Image via Wikipedia

Bicycle Shop

Bicycles are great aren’t they? There’s nothing like using a bit of pedal power to get around, the benefits are endless:

• bicycles are fun
• bicycles are cheap to ride
• bicycles keep you healthy
• bicycles are environmentally friendly
• bicycles are fast (especially down hills)

It doesn’t really matter how old or fit you are, there’s a place for a bicycle in everybody’s life (and I don’t mean going rusty at the back of the garage). When did you last “get on your bike”?

Bicycle Benefits

So let’s look at the benefits of getting yourself down to the local bicycle shop and making the first step to a whole new you. Learning to ride a bicycle is a major mile stone in many children’s lives – their first set of wheels, look – no stabilizers – ah, crash. Why leave the kids to have all the fun? They do say that once you’ve learned to ride a bike you never forget how it’s done, so presumably the skill is lying dormant somewhere in your deepest memory, where it should be surprisingly easy to unlock it.

We’re all so busy these days, that many families simply don’t take the time to do “family things” any more. A family bike ride around the park on a Sunday morning is a great way to build up an appetite for lunch, or a trail through the countryside with a picnic in your backpack can help to make a weekend to remember. There are thousands of miles of bicycle trails all over America, so there’s bound to be somewhere worth exploring, no matter where you live.

Cycling doesn’t even have to be expensive. There are a few basic essentials which you’ll need, but once you’re up and running (or rolling as the case may be) then you can have hours of simple enjoyment at no extra cost.

• Bicycles – come in a wide range of prices, but if you’re simply looking for a little weekend entertainment and not planning on entering the Tour de France, then why spend a fortune? Your local bicycle shop might even have some pre-used bicycles on offer, which could suit you just fine. Take a look in the local ads too, plenty of people buy bicycles with good intentions only to find that they are collecting dust on the garage wall – you might be able to pick up a bargain.
• Bicycle Helmets - it is essential that you buy (and wear) a good fitting bicycle helmet. They’re not just for the kids, they’re for you too. Anyone can suffer from concussion by head-butting the floor at 20 miles per hour, not just the kids. Don’t ride your bicycle at all without a well fitted helmet, never mind worrying about hat hair, think about your head.
• Backpack – a simple backpack just to carry your essentials (money/water/sandwiches/fly repellent/first aid kit) is a really good idea, unless you have a bicycle with a basket on the front – good for popping to the bread shop.
• Bicycle Repair Kit – it really depends on where you plan on riding your bicycle, but if you’re going off the beaten track, so to speak, then a basic repair kit is essential. Puncture repairs kit, bicycle pump, you know the sort of thing, in case you inadvertently run over something sharp.
• Cycling Clothes - this isn’t important unless you are going off on a long jaunt. As long as you are wearing something comfortable, you can ride your bike.

Advantages of Getting On Your Bike

• fuel costs are rising, so riding your bike on shorter journeys can help to save you money
• the world is choking on toxic fumes, but if you ride a bike you won’t be emitting any
• towns are clogged up with traffic jams, it can actually be quicker to cycle to work than to sit waiting in the car – just think about it, no more road rage! Many towns and cities are opening their eyes to providing safer cycle routes too
• we’re constantly being told that we’re overweight (no, that’s not just me, loads of us) and the health risks involved with obesity. Getting on your bike is a great way to get exercise without thinking about it

If you’re worried about cycling to work and arriving with a red face, hat hair and in need of oxygen – there’s one really basic rule which you need to remember – set off in plenty of time. If you can pedal to your place of work without having to constantly check your watch, then you’ll arrive refreshed and ready for a good days work. We’ll forgive you for taking the car when it’s raining, this is supposed to be fun, not torture.