Sorensen Neighborhood

Using Pedal Instead of Metal

Sep 04, 2006

By Erin Hynes
I don?•t know how reliable the prediction is that gas will climb to $5.50 a gallon, but if it does, it might be the tipping point that makes people abandon their SUVs by the side of the highway and hop on a bike to commute to work or run errands.

During our few snowless months, I bike to work almost daily?‘a practice I took up when I had my 16-year-old Volvo put to sleep and decided to share my daughter?•s car rather than replace mine. I admit that, logistically, biking to work is not a walk in the park. So here are some pointers that might help you if you too decide to switch to two-wheeled transport:

?¥ Plan a route. Take advantage of bike paths and residential streets. Study local maps to come up with a possible route and try it out on a non-work day to make sure it works. For bike trails, visit Hennepin County?•s website at www.co.hennepin.mn.us. For good online maps?‘both drawn and satellite?‘go to www.google.com and click the Map link.

?¥ Get Kevlar-lined tires. Kevlar is the material used in bullet-proof vests. The lined tires are a bit heavier and slower than regular ones, but are much less likely to get a flat.

And be prepared in case you DO get a flat. For some people, that means carrying a tire repair kit that includes an inner tube, a special wrench for wresting the tire from the rim, and a mini air pump. I prefer a much more light-weight alternative?‘I have the
number of a local taxi service saved in my cell phone.

?¥ Work up to it. If you?•re not used to riding daily and are going more than a few miles a day, start taking frequent short rides to get your, er, seating zone used to sitting.

?¥ Pad for comfort. Add padding to yourself and the bike where the two of you meet:

- Padded bike shorts. Believe me, I would not wear a garment that hideous if it didn?•t make a huge
difference. By the way, bike shorts are meant to be worn without undies?‘the extra fabric layer can cause chafing. Obviously you?•ll want to wash the shorts daily, or have an extra pair.

- Padded bike seat. Versions are available to suit the differences between the male and female anatomy.

- Padded handle bars. I prefer the cushy foam ones to the less cushy rubber ones. The trick to getting the foam pads to slide onto the handle bars is to spray the inside with hair spray. In the olden days they recommended dish detergent, but it didn?•t dry well and on rainy days it was like having a Mr. Bubble party.

- Padded gloves. You?•ll be surprised at how much difference the thin layer of padding makes. And the back is an absorbent material for mopping sweat off your forehead. And chin. And neck. Hey, no one said the Apocalypse would be pretty.

?¥ Invest in a saddle bag. Get a rack and one or two bags, also known as a pannier, to carry your groceries, lunch, or work clothing. You?•re going to be sweaty enough as is; don?•t make it worse by having a backpack strapped to you.

?¥ Cool down when you arrive. When you arrive at work all sweaty and gross, take several minutes to cool off before showering or, more likely, trying to clean up in a sink. Otherwise, you?•ll just keep sweating in your clean change of clothing. Moistened packets of towelettes make the cleanup process go a little more smoothly. So does being female, since we sweat less.

?¥ Check air pressure weekly. Having full tires takes a lot of work out of the ride. I know it?•s time to fill up when I find myself slogging up hills?‘that?•s about every 10 days.

That should get you started. No doubt you?•ll come up with tricks that work for you. Send them to ehynes@mn.rr.com and we?•ll put them up on the Sorensen website at www.neighborhoodlink.com/stlouispk/sorensen/