Out and About – Week of May 27th

Now that we’re experiencing some great outdoor weather, more and more folks are out riding their bicycles. It’s great exercise and quite an economical way to get Out and About. Here are a few simple suggestions and rules that will make your riding safer:

Wear a helmet to protect yourself in case you take a tumble.
Ride in the street whenever possible, and ride with the flow of traffic.
Observe and obey all traffic signs, especially stop signs. Stop signs are meant for all road traffic. You can be cited for failure to do so.
When riding in the downtown business district, stay off the sidewalk. If you must use the sidewalk, walk your bicycle.
When riding, wear bright colors, especially during the hours of darkness.
Make sure your bicycle has a headlamp and reflectors.
Watch for other traffic. You can see them better than they can see you.
Just like a car or truck, a bicycle should be checked periodically to make sure it’s going to operate smoothly and not give you any mechanical problems. Here are five tips that might make your riding experience more enjoyable. This periodic check shouldn’t take you any more than two minutes:

Straddle your front wheel, grab the handlebar and attempt to rotate it. Nothing should move.
Spin the front wheel; it should turn freely. Press both your tires to check for sufficient pressure.
If you have handbrakes, squeeze the front brake. It should grip the metal rim of the wheel snugly. Now try to roll the bike forward; the rear wheel should come off the ground. Do the same with the rear brake. Roll the bike backward to force the front wheel off the ground.
Attempt to wiggle the pedal-crank; it should not move. Spin the pedals; they should spin freely. Jiggle your seat; it should not rotate.
Last, but not least, life your bike a few inches off the ground and drop it. Nothing should fall off. If you discover a problem during this check and can’t fix the problem yourself, have a bicycle mechanic check everything out. You don’t want to have a problem when you’re five miles out of town.
Three Simple Rules in Life

If you do not go after what you want, you will never have it.
If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.
If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place.
A truck loaded with Vicks Vapor Rub overturned on the highway. Amazingly, there was no congestion for eight hours.

Here’s a bit of common sense that might make it easier for you to get along with others: Before you assume, learn the facts. Before you judge, understand why. Before you hurt someone, feel. Before you speak, think. Remember, everything you see or read on Facebook isn’t always the truth.

“There are two ways of spreading light – to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”\

~ Edith Wharton

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman