Something To Chew On
June 18-24, 2018
How to (not) ride a bike
By Becca Bona
becca@dailydata.com
It’s been a while since I’ve had a skinned knee, but currently I have bright red raspberry marks on both joints, along with a few other abrasions and bruises.
The cause, you ask?
Cycling.
For the past few months I have explored and fallen in love with the Arkansas River Trail on a borrowed mountain bike from the late ‘80s.
A friend who knows more about the metal contraptions than I do took one look at that bike, shook his head, and said, “That thing is basically a torture chamber.”
I rode through the pain the torture chamber administered for over three months before I finally decided to purchase a new one.
After taking that one out for a spin (a slightly-used Cannondale Road Bike), I have created this How-To Guide for all cycling newbies like myself.
Editor’s note: No individual was harmed during the creation of this list.
1. This may come as a no-brainer, but always map your route before you get ready to ride. This ensures one of two things. First, you and your ride mates can agree on a final destination. (Trust me, if you’re the slightly deaf one in your group you might end up at FLYing Saucer instead of FLYway Brewing and be stuck drowning your misery in an extra pint or two. Alone. Especially if you gave your phone to your friend who arrived with a sturdier looking bag than you.)
Second, in case you fall behind – likely because you don’t know how to work your gears – when you look up to find that everyone has left you, you’ll know where to meet them. (Also, always wear a helmet.)
2. Identity your type of brakes, and familiarize yourself with how they work. This is important for those of you who – like me – are new to the cycle game. Apparently, there are multiple brake set-ups, such as caliper, disc, and even v-brakes – and no, I’m not simply listing off items you’d find in a doctor’s office. For instance, I learned that my new bike sports disc brakes, which leads me to the second part of step number two. (Also, always wear a helmet.)
It’s always a good rule of thumb to know how much pressure to apply to your brakes and to get a good feel for their response. Otherwise, like me, you’re likely to go head-first over your handlebars at the fast force of the stop because you’ve been clamping down on rotting caliper brakes for three months. (Also, always wear a helmet.)
3. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your bike’s frame. I have never been on a bicycle before that harbored anything other than a heavy, steel frame. Even my training wheels were heavy. Many bikes are designed for speed, however, and the lightweight frame on mine made every (even slight) downhill an adventure. Do not, I repeat, do not forget about step two when referring to this step. (Also, always wear a helmet.)
4. Do not, under any reason, get too comfortable on your first ride. Just because your ride mates are beasting you up a hill does not mean that you need to try to showboat to keep up, because trust me, you will fall. And when you do, you will skin your knee, and be left to pick up the now-broken pieces of your pride off the ground. (Also, always shroud yourself in a helmet, if possible, find one that fits your pride, too.)
5. As always, wear sunscreen in the Arkansas heat, keep your eyes on the roads and follow traffic rules. Bonus: blast Queen’s, “Bicycle Race” when you approach your first hill – it’s likely to add that little boost we all need.
In all seriousness, Little Rock, and Arkansas-at-large are both beautiful. Take the time to get out on the trail – whether you’re cycling or not – and enjoy it.
