Tips for Biking to Work

Biking to work is a great way to start your day, outdoors, active and oftentimes can be quicker than driving or taking the bus.  I often hear people say that they'd love to cycle to work, but they soon dismiss the idea because of the hassles of riding on congested roads, poor weather conditions, not having a shower at the office to jump into or not wanting to wrinkle their work clothes by jamming them into a daypack. Here are a few tips to make biking to work an enjoyable experience rather than a hassle.

Take a Change of Clothes to Work

If your job requires a clean, crisp suit, try to gather clothes to take with you for the entire week. That way you don't have to worry about getting your suit dirty during your commute. To avoid getting grease on the cuffs of your pants, tuck the base of your pants into your socks. It may not be the most attractive look but it keeps the cuffs clean.

Know Your Route

Take some time to plan your route, there are always options. Here's a few things to keep in mind when choosing your route:

• Avoid streets with heavy congestion
• Avoid routes with hills. Find a route with gradual inclines.
• Choose a route where your able to warm up your muscles first before exerting them.
  
• Take extra time so you're not in a rush

Try different routes and familiarize yourself with them. When you're ready to bike to work, you will be comfortable with every portion of your commute.

If you're looking to trade in your car for a bike to get to the office, follow these tips to get you started. If you need more information about the safe practices of biking to the office, check out "Tricks and Tips for Biking to Work" at www.biketraffic.org/trickstips.

Happy Commuting,

BikeHike Adventures

BikeHike's Tips to Purchasing the Right Bike

For most of us looking to purchase a bike for the first time, it’s tough to know where to begin. For those who need some guidance, here are a few tips to find the right bike that fits your riding needs.

1)     Determine Your Budget

When the time comes to finally upgrade to a new bike or buy for the first time, the first thing we suggest is determining your budget.  Bikes that used to be extremely expensive are now quite affordable. Full suspension bikes are more economical than ever.

2)    Ask Questions and Read

Avid bike friends can be valuable resources. Take them out for a beverage or two and discuss everything to do with bikes. Biking is likely one of their passions, and they probably love talking about anything to do with the sport. If you don't have friends that ride, the internet is a very resourceful tool. Search for bike related websites, blogs and forums. You will gather a lot of information from bike enthusiasts who are willing to help you out. It’s a great tool to get customer reviews on specific bike models, helpful tips, and even great deals on bikes!

3)    Find the Right Bike Shop

Once you’ve calculated your budget and have gained some biking knowledge, start visiting bike shops in your area. Pick a bike store with friendly, informative staff who are willing to take the time to help you out. Don’t feel obligated to make your purchase from the first store you visit, there are plenty of other bike shops around.

4)    Find the Right Bike for You

When you’ve found your bike shop and now its time to buy, make sure to find the bike with the right fit. There are a lot of choices you'll be presented with such as: frame type, suspension (full suspension or hard tail), components, brakes,  pedals, saddle and grips.

If just starting out, don’t spend too much time worrying about which frame to choose. Focus more on the suspension, pedals, saddle, and grips. Depending on your budget, full suspension bikes can be quite affordable. If your budget is below $1000, we recommend looking more at hard-tail bikes (just front suspension). If the pedals, saddle and grips don’t feel right, ask to swap for something else that feels more comfortable. It may cost a few extra bucks, but this is when you can work on your bargaining skills.

Each person’s buying cycles are different when it comes to purchasing a bike, but if you need a helping hand, follow these steps to help guide you in the right direction.

Happy Biking,

BikeHike Adventures