David Roth, an employee at Paul’s Way of Life Bicycles, keeps this cycle in shape with a tune-up. Paul’s bike shop is one of several near campus, including Blue Heron.
Biking is an excellent way to get around Eugene quickly, cheaply and environmentally sanely. Even better, when riding the bus, passengers can take their bikes on the bus for free, everywhere the bus goes.
Several bike shops in town sell used bikes as well as new ones, starting at about $90 for a commuting bike, said Louis Orsini of the Blue Heron Bicycle Shop on 13th Avenue. If you go this route, however, there are facts you should know.
For starters, bicycles are vehicles, and are subject to the same rules of the road as other vehicles. Additionally, the University has rules for biking on campus. Bicyclists can be fined for violating these rules, according to the fines printed in their brochure on bicycle safety, available in the EMU and at the Office of Public Safety.
One thing to note is that — unlike in town — riding on sidewalks is not allowed on campus, and bicycles must be walked where posted. The speed limit on campus is 15 miles per hour.
For those who own a bike, there are some precautions that can help you hang onto it beyond the initial trip to the bookstore.
Register the bike with the Office of Public Safety. This greatly enhances the chances of retrieving the bike should it be stolen. Always lock your bike, regardless of how quick your stop will be, warns the Department of Public Safety. Lock the bike in a lighted, well-travelled area.
To start, a good U-lock used correctly keeps thieves away. As a minimum, Orsini reminds students to lock both the frame and the rear wheel onto a sturdy rack. Better yet, have a cable lock as well, and lock the wheels onto the frame with that, he said. A Kryptonite U-lock, which he recommends, runs from $25 and up.
When Bicycle Magazine tested locks in a recent issue, they broke almost all of the cheaper Taiwanese U-locks within three minutes, Orsini said.
“The only lock they didn’t break was the Kryptonite ‘New York,’” he said.
As far as preventative maintenance goes, everyone should know how to change tires and keep the chain and drive train in good condition, REI employee Matt Simonds said. Other than fixing a flat, knowing how to change and adjust brake pads, lube and adjust the drive train, and when to change a chain would also not hurt, he said.
“The number one road side hazard is flats,” he said.
Most bike shops carry tire protectors, which are narrow ribbons of puncture resistant material that go between the tire and the inner tube. They help keep nails, glass and other sharp objects, Simonds said.
Orsini adds that the wet weather, which inevitably sets in as fall rolls around, is hard on bikes. It is even more important to lube and clean the chain when the weather is nasty, he said.
Chains typically live six months with normal commuting. Those who change chains before they break and wear out too much prolong the life of the much more expensive drive train.
When chains are left on too long, they stretch. The longer chain puts more stress and wear on the sprockets, rear derailleurs and the rear hub, which then has to be changed along with the chain.
Newer bikes typically have aluminum rims. When the brake pads push on wet rims, they produce aluminum oxide, which is acts like sand paper and is extremely damaging to the tires. Orsini suggests that people clean their rims every once in a while to prolong the lives of the tires.
People should own a basic tool set to make minor adjustments on the go. An all-in-one Allen wrench tool (with at least a No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 wrench), a chain tool, tire levers, air pump and a patch kit makes a nice collection. In addition, a few screwdrivers and a set of open-end wrenches at home helps keep that bike in working order, Simonds suggested.
“If you are a little mechanically inclined, there are several manuals out there to get a hand on maintenance yourself,” Orsini said. “And the UO Craft Center offers bike doctor classes every term.”
But when something unknown turns up, when the bike is just not riding well and seems out of tune, Simonds and Orsini agreed it’s time to see the mechanic. A full tune-up at the Blue Heron, which includes a thorough run-through of the entire bike, costs approximately $40.
