New Bike

After a lot of miles on my mountain and road bikes last year (record mileage for me!) I took advantage of the brutal cold and storms (near record snowfall in NJ after more than 52 hours of constant snow to kick-off February) to take them in for tune-ups to Pop’s Bike Shop in Somerville, NJ - https://www.popsbikeshop.com . I mentioned to the shop’s owner, Mark, that I was considering a new mountain bike as mine was 17 years old. He advised deciding soon if I wanted a bike this year as sales have been off the charts since last spring as people took up biking as a way to safely get out of the house. Basically it was buy from stock now or wait until 2022, and when factoring in the cost of the tune-up on my old bike, buying now made sense.

For the riding I usually do on my mountain bike - rail trails, canal path, some single track and some road, I don’t need a tricked-out bike. I’m realistic about my abilities and about the type of terrain I enjoy riding, and I’m also cost conscious (hey, I’m retired now) so paying a lot more money for more bike than I need is not going to happen. Unless you are doing a lot of rough single track riding with jumps, and features, a basic front-suspension bike will work just fine and will provide a comfortable ride.

My new ride is basically a 17-year newer version of my current mountain bike. A lot has changed in 17 years. The new bike is a few pounds lighter and has 29 inch tires instead of the 26 inch ones I currently roll on and it’s got hydraulic disc brakes for better stopping power and better gear shifters for smoother transitions from gear to gear. The latter is vital when you are doing climbs as a missed or hesitant shift can stop you and force you to walk the rest of the way up the incline. I experienced that when riding from the Airport in the Sky back down to town on Catalina Island a couple of years ago. The bike from the tour company had poorly adjusted derailers causing delays in gear changes, particularly when down-shifting to gain pedaling momentum on the hills. That stuttering made the already challenging ride even tougher. The last 3 miles made up for it though as it is all downhill – VERY steep downhill for 2 of those miles but with no cars or other traffic to deal with, making for a fast and exhilarating descent.

Speaking of traffic, the downside of all those newbies on bikes is that riding trails on nice weekends can be like driving in rush hour. My friend and I encountered several traffic jams on Columbia Trail near us throughout the riding season. Not only are there many more bikes, but a good portion of those new riders are CLUELESS when it comes to trail etiquette. People stopped in the middle of the trail, talking to their riding partner while riding on the wrong side and not looking forward (my favorite as it’s fun to ride straight at them to see how long it takes them to wake up), or not understanding they need to move over when a faster rider approaches from behind and lets them know “coming on your left” (skiers, you know that one). It’s scary how many people either move left or their group splits, with some going left and some going right. Threading the needle can be fun, but with skittish people on either side it is sometimes scary, especially with a dog on a leash in the mix. Thankfully my schedule allows for weekday rides to avoid much of the craziness.

Back to my new bike. Pop’s Bike Shop takes trade-ins but advised me to sell online due to my bike’s age. I asked if they donated bikes and Mark said yes, so I am donating my bike through the shop to someone in need. Helping someone who can’t afford a bike is much better than getting a few bucks for it. And the shop will make sure everything is in fine working order so someone will get many more years out of it.

If you are considering getting a bike, I highly recommend it. Biking is a great form of exercise and lets you cover more ground than walking, with less stress on your knees and feet. Whether it’s a road bike, a hybrid (road setup but good for rail trails too) or a fully equipped mountain bike, talk to the folks at your local bike shop so they can set you up with a bike that fits your needs. And lastly, PLEASE take the time to know the rules of the road if you are pedaling around town, and trail etiquette if you are venturing off-road. We’ll all enjoy our rides more – and safer - if you do.

I’ll be giving my keyboard a rest for the next week or two so stay tuned for the next post toward the end of February.