Camelbak is a well known brand name out on the trail or road. They make a huge variety of hydration packs for outdoor enthusiasts, whether you're a hiker, trail runner, mountain biker, speed racer, Camelbak should have a pack that you'll like. I struggled when choosing mine as I hadn't biked more than 5 miles at that point so I wasn't sure what I'd need/want. I did know that I'm able to go ...

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Long before I actually found myself on a bike, wobbling down a crowded street, I was accompanying Mike to his favorite destinations. Bike stores. At that time, bikes all pretty much looked the same to me...and the bike clothes were all pretty much black and made for men. In fact, the bike stores we frequented were filled with guys, both store employees and customers. (To you single girls, ...

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How To Fix a Flat from Biking Society on Vimeo.

Fixing a flat is one of those essential life lessons if you're a cyclist (or driver) that you really should learn but that many of us put off. I generally have Mike with me on rides so I always thought, where's the need? Well, on our last big group ride, we broke up into two groups and of course, I got a flat. Out of the group of four that I ...

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You know the saying "he/she learned it the hard way"? Well, on the many group bike trips we've taken this past season, I've learned what it's like to be without, pretty much, every one of the above items. And let me tell you...it sucked. You can get  away without some of the items shown above, but on the rare occasion you need it, you'll be really sorry you didn't just chuck it into your ...

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If you've spent any time in New York City, Philadelphia or a large college town, you've probably seen them without even knowing it.  Fixed Gear bikes (or "fixies") have been becoming so popular, that almost every major bike maker has at least 1 model that meets that description.  But you don't need to BUY a fixie, you can make one quite easily and cheaply. I switched my single speed to fixed a ...

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Stock saddles are rubbish.  Any veteran cyclist will tell you that they'll replace the stock saddle before their cheeks even touch it.  Bike manufacturers are already up against a tight budget to build bikes these days, and they certainly aren't going to splurge on a saddle for you.

After my 5th or 6th uncomfortable ride on my stock saddle, I had had enough.  I began my search for the ...

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When you're a bike addict like Mike, you'll ride anywhere, regardless of cars, bad roads, angry drivers, crazy hills and so on. But as a novice who isn't fully confident on a bike, these things compound into you putting off your ride for another day. I didn't have that opportunity as I had Mike pushing me to get out and learn, albeit in the crazy roads of North Jersey. Talk about trial by ...

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Many people ask me, "How did you get into biking?"  That's a good question considering I walk everywhere with a Bicycling Magazine and consider every minute I'm not on my bike a wasted one. Perhaps it's also a good question since I have 3 bikes to my name and am always on the lookout for number 4.  It's an awesome question for someone who considers the biggest upgrade on their car to be the ...

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This is my first winter as a cyclist and as the weather started getting a little chillier, I realized it was time to acquire a pair of tights. Now I know you addicted cyclists have piles of gear that you've accumulated, leg warmers and tights and knickers and on and on...but for those who are just starting the gear acquisition phase, it can be a bit overwhelming. Chamois or not, zipper leg or ...

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Mike (aka the bike addict) and I (aka the bike novice) formed a meetup group called NJ Biking, Eating & Drinking in March 2009. We did it because well, Mike pretty much eats, sleeps, breathes bikes and I wanted to try it out. As a country girl from Texas, I spent my childhood riding horses, not bikes, so I was a total novice and the hard core biking meetup groups in our area were WAY too ...

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