Thursday, June 28, 2012

WEEK ONE: HOW DO I FIND A BIKE IN MY PRICE RANGE?

So I've spent the past week biking at the local gym on the stationary, and I think I'm ready to actually buy a bike. Key word- THINK. I haven't owned a bike since I was about fifteen. It was a teal, sturdy, shiny mountain bike- great for careening down flood ditches, not-so-great for actually getting anywhere. Ergo, my preliminary Wikipedia search on 'types of bikes'. I'm mildly overwhelmed. Just as subheadings, there are 3 different ways I can categorize the type of bike I want- FUNCTION, FRAME DESIGN, AND PROPULSION. Then, there's price ranges- according to my first few google searches, I could be spending anywhere from an entry-level $350-$400 on a TOURING BIKE, which I've determined is what I need, to somewhere in the horrifying four digits.

Of course, this is incredible in perspective- my first car, a silver 2001 Honda CR-V with a cassette player and a VERY loud air conditioner determined to blow every important receipt out the window, cost me a solid $9,000 used. Add in the gas I fed that thing weekly, and this is a bargain in comparison- but I'm happy to have an extra $300 at the end of the month to splurge on a new pair of J Brand skinnies, much less buy an adequate bike. Before my next post, I'll be making a trip to the downtown REI to find the bike for me- but first, I'm going to compile what's necessary in a bike and what's not. 

FIRST- MAKE SURE IT'S ACTUALLY THE TYPE OF BIKE YOU NEED. Unless you plan on high-speed chases down Henry St. or attempting to spend next summer touring the Appalachians, you don't need a fancy racing bike or a mountain bike. Cruisers are fine for most commuters- but touring bikes are made to carry more on the bike itself, and distribute the weight more evenly so you aren't dying as you push yourself that last mile from Trader Joe's to your apartment. Make sure you don't buy a touring bike if you never plan on carrying more than what you can fit on your back, and make sure you don't end up with the cutest little red cruiser if you're constantly going to be lugging things. 

SECOND- MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T SWAYED BY THINGS YOU DON'T NEED. In an article on Touring Bikes by John Schubert, he takes a stab at racing tires. 'The racer-wannabees in cycling have an irrational affection for skinny tires. Don’t
let them influence you'. He's right- skinny tires are going to get flying up 2nd Ave faster than sturdier tires, but they aren't going to be able to withstand the printer you strap to your back carriage next March when you move crosstown. On the other hand, Schubert recommends you add fenders to touring bikes that don't already have them. Make sure you don't waste money on things like a fancy-looking back rack that only clips onto the seat, since they can't carry much. Shop around, and make sure you're talking to someone who really cares about you and your bike. 

THIRD- TEST RIDE IT! Don't let anyone convince you to buy a bike before you've test-ridden it, no matter how friendly they seem. My dad never got why I always wore Nikes and my little brother always wore New Balance, but as a runner, I knew- you can't judge a shoe by the brand. Make sure the bike is actually right for you, or you'll have spent a pretty penny for nothing. 

Off to research some more! Ride on, catch ya on the flipside. 

Friday, June 22, 2012

JOURNEY TO A BIKE: FROM FEET TO WHEELS


Since high school, I've been 'the runner'. My little brother and I would get up at the crack of dawn every morning to race through our neighborhood, then I'd usually head back to the treadmills when the sun went down after a long day of school or work, and run again until I could barely walk. I ran marathons in Houston and Galveston, and then a few in New York- but haven't been pounding out footprint rhythms since early May, when I broke my ankle. It was bad enough when I was on crutches, but even when I could walk again I couldn't run. The doctor told me to be as active as I wanted, so long as it didn't involve too much stress on my ankle. It was driving me crazy- my legs felt achy from disuse, I couldn't sleep… then I slept too much. So I decided to talk to the doctor about rehab. He said my ankle was healing fantastically- but a stress fracture from running tends to discourage running in the future. I might get back into 5k's soon enough, but I doubt I'll be running any marathons in the near future… so I'm on the hunt for a bike.
I've started with the stationary bike at my gym, but I live in New York City- where's a better place to have a bike than Queens? It sure beats the bus, and it'll keep me active. So as of 48 hours ago, I've become a future cyclist- and I hope you all get a kick out of following my journey.

Don't just read along, though. Have any particularly wise tips about biking? Recommend one brand or model over another? What's your favorite diet to keep yourself from crashing after a 10-mile ride? Feel free to comment, suggest, and advise- and if you have any questions, feel free to ask those, too. Whether it's something I can already answer or something I'll happily try out to provide the info for you, we can all learn together.

Until next time- ride safely! 

Friday, June 15, 2012

How Bike Friendly is Your Town?

With the number of bike commuters on the rise, people are showing quite the concern for bike safety in towns all across America. What exactly is it that gives a city that bike friendly title? And, what can you do to help your town get there? One thing I've noticed is that climate doesn't have a thing to do with it!

Here are the top 50 bike friendly cities according to Bicycling Magazine:

    1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
    2. Portland, Oregon
    3. Boulder, Colorado
    4. Seattle, Washington
    5. Eugene, Oregon
    6. San Francisco, California
    7. Madison, Wisconsin
    8. New York, New York
    9. Tucson, Arizona
    10. Chicago, Illinois
    11. Austin, Texas
    12. Denver, Colorado
    13. Washington, D.C.
    14. Ann Arbor, Michigan
    15. Phoenix/Tempe, Arizona
    16. Gainesville, Florida
    17. Albuquerque, New Mexico
    18. Colorado Springs, Colorado
    19. Salem, Oregon
    20. Scottsdale, Arizona
    21. Louisville, Kentucky
    22. Chattanooga, Tennessee
    23. Long Beach, California
    24. Cary, North Carolina
    25. Milwaukee, Wiscosin
    26. Boston, Massachusetts
    27. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    28. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    29. Charleston, South Carolina
    30. Arlington, Virginia
    31. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
    32. Boise, Idaho
    33. Kansas City, Missouri
    34. Columbus, Ohio
    35. Tulsa, Oklahoma
    36. Grand Rapids, Michigan
    37. Billings, Montana
    38. St. Louis, Missouri
    39. Cleveland, Ohio
    40. Greensboro, North Carolina
    41. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
    42. Omaha, Nebraska
    43. Salt Lake City, Utah
    44. Miami, Florida
    45. Indianapolis, Indiana
    46. Fargo, North Dakota
    47. Anchorage, Alaska
    48. Baltimore, Maryland
    49. Little Rock, Arkansas
    50. Rochester, New York

As it turns out, the Twin Cities have quite the bike infrastructure. Not only do they have 84 miles of dedicated bike paths, as well as 44 miles of designated bike lanes on streets, but they also have plans for another 40 miles of designated bike lanes. Busses and trains have bike carrying capabilities and office buildings are required to have bicycle storage. In addition to their infrastructure there is also a huge community of cyclists.

So, all that being said, how bike friendly do you consider your town? Do you have dedicated bike lanes, municipal bike racks, and public trans equipped with bike carrying capabilities? Is there a local bike culture? What about a bike co-op, bike shares or swaps? What would cause you to leave your car in the driveway and start taking riding your 2 wheels to work?

Bikepath Country is working to help municipalities raise money for parks and recreation departments in order to help preserve and expand our country's bike path system. If you're looking for some ideas on how to help your town raise money, be sure to contact us today!