While You Wait for Snow…. Bike!

Skiers, don’t be sad!

Sure, winter is over, but bike season has begun and it’s an awesome way to take your mind off the snow. If you’re a skier, it’s likely that your second biggest sport or interest is biking. (It’s all about the leg work outs!) There are many forms of biking, so the options or almost endless.

When the snow melts and the warmer weather starts to creep up, I start to commute to work by bike. Once the local trails are dry and opened, it’s time to hit the single track. Nine MIle Recreation Area, located just outside Wausau (at 24 Red Bud Road), is a well-known cross country ski destination in the winter, but by summer it’s a single track heaven.

New to the term “single track”? Single track is defined as a narrow bike track about as wide as the bike itself. The track is sometimes smooth and flowing, but you may encounter rocks, stumps, and double crosses around trees and other obstacles, too, making it fun as well as challenging. At Nine Mile, there are ratings on the tracks, similar to the ratings on ski runs. Green circle indicates easy, Blue square indicates intermediate, and of course, the black diamond is for experts. An awesome web site and phone app you can use to find local single tracks is simply called Single Tracks, online at Singletracks.com.

If you already mountain bike in the summer and love single track, why not give racing a try? During the summer, there are many single track races that are part of the WORS series. This “Wisconsin Off Road Series” is an awesome way to compete, have some fun, and meet new bikers and friends to ride with.

If you’re not interested in the rough terrain of mountain biking, you have another option! Summer road biking is awesome too. It’s a great way to travel a distance in one day and see some scenery. You can make road biking whatever you choose, whether you’re up for a cardio busting speed drill or a casual family stroll on a weekend afternoon, you can tailor your ride to your desire. Getting out and pedaling the back roads will give you a sunnier disposition, a workout, and some fresh air.

Whether you’re going to bike the trails or the roads, it’s crucial to get into the shop and be sure your bike is a good size for you & is tuned and passes all the safety checks. If you end up with a problem mid-ride, it will take away from your fun. And after all, “fun” is what it should be about… just like in skiing!

If you’re a hardcore skier, I would highly suggest you pick yourself up a road bike or a mountain bike! Make the most out of summer and take your mind off the snow at the same time! Don’t walk, just roll!!!

Post written by our ski & bike loving Brian Trybula. Come chat with him about anything “outdoor”!

Bicycle Commuting 101 – The Benefits

All week, we’ve shared great information about commuting to work by bike. Today, we thought we’d give you some reasons why it’s all worth it. It’s no secret that commuting by bike saves money, is better for your health, and lowers your carbon footprint, but the numbers may surprise you:

According to an article published in Forbes Magazine, the average bike commuter reported they paid an initial $500 to $800 for a bike and commuting related accessories, and had an annual maintenance cost of around $100. Compare that to the average cost of a vehicle today. It’s very easy to spend upwards of $10,000 to $20,000 to purchase a car, and then factor in the cumulative costs of commuting by car: $2.41/mile as calculated by Commute Solutions, which takes into account everything from gas prices to insurance to road repair costs. Say your average commute is five miles round trip and you work five days week. Within a month, you’ve already spent more than the average yearly costs of riding your bike. And with the uncertainty of gasoline prices, that number could easily increase.

Another benefit of riding a bike is better health. Our mechanic lives two miles from the shop, and commutes the 20 minutes to work and back daily. That’s 20 minutes of increased heart rate daily, which any doctor would tell you is beneficial. Plus, exercise in the morning has been linked to increased awareness and productivity throughout the workday.

Lastly, we all know it’s better for the environment to commute on bike. How much you ask? Shreya Dave, a graduate student at MIT, recently concluded that an ordinary sedan’s carbon footprint is more than 10 times greater than a conventional bicycle on a mile-for-mile basis, assuming each survives 15 years and you ride the bike 2,000 miles per year (or slightly less than eight miles per weekday). That’s a lot of trees saved, a lot less gas used, and way cleaner air for us all to breathe.

