The Bike NerdMinimalist Bicycle AdventuresWhile it’d be nice if we had parking like this in the US, a trusty U-Lock is sometimes all you need.
Locking your bike up is a bit like outrunning a bear, you only need to run faster than your friends. If your bike is secured with two locks next to a bike with just one flimsy cable lock, well, your bike probably won’t get stolen.
That said – no bike is ever safe. No seat, no bike lights, no front-wheel.
You don’t need lycra, you don’t need wool. You don’t need to wear jerseys or fancy shoes. I used to do 125 miles a week wearing just what you see here: cut-off jean shorts and a tshirt. About the only “fancy gear” I wore was a pair of Chrome Kursk shoes (about $75).
Yes, those fancy bike shorts feel good. A $125 helmet feels better than a $35 one. Let your adventures, the miles you ride, be the reward. A pair of cut-off jean shorts can take you on just as many adventures as those pricy Rapha duds.
Maintaining a straight line while riding in the street is important. The green path (above) is predictable, while the path in red is dicey.
How far out will your swing to get back in the road?
Are you pulling over?
Simply riding in a straight line is safe, but can take some getting used to. As a beginner cyclist you may feel that “getting out of the way” of cars makes sense, but it’s okay to be in the way! You are part of traffic, and you have a right to the road. Riding in a controlled and predictable manner is best for everyone!
Riding in showers is one thing, but biking in heavy rain can be dangerous.
Unless you’re a messenger or bike racer (or someone else who’s getting paid to bike in bad weather), it’s best to pull over, get under some shelter, and wait it out.
Roads are slick, which could lead to a wipe-out.
Rain fills (and covers) pot holes (meaning you can’t see ‘em).
Visibility is reduced for motorists, which increases the danger even more!
You can have all the rain gear in the world and waterproof lights, but it won’t make any difference if you hit a pot-hole, fall to the street, and a car runs you over.
Yes – you have 100% legal right to the road in all weather conditions, but there’s being right and being alive. Take your time, find some shelter, and wait for it to clear up.
If you’re not used to biking, prepare for a sore butt. While it’s not really your butt, and more your “nether region” that gets sore, the cure is pretty simple.
Ride more.
A guitar player endures sore fingers for months.
A runner has to walk a bit before they run a full mile.
Same with the bike. Your butt is gonna be sore when you start riding, so be prepared. When sore, take a break. Give your tush ten minutes, walk around a bit, then get back on the bike.
To “toughen” up that area, try to ride a few times a week. You don’t have to ride 10 miles a day, but get some time in the saddle each week, and within a few weeks you should feel fine.
The bike shop, the heart of the bicycling community, is not a friendly place. Yep, I said it.
Many of my friends know me as “the bike nerd,” or at least a “bike guy.” The subject that comes up most often when they’re trying to purchase a bike for the first time is how snobby, arrogant, and quite un-helpful their local bike shop can be. It’s like the snobby clerk at the record store, except what you’re buying is 10x more expensive.
For me, the best way to have a good experience is to know what you want. I’m not saying you have to commandeer the conversation, but being able to tell the sales clerk the simplest of things – what you’re looking for – helps everybody.
Are you looking to commute to work?
Short trips on bike paths in the park?
Weekend trips in the mountains?
If you know what kind of biking you want to do, the bike shop can better help you figure out what sort of bike is best for you.
You can buy a bicycle from Craigslist for $100, or spend $600 at your local bike shop. But even when after you’ve spent that money, your spending has just started! Bike accessories are big business, and for good reason, since they protect your body and your investment!
Bike Helmet: $35+
Generally the more expensive the helmet, the more comfortable. A $35 bike helmet provides just as much protection as one costing twice as much, but the pricy bike helmets have more air holes in them, meaning your head will stay cooler during the summer.
Bike Lock: $50
You don’t want your new bicycle to get stolen, so you need a bike lock! My favorite is the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-5 Bicycle U-Lock, which costs around $50 online, sometimes $65 in a bike shop. This bike lock is small, light, and works like a charm.
Bike Lights: $50
Useful if you’ll ever be riding past sunset. For bike lights it makes sense to buy two: a front flasher is so people and other bikers to see you, and a rear flasher helps cars see you at night. Bike lights can save your life!
Bike Gloves: $25
I’m a big fan of gloves! It’s not a matter of if you might crash, just a matter of when. And the first thing that will hit the ground? Your hands! So cover them up with a decent pair of bike gloves gloves.
As you can see, all these bike accessories can add $100 or more to the cost of simply owning a bike, but they’re all pretty important!
When searching for a used bicycle in Philadelphia, I visited several bike shops. Probably seven. The search for a good used bicycle, though, isn’t about a particular shop. It’s about visiting a good number of shops until you find something you like.
Why buy a used bicycle from a shop, and not just from Craigslist?
1) Many shops clean and tune-up the used bikes they sell.
2) You’re dealing with an actual business, and not some shady stranger from the internet.
3) If something needs fixing, returning to the shop where you bought it goes smoothly!
I found this bike above, an IRO in my exact size, for just $250 in South Philadelphia. I could sell a few parts from this bike on eBay and make my money back (which I don’t think I’ll be doing, but I could).
If you’re just getting into biking, or you’ve been biking for 25+ years (like me!), there is NOTHING wrong with buying a used bicycle! With proper care and love almost any bike can last a few decades.
A question from the inbox, which I’m reposting here for you!
Hi. I have a question. When you travelled by inter-city bus with your Brompton folding bike, how was it transported? As carry-on with you in the passenger cabin? Or in the hold of the bus? If it was in the hold of the bus, was it in a hard case or in a soft bag? Were you concerned about possible damage to the bike in the hold of the bus?
From city to city, my Brompton folding bike was in the cargo hold under the bus in nothing but the cover. My trick for it NOT being just tossed onto the bus was to hand it to the person loading it, make eye contact, and say, “this is a bike.” And thank them! Then sit near the front, so you can be one of the first people off and get your bike quick from the new person unloading. At some stops they only unload luggage from certain bays, so you can point meet the baggage handler, point out your “bag” and tell them “that’s a bike!” This way they don’t just toss it onto the ground.
I never had any issues!
I grew up in PA, and I’ve been mountain biking in Glen Park in Stroudsburg since 1993 or so. I lived in NYC for six years, but since August of 2010 I’ve been traveling the US by bus, bike, and train. Hopefully my local knowledge and mass-transit smarts help you escape NYC for mountain bike adventures in PA.
Get out the door early to catch an early morning Martz Bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal [Martz Bus Schedule from PABT] to Stroudsburg/ DWG, PA. You can be on the trails by 1pm. When you’re done riding, catch an evening bus [Martz Bus Schedule from Stroudsburg/ DWG PA] back to the city around 7 or 8pm. Click the links above for schedules.
You could also book a hotel for the night in downtown Stroudsburg, PA. Inject some dollars into the local economy, and more riding! Continue reading →
This little note found its way into my inbox, from a fellow traveler*.
I had these people I know say really harsh things, about how they’re at college trying to get a real job and real money and that I’m stupid for just wanting to travel.
One thing I’ve learned over the past year and 10 months is that you share your dreams with dreamers. Continue reading →
It’s easy to link to a photo of some sexy piece of bike action and say, “WANT.” It requires very little ingenutiy or craft, other than simple lust.
What you have is enough. You’re reading this on a computer, in a room that is warm (or cool), with food in your stomach and running water. Continue reading →
