (though not always) and the larger wheels, but the tires may not be as narrow and the frame geometry is more "relaxed." In other words, it sits a little more upright. Also, they have more clearance in the wheel base to make it easier to add fenders and also built in hardware so it is easier to add a rack. Touring bikes are meant to go for the long haul, but they also make good commuters. Touring bikes are often made of steel as it tends to hold up a lot better than aluminum and carbon fiber. Here is an example of a touring bike:











The other road style bike is a cyclocross bike. A cyclocross bike is a road style bike that has a beefier frame and can be taken off road. It was meant for that. But, they also make very solid commuters as well. Like a touring bike, they have room for fenders and often bottle holders and such. They tend to be a little lighter weight than a touring bike, but they were made with racing in mind. They can also take wider tires due to more clearance--more so than a touring bike often. Here is a random photo of a cyclocross bike:








The next "type" I will cover is a hybrid bicycle. A hybrid is just that: a hybrid between a road bike and a mountain bike. Kind of like a cyclocross except hybrids generally have flat bars instead of drop bars like a mountain bike. Hybrids tend to run the bigger road style tires, but have wider rims and tires. Hybrids tend to be beefier frame wise and also have hardware slots for water bottle holders and racks. Some also call these comfort bikes. But, the difference is comfort bikes are made more for a bike path than the street. Some hybrids have shocks built into the frame and forks which people either love or hate. Shocks make your ride more smooth, but they also make your ride slower and if you are commuting, that means you need to get up earlier. Still, a hybrid makes a good choice for someone that has been out of cycling for a while, but wants something that can be taken about anywhere. Hybrids can be taken off road, but doing a lot of serious mountain biking on bumpy terrain would not be a great idea. Here is an example of a hybrid I just picked up a couple of weeks ago: Not thee bike, but the same model:




And, the Mountain bike. Mountain bikes are, well, made for the mountains. They are bikes built for off-road use. They tend to have smaller and wider wheels with knobby tires to take the abuse of riding on the rocky terrain. Mountain bike generally have flat style handlebars and the shifters tend to be at thumb-level and make it easy to shift. Mountain bikes in some places have gotten a bad rap lately. They are heavy, the smaller wheels make you go slower, and they are ugly with all that suspension are things I hear. And, some of them may be true, but that fact is they can make very good bikes for commuting as well. If you are going to commute and have no intention of riding it off road, ditch the knobbies and get some narrower slicks. Trust me, this will make your ride so much better. And, keep the knobbies around as you can put them back on if you decided to hit the mud. I personally put probably close to 3,ooo miles of city commuting on my trusty old 1990 Trek Antelope. It unfortunately sits in the basement since I went with a touring bike, but still have no intention of getting rid of it as I could not sell it for what it is worth to me and I also need a trusty backup. Here is a picture of a typical modern mountain bike:


So, there are the some of the most popular styles. Another style that has really gained in popularity the past few years are fixed-gear bicycles. Sometimes they are referred to as track bicycles. The thing about a FGB, is that they do not coast. In other words, when going down a hill, the pedals will keep spinning. Or, if walking the bike, the pedals are also going to spin. If you pedal backwards, the bike will go backwards. Another thing gaining in popularity is a single speed. Some back wheels even have both a fixed and a free hub, so one can turn the wheel around and chose. One of the major advantages of these bikes is the maintenance is minimal. No shifters to adjust all the time and a FGB also requires stopping by using your legs more than a handbrake. A track bike is also a fixed gear, but was build for a cycle track in mind, or a velodrome. Think a running track, but for bicycles.

There are other styles, but these are some of the most common ones out there. When shopping, I recommend a locally-owned bicycle shop as they are often staffed with people that are knowledable about bikes. I really do not recommend box-store bikes. The average life of a box or department store bike from store to landfill is 75 miles. And, they are built accordingly. But, if you really are not going to ride that much or if you are buying something for your kid that he is going to outgrow in two years, it may not be a bad choice.

So, what style is right for you? Well, hard to tell, but as a general rule if you want to use a bike to commute to work, pick a hybrid, touring or cyclocross. Get a hybrid if you have a short commute. Get a touring bike if you have a long commute, and get a cyclocross bike if you have a long commute, but also really want to do some road racing. If you want to get in shape and want to go fast, get a road bike. If you want to go off-road and that is about it, go with a mountain bike.

Hope that helps. Ride safe!

So Ya Wanna Ride Your Bike To Work?

Last week, I decided I was going to attempt to commute home from work. I would ride to work, but will need to get in better shape if I want to really think about battling those 8%+ graded hills. So I ride downtown, catch the light rail, and pedal the short distance to work.

And, I have had a few people ask me about riding a bike to work or elsewhere and have asked me for advice about the best way to do this. So, I am going to try to condense all the knowledge I have picked up over the years and try to make it easy to digest and make it easier for you, the reader or advice seeker.

