The Bicycle Workshop

I was just riding down the street and it broke!

By wrench and ride Erik West

2007-05-01

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this from customers coming into the bike shop: “I was just riding down the street and it broke!”And while there is the rare occasion when this is true, it’s usually pretty clear that this is the exception. Most roadside breakdowns were already broken before they left home that day. They just happened to finally give up the ghost just outside of cell phone coverage as it started to rain.
So if you are dusting off your trusty steed for a new riding season, here are a few tips to keep you riding rather than walking.

1. Did it work last season? Bikes rarely fix themselves, so be realistic and think back to how hammered it was before you hung it up for the season.

2. Your tires are probably flat. That’s normal. Before you give up on them, try pumping them up. The correct pressure is written on the side of the
tire. Replace them if the rubber is cracked or cut. Replace the tube if it won’t hold air.

3. Got Brakes? Check to make sure the brake pads have some rubber left and that they only hit the rim, not the tire.

4. Take a short test ride first. Feel your bike. Is it clunking? Rattling? Squeaking? How many gears work? Go slow. Ask yourself, “would I lend this to my mother?” I know you don’t want to fix it, but it’s a lot easier now than on the side of the road.

5. Go easy on yourself for the first few rides. That saddle probably will feel like a tool of Satan at first. Do some short rides until you two get to know each other again. Don’t run out and buy the Barq-o-lounger saddle just yet.

6. Beware of the shoulder of the road. That’s where all the broken car parts live. Riding there is likely to cause you grief. Plan on taking more of the lane. Experienced cyclists know that the safest place to ride is usually about 18 inches inside of the white line. That’s roughly the right wheel track in the road. And if you are going to do that.

7. Dress to be seen. Legally you need lights front and back at night. Act like a car. More on this later, but if you are going to be in the road, be smart about it.

Erik West is a certified bicycle riding instructor and mechanic, who teaches alternative transportation for the Greater Portland Council of Governments, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and The Bicycle Workshop. He generally has his nose in most things related to promoting pollution-free transportation in Maine. To learn more or make yourself heard, check out