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Cycling Computers and New Maxes

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

cycling computersI love riding my bike. When you’re pedaling in the lowest gear, powering up a medium sized hill and you get to the top and see a row of green lights stretch to the bottom and you hope that none become yellow, there is bliss as your sweat dries in your armpits and across your brow and your hair flaps.

When I was a boy, I had a great bike. Cycling computers were just some of the bicycle accessories I had along with water bottle holders and hydraulic shocks. I tracked my average speed, my distances, and my maximum speed. When I went down the biggest neighborhood hill, I remember the joy of getting the new max up to a new record – 26.2 miles per hour. I remember being satisfied with that. If you rounded up, I went 30, which was faster than any human could run.

My cycling computers made my bike one of the coolest bikes in the neighborhood. My dad even tied off little pieces of cloth and placed them on the wheel axle so that they stayed clean. Those bike accessories you can make.

Today my childhood bike is a little small for me, I think. Although who knows, maybe if I go into my garage and adjust the seat, I can take it down one of the big hills and get a new max.

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New Bike Supplies for the Summer

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesI ride my bike hard. About 70 miles per week. And after more than a year of wear and tear, my baby needed some love. I was getting ready to take her into the shop when on the way I had a couple of broken spokes. I felt guilty for making her squeak like that.

When I pedaled the sweaty two miles to the bike shop, I told them that I needed a tune up (long overdue) as well as some new rims for my whip. They were very helpful and said, okay, we’ll need a day to fix it up with new bike supplies because we’re pretty busy at this time of year. I said fine.

The next day  when I went to pick her up they told me that the crank was bent. I had been used to it for so long on my twisted bike that it didn’t seem too bad. But when I pedaled with new rims and the rest of it all cleaned up, I could really feel the problem. I decided to invest in some new bike accessories.

Now my baby is all fixed up. It’s like riding a new bike! I’m all set for the summer.

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Bike Supplies for April

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

onguard bicycle lockIt’s finally warm outside. Here we are in late April and it is prime riding weather. This is the weather bicycles were made to be ridden in.  The birds twittering, chatting to each other about how good all that Vitamin D feels on their feathers; the old folks are playing dominoes amid their boomboxes bouncing; and you cruise along on your bicycle with the wind whipping at your shirt, cooling your shoulders and brow.

You can choose bike routes that you’ve never traveled before. See parts of your town or city that you’ve never explored. Try new restaurants, visit new cultural centers, or take in a virgin panoramic vista. But if you leave your bike alone outside you need an Onguard bicycle lock at least. You may also think about a basket or panniers to hold your bike supplies and a lunch.

If you’re training for a race, cycling computers are probably a good investment. You can measure your average speed, heart rate and distance to get a better idea of how fast to pace yourself. Then you can compare last week’s times with this week’s from your cycling computers. There’s always room for improvement, and you still have more than half the year to train outside!

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Bike Supplies: A New Rim

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesI accidentally ran into a car a couple of weeks ago. Or rather it ran into me. It was U-turning and accelerated into me. I was fine, but my bike was damaged. My front rim is only 80% straight, even after a good truing. I was always an A student, so you can imagine my disappointment.

Unbending a bike wheel isn’t easy. There aren’t specific bike supplies that help you to unbend it – some take rubber mallets and whack the wheel where the bend is. But if you’re even slightly off, you will probably have to buy a new wheel altogether.

New rims can run anywhere from $40 to $1300. For a while I thought I would ride around on my B rim, but when you ride a hundred miles a week, it’s pretty hard to be satisfied with imperfection. So I bought a new front wheel for sixty dollars and now my baby rides  like a champ. I also got some other bicycle accessories to keep her fit, such as new pedals, since my others made my feet slip.

So now with my new wheel and my bike supplies, I am better prepared to weather the long hot summer. And I’ll make sure to be careful of U-turning cars.

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Single-Speed Bike Accessories vs. Fixed Gear

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesIf you don’t have any more bike accessories or bike supplies to put on your bike, and you want a greater challenge on the road, think about switching to a fixed gear or a single-speed bike.
Many cyclists prefer having a single-speed and a geared road bike, but if you don’t want to invest in another bike, it may benefit you to learn about the benefits of a single-speed.

The bike accessories that come with a  road bike make it more complicated. Derailleur, sprockets and gears weigh more and require more maintenance in the long run. A fixed-gear bike is mechanically more simple. And because your feet are connected to the pedals and thus the rear wheel, you get a better sense of traction while riding, which can be advantageous in wet conditions.

But when it comes to braking, you will want at least a front brake, unless you have ridden a fixed gear before and feel comfortable riding with backpedals for brakes.

The difference between a fixed gear and a single-speed is that the latter has a freewheel. This allows you to coast if need be, and may make for an easier transition to have both wheels fixed, which you can allow for at a later time should you want to.

You can also learn about the different bicycle accessories and terminology from making the switch. Whatever you decide, make sure you know what is right for you by trying out a single speed or a fixed gear before you bike.

