Tips to making your bike more enjoyable to ride

We all know the feeling: you’ve got the perfect bike, whether old or new, that you absolutely love. It’s just what you want, except one thing. It doesn’t feel quite right. It nags you when you ride it, possibly even prevents you from riding it more. Then one day you catch yourself wondering, “Is this really the bike for me? Maybe I should look at other options.” Stop there. Back up. Be loyal to your two-wheeled friend and reconsider the implications of those thoughts. New bike, more money, unknown problems or issues, break-in period and, most importantly, betrayal to the bike you love. Soon you’ll find your entire life spiraling out of control as you prowl the streets searching and begging for your next biking fix…

Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. I’ve really seen it happen, though. Almost. On a couple occasions I was fortunate enough to save the poor soul by getting them on the right path and helping them to solve the problems with their old bikes. Simple problems really. Usually cheaper than one would imagine. But, allow me to state this right off the bat: the actual size of the bike cannot be changed. If the frame is too small or large, nothing will fix that. Correctly sizing a bike to a rider is a whole different can of refried beans that I won’t get into here. What I am referring to in this article are slight alterations that will change comfort levels or rider position and, therefore, rider satisfaction. Little things that make a big difference. This is an attempt to sow the seeds of love between you and your beloved bicycle.

Let’s start off with one of the most common problems that I have been hearing recently: rider position. There are so many different configurations of bikes that it is difficult to lump them in to one group. For lack of space (it could take a whole book to talk about each) and fear of losing reader attention, assuming it isn’t already lost, I will abbreviate and try to get a few important points across. Many riders feel they are too hunched over or stretched forward. Older mountain bikes are notorious for this. For the casual rider, raising the position of your hands can make a world of difference. This allows the rider to sit more upright, taking pressure and weight off hands, wrists and shoulders. Also, your back and neck are straightened out more, making it far more comfortable and easier to look around at traffic and terrain. This can be done by installing handlebars that have a “rise” to them or switching out the old stem (the piece that connects the handlebars to the bike) for one that angles up higher. Even a combination of these two changes can be used, depending on what the rider is looking for. I’ve even seen people go so far as to put “ape hangers” on their bikes. This is more of an extreme case and should only be attempted by those who are willing to act out a part from “Easy Rider.”

Another significant but not always so obvious solution lies with the saddle (or seat, in layman’s terms). But which one is best for you? Many assume that bigger and cushier is better. That isn’t necessarily the case. Riders who simply go around the neighborhood or take a quick jaunt to a local watering hole are well suited to have a big, soft saddle. If one typically rides any further or more often than that, a large saddle will actually be detrimental. It chafes more and doesn’t provide enough support. A saddle with more contour and possibly a “cut out” in the center would be better. Nothing fancy. Even just a new saddle that hasn’t been worn out as much will make a big difference. And saddles are very easy to change out. Prior to purchasing a new saddle, one should try adjusting the saddle to a different position. Almost all saddles can be moved forward and back as well as angled differently. Maybe tweaking it slightly one direction will change that feeling of sliding forward or give that extra inch of reach that was needed. It’s worth it to pay extra attention to the part of the bike that your rear is constantly in contact with.

Let’s move on to the other part of the bike that is always at hand, namely the grips (pun not intended). Grips come in an amazing array of sizes and colors. Everything from simple foam and cork to the latest in ergonomically enhanced rubber silicon molded hand rests injected with soothing herbs and made from eco-friendly recycled materials (okay, I made that one up. But it’s not too far off from some that I’ve seen). To the point: try some out and decide for yourself what feels best. You don’t even need to buy and install them. Lately, and with good reason, comfort grips have been very popular. Unlike more traditional styles, comfort grips have a large contoured area where the heel of your hand rests. The weight on your hands is distributed across a larger area and on a softer surface. All it takes is a few moments of riding with these to make one wonder why they didn’t do this years ago. The great part is that they start at around $10.

There are certainly more things that can be done to improve the way your bike feels and operates. My goal here is not to explain them all but to show that there are many simple and economically friendly options to help make your bike more comfortable. This, in turn, will hopefully encourage more riding. So before abandoning your old ride in the shed out back, try to work it out with a few simple improvements. Both you and your bike will love it.

Brian Menkhaus and his wife Dixie are the owners of Bike Peddler in Bozeman, MT. They strive to make riding more enjoyable for all types of riders and can always be found helping cyclists at their shop.