The Adirondack Century

By Sheila Ascroft

WHEN YOU HIT the road on your bike, be polite.

With everybody, even the idiot who cuts you off. Manners matter because like it or not, you represent the rest of us two-wheeled road riders. What you do affects the attitude motorists and pedestrians will have toward all cyclists.

Ring that bell when passing pedestrians, cyclists, roller bladers, dog walkers, anybody, on recreational paths. Not everyone can hear your wheels, and a bell is less offensive than shouting at them. Just do it early enough so they have time to react.

Communicate. Nod your head, wiggle a few fingers off the handlebar, say hello to another cyclist passing by. We’re all together in this crowded world, so keep it friendly. Unless you are doing road intervals, slow down when passing another rider on that quiet road and chat with them for a few minutes. Find out why they cycle. Sharing the road has more than one meaning.

Offer help to any cyclist stuck by the side of the road even if you don’t know how to fix a flat. Stop and offer to help anyway. They might just need a tube, a tool, or a cellphone. What goes around comes around and next time it could be you. Even if they don’t need anything, it boosts morale to know there are others about and they care.

Stop at kids’ lemonade stands whether you’re thirsty or not. Buy a cup of kindness while boost ing junior’s self-esteem. This girl might be a cyclist someday and you have a chance to make a good first impression for cyclists. And if you meet little cyclists, praise them for wearing cool-looking helmets, for stopping at corners, for ringing their bells when passing, or for anything that will keep them safer.

Ask before drafting. The faster rider will probably let you enjoy his energy-saving wake, but not always. It’s safer for both of you if the puller knows you are tucked in behind. Some speedies just don’t like hangers on who get a free ride. If you get the OK, take a turn up front if you can. Signalling when slowing or changing lanes will keep you from “kiss ing wheels” and crashing.

Don’t create a dumb accident. If you stop on a pathway to fix something or to chat, move your bikes all the way off the path so other cyclists won’t be impeded.

If you invite a neighbour or friend who is a novice cyclist out for a ride, for goodness’ sake ride WITH them. Don’t hammer away and expect them to stay with you, and never brag about how many kilometres you’ve ridden. Instead, focus on your friend and her cycling progress. Show maybe one specific thing that might help improve the friend’s cycling, and don’t nag about her failings.

Don’t be gross. Spitting or blowing out your nose can be tough on anyone riding beside or behind. And if a bio-break is needed outdoors, be discreet. And if outdoors isn’t going to work, pay for peeing. When you use the bathroom at a convenience store or gas station, buy something, even just a bottle of water. Storeowners will be glad to see you again. Φ

There’s something out there called the Bicycle Friendly Community award program, and it’s in business to provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and recognition for communities that support bicycling. It was launched by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in Canada in August 2010 in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists.

Ottawa received a gold designation in 2013 for demonstrating achievement in each of the “five Es” (below). Only platinum and diamond are higher.

Engineering infrastructure and hardware to support cycling

Education to ensure cyclists’ safety, comfort and convenience

Encouragement incentives and opportunities to inspire and enable people to ride

Enforcement of laws and pro grams to ensure that cyclists and motorists are held accountable

Evaluation and planning to measure results and plan for the cycling future

The application form for towns to be designated as bike-friendly can also be an assessment tool to see where they can improve in these categories. Trek Canada is the lead sponsor the program, with support from the Canadian Automobile Association and Norco Bicycle Company.

BICYCLE SADDLES can be uncomfortable, whether you’re big or small, fit or flabby.

This awkward fact comes about because cycling balances most of your weight on two tiny “sit bones” (ischial tuberosities to the medically curious). The longer you ride, the more pressure on your butt. The right saddle for your body and weight can significantly up the comfort of your ride.

Choosing the right one starts with saddle width – wide enough to accommodate the spacing between those sit bones. Saddles for women are generally wider than men’s because theirs are wider-spaced. Heavy riders may need a slightly wider saddle than average-weight cyclists to support a larger butt.

But if the saddle is too wide, it leads to rubbing or chaffing. It’s tempting to go to extremes to cushion your tush with the widest, most-cushioned saddle, but more isn’t always better. Too much cushioning can actually put unnecessary pressure on your sensitive parts. This happens when the foam or gel padding gets squished and balloons up in areas where you don’t want it.

So, go for a saddle that has the least amount of cushioning you’re comfortable riding on.

Something what feels great for an hour’s ride may be too soft for three hours. So think about the kind of cycling you normally do. A harder saddle can take some getting used to, but over time you’ll have more support and a comfy derrière.

Durability matters. Foam saddles break down over time, so you will need to replace it more often. Leather saddles can be a great for heavy riders because they are extremely durable and, after the initial break-in, become moulded to the rider’s individual anatomy.

And get a saddle with rails made of durable metal, such as chromoly or titanium. Carbon fibre rails are best for lightweight cyclists.

Finally, it’s an imperfect two-wheeled world and most cyclists have saddle soreness at some point, even with the right saddle. If you feel too much pressure in your crotch, you could get padded cycling shorts, which help absorb road vibration and protect against chaffing. Or use a chamois cream on sensitive skin.

And maybe it’s not the saddle but its position on your bike. Is it level or tilted? It’s best to start with it level. Perhaps the saddle to too far forward or back, maybe the seat post is too high or too low. All these things can hurt.

The best solution could be a proper bike fitting. Shops will do a fit when you buy a new bike. Some are more thorough than others – eyeball versus actual measurement. Otherwise it costs anywhere from $75 to $300. Φ