Category: Free Inquiry

A month into the biking journey! Wow how time flies! I’ve been biking pretty consistently for two main reasons: As a form of cardio work since a leg injury has been preventing me from running as much as I usually do. Also has a practical form of transportation for errands and social activities.

That second one might sound like a no-brainer but I really didn’t expect myself to be using my bike for these purposes as much as I am. This past month I’ve biked to the gym, to the public library, to friends’ houses, and to lunch spots. It’s wonderful! These places I usually either bus or walk to, because driving my truck around Victoria can be such a hassle, but biking is so much faster and un-confined by schedules and stops.

With regard to cardio, biking has been the perfect way to get my heart rate up without straining my leg. I find that an hour-long bike ride somehow tires me out more than an hour-long run. I don’t really understand how that works but I found a sports science study that explores this topic and seems to validate my experience.

My dad gave me his old phone mount so I’m hoping to get that attached latter this week!

Overall, I’ve been really happy with my progress. It’s felt like a really natural addition to the routines I already have established, and with the weather getting nicer and my leg injury the timing couldn’t be better.

Upon initial inspection of the bike, it’s clear even to a complete amateur such as myself that both wheels need new tubes. My first course of action was to reach out to my cousin, Evan, an avid mountain biker who conveniently lives a block away from me. He said he’d be happy to help me put new tubes in. Excellent.

The next order of business was acquiring new tubes. I call up Oak Bay Bikes. “So I need two new tubes for my bike, what information do I need to bring to the shop to make sure I get the right ones?” I’m informed about a string of numbers that can be found on the edge of my tire that convey the wheel dimensions. Bringing these numbers to the bike shop, the proper tubes are bestowed upon me for $13.50 apiece.

I wheel my bike over to Evan’s along with my new tubes, tire pump, and some fresh baked biscotti as an expression of my gratitude. Evan did a great job of going step by step through the process of replacing the tubes.

1. Remove the bike wheels from the frame.
2. Pry the tire from the rim using a tire lever and remove the old tube.
3. Inspect the old tube and inside of the tire for sharp objects that may have caused the deflation.
4. Insert the tube valve into the rim and line up the new tube along the rim.
5. Work the tire over the rim and tube using one or two tire levers. This part takes the longest because you have to make sure the tube isn’t pinched or twisted and that the tire is completely flush against the rim.
6. Reattach the wheels to the frame.
7. Pump up the tires and you’re good to go!

Evan also fixed my wobbly handlebars by tightening a specific screw with an allen key. So simple. He recommended I look into buying a bike multitool so I can do minor repairs and tuneups myself, although he assured me I’m always welcome to bring the bike back to his place if there’s anything I need help with.

After this intro to bike repairs, I’m feeling a lot more confident in my ability to take care of my bike and I’m very grateful for Evan and the OBB guys for their support.

I adopted my mom’s bike 3 years ago and have used it approximately 6 times since. Partially because cycling in Victoria makes me fear for my corporal safety, partially because I don’t like showing up places sweaty so biking doesn’t really fit as a convenient mode of everyday transportation, and partially because the tires are chrononically flat and the handlebars move up and down of their own volition. So this bike has sat, stagnant as pond water, in my apartment’s bike room for 2.5 years. I walk past it everyday, feeling a sharp stab of guilt in my heart as I avert my gaze from that dark corner of the bike room.

But things are going to change now. Over the next couple months I’m going to get my bike in adequate riding condition and establish a weekly bike ride routine with the ultimate goal of biking to class one day toward the end of the semester and hopefully not be too egregiously sweaty or full of terror upon arrival. With this blog, I’ll document the tune-up process, my weekly bike ride adventures, and the lead-up to my bike-to-school experience. Through this journey, I endeavour to gain confidence in road cycling, build skills in bike mechanics, and develop a passion for cycling that has laid dormant in a musty bike room for the past 2.5 years.

I plan on taking advantage of a diverse toolbox of resources for this project. Including my personal connections to amateur bike experts, the services of my neighbourhood bike shop, the ParkTool Youtube channel, and the Strava app.

Stay tuned for more…