Outdoor Biking For Fun & Enjoy
Biking: A Beginner’s Guide
Tyler Hilgeman | September 12, 2022
So, you want to be a biker? Well, welcome to the amazing world of biking! Biking is not very complex, but if you are starting anew, then there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. beware
Inspecting Your Bike
Thankfully, bikes aren’t too complex; so, if you are dusting off your bike for the first time in a while or if you just bought one, then there is a short checklist that you should go through before taking off.
● Wheels — Take it from me, riding on a flat tire is no fun. So, make sure your tires have plenty of air and are attached securely to the bike.
● Seat Height — Typically it is best to ride hire up as it will be easier to push the pedals. So, if your seat is too low and you’re not looking for a serious workout, then it is best to raise the seat.
● Brakes — I have made the mistake of not checking my brakes only to find that they don’t work when I need them most. So, make sure your brakes are working well and tighten them if needed.
● Size — There should be at least one to two inches of clearance between your knees and the handlebars.
● Lubrication — Lastly, you will want to make sure everything is well lubricated.
Outdoor Active Shop
City Biking
If you want to enjoy the city without waiting forever in traffic and paying for parking tickets, then biking is a great way to do so.
Other than a helmet and maybe even a water bottle, you’ll want to make sure that you bring a bike lock.
There are two main locks that you can get — a U-Lock and a Cable Lock. Both work fine and are easy to store on your bike while riding by locking them onto the body of your bike.
Casual Biking
If you are looking to just enjoy the scenery or take a ride around your neighborhood, then all you need is a helmet.
However, if you are riding at night, then it is best to have a bicycle flasher or safety light attached to your bike along with, possibly, a safety vest if you are riding in an especially dark area so that cars can easily see you.
Mountain Biking
For those of you looking for an adventure through nature, then mountain biking is the way to go. However, mountain biking can be rough, so you’ll want to make sure your bike is in good shape and that you have plenty of water.
If you are biking in an especially dry area, then wearing some goggles can be a good idea to ensure dust doesn’t blind you.
Final Thoughts
All in all, biking can be a fun and healthy activity to do as long as you are prepared. I learned that lesson the hard way when I decided to go mountain biking with a partially broken handlebar. As you might have guessed, I met the ground that day…