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News round-up June 17, 2014

Submitted by Shawn Carney on Tue, Jun 17, 2014

How about ending some 5BBC rides at one of these spots for post-ride refreshments? And maybe stopping at these spots for a mid-ride lunch?

Want to learn how to fix a flat or perform basic bike maintenance? Bike New York is holding some Bike Maintenance 101 classes in the coming months. Check them out.

The first large-scale academic paper on protected bike lanes has been published! Also, Streetsblog has an interesting article on the proposed Bay Ridge bike plans that are hopefully going to be put in place next year. And this article on why women don't cycle as much as men suggests that, for the most part, it's not because they're concerned about getting to a cycling destination looking fashionable. Well, let's all breathe a sigh of relief about that.

The government is looking to regulate mapping apps. While this may initially only affect drivers and software developers, it seems likely to have a trickle-down effect on cyclists. And for those of you who use Google as your cycling map guide, here's an interesting article about the ups and downs of a trip from NYC to Montreal using only Google Maps to guide the way.

Sunday July 6th is the TA Tour de Queens! This slow paced, 20 mile route is a family-friendly way to introduce the kids or spouse or grandma or neighbor or friend to cycling. Share your passion for cycling by getting everyone around you hooked on it, too!

ARE PIGS FLYING? Because The New York Post actually has a bicycle positive article!!! Sure, it's about coaches for children and adults to learn to ride, but STILL!

Lastly, the over-the-top Buzzfeed video "Terrifying Things About Bicycling" is worth a watch. Part Reefer Madness, part cycling advocacy, it's at least got people talking. Even if what they're saying is questionable.

 

Introduction to Bike Commuting. Why commute by bike?

Submitted by Adam Dluzniewski on Fri, Jun 6, 2014

This was posted elsewhere as an intro to a bike commuter blog and it was edited as a general introduction to bike commuting.

Introduction
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Bike commuting isn’t for everyone. That’s because it’s not about the bike, the gear, the route but it’s about the rider. Whether it’ll work out for you depends on your attitude, your expectations and your personality. You can buy the best gear but if you’re not mentally ready it won’t work out for you. It’s not about your physical shape and riding abilities either, those can be learned if you have the right mindset.

Bike commuting is one of those things that can be extremely simple or extremely complex. Whatever you want to make it. You can commute on any bike, riding on any street, wearing anything and carrying your stuff any way you want. There is nothing special needed to commute by bike.

So why bother with all this?!? Because not everyone can do it this way! If you can ride whatever bike you have, wearing jeans or your work clothes and laugh at the traffic and the pedestrians without breaking a sweat, then you’re fine. Then you’re tougher than most people are.

Here is my biking philosophy in general: I ride for fun, for health reasons and I really hate getting stuck on subways and waiting forever for a bus. I don’t want to be like everyone else: being squeezed on a hot and smelly subway train, waiting in long lines on bus stops in bad weather. No, I’d rather be sweaty on a bike.

I want to be free to go wherever I want, skip traffic jams, detour at will, stop whenever I feel like stopping. I don’t ride as a way to show off my shiny stuff, fancy clothing, latest sunglasses and ripped muscles (I don’t have any!) or because it’s hip and cool. I’m not the fastest guy on the bridge, I stop at red lights, I yield to pedestrians, and… I was never hit by a car, never had an accident other than skidding in Winter. I’m careful, I ride defensively, I pay attention to my surroundings, I enjoy the ride and feel safe.

Bike commuting is not just about getting your behind from point A to point B, but about doing this comfortably, safely and being fun and healthy at the same time. I don’t want your commute to be a chore and misery that you have to put up with. You might as well take the subway and be miserable without any effort.

Is commuting by bike safe?
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No. It’s not. If you act like a crash test dummy, you will eventually end up like one. If you leave common sense and respect for the law and other people at the door, you will get hurt or you will hurt someone else. Riding a bike on the streets and the bikeways isn’t play. There are rules to follow and you have to pay attention. A bicycle going at 20mph can seriously injure a person.

Don’t be scared though. Serious bike accidents are not that common. You are more likely to die in a car crash, or even while crossing the street as a pedestrian by a curb-jumping maniac, than while riding a bike. Reassuring, eh? Although, while most bike accidents are minor, they can be a nuisance enough to make it worthwhile to be prepared properly. A minor, non life threatening injury can put you out of work for several days. Then it may take a long time before you can ride again.

Most bike accidents are preventable if one is prepared, uses common sense and is alert and aware. Finally, most serious bike accidents happen at intersections so that’s something to keep in mind while riding! I’ll talk about this in the Bike Safety section.

Experts say that cyclist safety increases with the number of bikes on the streets. NYC is much safer now to bike than it was only a few years ago. There is a bike culture flourishing in NYC and drivers are getting used to sharing the road with increasing cycling population. Plus, NYC is doing a lot to improve the bike infrastructure, to increase cyclists and pedestrians safety and encourage biking and walking. It is going to get better and safer from here on. Hopefully.

OK, enough of the scary stuff, but keep in mind that disrespecting laws and other road users will make you look like an arrogant jerk and complete idiot. So even if only for this reason, learn how operate your bike in public space properly.

And you can also get a ticket just like when you’re driving a car.

Do I need previous biking experience to commute by bike in NYC?
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Yes, you do. If you haven’t ridden for years and feel out of shape, shaky and rusty don’t take it to the streets yet. Go on some nice weekend rides first in the park, on dedicated, separate, traffic-free bikeways or join a bike club such as 5BBC. We offer organized day rides throughout the city so you will get used to riding on the streets, learn cycling skills, get in shape and get to know some more experienced cyclists. Anyone can show up for their weekend rides, you don’t need to be a club member to ride with 5BBC. This is a great way to get your feet wet with urban cycling.

You need to be able ride whatever your commuting distance is without getting exhausted and confused. You have to get stronger and get used to your bike. Being tired and distracted is the best way to get hurt on a bike while riding in the traffic. Also, starting your workday exhausted won’t serve any purpose if it takes you few hours to recover from a 45 minute ride.

If you’re already a cyclist with enough riding experience and in good shape, enough to tackle the few miles you need to ride to work, then you’re off to a good start. But don’t do this yet!

Commuting by bike, at least in my book, has certain characteristics that make it different from cycling as a sport or from recreational cycling. It’s a combination of vehicular cycling and utility cycling. Although fun, relaxation and fitness are part of bicycle commuting, the main purpose of bike commuting is transportation, i.e. “utility” and, for most people, it takes place on public streets where they share the space on the road with vehicular traffic and where bikes are expected to behave predictably and follow the rules and laws just like motor vehicle drivers do.

