get out / By Jennifer Savage

More Better Biking

How to take the training wheels off your cycling habit

(Sept. 15, 2011)  They’re everywhere. Decked out with enough gear to traverse the state. Pedaling in skirts to Farmers’ Market. Powering past you in the forest. That guy you’re passing on the highway, the one covered in so much bicycle gear you almost fail to notice his bulging calf muscles. (But you do!) That woman bouncing down the trail ahead of you, her mountain bike steady as she dodges rocks and powers over teeth-rattling ruts. The families riding together along the Hammond Trail, little kids with training wheels, older siblings showing off with no hands. People in Humboldt love their bicycles.

Naturally, several organizations have sprung into existence to support this habit: Green-Wheels, sustainable transportation advocates; the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association, dedicated to improved bicycle commuting; and Bigfoot Bicycle Club, promoting cycling in Humboldt County. The Tour of the Unknown Coast draws cyclists from all over the country, as do the trails snaking between big trees in Arcata Community Forest and even bigger trees in the state and national redwood parks. For the less adrenaline-dependent, the cushy flatness of Arcata’s Bottom awaits, as do the gentle inclines of the Hammond Trail.

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But what if you’re a beginner? You probably know how to ride a bike, but commuting, mountain biking, committing to spend more time on two wheels? That can be a big next step. Fortunately, resources abound.

First off, what’s your goal? Drive less? Get more exercise? Incorporate more adventure into your life? Make new friends? Explore new places? All worthy goals, the specifics of which will determine what sort of bike you need, as well as where you’ll go.

Buying

Craigslist deals run from $20 to upwards of $1,000. A basic used road bike at a local bike shop starts at about $150 with new ones costing $250 to $400 for an average, no frills starter. Mountain bikes run $350 to $400 to start. You can get them cheaper at Costco, but research reviews online first — some serious cyclists raise questions about the longevity of bikes bought from non-specialists.

Shop vs. Garage Sale

If you’re a real do-it-yourselfer, you could buy a good bicycle maintenance book and take your chances online. But if you prefer having someone who knows what they’re doing help you out, you definitely want to invest the extra money in buying from a place where the staff stands behind the bikes they sell, used or new, and will be kind when you come in needing help with a flat tire, bent derailleur or loose chain. If you do buy used online or at a garage sale, do some in-depth research on what to look for. Dents are bad. So are cracks and loose handlebars. You need a frame that fits you. “A lot of people think bigger is better,” Revolution Bicycle’s Sean Tetrault warns. “Modern bikes are different. The fit has changed and evolved.” Generally, when straddling the bike with both feet on the ground, at least one or two inches of space should exist between the top bar and your nether regions.

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