Join us for Bike to Work Week next week. Log your rides on GACommuteoptions.com and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate. We have 8 to give away!
On Tuesday we will do a ride on the PATH with Decatur police- this will be a 4 mile ride on the PATH and bike lanes. Meet in front of the Decatur Police station; we will leave promptly at 1 pm. Please be sure to wear your helmet!
Stop by our Bike to Work Energizer Station on Friday between 7 and 9 am for a Chick-fil-a biscuit and some bike month give-aways. Then on Friday night we will host our Third Friday Bike Ride. Meet in front of the Decatur Recreation Center and be ready to ride at 6:30 pm. We will ride approximately 6 miles at a social pace. This ride is not recommended for children.
For more information on biking in Decatur click here.
Today, we are going to look at what a properly fitted bike looks like and how to complete bike checks before every ride to make sure your bike is functioning properly and that you will have a safe, smooth ride.
A few things to keep in mind to ensure a good bike fit:
Make sure you have the correct frame size: To help test this, stand over your bike with both feet on the floor. With a top tube that is straight across and parallel to the ground, you should have about one inch of clearance from the bike to your crotch. If you have a sloping tube (more common with mountain bikes) you should haveabout two or three inches.
Have a good body position: Aim for a slight bend in your arms while youare riding so you can comfortably reach the brakes.
Seat height: Your seat should line up with your hip bone when you areoff and standing next to your bike. At the bottom of each pedal stroke you should have a slight bend in your knee.
The bottom line: Bike fit is all about comfort. You will not want to ride your bike if you do not feel comfortable, so make sure you feel great while riding your bike!
Fitting kids’ bikes: With any top-tube style, the stand over height should have about two to four inches of clearance. Many kids’ bikes are made so the kids can ride in a more upright position. That being said, they should feel comfortable on their bike, grip the handlebars with a slight bend in their elbows, and be able to easily reach their brakes. Their legs should also slightly bend at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
Safety checks: Before each ride you should conduct a short bike safety checklist to make sure your bike is working properly. Doing this will help your bike have a longer life, and will help prevent problems during your rides.
Follow these steps before every ride:
Air: Ensure your ties are inflated enough. If you are unsure what pressure to pump your pedals to, check the sidewall of your tire, which should tell you the range you should be in. The images below are examples of tire pressure maximums/ranges on tires.
Brakes: Squeeze your front and rear brakes to make sure they are engaging and functioning properly.
Chain: Check your chain and all of your gears. Make sure your chain is not rusted, if it is it needs to be replaced. Clean your chain if there is a lot of dirt and filth. Spin your pedals backwards when you are off your bike and listen for any abnormal noises. Your chain should easily move over the cogs without skipping, squealing, or grinding. Keeping your chain lubricated will also help it last longer and help you shift gears easier.
Wheels: Hold the handlebars of your bike in one hand and grab the front wheel in your other hand. Try to move the wheel side-to-side. There should not be any movement in this direction. Next, spin the front wheel. The wheel should look smooth, and should not wobble or make a grinding noise. If it does, do not ride your bike and have it looked at by a bicycle mechanic. Repeat this on your back wheel.
Stem: The stem is located at the front, where the handlebarsconnect to the bike. To ensure that it is secure and functioning properly, stand at the front of the bike with the front wheel between your legs. Hold on to the handlebars and try and move them side-to-side without moving your wheel. If the handlebar moves, do not ride your bike, and have it looked at by a bicycle mechanic.
Pumping your tires: Pumping your tires is essential for bikes! That being said, it can be difficult to know how to inflate your tires properly, so here are some outlined steps to help: Before you begin pumping up your tires you need to know what pressure to pump to. This information is usually located on the side of your tire. There should be a range, for example 75-90 PSI (pounds per square inch). Inflate your tires towards the higher end of the range when you are riding on paved paths, the road, or smooth trails. Inflate them towards the lower end when you are riding on rough and bumpy roads or paths (i.e. mountain biking).
To begin pumping up your tires, locate the valve (on the inside of your wheel frame), and take off the plastic cap. Then, unscrew the small nut on the top.
Attach your bike pump to your bike and ensure that it is attached correctly. You should not hear any leaking air, and if you do, take off the pump head and attach it again.
Pump your bike to your desired tire pressure. There should be a built-in gauge on your bike pump that you can use.
When you are done, take off the pump head, screw in the tiny nuty back tightly, and place the plastic cap back on.
Repeat on your other tire.
And that’s it for this week’s post! As always, stay tuned for next week’s post which will be all about what to bring on bike rides, biking in the dark, and hand signals.