When commuting you’re dealing with rush hour traffic, irritated drivers in a hurry, zombified, caffeine-craving pedestrians, people running late for work (they should be biking!), you probably need to carry some stuff (clothing, lunch, laptop, books, etc) and you have a whole day of work or school ahead of you, during which you don’t want to feel miserable.

Ride to work a couple of times on a weekend just get the feel for the road, the distance, etc. If you have any storage space at work then drop off some spare clothing and supplies. Do not drive the route! World looks different from a car! Ride it on your bike.

Will I need to learn stuff to commute by bike?
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Yes, you will need to learn “stuff”. If you’re not willing to learn then go get yourself a subway map and we’re done here. Not only that, as a bike commuter you will face specific obstacles and you will have to be more resourceful and more creative that those “normal” people who take the subway.

If you want to ride a bike in public and be safe and respected you’ll need to brush up on some traffic laws. You will need to learn some basic bike mechanics, repairs and maintenance. This will save you money on Bike Shop bills and spare you walking a few miles during morning hours when bike shops are closed.

Seems complicated. Why commute by bike then?
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If you want to commute only to save money, then don’t do this, take the subway and/or the bus. Seriously, commuting by bike won’t save you piles of cash versus taking mass transit. Daily biking to work will lower your blood pressure, perhaps will lower your stress levels (might increase it though), will cause you to drop 20lbs in couple of months, will make you sleep better, will make you less irritable, it will make you feel good overall and it may be faster than mass transit, but it won’t get you out of debt or save enough money for a new, shiny MacBook Pro.

Also, depending on your route, location, bike and skills, commuting by bike may or may not save you time. But, even if riding by bike takes longer it’s often worth it for all the other reasons mentioned above.

In my case riding a bike is faster than taking mass transit. My ride is 7 miles one way, and takes 35 to 45 minutes. The time it takes me to get to work and back home is relatively steady and predictable as opposed to taking MTA. I would have to take a bus in Queens to the L train, then either take the 1st Ave bus from 14th Street or walk 20+ blocks. In the morning it isn’t normally so bad as this is the first stop of the bus on the Queens side, so they’re relatively on time. On the way back, however, it wasn’t uncommon to wait 30 minutes to over an hour for the bus. I ended up walking home several times. In Winter my commute would often be in excess of two hours when buses and subways were messed up by snow and ice! On a bike it was 45 minutes in a blizzard! While the city transit and traffic were crippled I slowly pedaled along, having some fun and getting a decent workout. Folks at the 5BBC used to say “If it’s not too cold for skiing, it’s not too cold for biking!” You can get the right clothes and have a blast on a bike in Winter too.

The combination of bus and subway would take me 45 minutes, door-to-door in the best case scenario. In reality it was usually about an hour, anywhere up to 2 hours if there was “sick passenger”, “police activity”, track problems or if the bus was a no show. The L trains are packed. Getting stuck on that thing sucked big time. Often, all passengers were kicked out due to some track problem and I found myself out on the street, in unfamiliar neighborhood surrounded by hundreds similarly confused and irritated commuters.

There is a so called “express” bus that takes minimum an hour and a half because it has to crawl through the insane midtown traffic and it’s too expensive for what it provides. I think it’s $6 one way now.

I dreaded my commute. There was hardly a day when the L wasn’t delayed for some reason. I often arrived at work late, fatigued, sweaty and mad. If your commute is anything like mine was then commuting by bike may be for you!

Although, once I started riding a bike to work I started sleeping better, as well as I generally feel much more energetic during the day so I found myself actually getting up earlier than I used to! I find it much easier to wake up in the morning now. I like to leave early to give myself enough time at work to relax and clean up after the ride. I often stop by a park on my way or take a detour to vary my route a bit.

You will feel “uncaged”, you will feel in control, you will gain certain sense of freedom and even superiority as you look at the crowds at the bus stops. You will run up few flights of stairs without even breathing faster. You will look forward to rain and snow to test your new gear!

Now, biking versus driving to work, that’s a whole different story: considering gas used up, parking fees, tolls, extra wear and tear on your car, possible traffic and parking tickets and accidents, biking to work will save you a nice chunk of cash annually. Oh, and you don’t want to be considered “a pathetic cager” by cyclists zipping by while you’re sitting in a traffic jam, do you?

How to Post An Article

Submitted by Allan Friedman on Fri, May 30, 2014

A few easy steps:

1) Click on the Articles pulldown on the main menu at the top of the web site and select Articles.

2) Read any you have not read yet (optional) and then scroll down to "Add Artcile" and click on the button.

3) Choose a clever inviting title, write to your hearts content and then click on "Publishing Options" in the grey section underneath the Body Box to the left hand side.

4) Then click the SAVE button at the bottom. (Or if you have more than one idea for an article, hit "Safe and Add another". And if you want to preview your writing before published, hit preview and then hit SAVE after reviewing).

5) Wait for your article to be approved and then tell all your friends by sending them a link to it! And let communications@5bbc.org know if you want them to promote it in the weekly :)

There. As easy as 1-2-3-4-5!

 

News round-up May 22, 2014

Submitted by Shawn Carney on Thu, May 22, 2014

May is National Bike Month! In honor of the spring cycling season, let's all pay homage to Velominati Rule #6: "Your mind is your worst enemy. Do all your thinking before you start riding your bike.  Once the pedals start to turn, wrap yourself in the sensations of the ride – the smell of the air, the sound of the tires, the feeling of flight as the bicycle rolls over the road."

According to the latest census report, there's been a 60% increase in bike commuting in America over the last ten years! Not sure what this all means? Listen to the Streetsblog Talking Headways podcast devoted to the report in order to understand more. In related news, The League of American Bicyclists is not upgrading NYC from silver to gold in the bicycle friendly community program, because we still have a ways to go. League President Andy Clarke stated, "Looking forward, continued expansion of the bikeway and bike share system and actions arising from the welcome adoption of a Vision Zero strategy — hopefully with the full participation of the NYPD — will ensure further progress towards the Gold level.” Just one look at The Weekly Carnage explains how much improvement is still needed...

The recent Vox article on why cyclists should be able to work around current infrastructure designed for automobiles has been a popular read. Streetsblog responded with an related article from the perspective of a civil engineer and city planner. 
 
Speaking of city planners, if you're a Strava user you're helping contribute to urban planning for better cycling routes. According to this article by The Telegraph, Strava has begun licensing data to city planners.  "Millions of GPS-tracked activities are uploaded to Strava every week from around the globe. In denser metro areas, nearly one-half of these are commutes. These activities create billions of data points that, when aggregated, enable deep analysis and understanding of real-world cycling and pedestrian route preferences,” according to the Strava website.
 