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How to Properly Lock Your Bike: An Onguard Bicycle Lock and More

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike supplyA fine bike supply store will have quality locks like an Onguard bicycle lock, but for those who are wondering about the safety of their bike before they invest, read on.

It’s very convenient to be able to chain your bike to a post and return to it in a few hours, but there are few things worse than seeing a missing wheel. To prevent mishaps like this, always lock your bike by placing your Onguard bicycle lock through the front wheel, the easier of the two to disengage, especially if you have quick-release wheels. This is because the back one is attached to the chain, which you know, makes it harder to take off.

And always make sure that your bike is locked to something that’s immovable and higher than a parking meter, so that a thief can’t just lift it over and ride away.

Be aware of bad neighborhoods and at home store your bikes inside (better safe than sorry). You can take your front wheel with you, lift the chain off the chainring or attach your helmet through the rear wheel and frame so that biking away becomes very difficult indeed.

And don’t leave your bike unprotected overnight or in the same rack every day. This allows thieves to plan.

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3 Tips for Biking in the Spring

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike accessoriesAh, now that spring is here we can start biking comfortably again. No more face coverings, gloves or any of the pain that comes with riding in thirty mile per hour winds. Life is looking good. Now is the time to start taking out the old bike supplies and preparing them for a new season. Here are some helpful tips to what you should do for your bike this spring.

1.    Spring Cleaning: If you haven’t given your bike a spring cleaning yet, now is the time. Get rid of all the gunk stuck in the gears and in your fenders. When it sparkles it will not only look better, it’ll ride better too.

2.    Tune-Up: If you’ve been needing a wheel truing, a brake tightening or any other serious repair, take care of it now. You won’t regret investing some money in your baby – the ride will feel so much better.

3.    New Bike Supplies: Maybe you’ve been putting off buying that set of panniers. Go ahead and splurge, you deserve it. With heart rate monitors and cycling computers your ride will become much easier and more fun.

Go ahead and plan some day trips with your clean, reaccessorized bike. You’ll remember the pleasures of biking in warm weather.

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Bike Accessories For the Rain

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)
bike accessories

Not gonna cut it.

Spring is nearly here and you know what that means. Rain. Lots of rain and those ugly mud splatters on your wet backside if you don’t have fenders. Fenders are bike accessories that every serious rider should invest in. They will help keep you, oh maybe about three times as dry. And they aren’t too difficult to install. Even if you can’t fix a flat you should be able to manage.

But they aren’t the only bike accessories you should have for the rain. A good raincoat is crucial. I mean, you could get a poncho or wear a giant garbage bag, but the plasticky nature of these coverings makes you very sweaty and easily catches in the wind, which will slow you. The best kind of fabric for rain is Gore-Tex.  This prevents water from entering while allowing your sweat vapor to escape. You can choose other styles of coat, but if you’re really serious about staying dry, it’s best to invest in quality.

Pants are the same deal. Booties are also important but you can wear waterproof boots and keep your feet dry too. And last of all, if you have a bag it’s important to keep its contents dry. That may mean wrapping them in a plastic bag or choosing a new waterproof bag. But remember, new cycling accessories are fun!

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Tips To Keep Biking Easy

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bicycle accessoriesIt’s important to be able to take your bike anywhere and lock it. For this an Onguard bicycle lock is a great tool. If you don’t invest in a lock you will have to inconveniently schlep your bike inside if you’re visiting a friend, which if he has a small apartment can be a big inconvenience.

Other bicycle accessories worth buying include bicycle headlights. Because when you’re biking at night, especially on dark roads and highways, reflectors don’t cut it. Plus, having some light on the road will allow you to see potholes and bumps that could affect your ride.You also need a helmet because it’s like a bike seatbelt.

After you have the basic bicycle accessories you can start looking at technology that makes your ride more fun, like heart rate monitors or a Kurt Kinetic road machine. Once you have all that stuff taken care of, it’s important to maintain your bike – carry around a spare tire tube, make sure your wheels are trued and your rims aren’t crooked. Your brakes should always be responsive, because you may need to stop short at times. And if your ride gets a little sticky, oil up your chain and wipe it down. This will keep your bike happy.

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How to Change a Flat With Bike Supplies

Posted by DanielA in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

bike suppliesFew things are more damaging to your ride than a flat. But with the proper bike supplies and some elbow grease you’ll be back on the road in no time.

Take off your wheel. This is done by undoing the lever on the side of the frame. Once you have it off, you need to take a tire lever (vital bike accessories when it comes to changing a flat) and wedge it between the rim and the rubber. Hook it to a spoke. Take another tire lever and wedge it three or four inches away from the first, working the rubber away from the rim. This is hard. Continue to do it around the tire’s rim until the rubber is loose. Peel out the inner tube.

Hopefully you have some spare bike supplies in a backpack. A new inner tube goes around the rim, and then, using your thumbs, press the rubber tire around it, wedging it back into place. Then replace the wheel on the bicycle and make sure that it is secure and that the lever that keeps it tight is pressed close to the wheel frame.

Now all you have to do is find a gas station to fill your wheel up and you’ll be ready to go. And remember, the best way to learn how to do this is to practice.

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