Gear up with A/J: How to Maintain your Ride!

Graphic: Anežka Gočová

As part of the Bike2Work Challenge, we're partnering with Alternatives Journal to promote their Bike Month blog series. Gear up with Alternatives Journal and read about How to Maintain your Ride!

After a season of navigating the wintery roads or being stationed in the garage, your bike could probably use a little TLC. Or you might be in the market for a new set of wheels. In this first post of our Bike Month blog series, Gear Up with A\J, we’re sharing some key things you need to know for maintaining your ride. 

Read the full article online at http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/community/blogs/aj-special-delivery/gear-aj-how-maintain-your-ride 

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If you’re reading this blog, you could win a free bike by completing the BikeKitchener cycling survey. Fill it out online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bikekitchener2013. #BikeKitchener 

Here goes...

They say you never forget how to ride a bike.....and they're right.  The prospect of getting some great exercise by riding to work was appealing.  But having the use of the beautiful piece of iron (aluminium moulded by the elves at Trek if you must know) provided by Ziggy'*s made the prospect exciting indeed. My chosen path down Weber Street is rather busy but my first morning found me worrying more about the weather.  Cold and clear meant an extra layer and traffic on the way was not bad at all.  I left myself a little room for error but made the 7.5 run in 21 minutes which left lots of time to shower before work (thanks Mr. Heffner!*).  The ride home was a little slower being mostly uphill and  the traffic was a little busier but all in all a pleasant ride.  My next ride I'm going to try Margaret Avenue and its friendly bikelanes and cut over to East ave to skip some of the Weber street traffic.  Looking forward to some warmer weather this week!

Nikola M

*shameless plug for the wonderful service from Ziggy's and my employers forthought to install showers.


If you’re reading this blog, you could win a free bike by completing the BikeKitchener cycling survey. Fill it out online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bikekitchener2013. #BikeKitchener

Black Forest Inn

What can I say! I cheated, got too excited and started early! I have been biking to work for a week now and I am loving it! Although I do wish that cars would be more careful with cyclists on the road (Please stop cutting me off! LOL) But you win some, you lose some! This is why we need to make sure we are using the lights on our bike and being safe! On my first journey it took me one hour to get to the Black Forest Inn! And the amount I was sweating was unbelievable! Even the baby hills were too much for me to handle (cycling up Victoria toward Westmount!)! However now I can conquer those without a problem! I have also gotten my route down to about 40 minutes depending on the wind!

Overall last week I biked 161 km, I’m feeling pretty good! The problems that I am struggling with are the wind! Boy, once I hit Northfeild and it’s open country, the wind can really pick up! I also think the wind is out to get me – whether I am biking home, or to work - I am always biking in the wind! On my first unofficial Bike2Work week I avoided King Street at all costs and busier streets because I was not comfortable on them – however Downtown Kitchener has amazing Bike lanes, as do a lot of the roads in town! It makes me feel safer while biking! It’s always nice when the cars go around you! I really do appreciate that!

I would also like to thank Ziggies for donating the bikes to this competition! I am so glad that I was able to retire the bike whose brakes do not work and actually commit to this challenge! I am feeling great and I am not event drinking coffee in the morning! I did not think that I would end up loving the bike to work – however it is something that I am enjoying even more than I thought!

 If you’re reading this blog, you could win a free bike by completing the BikeKitchener cycling survey. Fill it out online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bikekitchener2013. #BikeKitchener

 Keep following my blog! Steph M (Black Forest Inn – Conestogo)

What a great ride....

Day 1 and what a great ride!  I retired my old faithful bike to the shed and thoroughly enjoyed my first commute to work on the new Trek- I didn't even mind biking into the wind on the way home!  I love this bike!
Cheryl W.

If you’re reading this blog, you could win a free bike by completing the BikeKitchener cycling survey. Fill it out online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bikekitchener2013. #BikeKitchener

First day!

Well day one is over and I can't wait for bed!! I left my house at 8:20 a.m. and arrived to work 20 km and one hour later (which was a half hour less than I estimated), riding a much nicer bike! I love my new bike!!. I love the biking lanes that are on parts of Homer Watson Blvd. This made me feel safer and more at ease. I realized on my ride in just how much I missed cycling! When I got to work, I felt energized and ready for my day!..........my ride home? not so much fun. Biking up hill most of my way and against the wind made my ride very challenging! Riding home took me one hour and 20 minutes and boy was I hungry when I got there!! Highlight of my riding today? Two small kids with their Dad standing at the edge of the road waiting to high five me :)  Over all, I think my first day of biking to work went well and I am looking forward to Wednesday! I am so excited that my daughter, Kelsey has decided to bike to school this month and my best friend has also decided to bike to work!

Safe cycling Everyone!!!
Kathryn Walker

If you’re reading this blog, you could win a free bike by completing the BikeKitchener cycling survey. Fill it out online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bikekitchener2013. #BikeKitchener

And the Challenge finally began ….

Did the last week feel long to you, too? Well, let me tell you, if Ziggy's Cycle & Sport had given you a brand new bike at BikeFest last Sunday and made you wait to actually use it until today, then last week did feel long! But hey, I’m not complaining. Quite the opposite! The super friendly staff at Ziggy’s has done an excellent job getting us all ready for this first day of our Bike2Work Challenge. From custom fitting bikes and helmets to teaching us how to properly shift gears and fix a flat tire to lots of tips and tricks on how to safely ride and securely park these speedy new bikes. A big thank-you to everyone at Ziggy’s for that!!!

- Nik and Chris in front of the 16 band new bikes at Bike Fest -
- Cheryl practicing how to change a tube under Michael's guidance -
- Nik demonstrating how to properly shift gears -

So today, the challenge finally began! And I am wondering how many of us hit the roads this morning. Gauging from the enthusiasm and excitement I sensed at Ziggy's on Saturday morning, I wouldn't be surprised if it was 16/16!? It certainly started of chilly: when I heard "7 degree (feels like 3!)" on the radio this morning, I had to grab a second layer of clothing. But once I got going, I warmed up pretty quick, and by the time I got to the office, only my toes felt a little cold. There are a couple of nice steep hills along my route and I hope to master those a little faster over time, but over all I was quite happy with my two rides today. I decided to track them with my phone; feel free to check them out online: http://www.runtastic.com/en/users/chris-g-99
The weather looks good for the next couple of days, so I'm excited to do it all over again :-)

Happy and safe cycling everyone, Chris

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If you’re reading this blog, you could win a free bike by completing the BikeKitchener cycling survey. Fill it out online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bikekitchener2013. #BikeKitchener

Get involved in the Bike2Work Challenge and win some great prizes!

Hello everyone,

The Bike2Work 2013 Challenge officially begins on June 3rd! Learn more about the 16 participants by clicking here and be sure to follow the blog posts to learn more about their cycling experiences in the city.

Each week, we'll also be providing opportunities for people to win prizes by getting involved in the blog. Be sure to subscribe to the blog and check back regularly for chances to win helmets, bike locks, water bottles, and more! Be sure to include #BikeKitchener in all your cycling related tweets!

Lastly, please take a few minutes to complete our BikeKitchener cycling survey. This is an important tool to gather community feedback on cycling related matters in the City, and it's open to anyone - whether you ride a bike or not!

If you have any questions or comments in regards to the Bike2Work Challenge or cycling in general, feel free to contact me.

Have a great weekend and we look forward to starting the challenge next week!

Josh Joseph

Transportation Demand Management Coordinator | Transportation Services | City of Kitchener 519-741-2200 ext. 7152 | TTY 1-866-969-9994 | josh.joseph@kitchener.ca