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Keep Bicycling

Outline of topics:

I Boredom

I New Equipment

I New trails in the Triangle

I Bike clubs in the Triangle

I Safety tips

For additional information, please browse www.mindspring.com/~brucewr/ec

Boredom

Difficulty getting yourself out on the bike? Try a different style of:

I Riding

; In a club or store event

; Among the trees on a mountain bike

; In the lanes on a road bike

; Transportation cycling
× Commuting
× Shopping

; Racing

; Long distance riding
× Multi-day adventure
× Ultra-marathon (Brevet)

I Style of Bike

; road bike (dropped handlebars, light weight)

; mountain bike (upright bars, more durable)

; city or hybrid bike (“cross” of road & mountain types)

; recumbent (comfortable “slouch” position, but eccentric)

; beach cruiser (good for relaxed riding on flat terrain)

New Equipment

I Links to information about new equipment
; Colorado Cyclist
; Performance
; Reviews of Mountain Bikes & related products

I EGS (France) Synchro Shift shifter
; One hand shifting of both front & rear derailleurs
; Provides 12 gear combinations
; Requires triple chainrings
; Not computerized
; ($50 to $70 at Performance)

I Modolo (Italy) Morphos Shifter/Brake levers
; Works with Shimano or Campy
; Works with double or triple chainrings
; Light weight and durable
; ($200 at Performance)

I Trek R200 Recumbent road bike
; Seat with Mesh back & foam Lycra base
; Aluminum frame with Rear suspension
; Wide-range gearing

I Trek 2200 Women's Specific Design road bike
; Shorter top tube & cranks, higher stem & Terry saddle
; Double-butted aluminum frame with carbon fork
; Rolf 650c wheels & Shimano 105 27 speed drivetrain
; ($1530 at Chain Reaction Bicycles, CA)
New trails in the Triangle

I MTB trails
Link to “Reviews of MTB trails in North Carolina” and then look for trails in
; Raleigh (such as Lake Crabtree County Park)
; Durham
; Chapel Hill

I Greenways (such as those in Cary)
I Park roads (such as Umstead State Park in Raleigh)
Link to “Triangle trail maps & descriptions”

I Rail-trails
; The three-mile Eagle Spur is fully open
Link to “Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy”

Bike clubs in the Triangle

Almost all the area bike shops (REI is a known exception) offer paid-up club members a 10% discount on parts and accessories.

I NC Fats Mountain Bike Club

“Covers the Triangle area. If you are looking for the latest trails and news we can help. We have a race team and have members only discounts with many of the local bike shops. NC Fats organized and built the trails at Lake Crabtree County Park. The club works with Wake County Parks & Recreation to maintain these trails and runs a volunteer trail patrol. We have an on-going search for new legal single-track trails. We sponsor group rides locally and in the Western mountains.”

I North Carolina Bicycle Club

“NCBC, centered in Raleigh promotes bicycling through recreational, utilitarian and competitive activities. The monthly newsletter includes a variety of useful cycling information, including the ride calendar, century reports, articles, and classified ads. There is an e-mailing list for news from club members.”

I Carolina Tarwheels Bicycle Club

“A group of friendly bicyclists who organize social rides in Orange, Durham, Wake, Alamance, and Chatham counties. Members receive an informative and entertaining newsletter six times a year. There is an moderated e-mailing list for news from club members.”
Safety tips:

I Learn to clip in and out of new clipless pedals:
; leaning against a wall while stationary
; on a soft surface (lawn, loose dirt) while moving
; BEFORE coming to a stop

Before riding in traffic:

I Practice riding straight along a painted stripe while turning your head to scan for traffic
I Learn which lane to use when riding through intersections
I Learn when to claim a lane by riding in its center
I Learn which traffic accident types are most typical for cyclists, and how to best avoid them

Bicycling Injury Topology

Cause Percentage
Falls 50%
Bicycle-Automobile collisions 17%
Bicycle-bicycle collisions 17%
Bicycle-dog collisions 8%
All other 8%

While falls constitute the bulk of bicycle injuries, the bicycle - automobile collision presents a special concern because up to 90% of bicycle-related fatalities involve a motor-vehicle.

Basic Bicycle - Automobile Collision Types

Collision Type Percentage
Turning, Merging or Crossing Paths 77%
Parallel Paths 16%