The 5BBC Montauk Century was a great success and a beautiful ride! With near perfect weather and wonderful support from members of the club, the day was truly enjoyable. Check out the pictures on the 5BBC Facebook page!

5BBC also had a booth at the Park Slope Bike Jumble earlier in May, but if you missed it, don't worry! June 1 is the Red Hook Bike Jumble, held in conjunction with Transportation Alternative's Tour de Brooklyn!

Unless you've been living under a rock or disconnected from the interwebs (in which case why are you reading this?), you've watched the video of the badass housecat who saved a little boy on a bicycle from a dog attack. Just in case you haven't, watch it now and you're welcome.
 
 

A Tale of Two Montauks

Submitted by Liz Baum on Wed, May 21, 2014

My favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, so most must know how it goes, if not go read it- it's wonderful - So anyone who did last years Montauk and this years Montauk, knows that what a difference a year makes. From cold wet and miserable weather, to sun drenched spring day, near perfection. For us sagging, it was a much nicer, cheering our riders on, when not wet, cold and driving all day in the rain. We went from endless flats, to sitting outside having a wonderful lunch. Crossing a small bridge and watching a painter paint. From trying to keep riders warm, and having them to hurry for pizza to a happy crew enjoying a beer at the brewery. As President who will be stepping down and taking some time off from our board I wish to thank- Bill, Fritz, Dave, Ira, Phil , Ed D. and Ed P. Shawn, Mike ,Rudy Dennis G. and John H. for making this event happen again, against all odds. Wanting to let you all know we need rides, as well as volunteers for summer streets, and you as members, so to all who are members keep on rolling, with the wind at your back and a tube in your pocket, helmet on head, and water, go enjoy the summer.

Liz

Me and The Truck

Submitted by David Meltzer on Tue, May 6, 2014

I got my beloved Fuji Grand Tourer before the Subway Strike. Not that one….the one before. It was beautiful. A gorgeous silver steel frame with red welds. 12 speeds when 10 was pretty much standard. I knew this bike before I knew my wife. When I rented a bike on vacation I felt like I was cheating. But alas, the old Fuji started showing her age. Steel rims were not great in the rain. Lever shifters were not up to par. The time had come.

And so I went to my local bike store and auditioned new bikes. I knew pretty much what I wanted. I never rode the drops so I wanted a straight bar. I wanted easy shifting and braking. I wanted comfortable grips. I wanted something lighter, but which would stand up to the rigors of New York streets. But, most of all, I wanted something that was comfortable to ride. A few test rides, some seat adjustments, and I was the proud owner of a Trek 7.4.

But something was wrong. While I loved the ol' Fuji at first sight, the Trek did not seem to have the same magical powers. Oh, it was a good bike - but there was something missing. A personality. I have always believed in love at first sight. But with the Trek, the love just sort of grew by increments. Ride by ride. Mile by mile. We started to have adventures together. We rode in the rain. We rode in the snow. We rode in the heat. Ride by ride. Mile by mile. We went on lots of 5BBC rides together. We shared the Leadership Class experience. We crashed into a tourist on the Brooklyn Bridge together. Ride by ride. Mile by mile. Slowly, I was beginning to get the feel. But I was not there yet.

And then it happened. It was on Nathalie's Dim Sum Ride. Holly Campbell came over, looked at my bike, and said it was like riding a truck. Suddenly, the bike had a name. It was" The Truck." What a fitting name for this sturdy beast. Cobblestones - no problem - The Truck can handle 'em. Last winter - The Truck rode through it all. He may not be the fastest bike on the road, but he is sort of like me. Sturdy, dependable, and built for comfort not speed. It took a while, but after two years and 4,500 miles - now we are a team.

I will always love the Ol Fiji and the adventures we shared. But I guess that I had enough bike love for another.

David MEL Meltzer

Common symptoms of improper bike fit

Submitted by Adam Dluzniewski on Tue, May 6, 2014

Bike fit isn't exactly rocket science. It doesn't really require expensive equipment and it doesn't have to be done by experts. Sure, it's cool to pay someone to fit you for a bike, but it's not that necessary. It makes more sense if you are into competitive cycling and are buying a whole new bike and every ounce of performance matters. However, to get you fit to your existing bike all you can do is to move things around, maybe replace a stem and most people should be able to do that themselves. That cash would be better spent on a quality saddle or new grips or bar tape.

Your bike doesn't need to be the perfect size either, as long as it's not drastically too small or too large you can compensate for incorrect bike size by changing the stem, the handlebars or the seat post.

Before you start troubleshooting: about weight distribution and bike fit
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Before you start troubleshooting your bicycle related aches and pains it would help to understand the weight distribution. Your body touches your bike (interfaces with) in three points: your seat, your feet and your hands. Your body weight is distributed between these three points and if the weight isn’t distributed in a way that your body can tolerate it one of those three areas will start causing problems that may affect various parts of your body and cause discomfort and pain and make you miserable. This, of course, will vary from person to person.

It’s obvious how you support your weight with your behind and your arms on a bike: the first rests on the saddle the second rest on the handlebar. However, people are often confused about how it is that your supporting your weight with legs if your legs are moving in circles and you’re not standing on the ground? That’s because when you pedal you apply downward force to the pedals which in turn creates a counter force pointing upwards which lifts your upper body with every pedal down-stroke, therefore supporting part of your weight. Notice, how you suddenly feel the saddle pressure more when you’re coasting. That’s because you’re not applying any force with your legs.

Your weight distribution also varies during a bike ride.
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It’s not always the same. When you coast downhill most of your weight is probably supported by your seat. When you climb up a steep hill almost all your weight is carried by your legs, you’re actually pulling the handlebar, not resting on it. Even more so if you’re standing on the pedals. When you pedal along a flat road your weight is distributed more or less evenly between all the three points.

What really matters for most people is the total of time you spend sitting on your saddle and how the weight is distributed during your time on the saddle.

There is no single, universal approach to bike rider weight distribution and to bike fit because that depends on many things: your body type and size, your physical fitness, your body response (different people can develop different problems in response to the same trigger), the type of your bike and your ridding style and needs. There are some aspects of bike fit that are known to be necessary for comfortable fit, universal for all body types and most people agree on, such as the saddle height, but there are some that are being argued and depend on your physical characteristics, such as the forward body angle.

