As Easy as Riding A Bike?
In everyday speech, bike riding seems to be the comparison of choice for expressing something that is easy or natural. We are comforted to hear that something is “as easy as riding a bike,” or that it’s “like riding a bike - once you learn, you never forget.”
However, as with anything that requires the least amount of skill, there are in fact many different degrees of mastery involved in riding a bike. After all, most people would hesitate to say that a child who has just managed to cruise down to the end of the block without toppling is on par with a veteran long-distance rider.
With this idea of “back to basics” in mind, here are a few tips that even the most seasoned of bikers may want to brush up on.
Getting Started
Many experienced riders fail to ever learn the correct method of mounting and dismounting their bike. Incorrect approaches on this most fundamental action abound, with some wrong ways including:
“Cowboy Style” - standing with a foot on one pedal and swinging the leg around to the other side
Shuffle mount - standing with one foot on the lower pedal and trying to “shuffle off” with the other foot
And everyone’s favorite, the Leap of Faith - basically running alone side the bike and hopping on the saddle in one swift - and dangerous - motion.
The only way to avoid all of these dubious and inefficient techniques is to straddle the bike (not seated on the saddle) and push down firmly on the upper pedal, rotated slightly forward. This will allow you to simultaneously maximize speed and get you in a position to fully mount the saddle.
Contact Us
For all your questions concerning bike gear and proper techniques, contact the experienced team at A & J’s bike locks today by calling 708-460-2999.