Bicycling
Accessories Add to the Enjoyment
By Kevin Conway
| This is
a great time to be a bicyclist. |
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| The choices available for
biking have never been greater -- whether your interest is
in racing, touring, getting some exercise or just running
errands on your bike. Your choices range from inexpensive
to the luxurious, and you can choose from a multitude of road,
mountain, hybrid or recumbent bicycles. |
| Popular bike manufacturers
-- Schwinn, Trek, Raleigh and others -- continue to roll out
new models to suit every taste in bicycling. |
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Much of the recent interest in bicycling is a result of Lance
Armstrong's performances in the Tour de France, the world's
pre-eminent bike race. The fact that most of us are not in
the pro biking category doesn't deter us from admiring his
accomplishments or sometimes attempting to emulate his accomplishments
in our own ways.
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Many local, county and
state governments provide funding for the creation of bike
paths and/or bike lanes along new roadways. Some government
agencies, notably in crowded urban areas, are turning to
commuting lanes for bicyclists in an attempt to alleviate
some of the rush hour traffic woes -- and perhaps as an
admission that building more and more highways for more
and more cars and trucks cannot continue forever.
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Some people bicycle out of necessity -- a set of wheels in
some family budgets means a two-wheeler with handlebars. Others
who can afford a car (and the attendant costs for insurance,
gas, regular maintenance, etc.) choose to commute on a bike
for what they see as more practical matters -- they don't
want to contribute any more to global warming or don't want
to send another dime to domestic or overseas oil cartels.
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| Most municipalities
have their own set of laws concerning bicycling ... and some
enforce those laws more stringently than others. Most of the
municipal laws are of the "common sense" variety,
but it's a good idea to check whenever you're bicycling in
a new place. |
Biking is an activity
that can be enjoyed by people of every age group. Who doesn't
remember their very first bicycle as a child, the terror-filled
hours trying to learn how to stay balanced on your bike while
pedaling (even with training wheels)! or the rush of freedom
you felt when you were old enough to take off on your own
for the very first time -- even if it was just a quick spin
to the end of the block and back?
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One of the great joys of childhood is exploring nearby areas
on your bicycle -- places that would have been considered
too far away to walk.
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| A corresponding
joy of adulthood is helping our children learn how to ride
a bike and seeing the joy on their faces when they realize
they're "doing it on their own." |
| Whatever your reasons for
bicycling, there are certain things that can add to your enjoyment
and safety. These are just a few of them -- and they're all
available to order through this site: |
- A good water bottle and
holder. This is a must in the summer and worth having
most of the year. You'll still have to stop to refill
it if you're biking for any distance, but at least you
can start your biking without having to worry about dehydration
- A safety helmet. These
are really important for children and not a bad idea for
adults. Why? You ask? One word -- pavement. It's a lot
tougher than our heads.
- A speedometer/odometer.
It's fun to know how fast you're going -- whether you're
spinning along a flat stretch of city street or country
road, straining up a steep hill or racing down the other
side of that hill. And the odometer adds to the fun when
you start keeping track of your miles -- day by day, week
by week, month by month. You'll be amazed at how many
miles you pedaled by the end of the year.
- A local map and/or guidebook
for new places when you're on vacation or traveling.
- A tire pump and emergency
patch kit. You never know when you're going to need these,
but it's better to be safe than stranded.
- Comfortable clothing (that's
appropriate for the weather) and a backpack if required.
- A good bike lock. You
don't want to encourage a theft of opportunity, whether
your bike is an inexpensive off-the-shelf model or a custom-built
beauty.
- Any other accessories
that you require.
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Happy
biking!
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