Guest contributor Herman Samana shares information on creating a butterfly garden in your yard.
We all have real power to make a positive difference in protecting the Monarch butterfly and making it thrive. Here are some simple ideas to get you started.
Plant milkweed
Plant milkweed for monarch butterflies and caterpillars to eat, and they will come. Make sure you grow milkweed in full sun, in clusters of at least six plants, or those hungry caterpillars will run out of food quickly. That way, they’ll produce enough nectar for all of the wonderful butterflies that visit your garden.
You should also:
Try not to use pesticides and look for natural solutions whenever possible.
Provide runways near water sources so butterflies can drink safely.
Butterflies like safe spaces where they can sit at night, such as trees and bushes or flat rocks in the sun for the butterflies to relax.
Take care of plants carefully – a life cycle can occur under a tree leaf at any time! Stay away from using peat-based compost.
You can even go the extra mile and register your place as a Monarch Waystation.
Types of milkweed to plant — and other plants Monarchs love
Here is just a handful of the many plants that will attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden.
The types of milkweed Monarch butterflies love best include swamp milkweed, showy milkweed, and butterfly milkweed.
Nectar plants they enjoy include Joe Pye weed, Mexican sunflower ‘torch’, butterfly bushes, and buddleja buzz.
Pollinator plants they feed on include native wildflowers that will do well in the soil and sunlight conditions in your garden.
For the Western U.S., check out these planting resources for more ideas about what to plant.
Blueprint for a Butterfly Garden
When considering the physical space and layout of a butterfly garden, there are some essential ideas and necessary steps one need to take to help the butterflies thrive successfully:
Consider the physical space and plan a design that works for your garden.
Designate space for wild disarray. Dead foliage on the ground and tall, wild grasses are a favorite hibernating spot for some caterpillars and pupae.
Plan for sunny areas and partially shaded areas.
Research what kind of conditions and planting practices will promote optimal growth for nectar/pollinator plants in your region.
An easy way to make sure your bike is in good working order is to do an ABC Quick Check.
Air: Be sure you have enough air in your tires Brakes: Look to see that your brake pads are not worn Chain and Cranks: Pull on your cranks to see that they are not loose and look to see that the chain is not rusted and it is free of gunk Quick Release: Make sure all quick releases are closed Check: Take a slow brief ride to check that your bike is working properly
As with anytime you leave your home it’s always good practice to have identification, a cell phone, and cash.
Bike Lock Your standard equipment should include a good lock—you’ll need it if you are going to leave your bike unattended for even a very short amount of time. For the best security, use a cable lock to loop through your seat and a U-lock to link the bike frame and front wheel to the bike rack. A heavy chain lock can do all three, but keep in mind they can be heavy to carry.
Only bring the tools for the work you know how to do.
You will also want to bring some water and a snack if you are doing a longer ride.
There is no need to go out and buy special cycling gear – you can ride in your everyday clothes.
Riding in the cold: Wearing layers is the best way to control your body temperature. Gloves and ear warmers are particularly helpful when trying to stay warm.
Riding in the dark or rain: Wear bright clothing as you should make special efforts to see and be seen. Hi-Vis yellow and green are best colors for visibility — you will want to steer clear of dark colors.
If your chain doesn’t have a guard on it, you can roll up your pants legs to keep from getting caught.
For this week’s post we are going to dive deeper into bike helmets. I will highlight how to find the perfect helmet, what to look for in a good helmet, and when to replace it.
First, how should a helmet fit? Overall, your helmet should fit snugly, level on your head, and not rock back and forth or side to side.
To find the perfect helmet fit:
Make sure you have the correct size: Try on multiple different helmetsand adjust the fit ring (located on the back) until your helmet is snug.
Check to make sure your helmet is in the correct position: Your helmetshould sit level and pretty low on your forehead. Check this by placing one or two fingers above your eyebrow. If there is too much space, your helmet should be lower on your forehead to ensure the greatest protection.
Check your straps: Your side straps should sit under and a little in frontof your ears (the straps should form a “V” shape). Adjust your chin strap so that only one or two fingers fit snugly under the strap. This part is very important, because you do not want your chin strap to be too loose!
Do an overall check to make sure your helmet is fitted correctly: Yourhelmet should not rock back and forth or side to side. On the other hand, make sure it is not too tight that it chokes you or is uncomfortable to the point that you won’t wear it. Another way to test your helmet fit is to open your mouth widely. Your helmetshould pull down on your head and you should feel pressure. Do these simple checks before you ride to ensure a perfect (and safe) helmet fit!
