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Bike Riding for the Fun of It
By Matt Bodziony
I’ve been riding a bike for as long as I can remember. The reason I ride has never changed; I ride for the fun of it. With a little “shop talk”, you can ride for the fun of it too.
Here’s how to get the fun back into bike riding:
Make sure you have the bike that is right for you.
Choose the bicycle that fits the type of riding that you want to do. If you’re looking for a simple neighborhood ride or a tool down the bike path, a hybrid or comfort bike will take you there and a “Coasting” bike will even do the shifting for you. If you’d like to do the green thing and leave your car in the driveway, a road bike or city hybrid is for you. Love the trails and want to see the woods? Then a mountain bike might fit the bill. There are single speed beach cruisers to multi sport triathlon bikes, whatever you need, the right bike is waiting for you!
Size does matter.
Bikes are not one size fits all! To ensure a comfortable ride, the proper fit is essential. Within each bicycle model, there’s a multitude of sizes available in men’s models and women specific models. The women’s bicycles of today are designed to fit the female body proportionately, unlike the bikes of the past which merely accommodated a woman’s skirt.
Accessories? Necessities!
Essentials for a safe and fun ride are often found in the “accessory” department of a bike shop.
Helmets Let’s face it, nobody likes to wear a helmet, but they’re safer, better ventilated, have revolutionary retention systems that are easy to adjust (some even accommodate a ponytail), and they come in lots of great designs and colors.
Clothing Bicycle specific clothing is created from technical moisture management fabrics that wick away moisture to keep you drier and more comfortable, no matter what time of year you ride, and just a few key pieces will keep you riding in all sorts of weather throughout the year.
Shorts Cycling shorts are designed with padding in all the right places and aren’t just black spandex anymore. Now there are baggie shorts, liners that you can wear under your favorite shorts and even skorts.
Hydration Water bottle cages hold your favorite drink while you’re out on a ride. If you think a couple of bottles aren’t enough, a hydration back pack allows you to carry more.
Maintain your trusty steed.
Bikes need tune ups too! Proper maintenance can extend the life of your bicycle as well as enhance the enjoyment of your ride. So, whether your brakes are squeaking, your gears are skipping, or it’s been about a year, just bring it in and have it “tuned up”.
Get out there!
Remember to follow the rules of the road. Always ride with traffic, obey traffic signals, and be aware of your surroundings. And, if you’re looking to venture beyond your neighborhood, you can find trails, bike routes, bicycle paths and cycling clubs at many online sites.
Looking for Rides?
NBX has a Thursday night ride from its location in Narragansett as well as a Saturday morning ride which takes riders out and about in South County. NBX sponsors a criterium race on Wednesday nights at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI, with participants from MA, CT. and RI. We promote a criterium race at Ninigret Park that draws from all over NE as a precursor to the Cox Charities Cycling Classic. In the fall, NBX holds Wednesday training cyclocross rides “under the lights” in South Kingstown and the UCI Grand Prix of Cyclocross at Goddard State Park in Warwick, RI.
Hope to see you out there – just for the fun of it!
Matt Bodziony
Matt Bodziony is the owner of Narragansett Bikes – NBX in Narragansett, RI. Matt’s been involved in the cycling industry for more than 18 years in retail and both the competitive and promotional sides of cycling.
For more information on NBX shop rides or the local racing scene and other exciting stuff, please check out www.nbxbikes,com – or give Matt a call at the store at (401)782-4444.
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