== Bike-Walk Alliance of NH ==

Bicycling Tips from Comcast

Note: The following article was derived from the July email sent by Comcast to most of their customers. The BWA-NH is pleased that Comcast saw fit to address many important bicycling topics as the vacation season gets underway. We wish to thank Comcast author (or ghost writer) "Emily R." for this article.

Biking for Pleasure

Give us a scenic rail-trail on a beautiful summer day and we're happy.

One of the things that makes bicycling such a wonderful activity, is that it can be enjoyed at so many different levels and in so many ways. My brother Neale, for example, likes to get up early on a Saturday morning, toss his mountain bike in the back of his truck, and go off in search of rugged terrain. For my husband and me, on the other hand, give us a scenic rail-trail on a beautiful summer day and we're happy. If there's a place to stop for ice cream along the way, all the better!

No matter what your level of bicycling interest or experience, however, there are some terrific Web resources available, and that's what this month's edition of Connected Living is all about.

Buying a Bike

The first step, of course, is having a bike that's right for you, and for whatever type of riding you have in mind. If you're not sure where to start, have a look at the "How to Buy a Bicycle" section of the Wikihow site for some pointers.
As with all of the articles in this helpful, how-to Web site, you'll find clear advice, links to additional resources, and most importantly, information that is constantly updated by other site visitors! (For more on the user-contributed "Wiki" concept, click here to read our description from the March edition of Connected Living.)

If you're looking for information on buying a bike for a child, make sure to also check out the "Buying a Bike" page of the International Bicycle Fund, a Seattle non-profit that promotes bicycle transportation. My 11-year-old daughter is right on the line between kid bikes and adult bikes, and when it came time to buy a new bicycle for her earlier this spring, this article was just what we needed to sort through the options.

Choosing a Route

We've been biking as a family for years; ever since my oldest son was big enough to wear a helmet and sit up in a bike seat. He always fell asleep (an added gift in those early years), and back then, we discovered trails mostly through trial and error. That was okay, except we often got lost, and frequently had to walk for portions of the route if things got too rough or too hilly.

Today, things have changed considerably. Thanks to the Internet (and our Comcast High-Speed Internet service), we plan our routes before we go!
Trails.com, for example, has over 38,000 trail descriptions and maps for biking, hiking, paddling and more, and you'll find plenty to choose from. (Registration is required, but you can sign up for a free 14-day trial.) The descriptions are very detailed and extremely helpful in deciding if a particular route is right for you.

For example, here's an excerpt of the description for Callahan State Park in Framingham, MA:

"The trails have plenty of roots as well as a few rocks. They also offer some climbs - but they are intermediate grade for the most part. The only real difficult areas in this section are the climb up Juniper Trail and the perpetually muddy spots currently being worked on…"
Wow! Talk about eliminating the guesswork!

Pedaling.com is another marvelously useful site, and I love their Ride Search tool in particular. Simply select your state, and then narrow down the choices by length of ride, difficulty, environment, and even the amount of traffic. Click "enter," and up pops a list of trails that meet your requirements. From there, click into any trail for more information, including highlights, refreshment opportunities (very important), and even bike shops along the way! You'll find detailed trail descriptions and maps as well.

Fixing it yourself

For maximum fun and safety, it's important for your bike to operate properly and we make a habit of getting ours tuned up each year (Tip: Bring your bike in for a tune-up over the winter; the shops aren't as busy and many offer discounts in the off-season). Even so, there's a lot that you can do at home, thanks to the many useful bike repair Web sites out there.

The Web site of bike expert Jim Langley, for example, has a special section on repairs. You'll find articles on Jim's ten favorite bike tools, instructions for tuning up your brakes, and even a primer on how to box a bike for shipping safely - an important skill if you've got anyone going off to college this Fall. You'll find helpful video clips as well, such as this one on how to put a tire back on the rim when you're done fixing it.

I also like the Repair Help section of Park Tool, a company that has been making bike tools for over 40 years. You'll find very specific instructions, with lots of detail and clear photos. For example, here's one on adjusting the tension on a bike chain. The "print-friendly" pages are particularly helpful, allowing you to print and take the instructions with you outside!

Biking Safely

Okay, you knew I'd get to this. As my dad always taught us, bicycles are vehicles, and even from an early age, it's important to teach kids the basics. Helmets at all times, of course, but there's much more to it than that. Here are some of my favorite bike safety links:

" The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) section on bike safety walks kids through helmet use, equipment, city biking tips, danger zones (intersections, wet leaves, etc.), and more. You'll also find a helpful page on how to properly fit a helmet, a mystery that has plagued parents for generations!

" BicycleSafe.com has a simple, one-page overview of ten common ways that bicyclists get hit by cars (complete with diagrams), as well as tips for avoiding them. Now that my oldest son is old enough to ride far and alone, I sat him down at the computer and had him read this!

" The bike safety page of KidsHealth.org is terrific, particularly if you've got very young ones at home. You'll find detail on child seats, bike trailers, and helmets, as well as important safety tips for new riders.

" And finally, even we adults can stand some safety refreshers! Take a few minutes to watch this entertaining, seven-minute video on Bicycle Safety for Adults, also courtesy of the NHTSA.

That's all for this month. Enjoy the rest of the summer and I hope that you too have a chance to do some fun biking with your family!

Signed, Emily R., Associate at Comcast

Note: The above article was extracted from the July 2007 issue of the "Connected Living - New England" Online.Communications@comcast.net, an email sent to most Comcast subscribers.

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