4 More Things You Should Know About Selecting A Bicycle Mirror

This week I had the pleasure of working with the fine folks from CycleAware (a company located in Aptos, California that makes mirrors and other bicycle safety products) at the 2008 Interbike Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was asked to work the CycleAware booth after writing a review of the various types of bicycle mirrors… and I was happy to accept their invitation.

Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How To Plan A Bicycle Tour 6 Months In Advance: Step 3 – Do Your Research

After you’ve created a plan of action, the next step is to do some research.

At this point in the planning process, you may not have decided exactly where you are going to go. All you know at this point is that you are going to go somewhere… and you’ve made a list of the things you will need to accomplish if you are ever to leave home and head out on your big biking adventure.

Once you’ve completed these two tasks, it’s now time to begin doing some research. But by research I don’t mean planning your route. That will come later! Instead, I mean that you need to begin researching the places you are considering traveling to and then using that research to build to the “to-do” list you made in Step 2. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Why Color Is So Important On A Bicycle Tour

Color isn’t something I first thought about when I began traveling by bike, but over the years I’ve come to the realization that color is very important. When traveling by bike, there are a number of areas to pay attention to when selecting colors… and I want to talk about these areas today.

Panniers:

When traveling by bike, most of your days are going to be spent in the saddle. If you are traveling with panniers, you need to make special effort when selecting your pannier colors. As you will see in a moment, color says a lot about you and can instantly determine whether or not you will remain safe while out on the road. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Showers Pass Elite Rain Jacket

Choosing the right jacket for your bicycle tour can be a difficult process. There are a number of jackets to choose from and selecting the one that’s right for you can be a bit tricky.

Luckily, there is a company that makes rain jackets specifically for cyclists. The company is called “Showers Pass” and they specialize in rain related products for people who like to bike. The company makes rain jackets, vests, pants, and shoe covers.

Today, we are going to take a detailed look at the Showers Pass Elite – a jacket that the company claims to be “the ultimate rain jacket that also works well in cool dry weather.” Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Bicycle Touring At Night: A Guide To Riding In The Dark

Riding in the dark is not something many bicycle tourists consider. When night falls, most traveling cyclists are fast asleep, recuperating from a long day of riding. But there are times when riding in the dark is not only possible, but also a good idea!

Today, I want to talk about three reasons for traveling at night and follow that up with a short and simple guide to staying safe when riding in the dark.

It was on my second long distance bicycle tour that I was first introduced to the idea of bicycle touring at night. I was in western Kansas, traveling on the Transamerica bicycle route, and never in my life had I experienced so much wind. Each and every day seemed like a struggle against an impossible breeze… and frankly, I didn’t think I could take much more of it. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

The Cyclists Awareness Test

Watch the video below:

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Selecting A Mirror For Your Bicycle Tour

A mirror is an essential piece of equipment for anyone traveling by bike. Having the ability to see behind you is of great importance, as it is something that could potentially save your life!

I’ve met people in the past who have been hit by a car, attacked from behind, and pushed off the road by a passing RV. But the reason I don’t have a story like that is because I refuse to get on my bike without a mirror.

A bicycle traveler should be constantly aware of his or her surroundings. Without a mirror, you’re putting yourself at risk and increasing your chances of catastrophe out on the road. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In Case Of Emergency: Been Seen With A Road I.D.

I was walking home from work last week when I came across a woman’s wallet laying in the gutter. I stopped in my tracks and looked around to see if I could spot the wallet’s potential owner, but there wasn’t a soul in sight. After waiting a minute or two, I finally picked up the wallet and took it home with me.

Once I got home, I opened it up and found that it was filled with credit cards, gift certificates, $300 in cash, and a whole host of receipts from various businesses in town. The woman’s driver’s license was inside and her address was listed on the ID. According to the license, she lived in Colorado – one state away (Not a trip I could simply make that evening). Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Locking Up Your Bike

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen fully loaded touring bikes left at campsites, completely unguarded, not locked up… just sitting there! Even worse is when I see a bike with a lock around it, but the lock is thrown over a three-foot high post - a post that anyone could simply lift the bike over and walk away with the bike in a matter of seconds!

Today I want to talk about some ways to lock up your bike and your gear so that your possessions don’t get stolen. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Dealing With Extreme Weather Conditions

Being prepared for extreme weather is an essential part of making your bicycle tour a success.

Much of being prepared for extreme weather conditions is about having the right clothing with you. Deciding what clothing to bring and what to leave at home is the tricky part.

To determine what type of clothes you need to bring, you need to do a little research before you leave home. Find out how hot it might get during the day and how cool it may get at night. Once you’ve uncovered this information, go about getting clothes that are appropriate for these weather conditions. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!