| My days of running for pleasure and exercise ended | | | | benefits when you're road-biking; you're gaining on |
| when I moved to the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. | | | | the entire stroke instead of only the downward push. |
| I had been living in the relatively flat Willamette River | | | | 4. Hydration pack (a backpack with a water-bladder - |
| Valley where there were miles of level bark running | | | | Camelbak brand is an example). My first one was a |
| trails. Now in the Gorge, I encountered rocky, steep | | | | gift, or I might never have tried one. Now I love |
| trails that were torture to my hips and knees. It was | | | | having 100 ounces of water easily available, instead |
| time to find a replacement for running. | | | | of that goofy move where you have to reach down |
| The Gorge of the Columbia River is a recreation | | | | and get the water bottle out of the rack, lift your |
| mecca that's especially attractive to mountain bike | | | | head to drink - losing sight of the trail, and then |
| riders and windsurfers. Swimming doesn't appeal to | | | | fumbling the water bottle back into the rack. No |
| me, so I decided to check out mountain biking. In the | | | | wonder I hardly ever drank enough during rides and |
| end, that was among the best decisions I've made, | | | | ended up slightly dehydrated every time. I also |
| but I began with caution. For one thing, I didn't know | | | | appreciate that the pack holds my keys, cell phone, |
| if my interest would last. That's why I started by | | | | energy bar, and rain jacket. |
| getting a low-end bike (that had some serious weight | | | | A suggestion: You'll still want to keep a full water |
| problems) It was a clunker, looking back on it now. I | | | | bottle on your bike. It's good defense against dogs |
| also held back on investing in some of the biking | | | | that chase you. Get good at your aim and you can |
| 'gear'. It's not that I'm cheap - it's just that much of it | | | | land a squirt without missing a stroke. It's very |
| seemed to be for hip-ness instead of usefulness. | | | | satisfying, and the dog will run away. |
| However, after using a few of the items, I | | | | 5. Safety goggles - yellow. Of course, you should |
| understood that while the gear might make you look | | | | have protection for your eyes, but I wondered |
| 'cool', it also really does help you function better. Here | | | | about the necessity of yellow or orange lenses. |
| are 7 of my favorite pieces that I didn't think I'd care | | | | Seemed like poser- gear when I began to see them |
| about (back in my post- runner/pre-biker days) and | | | | around. Then I used a pair. What difference in |
| now I wouldn't dream of being without. | | | | visibility! The yellow lenses really do brighten up shady |
| 1. Padded shorts. If you mountain bike, road bike, or | | | | trails and they help you a lot during overcast or |
| both, make the investment in having these. Purely | | | | lower-light times of day. |
| and simply, your ride will be more comfortable. | | | | 6. Half-finger gloves. The palms are padded, so that |
| 2. Well-vented helmet. You've got to buy a helmet | | | | feels nice on long rides. The best part is what they |
| anyway, right? If you don't wear one you're crazy. | | | | do for you on wipe-outs, which are bound to happen. |
| Spend the extra bucks to get one made of the | | | | I've gotten lots of scraped knees, but my hands |
| super-strong material that affords lots of vents to | | | | always come out feeling fine. |
| help keep you from over- heating. And in the case of | | | | 7. The Bike. Once I realized that biking was not only |
| helmets, you get what you pay for: the higher-end | | | | a great alternative to running for the sake of my |
| helmets are easier to adjust for a better fit. | | | | joints, but it was more fun in general, I gave the |
| 3. Pedals and shoes with cleats (clipless). After a bit | | | | clunker away. Then I invested in a good bike - |
| of a learning curve on how to release quickly and be | | | | lightweight frame and components, with suspension. |
| able to lock-in going up hill, clipless becomes as | | | | It's a pure delight to ride on a well-made machine. |
| automatic as shifting gears. You especially notice the | | | | |