With winter in full swing, it is a pleasure to think about the long rides you will be taking in the warmer months. If you ride all winter long then you will be ready to gradually take more ambitious rides as the weather permits. If you don’t ride through the winter, consider starting a little bit earlier this year. You can also use a stationary bike or take a spinning class. Any kind of aerobic exercise is helpful.
Early spring is a good time to take your bike(s) into the shop for a tuneup. Even if you have not been riding though the winter, a bike that has been in storage may need some adjustments and lubrication. Try to get it done before the beginning of April, that way you will beat the rush. Check your gear before your first ride. If you bring along a pump and a spare inner tube when you ride make sure the pump works and inflate the inner tube to test whether it is still good. Also see if you can open and shut your quick release brakes. If you ride through the winter or store your bike outside they can get very stiff. Lubricate if necessary.
As the weather improves I start going on longer rides. My legs are in pretty good shape from riding all winter, but it takes me a while before I can do a three hour ride without feeling stiffness in my upper and middle back. After a couple of weeks of steady riding the stiffness goes away. One thing I love about biking is that it doesn’t take too long to build up to more strenuous rides, but remember to add mileage incrementally. On the first beautiful day of spring, it is tempting to get out and do 30 miles but if you haven’t built up to it you will feel it the next day.
A long ride means different things to different people. For some a long ride is 10 miles, for others it is 70 miles or more. For me a long ride is one that gets me away from town and out into the countryside. On the first ride of the season I feel a sense of joy and freedom. I remember how much I love the Vermont countryside and biking through it. It is also wonderful to be warm without having to bundle up, but be careful, spring in Vermont can be fickle and deceptive. In April it can be sunny and breezy and it looks like perfect bike weather but make sure you check the forecast. Even with the sun, 45 degrees with a stiff breeze will soon make you cold.
Once the warm weather really kicks in, I am ready to go. If you are leaving in the morning, set out all you equipment the night before. I have a summer riding checklist. My life is ruled by checklists because I am absent minded. If I don’t use a checklist, I am sure to leave something important behind. I teach swimming and do laps at the YMCA and before I started using a checklist, on different trips to the Y, I forgot my towel, my bathing suit, clean clothes to change into, goggles and my shaving supplies! Here are some of the items on my summer bike ride list:
Snacks - Usually dried or fresh fruit and trail mix or a granola bar
Map - I like to use a paper map in addition to the one on my phone
Bike Tool - This multi-use tool is helpful for making minor adjustments during the ride
Water - I bring one water bottle. Some people bring more but on most routes I know where I can stop to get a refill
Phone, Wallet, Keys - make sure you stow these in a safe place, preferably a fanny pack or a pocket with a zipper
Lock - Even if you are only going to be leaving your bike for a minute, make sure you lock it up
Sun Glasses - I always bring along my sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sun and glare
Clear Glasses - Clear glasses are great if you leave early in the morning or ride into the evening
Lights: I ride with two front lights and two back lights
I have a pump, extra inner tube and tire tools on all of my bikes so those items doesn’t need to go on my checklist.
I favor morning rides in the summer. It is cooler and there is also less traffic. I set out all my equipment the night before the ride so it only takes me a few minutes to get ready to go in the morning. I don’t own a car, so my rides always start at my front door. Sometimes I expand my range by taking a bus out of town and riding back home. I check the schedule and make sure I am at the bus stop a few minutes early. Mostly I take the Saint Albans bus which has a stop near my house. There are two spaces on the front rack for bikes, and early in the morning one or both of the spaces are usually available.
It has been a long cold winter but sooner or later winter will end and the warm riding days will be upon us!
About the Author: Peter Burns is a long-time bike enthusiast, and one of the original year-round bike riders in the greater Burlington area. In addition to writing about walking and biking, Peter teaches a variety of bike workshops. He also works at a group home for people with psychiatric disabilities, teaches classes for the Vermont Humanities Council, teaches swimming at the Burlington YMCA, and is a regular host of Storytelling VT. You can contact Peter at heatofhistory @ gmail.com.