Still not convinced? Give it a go for a week. See how you feel, experience the feel of the wind in your face on your way to work, and how much happier you are during your work day. We’re pretty sure your stress will be lowered not having to deal with driving in the morning rush, and you’ll be way happier looking at your bank statement every month. And if you find it’s not for you, we urge you to still get out on your bike a few times a week and reap the benefits they provide from a recreational standpoint.

Happy riding everyone!

Bicycle Commuting 101 – Bike Maintenance

This week, we’ve shared a little about what you’ll need to commute on your bike as well as how to do safely while obeying the rules of the road. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at bike maintenance, covering everything you need to know to keep your ride in tip top shape! Just follow the steps below, and you’ll enjoy miles and miles of hassle-free commuting.

Step 1: Safety Inspection

Visually inspecting your bike should be done before every ride and if time allows, upon your return home at the end of the day. Look for any damage such as cracks, abnormal wear, or unwanted debris. Spin the wheels – do they turn freely? Are they true with no wobbles? Next, check the tire pressure; even a loss of 5 psi results in decreased travel times and increased chances of flats! Now, check your brakes. Are they stopping your bike properly? How do your brake pads look? If they are getting thin, their stopping efficiency may be decreased. Lastly, make sure all bolts and components are secure with no loose play. While this may all sound like a lot, you’ll soon establish a routine and it only takes a minute or two to complete.

Step 2: Home Routine Maintenance

While it’s important to get regular shop tunes up on your bike, there are a few things that you should be doing at home to keep your bike running smoothly. The two most important things you should be doing are inflating your tires to the proper pressure and cleaning & lubing your chain. Investing in a floor pump is a great way to go for keeping your tires at their recommended psi rating, and will save you time and effort in the long run. For most bikes, checking your tire pressure weekly will do the trick.

Done less frequently but equally important, lubing your bike chain should be done every 200 miles or after the chain is exposed to rain. Cleaning of your chain should be done every 1,000 miles. How does one lube a chain you ask? Easy:

Pedal backwards and clean off the dirty lube and gunk with a rag.
Pedal backwards and spray or drip lube on each link.
Depending on the lube, wait a few minutes and with a clean rag wipe off the excess. Just make sure you check the directions on your lube bottle, and you can’t go wrong. We swear by T-9 Boeshield as a chain lube and use it exclusively on all our bikes here at the shop.

Lastly, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give your bike a bath every now and then. Commuter bikes take a lot of abuse day in and day out, so cleaning it every now and then is wise. Plus, washing your bike takes all of ten minutes, so there’s really no excuse to not do it. Grab yourself a bucket of hot, soapy water, a hose, a soft bristled brush, and a towel and you’re all set. Wet the bike down first, scrub from top to bottom leaving the greasy parts until last, then rinse. Be sure to use low pressure when spraying down the bike as high pressure hoses and sprayers can damage or remove grease in critical areas around the bike. Finally, when you’ve rinsed and dried your bike, lube your chain and voila!

Step 3 – Shop Maintenance

While some bike maintenance can be easily done at home, sometimes it’s best to leave the more technical stuff to a highly experienced bike mechanic. Just like cars, bikes need regular tunes and adjustments to keep them running day in and day out. At a minimum, bikes should receive a yearly full tune which includes a full safety inspection, cleaning & greasing of all moving parts, inspection of all cables and shifting components, and adjustments as needed. It’s a $45 service offered by our shop that really keeps your bike running at its best.

Have questions? Post them below and we’ll gladly get you an answer from Pete, our resident bike mechanic, who has been working on bikes for longer than a lot of our customers have been alive! He’s also a pro at bike commuting – he rides in to work year round regardless of the weather conditions – so ask away!

Bicycle Commuting 101 – Rules of the Road

Since you now know what gear you need to hit the road for your work commute by bike (found in yesterday’s blog), today we’re going to cover everything you need to know about safely and legally sharing the road with other cyclist, motorists, and pedestrians.

