May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. We are extremely fortunate that in Columbia we have a world class network of paved and limestone trails, bike lanes, lightly traveled rural gravel and asphalt roads and single track mountain bike loops basically a doorstep away. One might even go so far as to say that Columbia, Missouri is one of the country’s hidden cycling gems. Bicycling magazine thinks so — we were recently rated as the 42nd most bike friendly city in the nation.
To get a good feel for the current cycling-friendly projects that the city (and Boone County) are working on, please visit Pednet, a nonprofit alternative transportation advocacy group in Columbia. The fine folks at Pednet have assisted in cycling-related development and have pushed for many of the infrastructure changes and redesigns that have made our city so welcoming to cyclists and pedestrians. Their website also offers solid information about non-motorized advocacy and opportunities to get involved at the ground level.
Our very own library is offering a session called “Safe Cycling and Flat Repair” on Saturday, June 17. The program will be taught by two experts in safe cycling and bike repair from Pednet and will feature hands-on demonstrations and assistance with fixing a flat tire. A common reason people do not feel confident about jumping on their bikes and hitting the trail is that they are unable to fix a flat, which is by far the most common bike maintenance issue. Flats can befall anyone while on a ride, even with the best tires and wheels. To further your education about bicycle maintenance and safety, I also recommend several books at the library. One of the classics of all time is “Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance” by Leonard Zinn. The 5th edition was released last year and features many updated sections related to items now commonly seen on even entry level bikes: disc brakes, electronic shifting and tubeless tires. You also might want to check out the “Ultimate Bicycle Owner’s Guide” by Eben Weiss, aka the “Bike Snob.” He’s former racer (and someone who constantly pokes fun at the elitist culture of “racing” cyclists), but don’t let the name fool you. Weiss is anything but a bike snob and has a finger on the pulse of how intimidating and difficult learning about cycling can be as a beginner.
My brother and I have been avid cyclists for years, and many moons ago raced on the amateur level. Although we don’t race anymore, our passion remains for the sport. As a token of our continued love for the cycling lifestyle, we send one another bicycle related books on our respective birthdays. My latest gift was a fine volume related to the history of cycling in the United States, “The Mechanical Horse” by Margaret Gurrof. A little known fact about cycling in the United States is how the sport helped ignite several different trends: better roads and women’s rights. About the latter, Gurrof says: “It wasn’t just that women enjoyed the physical sensation of riding — the rush of balancing and cruising. What made the bicycle truly liberating was its fundamental incompatibility with many of the limits placed on women.”
Finally, don’t forget to check out one of our cycling related guidebooks. The essential Katy Trail Guidebook by Brett Dufur is in its 10th edition and has been updated to include new information about the Katy Trail expansion, as well as updated camping and lodging information. As Dufur says “The trail is an easily accessible doorway to the rich natural abundance of our state. It’s our longest welcome mat from which to experience the heritage of our state and nation along the Missouri River.”
Happy pedaling!!
Image credit: Mt. Hood Territory, Bicycling at Wildwood Recreation Site via Flickr (license)