Other things to look for when buying a helmet: Whenever you buy a helmet look for a sticker that says it’s CPSC certified. Do you know what a CPSC sticker is? CPSC stands for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and they regulate and promote the safety of products. What this means for bike helmets is that the helmet has been tested and approved by the CPSC standards. Before you buy a helmet make sure there is a sticker on the helmet (usually on the inside of the helmet) that names the standard, and states specific information.
Take a look at the labels on these two different bike helmets to see examples of what this sticker can look like.
How to know when to replace your helmet?
The most important thing to remember is to replace your helmet after one impact. This means to replace your helmet if you ever fall from your bike, even if you do not visibly see any damage. This is because the foam material inside the helmet will crush to help absorb the impact from the crash and the materials will not be protective from another impact. This is why it is important to still replace your helmet after a crash even if visibly on the outside of the helmet it looks fine.
But should you replace your helmet after a long time of use even if it does not look damaged? Yes! A good rule of thumb is to replace your helmet after about every five years, because of the natural wear and tear. But be sure to also buy a new helmet if it looks broken or cracked.
Taking care of your helmet:
Taking good care of your helmet is also crucial. Never sit or lean on your helmet, and never intentionally throw or slam it against the ground. Additionally, try and store it in a place that is not too hot or cold.
That’s all for this week’s post! I hope you learned something new about helmets, or just had a refresher. Stay tuned for next week’s post all about properly fitted bikes, bike checks before rides, and tire pressure!
Wearing a bike helmet improperly is like not wearing a helmet at all!
Fitting a Helmet: • Place it on your head without fastening the straps • There should be a two-fingers width between your eyebrows and helmet • There should be little movement when you shake your head from side to side • You will want to start out with the smallest size– you may have to try on different sizes and brands of helmets until you find one that fits
Adjusting Your Helmet: • The side straps should come to a point just below your ears forming a “Y” shape • When your mouth is closed, there should be about half an inch between the chin strap and your chin
The City of Decatur has been recognized by the Walk Friendly Communities Program as a Gold Level Walk Friendly Community (WFC) for its commitment to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, comfortable and inviting places to walk. Decatur has previously been recognized as Silver Walk Friendly Communities, and the new designation demonstrates a sustained commitment to prioritizing people on foot. Decatur is the smallest city of its size to achieve Gold recognition!
“As an avid walker and former Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, I am extremely proud of the efforts of the city of Decatur to earn the designation of a Gold Walk Friendly city,” said Mayor Patti Garrett.” The benefits of walking, to both physical and mental health, are well-documented and have been especially important over the last year.”
WFC is a national recognition program developed to encourage cities and towns across the United States to develop and support walking environments with an emphasis on safety, mobility, access and comfort. Sponsored by FedEx and managed by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC), the program distinguishes communities leading the way in walkability and seeks to share their stories to inspire other communities to move toward their own innovative solutions. In the 11 years since the program began, it has recognized 78 cities across 32 States with Walk Friendly designations.
Highlights of Decatur’s application include:
Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, the City was able to continue numerous outreach efforts and public events that encourage people to walk. These events include FAB First Friday, Walk There! Decatur events, and a range of other encouragement campaigns to promote active transportation and health.
The City updated its Community Transportation Plan in 2018, which drives its investment in walking and pedestrian-oriented programs. The chapters devoted to pedestrians and bicyclists address existing services for these users, as well as priority networks and a list of recommended improvements and policies.
Decatur updated its shared parking ordinance to reduce parking minimums and set new maximums for parking. They are incentivizing mixed-use developments with shared parking allowance, in one case reducing 510 spaces to 350 spaces.
For a small community, Decatur has a dense and walkable core where nearly all trips are possible on foot. Their community is well connected to other destinations throughout the metro Atlanta region by MARTA transit services, and the City’s transit stations are optimized for bicycling and walking connections.
Connections to regional destinations are at the center of the City’s partnership with the PATH Foundation, which was formalized with the Decatur PATH Foundation Connectivity and Implementation Plan. This collaboration is working toward nearly ten miles of bicycle and pedestrian trail improvements along seven segments that will create critical regional connections to Decatur.
Decatur has had a strong Safe Routes to School program since 2005, when it participated in a pilot program with GDOT.
Steps to Fitting a Bike Frame: • Straddle the bike and stand in front of the seat • Lift the front and rear wheels off of the ground until it touches you • If it is a road bike, there should be 1-2 inches between the tires and the ground • For a mountain or hybrid bike, there should s be 3-4 inches Another way to test the fit of a frame: When you’re sitting on the bike and one pedal is pushed all the way down, there should be a slight bend in your knee.
Cheryl Burnette
Greg White
Portia Langley
saraeholmes