First off, if you are thinking about, good for you! It is good exercise, it is safer than you think, and it can save you a lot of money. But, how do you start?

1) Obviously, you are going to need a bike. Got one? Good. What kind of shape is it in? Do you ride it at least once a month for some exercise, or has it been sitting idle for who knows how long? If it is the latter, do yourself a favor and take it to your local bike shop and have them give it a tune up. The mechanics can make sure it is running smoothly and even tell you if it is a safe bike to ride. Let them know that you plan to commute on it. Good mechanics will ask the necessary questions then. Depending on where you live, I would almost suggest taking it to a shop that focuses on repair and not sales. If you live in Portland, I would recommend City Bikes on SE Ankeny or the Community Cycling Center on NE Alberta. There are many good places to go and those are just two places I have done business with and have done very good work for a decent price. They focus on getting you back on the road with efficiency, not flair. I may go into selecting a good bike in a later blog. Stay tuned.

2) Bike in shape for the commute? Sweet! Now it is time to plan your route. Things to consider are this. How far is your commute? How is the traffic on the way there? If something goes awry with my bike, is there a bus stop nearby I can walk my bike to? What is the weather going to be like? These are important questions because they can make a difference if you commute daily or tried it one day and stopped.

I always suggest trying to find streets that have low traffic on them. This is pretty obvious, but drivers tend to realize they are cruising a residential area and need to watch out for kids and pedestrians and will cut cyclists a lot more slack. This is not always possible, but it is still important to find the safest way to get there.

Do you have a long commute? Or a short one with no bus service along the way? I would suggest carrying a spare tube, a small pump, and some tire levers in case of a flat. A bike shop sells seat bags and they are perfect for carrying these things along with tools to help. Often you can find a small, Swiss Army knife style multi-tool that will fit all of your needs. If you have bolt on wheels, however, you will want to carry a small crescent wrench, too.

3) Check the weather before you go! There are those folks out there that brag how they ride in a foot of snow or rain or shine or during earthquakes. However, if you want to be a fair-weather cyclist, you are basically joining the majority of bike commuters.

But, it does not mean it can't be done. I do ride in the rain here, but I am prepared for it. I have waterproof pants and a jacket. I have fenders and brakes that are supposed to help stop me with wet rims. I do need some shoe covers and that will be the next thing.

There are such a thing as studded snow tires for bikes. While I do think some of those people riding around in the lycra and spandex look kind of silly, there is a purpose for it. Riding year-round can be done. Again, the local bike shop can probably help you the best.

4) But how am I gonna haul all my crap? Good question. That can be tricky if you have to haul a laptop and other work stuff. The cheapest (and perhaps easiest) way is a simple backpack. It sits on your back and does not shift and does not add extra weight to the bike. However, if it is hot, your back will be sweaty. Messenger bags also do a good job. The bad is that they shift. The good is that they allow more of your back to be exposed and collect less sweat. I recently bought a metal rack that attaches to the back of my ride and found a bag that connects to the side of it. It holds quite a bit of stuff. I can easily hold my lunch, a change of clothes, my extra tubes and tools, and probably a few other things. The name for those is a pannier and comes from the name the things that people put on horses. Again, find a good local bike shop nearby and they can also help.

5) Am I going to smell like a locker room when I get to work? It depends. I mean, how hot is it? How far is it? Like me, do you sweat like crazy? There can be ways around this. Does the place you work have a shower? Find out and shower when you get there. No shower? I have heard of people keeping baby wipes as a way to wipe off the sweat when you arrive. Remember, the sweat beads off and evaporates when you ride and doesn't when you stop. Often if you sweat a lot, you will find it roll down and collect on your waist line. While there is no way to stop this, I have tucked several paper towels from the washroom and tucked it by my low abs and buttoned up. It does the trick!

6) Light 'em up! The most important thing you can do when you ride to enhance your safety is to be as visible as possible. Get a good set of lights for your bike. In a pinch, you can buy them at department store, but I suggest going to a bike shop. Honestly, the cheapest ones both of them sell will cost you at best a buck more at the bike shop and will be half the size and twice as bright. And, most of them will have batteries included, so it is probably cheaper. They will also have a better selection. Get the best thing you can afford. Your life is worth the five extra bucks to get something brighter. Also, wear bright clothing. Those yellow jackets do wonders. Cars will appreciate you for doing this.

7) Okay, this is good info. Anything else? Sure thing. If possible, leave your work shoes at work. Sometimes people have special clipless pedals and already do this, but you will thank yourself if it starts to rain or of you have to wear dress shoes. Also, search the web for the town you live and see if there is a bike commuting page. I was surprised to see that Billings, MT had one complete with tips and a map with safe routes.

Hopefully, this helps everyone. And, please feel free to ask me any questions.