In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were forced to stay at home and away from work and school for months to help control the spread of the disease. With more time on their hands and a need to find ways to stay fit and active, many people have turned to cycling.
Suck Creek Cycle owner Mike Skiles and other bike retailers around Chattanooga have seen bike sales spike during the past few months, along with a demand for repairs that has stressed both ends of the supply chain. The NDP Group, an American market research company, reported a 121% jump in the sale of adult leisure bikes in March, and local shops including Suck Creek Cycle and East Ridge Bicycles had to adjust their service models or start turning down repair work altogether.
"We saw a tremendous amount of people who have not been on their bikes in five-plus years or longer want to get outside," East Ridge Bicycles owner Garth Mansfield says in a mid-May Times Free Press article on the overall impact to the local industry.
Getting back up on two wheels is, as they say, just like riding a bike, but muscle memory will only take you so far. Here are some common rookie mistakes to avoid.
1. Riding with the saddle too low (or too high).
When standing next to your bike, the seat should come to the top of your hip. When on the bike, you should have only a slight bend in your knee when your pedal is depressed. If you experience pain in the front of your knee, your seat is probably too low.
2. Not adjusting your handle bars.
Your riding position should be comfortable, so that you're not having to hunch over or lock your arms. Experiment with the handle bars within 1-2 centimeters of your seat height. Ideally, your arms and torso will form a 45-degree angle.
3. Not pumping up your tires.
Just like your car, your bike tires have a recommended psi range, which should be marked on the sidewall. Try a few different levels on your preferred riding surface to find what feels the most comfortable, then maintain that by pumping up your tires before every ride. Tires can naturally lose 10 psi per day.
4. Not taking care of your chain.
Cleaning your chain with a degreaser and then applying chain lube once a month will help keep you on the road or trail and out of the bike shop - if they can even fit you in. Using an old toothbrush will help the degreaser get in the chain's nooks and crannies.
5. Not having a spare tire or patch kit with you.
Step one is thinking ahead and having the necessary equipment. Step two is knowing how to use it. What was a breeze of a ride can be a long walk back to the car, and even if you have AAA - which offers roadside bike service for its members - it will likely be a long wait.
6. Not having water and, for longer rides, a snack.
Bike riding burns hundreds of calories in just 20-30 minutes. Don't underestimate your body's need for fuel. Water bottle holders are sold in every bike shop and easily attach to the frame if yours didn't come with one.
7. Not knowing the rules of the road.
Bikes fall under the same rules of the road as cars. You must obey traffic signals, signal your own intentions when making a turn and yield to pedestrians. Outdoor Chattanooga offers an Intro to Road Cycling class that we highly recommend.
8. Not wearing a helmet.
We know it's hot and helmet hair is real, but is it really worth risking your brain or your life? Your helmet should feel snug, nearly cover your forehead (1-2 finger-widths above your eyebrow) and not rock back and forth when you move your head.