Also, bike fit isn’t all that important for short rides, like an average commute, or nobody would be riding City Bikes ;) In the simplest terms, a bike can be fit either for performance or for comfort or somewhere in between, but you can’t have extreme performance and extreme comfort at the same time, it’s always a compromise. There is also the ugly reality that a 45 years old person with 15 extra pounds around the waist just can’t be set up on a bike the same way a 25 years old, fit person can. What needs to ultimately happen is that you have to become comfortable on your bike. If you can enjoy the ride without pain and numbness and have fun on the saddle then you’re fit properly no matter what people say.

Do not be obsessed with bike fit
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What I'm trying to say is don't be obsessed with bike fit. You can be fit by a pro and still be miserable on the bike or you can be comfortable but your fit is off according to most fit standards.

I suggest you search Google for bike fit advice, there are plenty of instructions so pick the one that makes most sense to you and then, if you experience any of the issues I describe here, make the necessary adjustments. I personally find this video from Performance Bicycle to be a no-nonse guide to road bike fitting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAl_5e7bIHk

You can even do it without a trainer if you have a friend who can watch you as you ride around.

Most common problems people experience and some tips how to address them
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Remember that some of the symptoms may appear together. Make adjustments in small increments. Write down what you have adjusted and by how much. Make one adjustment at a time and test the results. If it doesn’t help, undo what you’ve done and try something else before mixing different solutions. Take your time, even if that means few days.

Side note about stems
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A lot of adjustments can be made by manipulating the stem and it should be the first thing you try if you have problems with arms, neck and back. This is because the saddle position is relative to the pedals and once you get the correct saddle and leg position for comfortable and effective pedaling you won’t really be able to (and shouldn’t) adjust the saddle further (other than its angle) to address issues with your arms, neck and back. If you do and mess up the legs position, you’ll be back at the beginning and the whole fit will be off.

That’s where the stem comes in. A stem allows you to move the handlebar up and down, forward and backward and compensate for the frame size without messing up your leg position too much. If you’re really trying to nail it down get an adjustable stem, there are ones where you can adjust the angle, the length or both. They’re unsightly but they’re great for troubleshooting and fitting. Once you have your position dialed in, you can replace it with a fixed stem that matches the current length and angle of your adjustable stem.

Side note about saddles
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Many people make the newbie mistake of buying large, cushioned saddles. That doesn't help. After 30 miles on the saddle it won't matter how cushioned your saddle is. Even the softest saddle will feel hard after some time on it. Some cushioning is good, of course, but in the long term it's your behind than needs to be fixed and that is only done by spending time on the saddle. The truth is that no matter what you do your behind will hurt in the beginning. With time, it'll become tougher and your pains will go away.

What is more important than cushioning is the saddle shape and the way it's set up. Your saddle should be the correct width which is pretty close for most people, but some will do better with more narrow or wider saddle than others. Your two sitting bones should rest comfortably on the wider part of the saddle and you shouldn't be sliding forwards or backwards on the saddle.
Now, on to the common problems.

Symptom: your seat hurts
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Possible causes: You’re putting too much weight on your rear and not enough on your arms and legs and that’s because your stem may be too short or too high up (handlebars too high up), your saddle may be too far back in relation to pedals; your saddle may also be way too low so you’re not supporting enough of your weight with your legs; or you simply didn’t have enough time on the saddle, as mentioned above it’s very common to experience pain in the rear if you haven’t ridden for a long time, also your saddle may be too wide or too narrow.

Solutions: make sure that your saddle is level at first and then play with the angle; move it slightly forward, adjust the saddle to the correct height, get a longer stem to put more weight on your hands, lower the handlebar, try a different saddle, perhaps a more narrow one; try riding more until your behind gets used to this.

Symptom: kind of like the above but your main problem is that your crotch skin seems to be on fire
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Possible causes: your saddle is too high up and you rock sideways rubbing your skin; you frequently slide forward and backward on your saddle; you wear something that has seams in that area or is made of rough fabric; you have a cheap saddle; you sweat a whole lot and the sweat irritates your skin; you have some medical condition.

Solutions: set the saddle height and fore-aft position properly so you stay put on the saddle, get a better saddle; wear better clothing that has no seams, that wicks your moisture and that offers enough ventilation; keep that area clean, use Butt’R lubricant on long rides, check with a doctor if the rash persists.

Symptom: your hands hurt (wrists or elbows)
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Possible causes: you’re putting too much weight on your hands because your stem may be too long or too low (handlebars too low); your saddle may be too far forward or tilted down (nose down); your wrists and palms receive too much road vibration; you stiffen up elbow joints or "death-grip" the bar or your hands are simply weak.

Solutions: make sure your saddle is level, move your saddle backwards a bit, get a shorter stem or one that is more angled upwards, try to raise your handlebar; if it’s mostly your palms and wrists that hurt then try padded gloves, gel handlebar tape or gel grips or lower your front tire pressure a little bit, relax your hands, allow your joints to be bent, if you have an aluminum bike consider steel or carbon fork, strengthen your arms through weight exercise.

Symptom: your neck hurts
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Possible causes: your stem/handlebar is too low so you’re bent down too much and constantly hold you head up to see the road; your back and neck muscles are weak or stiff; you have a big belly that pulls your core down and strains your back and neck; you’re a woman with large breasts.

Solutions: Raise the stem or replace it with one that is angled up more and/or shorter, raise your handlebar; work out your back muscles and stretch them regularly, do some yoga, lose weight. If you’re a woman with large breasts wear tight, supportive sport bra to prevent your breasts from pulling down. You may be able to lower the handlebar back again once your neck and back get stronger and more flexible.

Symptom: you get a headache
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Possible causes: same as “your neck hurts” above: neck discomfort can cause tension headaches.

Solutions: same as “your neck hurts” above.

Symptom: your lower back hurts
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Possible causes: you’re either stretched too much to reach the handlebar; or your saddle is to high up and you move your pelvic area sideways too much when pedaling (these results in lower back muscle pain) or, the opposite: your position is too upright, your spine is too straight and it isn’t absorbing shocks from road bumps properly (this results in pain around lower spine mainly, not really the muscles).

Solutions: raise the stem and the handlebar, lower your saddle (although remember: that can compromise your leg position) to bring your torso up but avoid being completely upright. Your spine acts as a spring and it needs to be bent, arched so it can flex (like a bow) and absorb and dissipate shocks. If your spine is straight up, it compresses vertically instead of flexing and that is very unhealthy and can lead to back problems, popped disks, pinched nerves and all sort of nasty things. If you can’t rise the handlebar enough and have to lower the saddle significantly then you need a new bike. Riding with saddle too low can and will result in knee pain. However, if the pain persists you should probably consult a doctor.

