It’s March 1st and season officially begins. Time to dust off the bike, get the chain lubed and get some riding in!
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Instead of writing my own thoughts on bike commuting, maybe this article will help:
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A nice video that has some tips on picking up a touring bike.
A touring bike is bike that is not too fast or not too junky and is perfect for traveling.
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In Portland, Oregon, th city has painted an area in front of traffic lights green for designated for cyclists.
the big green swath of pavement marked off the first of 14 bike boxes that will be installed around the city over the next several weeks. When the process is complete, Portland will join New York City as one of the few North American cities with the designated areas that allow cyclists to wait in front of cars during red lights at busy intersections.
Read more about the story here.
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Possibly one of my favorite time of the year is spring the clock forward. Yes you lose 1 hour of sleep, but you gain more riding time in the evening.
For those that get nervous riding their bike at night, you have a few extra hours. Best part, this year it happens a lot earlier then usual. We can thank the Federal Law for this one.
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Funny clip of people pedaling a car around in Canada. I would love to have a vehicle like this in this town but have to find three other friends fit enough to help me drive it.
The ironic part of the video is when bicycling police showed up.
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I get this question from time to time: What is wrong with buying a bike from Wal-Mart?
I always suggest potential buyers to buy their bikes at a local bike shop. In Amarillo, there are three stores: Extreme Outdoor Elements, Bicycle Depot and Hill’s Ski Shop.
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I got to check out a new site called bikehack.com. It’s a blog that teaches you how to do little “hacks” to make your ride more enjoyable. They have a lot of neat “hacks” you can do like how to build a spreadsheet to monitor your riding or building your own truing stand.
BikeHacks.com comes to you from both coasts of the USA. We write BikeHacks ’cause we love bikes. We dig up all kinds of cool, interesting and useful stuff, from the funky to the functional.
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I know that I announced March 1st is the official day of bicycling season (for me that is), the weather can still be chilly.
Amarillo is known to be so windy sometimes and when there is arctic air still lingering around from the north, there are a few things you should consider:
A skull cap. You could get a thing skull cap to put underneath your helmet. I found one at Wal-Mart for $4 dollars to keep my noggin nice and warm. Try to find a cap that can cover your ears as well. The warmer your head, the better you can concentrate on the road. If you do not want t spend any money on a skull cap, then I recommend putting on a shower cap to block the win vents on your helmet.
Wind Jacket - You have to love the wind here. I can’t get enough of it. Make sure you find a jacket that can keep you snug and warm but not big enough where the sleeves are flapping and it feels like you’re sky diving on two wheels. I find L.L. Bean products to be an excellent source for inexpensive big gear and you can look good at the same time.
Leg Pants - Some bicyclist here are not the hardcore cyclists you see wearing tights with GORE insulations but a casual alternative would be thermal underwear and some workout pants. You can find thermal underwear at any department store and just have one more layer over. I once went on a cold bike ride and there is such a thing as too much layering. I recommend just put on enough to get by and eventually you will warm up.
And as an added bonus, why not put some hot chocolate in your commuter. Doesn’t hurt to sip on something warm during the brisk ride. If you have any other suggestions, please leave your comment below.
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Sometimes shopping for a bike for women can be difficult. Nearly all major bicycling company do have a women’s line like Trek and Giant but those corporate bikes might not meet your specific needs.
Sweetpea Bicycles does just that: Build bikes for women. Located in Portland, Oregon. I find their custom made bikes to be made with love. Funny thing is their slogan is “This is the bike that will love you back” and that is exactly what your bike should do for you.
We realized a long time ago that we know too many super great women who have a hard time finding a bike that works. So we decided to build them.
So if you are a woman looking for a bike, you may find a place out there that may suit all your needs.
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