This one comes from About.com. I like their bicycling site because you can always count on them for a very bike post. They always have nice tips and product reviews to help you out.
The latest one is about where to lubricate your bike. This is great info especially in the winter time when salt and dirt get everywhere. At ABR just last Wednesday I was lubing up a stuck break arm so I can tell you just how important a little lube is.
Filed under Winter Cycling
“Mommy, why would someone ride a bike in the rain?”
The little girls voice was behind me, still walking up to the door of the Pines Hills branch of the Albany Public Library. The mom hushed her and they hurried inside out of the weather. It was an interesting question, even more so since a little kid asked it. I was standing there under the roof taking a moment to catch my breath, sheltered from the rain, before I locked my bike up.
It caught me off guard.
Why did I ride out in the rain today? I am not a hardcore cyclist. I tend to not ride in the rain, cold, or snow. That weather, goodness, is not really my thing. I tend to go for the sun streaming down on hot roads and tank tops.
I really don’t know the answer to why I rode out today in horrible weather. Maybe it could be because I went on a ride last night for Friday Friday. Or, maybe the library is so close that I didn’t want to drive. A better answer would be there are rarely parking spots on Saturdays and several cars did the loop around the building before leaving. Those all would have been good answers for today, but why would someone normally just ride in the rain?
I rode in the rain today because I wanted to. I missed being on my bike and it felt good to get back in the groove. There really isn’t a reason that the weather should hold me back. Winter is way too long in the northeast to stop riding. Or at least for me it is.
Why do you ride in the rain?
Filed under Comings and Goings, Winter Cycling
If you are like me, and you probably aren’t because you are sane, you rode your bike this morning to work. After riding through the single digits, wind chill and all that, all I can say is bundle up and have a cup of tea waiting for you when you get to work. It makes all the difference.
How about you? What do you do to beat the cold?
Filed under Article, Winter Cycling
Obviously I don’t advocate this. For some people though, proper bike storage is a good idea. If you don’t plan to ride throughout the winter and you want your bicycle to be fresh when you take it out in the spring, or God forbid the summer, here is an article that has some good tips on what you want to do so that you are ready to go when you come out of hibernation.
Filed under Article, Winter Cycling
Winter cycling is something I look forward to with great excitement and trepidation. I have so many questions that I want to ask without knowing exactly what they are. All I can do is try to prepare with what I know and hope that I come out on top and not on the black top. Here are some things that I am considering:
1. SKS Commuter Bicycle Fender Set: I should have gotten these a while ago as it would have kept my bike a lot cleaner, but in the coming winter months I am really going to need them as rain is nothing compared to snow when it comes to dirtying your bike.
2. Outdoor Research Ninjaclava Balaclava: I need a balaclava for a few reasons. The foremost of which is to keep my face warm on those cold winter days. The nerd in me says, “Hey, as long as you are getting a mask for your face why not look like a ninja?” So here’s my question, should I wear goggles with this or is it not meant for goggles?
3. Full Face Mask-Orange Flame W11S23D: I was torn between getting a balaclava and a face mask for a while when it finally dawned on me, “Why not get both?” So here it is. The problem with the face masks and the half masks is that a lot of them are all really scary. I think my goal here is not to look like a maniac, but to keep my face warm and rain free. Does anyone have any suggestions on masks?
4. Half face Mask – Spider Web W11S25D: I don’t know if I’d like the full or half mask better so I came to the same conclusion as before, get both! I was always a fan of Spider-Man so this just made sense.
There are two items I haven’t decided on mostly because I haven’t researched them yet. These are goggles and full fingered gloves. If anyone has any suggestions I would be glad to hear them in the comments.
Filed under Article, Popular, Winter Cycling
Albany Bicycle Coalition 