Bicycling Accessories Add to the Enjoyment
By Kevin Conway, Shape Up Shop contributor
This is a great time to be a bicyclist.
The choices available for biking have never been greater -- whether
your interest is in racing, touring, getting some exercise or just
running errands on your bike. Your choices range from inexpensive
to the luxurious, and you can choose from a multitude of road, mountain,
hybrid or recumbent bicycles.
Popular bike manufacturers -- Schwinn, Trek, Raleigh and others --
continue to roll out new models to suit every taste in bicycling.
 Much
of the recent interest in bicycling is a result of Lance Armstrong's
performances in the Tour de France, the world's pre-eminent bike race.
The fact that most of us are not in the pro biking category doesn't
deter us from admiring his accomplishments or sometimes attempting
to emulate his accomplishments in our own ways.
Many local, county and state governments provide funding for the
creation of bike paths and/or bike lanes along new roadways. Some
government agencies, notably in crowded urban areas, are turning to
commuting lanes for bicyclists in an attempt to alleviate some of
the rush hour traffic woes -- and perhaps as an admission that building
more and more highways for more and more cars and trucks cannot continue
forever.
Some people bicycle out of necessity -- a set of wheels in some
family budgets means a two-wheeler with handlebars. Others who can
afford a car (and the attendent costs for insurance, gas, regular
maintenance, etc.) choose to commute on a bike for what they see as
more practical matters -- they don't want to contribute any more to
global warming or don't want to send another dime to domestic or overseas
oil cartels.
Most municipalities have their own set of laws concerning bicycling
... and some enforce those laws more stringently than others. Most
of the municipal laws are of the "common sense" variety,
but it's a good idea to check whenever you're bicycling in a new place.
 Biking
is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of every age group. Who
doesn't remember their very first bicycle as a child, the terror-filled
hours trying to learn how to stay balanced on your bike while pedaling
(even with training wheels!) or the rush of freedom you felt when
you were old enough to take off on your own for the very first time
-- even if it was just a quick spin to the end of the block and back?
One of the great joys of childhood is exploring nearby areas on
your bicycle -- places that would have been considered too far away
to walk.
A corresponding joy of adulthood is helping our children learn how
to ride a bike and seeing the joy on their faces when they realize
they're "doing it on their own."
Whatever your reasons for bicycling, there are certain things that
can add to your enjoyment and safety. These are just a few of them
-- and they're all available to order through this site:
- A good water
bottle and holder
 .
This is a must in the summer and worth having most of the year.
You'll still have to stop to re-fill it if you're biking for any
distance, but at least you can start your biking without having
to worry about dehydration.
- A safety helmet.
These are really important for children and not a bad idea for adults.
Why?, you ask? One word -- pavement. It's a lot tougher than our
heads.
- A speedometer/odometer.
It's fun to know how fast you're going -- whether you're spinning
along a flat stretch of city street or country road, straining up
a steep hill or racing down the other side of that hill. And the
odometer adds to the fun when you start keeping track of your miles
-- day by day, week by week, month by month. You'll be amazed at
how many miles you pedaled by the end of the year.
- A local map
and/or guidebook for new places when you're on vacation or traveling.
- A tire pump
and emergency patch kit.
You never know when you're going to need these, but it's better
to be safe than stranded.
- Comfortable
clothing (that's appropriate for the weather) and a backpack
if required.
- A good bike
lock.
You don't want to encourage a theft of opportunity, whether your
bike is an inexpensive off-the-shelf model or a custom-built beauty.
- Any other
accessories that you require.
Happy biking!
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