Be SAE Eh enh eT LE Le, ae SOO ae ED : es eae Ae ae Tai nel ON adie a Ss i nt pel Pit ad Pai clearence phe atte wt CEE Neri ee, STO ee eT ae eee ng ~ ee qe mal Betty Barton ay ee ee, - spires ghee ote ANE entreaties The snow has vanished from . the lowland streets and many Terrace area bicyclists are haul- ing their two-wheeled vehicles - out of hibernation in anticipa- tion of another touring season, We recently interviewed Roy Long, owner of Sundance Ski _and Sport, the Northwest's largest supplier of bicycles and associated equipment. Long had some. strong suggestions for making cycling the: safe and rewarding activity it’s intended ' to be, including points to con- sider when buying a new bike or ‘servicing an old one. Use for the bicycle ® For little tikes — tricycles, one and a half to four-year-olds. As there is no brake source, tri- cycles shouldn’t be used as street bikes. @ Training wheels are a good learning aid. The wheels should be one-half inch off the ground on either side. After the child ‘has some balance, take one wheel off. When both training wheels are removed, have the young rider practise on the lawn. | @ Kids — junior high-rise bikes | are for street use, BMX bikes for rugged terrain, and mountain bikes are for climbing and: 3 higher speeds. 4 @ Kids nine to 15 — Small frame road bikes for long : distance on highways, mountain " bikes or BMX. a Sh ee re at Le mom em cepa cae care THE KEYS TO SAFE AND HAPPY BICYCLING are awareness and a bit of professional expertise. Doris Broome and Roy Long at Sundance ski and Sport are willing advisors. | @ Adult — Road bikes are now offering cross-over or hybrid variations, which have the speed of a road bike, with wider tires for gravel and durability and the gear ratio of a road bike. There are also city bikes, like the 12-speed commuter bike, moun- tain, racing, and touring bikes. Size of the bike With junior and road bikes: and cross-overs, the rider should ' stand flatfooted over the cross- bar. There should be a one-inch clearance. For mountain bikes, one should allow two inches clearance because of steep hills and rutted terrain. For racing bikes, multiply the length of the inseam — tight, without shoes — by .65. This will equal the. ’ frame size in inches. Model! and price The appropriate number of speeds and price:depend on use. ‘Eighty percent of Long’s sales are in. mountain bikes. Consult with your bike dealer about op- tions. Safety . Helmets are an essential, on the streets and for off-road ‘use. Sundance won’t deal with any ‘helmet not ANSI or Snell ap- proved. American standards are more stringent than Canadian, so CSA is not carried. _On-going light maintenance The first step is to clean the running gears, brush out the chains and derailers. Lubricate them. Long adds, .‘‘We .show _people how to do this when they - buy a bike.” © Don’t take a hose to your _ bike, Wipe it down with a damp | ‘cloth or oil-cloth (which protects against salt on ‘the road, especially for winter cycling). Bicycle tires, unlike cars, have a higher pressure and a smaller volume to fill. They should be checked weekly, Cables and pin systems should be sprayed with WD40. Cables should also be kept taut. WD40 should not be used on chains or greased parts. Take any spoke adjustments or repairs to a bicycle shop. Your brake pads are worn out once the groove disappears. The pads should then be replaced. Brake application — apply pressure to rear brake first. Once the bicycle has slowed, ap- ply the front brake for full stop- ping. Keep bearings snug. Loose bearings will cause damage to - the bike and result in less contro! for the cyclist. Road safety By law, a bicycle has to have one. headlight and a rear reflec- tor, if the bicycle is to be operated after dusk. | ' Side illumination is recom- mended with reflective tapes on both the bicycle and the rider (in the form of leg bands) to be visi- | ble by vehicles from the side. Ride with the traffic. Stay on the Tight edge of the road without going onto the . shoulder. Come to a full stop at inter- sections, Know the hand signals for fright and left turns, slow and stop. Don’t ride on sidewalks. . Obey the ‘speed limits. Bicycles on hills can and do: go over the speed limit, ~ Long. Suggests that every cyclist pick up a copy of the book on road safety for vehicles from the Driving Examiner's of- fice in the B.C. Access building. Wear helmet and gloves. Do not buy a bicycle that is chamois-lined pants cause no chafing. They’re tight but allow full freedom of movement. For cold weather cycling, one can use long lycra over short pants. Jerseys — cotton, lycra and new ‘‘Coolmax’’ wicks moisture away from the body. Riding shells are essential for wet weather. They are long- tailed in the back to allow for a cyclist’s bent position. ‘dangerous and the child has cable. It’s portable, light and ‘too big with the idea that your child can ‘‘grow into it’, It’s poor control. Carrying weight is easier on the bicycle than on the cyclist’s back. Panniers are ideal. A rat- trap is less expensive, but can’t take as much weight. A mirror on the left side is a good idea for riding in traffic. If you have to turn to see traffic, you could be put off balance. ‘Always use a lock with a secure, Shackle locks are ideal if you can leave them at your regular destination — such as riding to and from work, The stiffer the soles of your shoes, the better. Runners are too flexible, You lose power and runners are harder on the foot. Clothing Lycra chamois or synthetic GRAND OPENING | — REMOTE CONTROLLED HOBBIES RACEWAY. Bring your radio controlled vehicle to the track on Woodlands Park Drive and try it out. May 6th _ 10:00 a.m. For information or directions call 638-1890. Keith Norman, RR3 - Woodland Park . Drive, Terrace, B. C., V8G 4R6