Equip yourself and your bike for safety, Century Cycles advises National Parents Center

Equip yourself and your bike for safety, Century Cycles advises

May 12, 2011 – 12:05 am

Equip yourself and your bike for safety, Century Cycles advises Helmet? Check. Lubed chain? Check. Light for riding at night? Check. Ready for the biking season?

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — For Adam Falkner and the folks at Century Cycles, May is their peak season.

It’s the busiest time of year for the shop as new and veteran bikers take to the streets again. Falkner has worked at Century Cycles for eight years in the Rocky River shop.

May 9 marked the beginning of “Bike to School Challenge” week in Rocky River and Bay Village. Students were given Ride Cards, which allowed them to tally mileage. The program encouraged students to help the environment, save money and stay in shape by riding bikes to school. Last year, students in Bay Village saved $3,857 in fuel costs during the challenge. This year, on the first day, 1,001 students rode their bikes to school.

Falkner ran down a checklist of basic tips for getting back on the road.

“You need a helmet,” he began. “Obviously you want to check your tires for air. Then lube your chain. Just make sure the bike is road-worthy over all.

“People who are starting to commute to work, involving longer rides, want to make sure they have fenders and carry some weather gear this time of year. Extra tire tubes are important, too, to keep a person from getting stranded. Side mirrors, either on your helmet or handlebars, are worth their weight in gold.”

Falkner said it also is important for bikers to know the laws.

“When riding in the street, a bike is subject to the same rules as a car. And there are some cities in which it’s illegal to ride on the sidewalk.”

When opting for speed or power, most riders want both.

“The hybrid bike gets more popular every year,” Falkner said. “People want both a fast bike and sturdy one. More companies are making their version of a combination speed bike and a mountain bike. Our No. 1 seller is something called a Giant Escape.

Falkner takes a safety-first approach.

“Anything a biker can do to make him or herself more visible to cars is great,” he said. Whether it’s flashing lights on your helmet, reflectors on your bike or just bright-colored clothing. All that stuff is good.”

National Parents Center