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Staying Fit
Which Bike Is for Me?You haven’t ridden a bike since you were a child, but you’re ready to hit the road again. Where to begin?
AdjustmentsScott Kleinschuster makes sure Gwen Hoover’s bike seat is the right height for efficient pedaling, and that her body is properly positioned over the handlebars (below). Hoover just completed her first 100-mile ride and has taken on track cycling at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. 
The Call of the Velodrome...With no gears or brakes (you pedal backward to stop), a track bike is made for fast, short sprints around the track. (Think the 100-yard dash.) The Lehigh Valley Velodrome has classes for children and adults, and lends bikes to get you started. To learn more, visit their website. First, do your homework! “There are more options than when we were kids,” says Cathy Odom, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network exercise physiologist and a cyclist. “You can find a specific style of bike for your type of riding.”You’ll need to spend at least $200 or so for a new bike, and the price goes up as you add features like stronger material, lighter frame and more gears for hill riding. Odom recommends going to a specialty bike shop. “The staff will let you test ride and can fit you with the right-sized bike,” she says. What about a secondhand bike? “You can find a good used bike, but be sure it’s a fair price and your size,” Odom says. “Take an experienced cyclist along to inspect the bike. If you decide to purchase it, take it to a bike shop for a tuneup and adjustment.” Fit makes a difference. When Gwen Hoover of Fogelsville had her road bike adjusted by Scott Kleinschuster, manager of Bike Line in Allentown (see photos at right), she found out why your bike needs to fit your body. Hoover used to get pains in her neck and back because the handlebars were too far away and the seat too low. “Your bike should feel like it’s part of you,” Kleinschuster says. “Frame size, arm and leg position, riding posture and seat height should all be taken into consideration.” As for the type of bike that’s right for you, talk to other riders about what they chose and why. “Ask yourself some basic questions,” Kleinschuster says. “How will I use my bike? How far, fast and often will I ride? Will I ride with others, and what type of biking do they do?” Then you can look at all the options (see photos) and make a smart choice. What is Your Riding Style? |
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