bike chick tip

happy wednesday!!last week was crazy and i had a lot to catch up on with so without further ado...

bike chick tip #5- handle bars, stems & grips...oh my!

so assuming you all have a bike that you like, it is time to play with your bike and really make it yours! so lets start with handle bars. there are a bunch of different handle bars out there that can give riding a different experience. both of my bikes have 3 speed handle bars which i find to be very comfortable, easy to handle and they don't knock my knees when turning....although on long bike rides where i am required to climb hills they are not the most appropriate but there is no way i would change each time i went on one of those rides :D for the most part the 3 speed handle bars are the most versatile  and probably the most common. they go with a lot of bikes styles and are more of a classic look.

 please excuse my ninja turtle toes and mismatching socks!

the drop handle bars are another handle bar that is popular. i don't like them as much because they seem narrow, and the handling is a lot more touchy but they are great for climbing hills because when riding uphill i tend to put my hands closer to the stem to help give me more momentum and long distance because they have lots of different positions to rest your hands so your wrists don't get as tired. its just something about them....these are also another classic look but can have more of an athletic look to them but also can serve for any classic or more modern bike.

cruiser bars which are an extreme variation on the 3 speed handle bars but they are really generally only for cruisers. since they have a wider frame and riders on cruiser bikes tend to sit lower on the bike it makes for easier wider turns and your knees won't knock when turning.

below are some other handle bars of which i have not had the pleasure of trying but they are all variations on the 3-speed so they might work for your situation depending what your needs are.

above three images via velo-orange

so if you really like your handle bars and you either feel that you are maybe putting too much pressure on your wrists or your bars are hitting your knees while turning you might want to look into getting a taller stem. the stem fits into the bike frame and what connects to the handle bars. velo-orange is a site that we use a lot and they have some great stems to maybe look into, nitto brand stems are top-notch :)

finally, the grips...this is where it can get fun. i like my bikes to look more classic so i lean towards a more classic grip...i really love my faux leather grips on urusla and plus they have a bit of a cushion as i like to squeeze my grips while riding. i have been wanting to change the grips on mary as they are extremely boring but they are really nice because 1) they are squeezable (made out of some type of foam) and 2) they have a hand like shape to them so they are really comfortable and fit the contour of my grip.

there are some really great grips out there and for a while i had tennis racket tape on my bars which i really liked but they got dirty fast because they were white. keep color in mind because i hated when they got brown from my dirty hands so they got replaced constantly...tape is a really great option for sparks of color and they have cotton, leather and vinyl type tapes out there but with this you don't get much comfort and they can be more maintenance. because the tape wraps around the handle bars you don't get a cushion that other grips can provide... you can play with adding foam to the handle bars and then applying tape over it but once you have taped the foam it is extremely hard to remove. or if you are extremely crafty and super talented you can crochet some super cute grip covers to put on your ugly grips...hey that is a really great idea...i just might try that out myself!!

well enjoy my dears!!

xo,
cb

bike chick tip wednesday!

hello again and welcome to another bike chick wednesday! i will start right and apologize for all the crotch shots but your crotch is an important consideration while searching for that special bike!

bike chick tip #3 : bike fitting

it is very important that your bike fit you in a way that is comfortable for you as well as efficient. as i mentioned in my last post going to a bike store is the most convenient place to try out a bike. this way if you have never rode a bike before you can stand over different models and see what size bike fits you best and what is most comfortable. it is best to go to a bike shop where they sell old and new bikes this way you can feel the difference between old and new bikes. often new bikes are sold small, medium or large where as old bikes are sized in cm/inches like: 49cm, 52cm, 60cm....the frame size is measured from the seat tube to the center of the bottom bracket...often they also go by the standover height.

                                                                          courtesy of dynamic bike

these #'s are especially important as many people use these two types of measurements when selling on craigslist and is an easy way to spot if a bike will be too small or too big for you. so here are some images of what comfortable stand over height looks like...

 ladies or mixte frames have a sloping top tube(s) which make the stand over height different then a road bike so it is also important that when riding any bike when pedaling that your leg is able to almost fully extend so that your knees aren't tired while riding and so that you also get the most power while pedaling. this type of bike makes it easy to get on and off a bike as well as being the best for riding in a dress or skirt :D

mountain bikes also usually have sloping top tubes but a less severe slope.  but since the top tube is slightly sloped you still have to swing your leg around to get on or off the bike.

 lastly the road bike. these are the most tricky because they have a straight top tube and the picture sbove shows what a too big bike looks like when standing over it. notice that i am standing on my tippy toes which is a huge no no as it can be dangerous if you slip off the pedals...trust me you don't want that to happen to your lady bits...i know it... doesn't feel good!


just remember that getting a size frame that fits you is the most important! you can change out seat, seat post, handle bars and handle bar stems later which i will also go over :D


if you have any questions just let me know and i will be more than happy to help out!!


 xo,

cb