Pine Mountain
Volunteer
Fire & Rescue

Y'all come and ride with us

Blount County Alabama Covered Bridges

Preparation

Bike Preparation - Clothing - Tools

Check your bike before you ride

The beginning rider often has to learn the hard way that it is important that your bicycle be checked before a ride. The following brief examination before you leave and before you start off on a ride will, in the long run, save you a lot of grief.

Clothing

There are lots of arguments as to the best clothing to wear on a ride. If you are going to ride for a short distance, clothing might not be a big deal. If however, you are going to ride a hundred miles then it can mean the difference between torture and enjoyment. Always dress for the temperature that you expect to encounter. A cold ride can become debilitating to the rider. On the other hand, a hot day requires good coverage of your body to prevent over cooking. If it looks like rain then you would do well to carry some raingear.

Do not hesitate to ask questions. Especially at your local bike shop. They are not in the business of steering you wrong. We learned a long time ago that we, at least, were better off to buy the best that we could afford in the way of clothing. In that way, we were assured of the maximum comfort.

There is one item however, that is subject to no debate and that is color. One of the important features of bicycling clothing is the bright, attention getting colors that they have. They are designed as attention getters. They can even be seen by ill-tempered motorists that believe that roads are only for automobiles, by high school girls that have decided that because of their popularity at school they are beyond common people and the laws of the masses, and by fools in general that have barely the intelligence to do more than convince their dads that they are paragons of safety and consideration while behind the wheel. COLOR will help protect you from accidents. Pick out bright reds, oranges, whites for outer clothing. Wear dark colors only for shorts.

Tools

It doesn’t take much to prepare for all but the most unlikely breakdown, such as a cable that snaps or a crank arm that works itself loose. Regular, preventive maintenance can take care of most situations such as those, and if you’re on a long tour, you’d probably take spare parts or tools to cover such emergencies. For normal everyday riding, everything can be carried UNDER YOUR SEAT.

PATCH KIT. Be sure to keep it filled with patches and don’t allow the cement to dry up.

TIRE IRONS. The plastic or fiber ones are the lightest and easiest to use.

SPARE TUBE. Some people get by with just a patch kit, but on occasion you’ll damage a tube beyond repair when you get a flat. Besides, it is quicker to change the tube than to fix a puncture on the roadside.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH. Some people carry an 8-9-10 mm "Y" wrench instead. Be sure the wrench you carry will accommodate all the nuts on your bike. Make sure you get a high quality wrench, Crescent or Craftsman for example, and not something out of the "Any Tool $1.00" bin.

ALLEN WRENCHES. 4, 5 and 6 mm wrenches are the ones you’ll most likely need.

SCREWDRIVER. Useful for derailleur adjustments and other jobs. Don’t use it as a tire iron.

RAG. To wipe off greasy fingers after you have performed those roadside repairs.

MONEY. For on-the-road nourishment and emergency phone calls.

OTHER USEFUL ITEMS. For the fanatic: lip balm, shoelace, street map, aspirin, Swiss army knife, towelette, Presta valve adapter.

All this equipment will fit in a small wedge pack that straps securely UNDER YOUR SEAT.

Preparation