Symptom: you slide forward on your seat
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Possible causes: you’re too far from the handlebar so you’re trying to pull yourself towards the handlebar and that may be because: the bike is too big for you, the stem is too long, the saddle is too far back or you’re sliding because the saddle’s nose is tilted down.

Solutions: first make sure the saddle is level or nose tilted up slightly then experiment with the angle, try shorter stem, slide your saddle forward, get a smaller bike.

Symptom: you slide backwards on your seat
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Possible causes: you’re too close to the handlebar so you’re trying to push yourself away from the handlebar and that may be because: the bike is too small for you, the stem is too short, the saddle is too far forward, the saddle is too low or or you’re sliding because the saddle’s nose is tilted up.

Solutions: make sure the saddle is level then experiment with the angle, set the correct height for your saddle, slide saddle backwards, get longer stem, get a larger bike.

Symptom: your knee(s) hurt on the front, below the kneecap, or inside the knee (the joint)
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Possible causes: you’re straining your knees by mashing the pedals and not letting your legs expand for a full stroke because your saddle is too low or too far forward; your cleats are not placed properly for optimal leg position, or the cleats don’t have enough float to allow your knees to twist naturally and relax; you may also have a medical condition.

Solutions: raise your seat and/or move it slightly backwards, adjust the cleats so that the center of the pedal axle is aligned with center of the ball of your foot; if you can, adjust the pedal/cleat float so you can wiggle your feet without unclipping to allow your knees to twist and flex, your knees need to be able to flex sideways during movement or they will get stiff and start to hurt. If nothing helps, check with a doctor because if this goes on for too long you can ruin your knees for life. NOTE: some cleats come in "no float" version so you should replace them with ones that have few degrees of float.

Symptom: your leg(s) hurt behind the knee, on the “inside”, the soft parts on the back of the knee
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Possible causes: your saddle is too high up and you’re over-extending your legs and strain your tendons, your cleats are not placed properly, your shorts’ elastic hem is too tight.

Solutions: lower your saddle, adjust the cleats so that the center of the pedal axle is aligned with center of the ball of your foot, wear shorts with more relaxed elastic hem to avoid excessive squeeze, it may seem like not much but it all adds up on long rides.

Symptom: your private parts get numb
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Disclaimer: I'm a guy so I don't know how this affects women, but from what I heard this can affect women too, but dudes suffer from this more often.

Possible causes: Too much pressure on the perineum area so tissue gets compressed and cuts blood flow to your private parts, clothes too tight, clothes not warm enough, a medical condition.

Solutions: get a better saddle with a cutout or a channel and quality gel padding, set the saddle height and angle correctly, wear decent cycling shorts that are not too tight, in cold weather wear extra clothes, warm underwear or stuff a wool sock in there, check with your doctor if the problem won’t go away. If this goes on for too long you may end up with erectile dysfunction syndrome. A leather Brooks saddle could be a good option but it takes a very long time to break in before it becomes truly comfortable. Often hundreds of miles. But once worn in it is pretty much the only type of a saddle that can be ridden on for extended periods of time without padded chamois.

Defensive cycling

Submitted by Adam Dluzniewski on Tue, Apr 15, 2014

I will discuss here some general philosophy, attitudes and defensive riding techniques that I refer to as defensive cycling, which in principle is similar to defensive driving, and I act on the road according to these myself, well… most of the time :) This is all written based on my experience and it's not based on any official research. I'm sure there are some parts that may be argued or questioned by other cyclists. But I'm happy to say that I have never been in an accident and I've been riding pretty regularly around NYC for over 10 years and I plan to keep it that way.

This is a long article, I will go into lots of details here. You may want to read a few paragraphs, digest them and come back later to read more.

What is defensive cycling anyway?
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ANSI/ASSE Z15.1, defines defensive driving as “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.” Just replace “driving” with “cycling” and this is pretty much it. Since a lot what is happening around is a result of other people’s actions you need to sharpen your sense of awareness and observation skills, stay focused, but relaxed, avoid problems before they happen and remain calm.

You’re small, slow and soft
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The first thing to always remember is that you are the most vulnerable vehicle on the road. There is no metal cage around you protecting your soft body. Everything else from tractor trailers to scooters presents a lethal danger to you. What will end up as a scratch on a car’s fender may mean broken bones, head trauma, internal injuries to you or even death.

Keeping that in mind, you need to realize that when riding a bicycle in the traffic you need to leave rage, anger, self-righteousness, and macho and bravado behind you and you will often need to swallow your pride and let your ego hurt a little bit so you can get out of a jam safely, physically uninjured. In order to stay unhurt you will often have to let others break the law, get out of their way and live with it. The keyword here is “live”. What’s the big idea if you can prove your point, exercise your right-of-way and prove the driver wrong if you don’t get to live to enjoy that?

Keep it cool at all times
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Don’t get mad, don’t confront drivers unless an accident actually has happened, don’t race cars and don’t get into arguments with drivers. Most of them have minimal knowledge of the laws anyway and you will not be able to teach them anything. It always ends up in a yelling match, sometimes even ends up with violence. You can write down the license plates and report an aggressive driver to the Police or to their company, if it’s a commercial vehicle, but avoid confrontations.

An enraged person behind the steering wheel of a vehicle is irrational and they don’t think clearly. Road rage is a real phenomenon being studied by researchers. What makes a normal, intelligent and calm person a mad maniac behind the wheel? They might rev up their engine just to scare you but end up hitting you because in their rage they forgot their car is in gear, even if that wasn’t their intention. Once they calm down and return to reality they may be nice, apologetic and pay all your damages, but your legs are broken, too late.

Get out of the way if reasonably possible
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Although, it’s legal for a cyclist to take a full lane when conditions require so, don’t do that at any cost. Use common sense, use a mirror and watch the traffic behind you. See a bus or a truck? Pull over, even stop, turn your head around towards the traffic and gesture them to pass safely. See traffic build up behind you? Stop aside at the nearest intersection and let them pass. It makes you safer and it makes the drivers think better of you as a considerate cyclist not some jerk on a bike.

Driving a large truck or a bus isn’t easy, the last thing the driver wants to do is to kill somebody. They want to end their shift without any drama and return to their family. Letting them pass you safely makes their life easier and only costs you few moments.

Many bus drivers really dread cyclists because they put themselves in dangerous situations, stressing or even scaring the bus drivers, making them hit their brakes and toss their passengers around the bus, and it’s the bus driver who will have to live with the knowledge that the machine they operated killed or maimed someone. Again, if they hit another vehicle, it’ll be most likely a fender-bender, if they run over a cyclists they can seriously hurt or kill him or her. So be nice to bus and truck drivers, they’re not all bad.

