It was a 1992 Rockhopper Comp that got East Bay Bicycle Coalition board member Justice Baxter into cycling.
Baxter, 33, had a crush on a girl in Walnut Creek. He lived in Oakland’s hilly Montclair district, and he was too young to drive. So he’d ride the Rockhopper to BART, visit his sweetheart and then head back up the Oakland hills to home.
“It became a passion,” he says, “and it was a passion that lasted a lot longer than the short affair with that girl in high school. I started feeling the joy of being free.”
Baxter is now co-owner of the Montclair bike shop Wheels of Justice. He and Barry Luck of Cycles of Change APC in Alameda share some tips on how to get back on a bike safely for summer.
Safety lighting
Lighting laws for evening and nighttime bicycle riding are similar to the laws for cars. You must have a front light and a blinking taillight on by 30 minutes after sunset.
“It’s a good idea to have lights on your bike any time you think people will not be able to see you well,” Baxter cautions, adding that lighting in the fog or in the early morning is also a good idea.
The most expensive part of lighting is the battery drain, he says. He suggests investing in rechargeable batteries or newer USB-charged lights that you can plug into a computer to recharge before going riding again.
How to buy a bike
Web sites and stores out there selling bikes, it can be confusing to actually purchase one.
Baxter first suggests going to the closest bike shop where you feel the most comfortable. That doesn’t mean, he says, that the shop nearest to your house is the best. The hope is that you will develop a relationship with a salesperson who will help you find the bike you want, and also to encourage you to go back to the shop for fixes instead of tucking the bike in the garage forever because of a minor break. Second, Baxter suggests that you picture yourself doing what you want to do on the bike — whether it be cruising along a beach or pumping up hills — and how you want to feel when you are doing it. That will help the salesperson figure out which bike is the right fit.
Also, expect to spend around $500 on a new bike.
Full story at: www.contracostatimes.com
Bike to work day
Get those tires pumped and those road rules down because the Bay Area Bike to Work Day is coming. On May 13, nine Bay Area counties will be participating in the annual celebration of bicycle commuting. Several spots will host free drinks, food and gifts. More info at YouCanBikeThere.Com