We’re all familiar with the classic moment when a child sets off on a bike for the first time. We’ve seen it countless times in movies and on television for a reason, the moment is a powerful one. It's bittersweet for parents seeing their baby growing up, and a feeling of increased freedom and ability for the child.
Unfortunately most people shed their bike as soon as they get a car and never look back. Cars are great and all, what with their air conditioners and trunks and whatever, but being on a bicycle, legs pumping, endorphins pulsing, wind in your face - that's good stuff right there.
Before you can feel that wind in your hair, you have to be ready to commit again. If you're only used to occasionally using the stationary bike at your gym when you’re too lazy to run on the treadmill, it can be intimidating to start again. What if you fall of your bike and everyone LAUGHS AT YOU?! Hey, it happens. Who cares? You're on a bike, and they're on their boring legs and boring feet doing boring walking.
You're suitably encouraged. You need a bike. How do you choose? You need to take a lot of factors into consideration. Do you want gears? How tall are you? Where are you going to fit a cute little bell? Those first two questions will definitely be answered at this mountain bike advice site, or this road bike one (which contains a helpful comment, otherwise known as an internet unicorn).
Riding in the city with all its dangers is risky but you just have to keep your wits about you and move with confidence and consideration. This guide mentions Chicago specifically but the excellently presented advice pertains to any city. And for mountain biking, this site comprehensively lays out any technique you'll need to know.
As you might expect with mountain biking, those people have their own lingo. Is it technically necessary for you to be able to say sentences like, "He can really scream through the gnarl." No, but why wouldn't you??
There are at least two inevitabilities when you ride a bike: you're going to fall off, and you're going to get a flat tire. A flat tire is one of those things that seems trickier to fix than it actually is, and this cute comic shows you all the steps clearly. In general, if you're going to become a serious rider, you should learn some maintenance. All the cycling sites say that Zinn's guides for road bikes and mountain bikes are the best.
Another thing that's the best? Riding with a huge group of people in the city. Attend a Critical Mass event! A group of cyclists get together at the end of each month in cities all over the world, just because. See if one is near you at this site.
Where do you find a place to ride? You can use the Map My Ride site, which has rider-submitted trail suggestions from all over the world. For mountain biking, you can't do much better than the Singletracks website.
Whether on road or on a mountain trail, cycling is a wonderful way to see the world. It's way faster than walking, but still allows you to see the world in a more personal way than from a car.
You can go solo or join a community of riders. You can use cool lingo. At last, you can appreciate the joyful, if topless, Bicycle Race video.