Act as if you were invisible
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Don’t assume that just because you have 14 blinking red lights on your rack and bright yellow safety vest everyone sees you. Be always mindful of your surroundings and the environment and how it changes with time, since nothing around you is static, and be always ready to get out of the way and act quickly. It’s called situation awareness. That’s what keeps fighter pilots alive. Constantly scan the traffic around you for as far as you can see. You may be able to spot that erratic car driver or a speeding motorcycle way ahead of the time and act appropriately. Don’t limit yourself only to the area immediately around you. Look further than that.

At the same time be mindful of what’s happening closer to you. With some experience you can predict a lot of stuff that’s about to happen. Learn to look for signals like people looking in their left mirror ready to pull out of a parking spot or open the door, their front wheels turning. Commotion inside the car: people ready to get out. Keep a safe distance and pay attention. Look at the drivers. Are they on a cell phone? Stay away from that car. Make an eye contact, if possible, make them acknowledge your existence. Watch the sidewalks and spaces between cars for pedestrians suddenly stepping into roadway.

Look for clues like shadows, noises, look through cars windows to spot people on the other side. I know this sounds like a lot but it’s not that difficult. Our brains and senses are built for that we just don’t always use them correctly, they become dull and dormant. Sharpen your senses and you’ll be amazed at what you can see. I’m also a big believer in hearing. That’s why I advocate against using headphones while cycling. Hearing what’s happening around you is almost as important as seeing.

There is a whole world around you and you’re a part of it
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You also need to think about the consequences of your own movement and your actions beyond what’s immediately in front of you. You may not be directly hit by a car, but you can cause an accident that will involve others but spare you.

It’s very common for cars to run into pedestrians or other cars because they swerved to avoid hitting a cyclist who just popped up in front of them. The cyclists usually rides away leaving people behind who were hurt because of his or her stupidity and recklessness.

Just like driving, riding a bicycle on the street is a privilege, not a right and that privilege comes with responsibilities and implied respect for the law and other road users. You’re not the center of the Universe and your actions have real and lasting consequences in the world around you.

Handle it
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When riding in traffic always have both your hands on the handlebar and fingers near the brake levers ready to brake any time. This is not the time to show off your circus skills, this is the time to watch out and be prepared. That message or phone call can also wait.

Obey the laws
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This should be obvious. Don’t ride the wrong way. Don’t ride on sidewalks. Stop at red lights. If you really want to ride through that red light, slow down, look twice both ways for traffic and pedestrians, look behind you, and judge the situation before dashing through the intersection.

Do not make illegal turns and illegal lane changes. You need to ride in a predictable way with the flow of the traffic. I know that there is some disagreement as to whether the bicyclists should obey the same laws as the drivers and that not everyone agrees that bikes should behave like cars and there is certainly something in that, but as of now, cyclists are expected to obey the same laws as cars.

However, don’t blindly follow the laws at any cost, use your judgment. Many laws leave some leeway in terms of how to proceed under various circumstances. For example, you are required to ride all the way to the right as close as reasonable and safe, but not always. Get it? As reasonable and safe. If there is no shoulder, or the shoulder is in bad shape or covered with debris, if there are cars parked or people walking on the shoulder and you have no other choice of detour you can ride further into traffic, even take the full lane.

Know your limits
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Don’t push too hard, don’t ride to fast. Getting tired leads to confusion, disorientation and slower responses, you’re more likely to make a mistake when you’re tired. Stop, rest, have a drink of water.

Be mindful in extreme weather how the temperature affects your ability to ride and act accordingly. In hot weather, you’re more likely to become dizzy and confused from the heat. In cold weather you may become sleepy and isolated (detached), plus your fingers may be cold and you may not be able to operate your bicycle normally. In rain or snow you have to pay extra attention to the surface in front of you to avoid trouble spots. Riding too fast lowers your reaction time, increases your breaking distance.

What you fear, will hurt you
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Being scared and intimidated by the roaring traffic is a recipe for a messy disaster. Take a detour, avoid busy sections or just dismount and walk those few blocks. Remember, you have nothing to prove. Your goal is to get wherever you’re going in one piece.

If riding on the street scares you silly then don’t ride on the streets yet. Fear will make you indecisive, erratic, it’ll cloud your judgement. Start riding on the streets on weekends and do shorter distances to practice riding with traffic. Join 5BBC and do some riding with us so you get used to street riding.

Ride with confidence
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Be confident and let it show. Ride like you belong there, you have equal rights and responsibilities on the road like everybody else. Don’t act like a scared mouse, skipping along the curbs. Drivers and pedestrians will take any opportunity to take your space. Showing lack of confidence and acting in a confused, indecisive way is not safe.

To gain such (real) confidence, however, you need to know and follow the laws, be strong, have your senses tuned and be in control of your bike. There are a lot of confident people out there who are actually totally inept and incompetent, which borders on arrogance. Don’t confuse confidence with recklessness either and don’t be overconfident. True confidence is a state of mind when you know that what you’re doing is right, based on your experience, facts and knowledge, not just based on “thinking” and “believing” that you’re right. Don’t be one of those who are “always wrong but never in doubt”. Confidence is gradually built up with experience. Like with everything else in life: question everything, if not sure, do research, request literature from official sources: DOT, NYPD, city agencies, join a reputable bicycle club such as 5BBC, read up and learn the facts. Don’t rely on urban myths, newspapers, and “what people say” – that won’t build up true confidence.

How to ride through intersections
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Intersections are where most cycling related accidents happen. This is where most cyclists get hurt and killed. As mentioned above: obey the traffic lights and signs. Also, don’t pass turning cars on the inside of their turn. This is a deadly mistake many cyclist have made. That means if a car is turning right, don’t pass it on the right, even if you’re turning in the same direction. No matter how big or small the vehicle is, let it complete the turn, don’t squeeze in. All it takes is one inattentive pedestrian to step in front of you or the turning car and you’re in trouble. Also, the driver may not see you, plain and simple.

Take your time. If you’re going straight, position yourself behind the turning car, make your actions obvious to the cars behind you. Turn your head back and make an eye contact with the driver directly behind you, if possible. Don’t attempt to pass the car on the other side if it means crossing the lane divider into the next lane, that lane is probably moving faster and you can get hit by a car passing in the next lane. Only pass when the turning car has moved enough to the right that there is clearance to pass it safely while staying in your lane. I would recommend against lane change even if it’s perfectly legal, for the above reason: the next lane can be moving too fast. Another reason is that some idiot may attempt to turn from the second or even third lane and run you over. Look out for those maniacs turning from other lanes as you’re crossing the intersection!

