Monday, May 17, 2010

It's National Bike Week!

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week 2010 from May 17-21 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 21. For those of us who will not be biking to work, get outside and take a spin around the block! (Don't forget those cards in your tire spokes! - Do you all remember that?)


Here is a statistic that surprised me: Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries. Wow! That's a scary number! Here are a few tips to help you maintain bike safety.


1. Always wear a bike helmet, even if you are going for a short ride.


2. Ride a bike that is the right size for you.

-When you are on your bicycle, stand straddling the top bar of your bike so that both feet are flat on the ground.

-There should be 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) of space between you and the top bar.


3. Maintain your bike.

-Make sure your seat, handlebars, and wheels fit tightly.

-Check and oil your chain regularly.

-Check your brakes to be sure they work well and aren't sticking.

-Check your tires to make sure they have enough air and the right amount of tire pressure.


If you are interested to find out how far you have biked, go to mapmyrun.com to plot your route. Happy trails to you!


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