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I joined a bike club for the first time, what do I need? |
I already have a bike. Does it matter that it's a mountain bike and I'm biking in a city? First off, what do I need to do to make sure my bike won't get me killed? It's been sitting in a shed for a couple years, but I refilled the tires and looked it over. I tested the brakes -first the smart way, then the stupid way- and they're fine, nothing's rusty, and I put some extra oil on the chain just to be safe. I could take it in for a tune-up, but that would run me at least $40 that I don't have. Second, what's the rule of thumb for bicycle seat height? I think I've outgrown my bike (I got it when I was 12 and now I'm 15 and about nine inches taller) but I want to be sure. Third, do I need any special stuff? All I have is a bike with a water bottle holder and a helmet. I'm not looking in to serious racing or anything (yet) so do I need gloves or special shoes? How much would that cost, and could I fake it? I'm funding this myself so it has to be cheap. Thanks in advance. -Heck Ya, you can ride a mountain bike anywhere! Thats the great thing about these bikes. -The best way is to spend the 40 bucks to make sure your bike is safe to ride, so you won't kill yourself. A good bike mechanic will let you know if your bike is safe, then give it a good tune-up. If you pass on the $40, make sure all your nuts, bolts, quick releases are tight and your brakes are still in good working order. -A quick way to set your seat height is to sit on your seat and adjust the seat so that your leg is fully extended with the HEEL of your foot directly on your pedal. When you pedal normally you will have a slight bend in your knees at the end of your pedal stroke. If your hips are rocking when you are pedaling, you need to lower your seat a little. -First, a good helmet that fits and is adjusted correctly is very important. Remember once you crash and smack that helmet it is time for a new one. A good pair of riding gloves with good padding works well. Last would be a good pair of riding shorts. Either a nice pair of MTB shorts with a padded lycra liner or a pair of plain padded lycra's would make your ride comfortable. Let me tell ya how many people I have met crying with rubbed out raw inner thighs after a few miles on the road! Just use a good pair of low cut sneakers until you get use to riding and then move up to clipless pedals and shoes if you really get into riding! -Don't forget EYE protection, sunscreen and a comfortable sweat wicking shirt. Hope this helps! Once you start biking, you can't stop! A BIKE DUH! The beauty of joining a cycling club is that you now have access to lots of people who can give you good advice about your cycling. You should be able to find lots of resources within the organization to steer you in the right direction. That being said, here are some answers to your questions. I would surely bring the bike to a shop and have a tune up done. If you are not a mechanic, you may not know problem signs to look for. Perhaps someone in the club could help you if you don't want to spend the money. I would consider gloves and shoes. Gloves will save your hands over the miles. You might now think a little piece of cloth can do so much, but you'd be surprised. Additionally, shoes are a good investment. Over the miles, they will help achieve a more efficient transfer of energy as well as avoid foot pain and cramping. Good questions, the best answer is to learn to do this stuff yourself...here are some good sites: www.jimlangley.net www.harriscyclery.com http://bicyclesafe.com/ If you've joined a bike club, you should be asking them these questions. It's much better to get help in real time than on a website. I can tell you this, the first thing they're going to do is to get rid of the kick stand. They will be able to get you a bike that fits quite cheaply. If they're anything like the people in my club, the bike to rider ratio is something like 7 to 1. someone will have a bike they're willing to loan you or sell you cheaply. If not, they most likely have a number of people willing to get your bike up to snuff really cheap with their left over stuff, maybe even for free. They should be able to bring you into a local bike shop and introduce you to the mechanics and owners. If they do _not_ offer you the benefits I've listed, find another club. There are plenty of bike clubs around that specifically look to getting young riders into the sport. You can change your tires to 'semi-slick' ----since you plan to ride on the pavements ( www.pricepoint.com,www.bluesky... for good prices!)----The rule is UPGRADE---any obsolete gear that you feel that needs better performance ( lousy shifters, despicable heavy rims, worn out seats, etc.) should be replaced. Gloves? Special shoes? Find it all at the websites I just recommended above. And eat more nutritious stuff, cut down the junk food. Have a blast! |
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