If you are turning in the same direction as the car in front of you, also position yourself behind the turning car, signal your turn with your arm to make your actions clear to the drivers behind you, turn your head back and make an eye contact with driver immediately behind you, if possible, and complete the turn as a car would do, oh and yield to pedestrians, please. Yes, it takes patience and self-discipline but I like my bones in one piece.

Turning left. This is more tricky and more dangerous as you need to position yourself in the leftmost traffic lane. Just like in the previous paragraph, don’t pass turning vehicles and don’t squeeze between. If it’s a quiet, single lane road with little traffic, simply stay in your lane, slow down or stop, signal your turn, wait for the oncoming traffic to pass and turn.

It gets trickier with more lanes and more traffic. You need to use your judgment. If the traffic is relatively calm and slow moving, do a legal lane change and take the lane, slow down or stop, make your intentions obvious to drivers behind you by extending your left arm for a while, wait for the oncoming traffic to clear and turn left. If there is a dedicated left turn lane it makes it easier as you don’t have the cars whizzing by few feet away from you.

If the intersection is a complex, multi-lane intersection with fast traffic my advice is to do it the safe way: stay in the right lane, go straight through the intersection and carefully, watching the traffic behind you, stop, dismount, get on the sidewalk, wait for the light to change, walk your bike through the pedestrian crossing to the other side then get back on the roadway, mindful of the traffic, and continue on your way. Do not ride on the crosswalk!

An alternative is to cross the intersection and position yourself in the right lane of the cross street so you can ride straight through the intersection after the light changes. However, there are a few issues here: legality of such maneuver is questionable, you may annoy the drivers behind you who were waiting to turn right, they may try to speed up and right-hook you while turning. Plus there is the danger of oncoming traffic making their left turn in front of you, they may not see you and run you over.

Dealing with polite drivers
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Whaaat?? Seriously. Now and then you may encounter a rare specimen of a polite driver (they do exist in the wild), who will yield to you, even if they had the right of way, and gesture you with a smile to pass. Don’t. Smile back, wave “thank you” and insist that they go first and you wait your turn. Why?! Because the driver behind the nice driver might be a complete jerk in a hurry, he’ll step on it, drive around the other car and right into you when you’re passing. Or some idiot will attempt a blind turn from the second lane and run you over. Or both… Ouch! You’re hurt and imagine the guilt the nice driver will feel?

Passing cars
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If you are moving faster than the traffic, which is not unusual in NYC, you may want to get ahead of the cars in front of you. Do it as if you were driving a car: signal a lane change and get to next lane and take the full lane by riding in the middle of it. Do not ride between lanes, between rows of moving cars. This is called lane splitting and it’s dangerous as it leaves you no escape route should one of the cars decide to turn or stop and open the doors.

Don’t worry if your lane change maneuver will slow the lane down a bit, ride as fast as you can and return to the right lane as soon as possible. You may want to look back and wave to the cars behind you to acknowledge them and as a “thank you” gesture after changing the lane, it may calm the drivers down and stop them from honking at you. Then get out of their way as soon as you can and wave them again as you leave their lane. A little gesture that goes a long way showing the drivers that you were concerned about them too.

Eye contact
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I mentioned eye contact a few times above. Drivers see what they want or expect to see. They often don’t see a cyclist in the traffic because their brain is focused on larger objects: the cars. If you manage to make an eye contact with a driver that makes them acknowledge you, now they know you’re there. Unless, the driver is a complete idiot or jerk, your chances of being hit by that driver are now much, much lower.

Remember, that most people are good and decent people, they’re just inattentive, distracted, confused or tired. People can be idiots regardless of their mode of transportation: there are idiot drivers, idiot cyclists and idiot pedestrians. Just because you’re on a bike and the other person is in a car it doesn’t make them instantly your enemy.

Very few people will run a cyclist over intentionally, so visual communication (eye contact to get them to acknowledge) helps immensely. A simple “hello” or “thank you” gesture or even a smile goes a long way too. A driver is more likely to respect a cyclist who shows them respect as well, and behaves predictably and not like an idiot on a bike.

Going over obstacles
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It’s always the best idea to ride around any obstacles, but sometimes you just can’t. Also remember that a bike with fatter tires can handle obstacles much better than one with thin tires.

Any stationary long obstacles such as curbs, rails, hoses, tubes, ropes, cables, long cracks in the pavement, bridge plates, road plates, etc. have to be approached at a straight angle, head on and slowly. If the obstacle is more than an inch high or deep lift your front wheel slightly, by pulling your handlebars upright, right before rolling over it. Stay in a straight lane until you have completely cleared the obstacle with both your wheels. Crossing such an obstacle at angle can cause your front wheel to skid which in majority of cases ends in a crash. Even the most skilled cyclists won’t recover from front wheel skid and it happens in a blink of an eye, before you know what happened you’re lying on the pavement. Unless you have some mad mountain biking skills do not stand up on pedals while going over obstacles, for two reasons: one, when you're standing up you're rising your center of gravity and become top-heavy and two, if you lose balance it will be harder for you to put your feet down.

Take your bike to an empty parking lot and practice riding over curbs and cracks: approach slowly, lift the wheel, roll over. It’s not that hard.

Long obstacles that may not remain stationary as you roll over them, such as a short piece of tube, a piece of wood, chunk of rope may roll or slide as your front wheel applies pressure to it which may also result in front wheel skidding. These kinds of obstacles need to be tackled at a very slow speed and lifting of the front wheel is essential. Once your front wheel passed the obstacle then your real wheel will clear it as well. The front wheel is the tricky one.

Holes and cracks that are deep enough to swallow your wheels must be simply avoided. A hole or crack deep enough will prevent the front wheel from clearing it, bring your bike to a sudden stop, and throw you over the handlebars, which is generally not considered fun unless done in a movie. Stop and walk if you have no other choice. Also, walk over obstacles that are too high to comfortably ride over them: if you’re not sure you can do it, then you probably can’t, so walk your bike. Keep in mind that even though the fall itself may be harmless, falling in front of incoming cars may not be harmless at all.

Road plates. These require a special mention since they’re very slippery when wet, condensation may form on them even if the road around is dry, they can move and shift as you ride over them and there may be gaps around them and rounded bolt heads sticking out. It’s best to avoid them altogether or ride very slowly in a straight line without any sudden moves, like on ice. They’re very dangerous in wet weather. If they are at significant angle, or you can tell they move then avoid, do your best to go around them.

