Boomers on Bicycles

You’ve ridden all spring and summer, had a great time, done some maintenance, but now there’s more to do.  Autumn has arrived, right on schedule. Here are some things to do with the change of seasons:

1. Check your tires: are they worn? Replace them if you need to, or start saving so that you will have good tread as Autumn deepens and the conditions get wet.
2. Make sure your seat tube is cleaned, lube it lightly, then make certain that it is still at the correct height. Rusty seat tubes are not nice.
3. Do a quick check for anything that is loose, or in the wrong spot. If you find something, tighten it, move it, or head to your local bike shop for advice.
4. If you clip into your pedals, unclip to make sure you still can. It’s a really rotten feeling to know you’re stuck in pedals as you start to crash.
5. Check your helmet fit. It should be snug, and worn correctly. A helmet sitting on the back of your head is basically no helmet at all.
6. Check your chain: is it clean? If it’s sagging, you probably need a new one. Put a ruler on your chain, with the 0″ mark in the middle of a link (hold the chain tight). The 12″ mark should be in the middle of whatever link it lands on. If not, it’s new chain time.
7. Are your glasses clean? It’s good to be able to see where you’re going. It is a very good idea to take something along to clean them if they do get dirty while you’re out there.
8. Check your shocks for leaks. It they are leaking, it’s probably time for a trip to the local bike shop to get them either fixed or replaced.
9. Go through your gear bag, or whatever you take with you for on the road fixes: is it all still there, and does it work?
10. Check your frame. If you see a crack, especially on anything carbon, head to your local bike shop for a fix. Catastrophic failures in frames, while rare, do happen, and can be really bad news. Make sure your frame will stand up to this next season of riding.

This is not an overly exhaustive list, but it is important to make sure your ride will continue to carry you, wherever you go. It won’t take long, and may save you quite a lot later on.

Autumn is just around the corner

September 22 marks the first day of Autumn. The autumnal equinox is just about here. What does that mean for the bike riding crowd? It’s time to get out your gear for riding when the weather gets cooler, then colder, then wet, snowy and so on. What do you need to do?

Remember to dress in layers. You can always take off a layer if you get too warm. If you’re too cold, and you didn’t bring anything with you, you could be in for a very uncomfortable, if not downright dangerous, ride. Bring your full finger gloves, and if you live where it gets really a bit too chilly this time of year, an extra pair of liners, and a helmet cover. This rider doesn’t ride in the rain, but if you do, and it looks like it’ll be wet prior to your finish at the local espresso/crumpet palace, bring your breathable wet weather gear. Hypothermia is a bad, bad thing.

It’s a good idea to change the batteries in your front and back lights as well. Flashing lights on your bike at this time of year, especially when the day light dwindles, alerts others that you are on the road.

When you are getting your gear together, remember this, a true statement from all of us who venture into the woods: cotton kills. Cotton, a great fabric, has no insulation value, will not wick anything away from your skin, and when wet, just gets cold, clammy, and traps the cold and wet, making you a candidate for misery, and in the worst scenario, hypothermia. Invest a bit in some higher tech riding gear. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive stuff out there, just anything but cotton. Smartwool is good, as are mixed fabrics (smartwool, lycra, nylon and so on),  and if you shop around, these can be had for a good price.

Check the weather report, then go outside and look up at the sky, before you take off on your ride. Riding in Autumn can be one of the most wonderful times all year. Take advantage of it, have a great time, and remember to dress for the conditions.

AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

If you are interested in how the pros do on mountain bikes, perhaps you should google the UCI and the news about the current mountain bike championships. There are numerous sites out there that will give you plenty of information on this 6 day event. It started today in Canberra, Austrailia. The Italians won, followed by the Canadians, then the French, teams. There are teams from every continent on the planet, probably over 10,000 spectators, another few hundred from the teams, support personnel and media on hand for this event. Take a look, from whatever portal you choose, and enjoy what the mountain bike can really do when a very competent rider is aboard.