As found on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s webpage, the general rules of riding your bike on the road are as follows:

Ride at least three feet from the curb or parked vehicles or debris in curb area and in a straight line. Don’t swerve in and out around parked vehicles.
Always ride in the same direction as traffic.
Sidewalk riding for bicyclists past the learning stage and being closely supervised by adults can be more dangerous than on the road, obeying traffic laws. It is also illegal unless the community has passed an ordinance specifically permitting sidewalk riding. This can be age-restricted, location-restricted or based on the type of property abutting the sidewalk.
Obey all traffic laws.
Be predictable! Let other users know where you intend to go and maintain an understood course.

The key to riding safely on the roads is to be seen! It’s a great idea to wear bright colors to make yourself more visible while on your bike, and clothing and accessories with reflective material are an added bonus!

Finally, a few reminder to motorists:

Bicycles are vehicles. They belong on the road.
Cyclists need room to get around potholes, sewer grates and other obstructions.
Leave at least three feet when passing bicycles, more room at higher speeds.
Change lanes to pass any bicycle traveling in a narrow lane.
Train yourself to scan for fast moving (it’s hard to tell speed) bicycles and motorcycles in the opposing lane to you when turning left, and scan sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians and bicyclists using the sidewalk and crosswalk as a pedestrian. Always scan to your right-side sidewalk before you leave a stop light or stop sign, and to the left- and right-side sidewalks when on a one-way street.

Bicycle Commuting 101 – The Gear

Think you need to break the bank to get into bicycle commuting? Think again! Most people already have a bike sitting in their garage, so as long as it’s in proper working order, it’ll certainly do the trick. Then, add a few key items to make your ride to work a safe and enjoyable one, and you’re all set!

Below is a no-nonsense list of all the equipment you’ll need. Depending on the length of your commute, you may only need a few things listed or you may need them all. Whatever you needs, make sure you get yourself the first three on the list – we consider them must-haves when hitting the street on your bike.

1. Helmet – Likely the most important piece of cycling equipment you’ll ever buy, helmets are a no brainer. Don’t take chances with your head; it’s just not worth it, especially since today’s helmets are very inexpensive, fit great, and look good too!

2. Lock – Most people don’t have the luxury of parking their bike inside while at work or school, so good lock is a must. Unfortunately, bicycle theft is a problem that isn’t going away, so protecting your bike with a secure lock is a great idea. Locks come in all different shapes and sizes, with combination or keyed locks. And for prices as low as $9.99, buying one is a pretty easy choice.

3. Lights – With commutes sometimes starting in the early morning hours and ending when the sun is setting, keeping yourself visible is a must! At the minimum, riders should have a white blinking light at the front of their bikes with a red flashing light in the back. Headlights are a inexpensive add-on, and greatly increase visibility while riding in darker conditions.

4. Fenders – Don’t let a little rain stop you from hitting the road in the morning on your bike. Fenders do an amazing job of keeping water and road grime off you and your bike. With prices starting as low as $10, fenders are an easy add-on that go a long way to making your ride to work loads more enjoyable.

5. Basic tool kit – Just like cars, bikes sometimes break down. Unlike cars though, fixing your bike is usually quick and easy when you have the right tools. A simple multi-tool, flat tire kit (tube, patch kit, tire levers), and pump/co2 pump are usually all you need to get your bike back up and running.

6. Rain gear – Like a bike, most people have a rain jacket in the closet. Perfect! Use that! There’s no need to purchase bike specific outerwear for a short commute. As long as what you wear fits snuggly and doesn’t impede your ability to ride a bike, it’ll be great.

7. Backpack / bike bag – Almost everyone has stuff they need to bring to work, and finding a way to carry it all on your bike is actually pretty easy. There are hundreds of different bags, racks, or packs you can outfit your bike or yourself with to get your personal items to work. Our shop mechanic Pete even found a bag to carry home his weekly selections of new vinyl records from the Inner Sleeve! From lunches to laptops to business suits, theres a bag out there to carry your items while on your bike.

Think you’re ready to give it a try? Hop on your bike tomorrow morning!