Category Archives: Bikes & Cycling

Everything to do with bikes and cycling.

Going Downhill and Liking It: Surviving Descents in Style
by Tamia Nelson

Despite an early brush with death on an icy ski slope, I still enjoy a fast downhill run on two wheels. Not everyone does. There’s good reason for this. Speedy descents are dangerous, even for pros. But what goes up must come down. Unless you limit your rides to the salt flats, sooner or later you’ll find yourself facing the first of many long, steep drops, and since these can’t be avoided, you might as well make the best of them. Staying on the road at speed is Job One. Here’s how to get on the right side of the odds:

Keep your bike in good condition. A steep downhill is no place to discover that your brakes are losing their grip. And a front-wheel blowout almost guarantees a hard landing, so check your bike over before each ride, and keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure. Make sure no clothing or cargo is flapping around in the breeze either. Nothing brings a bike down faster than something tangled in the spokes.

Never … Continue reading »

There and Back Again in a Day: A Short Course in the Long Haul by Tamia Nelson

What’s a long ride? That depends on the cyclist. For me, a 50-miler is starting to feel long, but it’s still eminently doable. Twice that—a “century,” or 100-miler—is definitely long. It is for me, at any rate. I’d like to be able to ride 100 miles as easily as I now do 25, and that day is coming. But it’s not here yet. Of course, when I ride for pleasure I’m not racing against the clock. I don’t try for the highest possible speed. I often stop to smell the flowers, give a wayward turtle a helping hand across a busy road, take photographs, or make a quick sketch. I also like the freedom to change my plans in mid-ride, exploring interesting-looking roads that weren’t on my original itinerary, even if those roads happen to be dirt.

I think of these trips as microtours, and they require a bit more planning than my everyday rides to haul groceries or keep appointments in town. But this planning isn’t particularly burdensome. I just set everything that … Continue reading »

Fenders Good. Fenders Plus Mudflaps Better!

Winter’s lease is up. It’s spring — mud-lucious and puddle-wonderful spring. Do you have mudflaps on your fenders?
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by Tamia Nelson | April 25, 2015

To twist the words of a well-known scribbler, winter’s lease hath far too long a date. But the term of that lease is drawing to a close — at last — and spring showers are now washing away the winter’s snows. Does the rain dampen my spirits? Not a bit. That’s what fenders are for!

Rainy Day

OK. Fenders are good. But a fender with a mudflap is better. Much better. In fact, if you often ride as part of a pack, you’ll want to add mudflaps to both fenders, out of consideration for whoever ends up on your wheel. Making mudflaps is easy, and the cost is negligible. All you need is a one-liter soft drink bottle for each fender, along with a few other household items and tools. Your bike won’t win any beauty contests, but it’ll be a cleaner machine forevermore. And you’ll stay cleaner, too.

There's a Flap On!

Verloren Hoop Colophon - (c) and TM Tamia Nelson/Verloren Hoop Productions… Continue reading »

The Open Road Is Calling You… But Spring-Clean Your Bike First!

The call of the open road should never be ignored, but it pays to make sure your bike is ready.
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by Tamia Nelson | April 7, 2015

Summer sportsmen* and sunshine cyclists beware. The roads may be losing their winter garnish of snow and ice, but you don’t want to be in too much of a hurry to hop onto the saddle. If your bike has spent the last few months hanging around in your garage or cellar, it pays to take an hour or two to make sure it’s ready for the road.

In short, it’s time to spring-clean your bike. Now here’s a checklist to start you off:

  • Give your bike a complete going-over. Fix any mechanical problems you discover, and…
  • Pay special attention to the chain and drivetrain; clean it if necessary.
  • Give your bike a wash, or at least wipe it down.
  • Inspect the tires and bring their pressure up to the recommended PSI.
  • Lube all moving parts.
  • Take an inventory of the tools in your seat pack or saddle bag,
… Continue reading »