Boomers on Bicycles

The Amgen Tour of California (TOC) is a little less than two months away. Stage one launches from Nevada City on Sunday, May 16. From Nevada City it’s on to Sacramento. The second stage starts in Davis, which isn’t too far away if you are  in the Sacramento, Yuba, Placer, or El Dorado counties to get to. This is a major road bike stage race, and it is possible to see two starts and one finish within two days. This tour is the largest cycling event in the United States. If you are anywhere near this event, look it up, and see if you can make it to one of the stages. It beats an overseas flight to see a major stage race.

The TOC was moved to May this year in the hopes that the weather would be more hospitable. Last years race spent quite a bit of time fighting cold, rain, and fierce headwinds as the peleton wound its way towards southern California. While the riders may be somewhat used to it, the TOC fans aren’t. The May start should be better for the riders, sponsors, and the fans.

Businesses along the way should be happy about the May start as well. Major road bike tours bring in quite a bit of revenue as they roll through the communities along the route. Millions, actually, in revenue. Not only does this international affair bring dollars into the local economies during the race itself, interest in bicycling in general goes up, just as it does during the Tour de France. Bicycle sales go up as well.

If your plans include watching the start, or the finish, of any of the stages, make your reservations for rooms now. Once the tour stages are announced, rooms start filling up. Being close to the venue makes for a much better experience. California in spring is generally a pretty nice place to be. For all the Boomers in cold, snowy regions, this is a great excuse to head west.

Stay tuned for more information about the TOC as the start day gets closer. There are many facets to the TOC, and this column will cover as many of them as possible. What to do while you wait? Ride, of course.

Clean-up time (ap/Margriet Faber)

Winter can take a toll on your bike. Unless you live somewhere where it never rains, snows, or gets windy, your bike picks up dirt and debris every time you ride. All of these foreign bits and pieces can cause your bike to wear in places that really don’t need it.

Here are some things you should do, most especially during the winter months:

1. Wash your bike on a regular basis. It’s tough to do it after every ride, which would be ideal, so get the garden hose out, and get the big chunks off.
2. Clean your chain. After hosing it down, use a good chain cleaner. No chain, no ride, so keep it in good shape.
3. Oil your chain after you clean it. Use a good chain oil only. Wipe the excess off.
4. Clean the derailleur, oil it, wipe it down.
5. Use a gear brush, and clean your gears and crank set.
6. Check your crank set, make sure the teeth are straight. If you can’t do it, or there are broken teeth, head into your local bike shop for a fix.
7. Tighten the cables if they are loose. Replace them if they are frayed.
8. Check your tires. If they are cracked plan for replacements.
9. Make sure your wheels have all the spokes. Lack of spokes will eventually cause your wheel to collapse, which is generally a negative experience for the rider.
10. Spin everything that is spinable. Oil or tighten anything that squeaks.

Spring isn’t that far away. A little maintenance now will get you  to spring tun-up time in good shape.