With spring’s arrival, many Eugene residents are rolling their bicycles out of garages for commuting or recreational use, and a local sports equipment store wants to ensure that those bicycles are kept in safe working condition.
Recreational Equipment Incorporated will give a free bike maintenance clinic Monday at 7 p.m. at the Eugene store, located at 306 Lawrence St.
The clinic, hosted by Jeff Althouse, an REI service manager and graduate of Barnett Bicycle Institute’s Master Technician Program, will address de-winterizing bikes and day-to-day maintenance.
“I’m going to leave it open,” Althouse said, regarding the clinic’s material. “Most people who come to clinics have a good idea what they want to learn.”
In addition to answering questions, Althouse plans to describe methods for checking and maintaining tires, wheels, brakes and gears.
Althouse said that before he rides his bike, he always checks his brakes, tire pressure and drive train.
Most bicyclists aren’t as meticulous about maintenance as is Althouse, Outdoor Program coordinator Dan Geiger said.
“It’s probably one of those things all of us let slide,” he said. “It’s human nature to be lazy and let things go until they reach that critical breakdown state.”
Althouse warns that letting bicycle maintenance slide can be dangerous, and he hopes to drive that point home at Monday’s clinic.
“I’ve been cycling for quite some time and have seen a lot of people get into accidents, many caused by technical problems,” he said. “If people have well-adjusted and well-maintained bikes, they’ll have a better time.”
Eugene REI store manager Lisa Snell said the purpose of the workshop is twofold: to encourage people to ride safely and to bring more customers into the store. Snell said previous bicycle clinics have drawn anywhere between 12 and 50 people.