Manholes also deserve a special mention too. If they’re flush with the pavement they don’t present much danger to cyclists in dry weather and only a moderate danger in wet weather, since they’re relatively small. Although, if you can it’s better to avoid them as a rule of a thumb. They are more dangerous if they’re partially opened, crooked, cracked or protrude above the surface. Round manholes are more dangerous since you can’t approach them at a straight angle, you always roll over their edge at an angle which presents a problem if they protrude. Rectangular manholes can be dealt with like the road plates. Any manhole that is protruding above the surface or is sunk below the surface, or is cracked, crooked or partially or completely opened should be avoided.

Puddles. Be careful. Ride around them, they can hide deep cracks and holes that you can't see. Enough said.

Shiny road surface? Oops, a spill? Gasoline or oil? Ride around it, period. Walk if you have no other choice.

Grates and storm drains. Many states have replaced them with bicycle safe versions without slots or with holes short enough so as not to swallow a bike wheel, but they still better to be avoided altogether. If not for the holes, there may be cracks or gaps around them and the metal can be slippery.

Bridges with metal surfaces

Bicycles are usually not allowed on bridges unless there is a bike path. You’re supposed to dismount and walk your bike across using the sidewalk. If your really have to ride across a bridge or a draw bridge be extremely careful.

First, they may have long gaps or grooves running along, in the direction of your movement. If your wheels get caught in those, you’ll be like a train on the tracks, you will loose any ability to steer and most likely lose balance and fall. They are slippery as well, just like storm drains and road plates, in particular when wet. Plus, they’re grated to there is even less contact and traction between your tire and the surface of the bridge. Those metal bridges ice way before anything else too. The temperature may be around 35F, all the roads may be perfectly dry but there will be ice on the bridge! Finally, watch out for bolts, connector plates, anything protruding. In wet weather riding across a metal bridge is crazy. Riding over a metal bridge in snow is suicidal.

I hope you were able to read the whole thing without falling asleep and found some of it useful. Thank you for reading!

News round-up April 11, 2014

Submitted by Shawn Carney on Fri, Apr 11, 2014

With spring in the air, more cyclists are out on the road again. This might be the time to start practicing your mindfulness while cycling. Get Up and Ride's Lisa Markuson has a great article on this over at Transportation Alternatives. Stretch, take some deep breaths, visualize a pleasant ride and go read the article. Bicycling Magazine also has an interesting article on the cognitive benefits of cycling here. 

Good news! Manhattan's Community Board 2 unanimously passed a plan to implement a protected bike lane on Lafayette Street between Spring St and 14th St. Construction has already started and it should be done by summer. That's a more realistic timeline than the George Washington Bridge upgrade planned for completion in 2024 that, amongst other improvements, will get rid of the hair-pin turn on the Manhattan side. So, you still have another decade to perfect your 180 degree turn without clipping out. 

Did you manage to get to the soggy Red Hook Crit? If so or if not, check out these field portraits of some of the women racers. Beautifully done. Also cool is this video from Visual Artwork of the Evolution of the Bicycle. 

If you're looking to pick up some bike parts and accessories for a good price, check out the upcoming Bike Jumbles. And for a good laugh, BikeSnobNYC is always a good read. He reviews an invention that cools you down while riding on hot summer days in the dorkiest way possible. 

The Ninth Annual Ghost Bike Memorial Ride was held Sunday April 6th to remember the cyclists and pedestrians who've been killed this past year. If you weren't able to make it, you can check out Gothamist's article and photos here. Check out Streetsblog's Weekly Carnage to see who we've lost so far this year to this senseless violence. WNYC is tracking traffic deaths of pedestrians and cyclists here, too. If you're looking for a map of 2013's cycling injuries, you can find one here. Note that Broadway in Williamsburg is not a safe place for cyclists, so either stay away or be alert. Also on this topic is an article from Bicycling Magazine's blog about why dangerous drivers seem to get more protection from the law than their victims do.

Be Prepared

Submitted by David Meltzer on Tue, Apr 8, 2014

"Be prepared, that is the Boy Scouts marching song.
Be prepared, as through life you march along."

Tom Lehrer

Much goes into the preparation for a ride. First, there is always the idea. Where are we going? How will we get there? Where will we eat? The ride gets mapped out. Co-Leaders are chosen. And we are ready for step two.

Rides are always scouted. You really cannot rely on a map to determine many things. I had a great map and cue for a ride to the Tibetan Museum in Staten Island. It looked so good on paper. We got to an intersection were my cue sheet said "turn right." We all looked at each other and said a collective NO. SUVs clogged the road, honking and growling. It was just not safe. We asked a local who sent us along Morningstar Road. Little traffic. Easy riding. But there is far more to do on a scout. Where are the bathroom stops? When is lunch? Are there bail out points? And above it all are the two guiding stars of scouting - is it safe and is it fun?

You never know what is going to happen on a ride. Perhaps the best adage is to expect the unexpected. It is for that reason that a good leader, and a good rider, does prepare for the eventualities the seem to pop up. As a leader, this means being prepared to step in a lead. On one of Bill's rides, Fritz's bike went on the fritz. Fortunately, I was ready to step up and fill in as the sweep. I was even there to fix Maureen's flat tire. But that could not happen to me and my bike, could it? Well, it was right before the large hill on Riverdale Avenue when I heard the snap. The bolt holding my seat just crapped out. At that time, leader training and preparation kicked in. I pulled the group together and handed off the ride to Steve Vacarro. And of course, Steve was ready to lead. There may have been a wrong turn or two, but he was able to hold the group together, able to keep a positive attitude. The show went on.

But leaders are not the only ones for whom preparation is essential. Every cyclist should have a few basic necessities. Flats do happen. Ask Ben Bromberg who helped dig an industrial size staple out of my puncture proof Gatorskin tire. I always carry a spare tube. In fact, I normally carry two of them. I have tire levers and a pump at all times. One thing that I also tote along is a first aid kit. Sometimes you need Ibuprofen. Sometimes Tiger Balm does the trick. Bandaids, alcohol wipes, gloves, and other supplies are always with me. I normally take Mejool dates or Turkish figs along in case I need a burst of energy. And of course water. And in the winter a thermos with a warm beverage. And, it is always better to get everything together the night before.

Finally, every rider should have a road worthy bike. When was the chain last cleaned and lubed? Should I look into the strange sound coming from the region of the rear derailleur? Spending time and/or money fixing the bike or taking it into the shop is not usually a memorable experience. But, breaking down in the middle of nowhere usually is.

If you went to Brooklyn Law, the odds are that you had Professor Farrell for Civil Procedure. He was a nuts and bolts sort of guy. When it came to the law, he preached The Six "P"'s. Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. The same is just as true on the road. As Tom Lehrer said, "Be Prepared."

David MEL Meltzer

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