IN TOUCH
|with Club Sports & RIM
Oregon’s winter bicycle commuters face special set of problems
t was .1 dark and stormy Ore
gon winter night The rain
was pelting the pavement.
JL.md the wind was whipping
the leaves into a frcniy
There! In the distance, some
thing was moving on the chilling
landscape. It w.*s a bicyclist
What was that craiy person
doing out in weather like this.’
I le was prohablv struggling to
reach bis destination, whether it
was work, school or home Is a
person really cr.i:y to depend on
a bicycle lor transportation din
ing lOregon's most difficult sea
st >n ’
Not if they're prepared
Preparation lor winter ruling
includes getting gear to protect
the rider from the elements and
maintaining the bicycle to pro
. tect u from early wear and rear
These aren't the only worries
lor the winter bicyclist; safety is
just as important. Regular
cyclists must concern them*
selves with having the right
winter equipment and mam
tattling it properly.
The lust step is to make sure
that you have all the legally
required gear. A bicycle must
have a headlight and a rear
reflector if it is used at night The
fine in Oregon for not having
these is $40.
• Lights: These come in
many different sliapcs and prices
I iget Romanek of Second
Nature Bicycles, 446 E. 13th
Ave., recommends the environ
mentally friendly lights that run
on a generator They Cc*st $26.95
lor a regular, and about $39 lor
a halogen, which is brighter.
Another possibility ts the
halogen battery powered lights
They are convenient because
they clip onto the handlebars
and can he removed from the
hike when you park. You can get
a simple one for $12 or spend
$200 tor a really fancy light
I he lights usually run tor
,tlx nit four or five hours on their
AA batteries. You can buy a
rechargeable battery pack tor
about $50.
If you’re worried about Ivtng
visible, a smart buy is the Vista
Light, said Ray Bloesinger of
Cycle-Pi Repairs and Cycles,
1 MO Willamette St. They are a
LED flashing light that calls
attention to your presence. They
can he mounted anywhere on
your bicyc le.
A horn is a gixx.1 way to get
a motorist's attention. Electron
ic horns that make a horrendous
noise are now available, as well
as the old fashioned kind These
start at $|9 95.
• Helmet: Another piece of
equipment that is needed hut not
required When buying a helmet
you should kxik for the ANSI or
P*o*> tty P*kUky
Winter cycling meat* adding an extra layer of clothing and equipment to yourself and your bicycle.
SM I L rat mu before buying.
1 hese companies test helmets
for safely, artvl a helmet without
their recommendation isn’t
worth buying, Blisesingcr said.
They range in price from $ 52 to
$110. The more expensive ones
have passed both companies'
tests.
It is important to maintain
your bicycle all year round, but
it is especially important in the
winter. The dirt and grime d dai
ly use in bad weather can wear
down a bicycle.
• Maintenance: Romanek
said you should have your bicy
cle overhauled at least once a
year. It is a good idea to have
your (searing surfaces packed
with waterproof grease when y»>u
do this.
At Second Nature this costs
$75 plus parts, but it is worth it.
Romanek said, because it
improves safety and lengthens
(he life of your bicycle.
To prevent your bicycle from
breaking down w hen you most
need it you should oil the chain
every couple of days, Bloesinger
said. You can use a product
called Tri-Floor another bicycle
friendly compound. Don't use
WD-40 because it isn't a lubri
cant and it will eat aw ay at your
bicycle, Romanck said.
• Tires: It is important that
your tires arc in Rood shape for
riduiR in the winter. .The best
tires for winter ridtnR are knob
by' ones. They provide more trac
tion on slippery roads and over
those dangerous piles of leaves.
IVit they won’t make up for care
less riding, BliK-singer said.
Blocsinger said you should
check your tire pressure every
week. I’hc normal range for
mountain bikes is 35 to 60, and
road bicycles average 90 to 115.
The best wheel for winter rid
u>K is an aluminum one,
Blocsinger said. Most bicycles are
sold with aluminum wheels now
because they are so much safer
than steel ones Bloesinger said
an aluminum wheel is porous, so
it provides a good surface for
braking when your wheel is wet.
Steel w heels are very slippery
when wet and the brake pads
have trouble gripping them, so it
can take four times as long to
stop, Bloestnger said. To upgrade
your wheels from steel to alu
minum costs about $95 lor a pair.
If your wheels are wet it is a
gotxl idea to pump your brakes
before you have to stop. This
dries off the surface so the brake
pads will grip.
• Rain gear: “Fenders arc a
must," said Enc Schuman of Blue
Heron bicycles, 13th Avenue
and Kincaid Street. Schuman
said they will not only keep you
drier and cleaner, but they will
also protect vixir bicycle from Jtrt
and ({rime. Y<hi can buy a pair for
$18 to $25 and install them your
self or pay an extra $7 for instal
lation.
It is impossible to be com
fortable riding in Oregon with
out a ram suit. Don't be
intimidated, not .ill of them cost
an arm and a leg. They range
from the really cheap plastic ones
at Ci.I. Joe’s to the high quality
and expensive Gortex-likc kind
sold in bicycle shops.
Schuman said the plastic ones
work well for short trips, but if
you ride long distances in them
you will sweat to death. A better
option is a water-resistant suit.
They are about $60 for the coat
and another $60 tor the pants.
The best gear, Schuman said,
is the (iortex-like material. It is
very expensive, costing about
$200 tor a set.
• Accessories: They are so
numerous they can be contus
ing, but there are a few out
there that can make riding in
the rain comfortable.
Those of you who have ridden
your bicycle after it has been sit
ting m the rain know what it's
like to sit on a wet seat. You've
tried plastic bags, but they always
leak. The best solution to this
nagging problem is a water-resis
tant seat cover for only $5.
Also available are helmet cov
ers that cover up those holes that
are great for ventilation in the
summer but cause leaks in the
winter. Romanek said tt is a gixd
idea to cover your face and ears
on especially cold days.
You can buy a neck warmer
that wall pull up over your nose,
or a face mask that covers your
nose and allows you to breath
easily.
lanally, don’t forget about one
of the most important parts of
cycling bodies — the feet. If your
feet get wet on the way to work
or das . you ate cold till day.
Of course you can wear some
those ugly rubber shoes, or you
can buy some shoe covers for
about $28. They fit right over
your shoes and rip up in back.
If you have toe clips on your
pedals you can get toe clip cov
ers, but they won't help if you
have to ride through a puddle.
The most important element
to being safe and comfortable on
your bicycle is heing smart. lAsn't
ride too fast in wet weather.
Leave yourself plenty of room to
stop. Winter can be a dangerous
time for bicyclists, so clear think
ing is necessary.
It you have any questions
about your bicycle's winter readi
ness just call your local bicycle
shop, and the people there will
be glad to help you.
—Tiffaney O’Dell
CYCLING
Contoured from Page IB
Even if the club can put together a winning team,
funds remain a problem. As of now, it the team wins
Regional*, as it did last year, it would have no money
to travel to the national competition, which will he
held in Boston.
The team hopes to raise money via fundraisers
such as the Tour of Willamette and a mountain bike
event in Oak ridge.
The event in Oakridgc is new for the cycling
team, which generally focuses on road bikes. They
were personally invited by the city council and mayor
of Oakridge Co host the event.
The cycling season officially begins March 27
when the University team will compete in a colle
giate road race at Washington State University. Alter
that, the team will race almost every weekend until
Rcgionals in May.
—Carrie Fern Ion