Bike

Your Simple Guide to Buying a Bike Online

By putri titian 2 weeks ago

Photo credit: David Malan - Getty Images
Photo credit: David Malan – Getty Images

From Bicycling

Buying a bike can be life changing. While we’re still in the middle of an ongoing pandemic, more and more people are turning to local bike shops to find their new mode of transportation.

If your shop is low on options you like, thankfully buying a bike online is as easy as clicking a button on a website. In the U.S., dozens bike brands of varied size have sales models that range from online-only with direct shipping to customers (Canyon and Commencal, for example), to hybrid digital/physical models like Trek’s and Giant’s, where you’ll still work with a local retailer for delivery and service.

Past that, there are a number of online retailers like Competitive Cyclist, Jenson, and REI where you can purchase high-end road, mountain, and gravel bikes whenever the time is right.

But is purchasing a bike online right

… Read More

Important Bike Maintenance Tips During the Coronavirus Pandemic

By putri titian 3 weeks ago

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Many people are looking for alternative ways to exercise during the coronavirus pandemic, especially because self-isolation means hitting the gym is often no longer an option. This is driving people and families to break out the old bicycle from temporary storage—cycling is a great way to exercise in solitude. Others might turn to riding their bicycle for commuting or running errands to avoid public transportation.

While cycling is a great solution for all these situations, it’s important to make sure your old steed is mechanically safe before you take it out on the road or local bike trails. This is especially critical if you’re hopping onto a bicycle that has been sitting unused in the garage or basement for a couple of years or longer.

Like most mechanical devices, bicycles need care and maintenance to work properly. “There is

… Read More

Ride a Bike

By putri titian 1 month ago

Biking is a healthy, accessible and affordable mode of transportation. It offers a reduced environmental footprint with no fuel expenses or parking fees, low maintenance costs, and provides a cardiovascular workout.

With thousands of miles of bicycle routes and increasing focus on improving bicycling safety and access in Pennsylvania, there are lots of ways that you can ride your bike. Check out the state’s designated
BicyclePA routes and all of the trails and tourism options Pennsylvania provides.

It’s also great to use
along with public transportation — riding your bike to the train or bus terminal and taking public transit the rest of the way.

Send your bicycle/pedestrian concerns and comments to
BikePedPA@pa.gov.

Active Transportation Plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has developed its first Active Transportation Plan for Pennsylvania that outlines a vision and framework for improving conditions for walking and bicycling across Pennsylvania, most notably for those

… Read More

Bicycle seats vs. bike trailers for children

By putri titian 2 months ago

Q: I’m in the market to buy a bicycle seat so I can ride my bike with my 1 year old. Which is safer—a bicycle-mounted seat or a bike trailer?

A: Both types of bicycle seats have their safety issues. Because of its low profile, a bicycle trailer, which attaches to the rear axle or frame of a bike and can transport one child age 1 to 6 or so, can be difficult for motorists to see, especially in limited light. (If you go this route, get a 31/2 -foot- to 7-foot-tall, high-visibility orange flag for it.) Trailers are also wider than the bike, so they take up more of the roadway. If you’re riding on the shoulder of a road, which we don’t recommend because we consider trailers “off-road” vehicles, the trailer can stick out into the road if you’re not careful. And trailers can tip over if you

… Read More