It’s 9:30 in the morning and I’m riding to work. I come upon an intersection and slow my bike. I have a stop sign. The intersecting street does not. I’m scanning for cars when another cyclist whips by me on my left and zooms into the insection. Then I see a car. The other cyclist also sees the car and attempts to stop. A chorus of squeeling is unleashed from the bike’s brakes. The car is going too fast to react but somehow the cyclist manages not to end up on the car’s hood and continues through the intersection. I’m amazed.

Thomas Birks

I decide to lay back and observe this cyclist as he continues his way along the bike lane. What do I find? At every intersection he’s is putting himself into danger because his brakes aren’t working. At one intersection a car is attempting to make a right turn at a red light. The cyclist comes upon the motorist. The car’s turn signal is flashing but the cyclist can’t stop quickly enough to stay out of the motorist’s way. Luckily the motorist is patient and paying attention. The driver waits for the cyclist to come to an awkward stop before making the turn. Another accident is narrowly avoided.

I follow the cyclist all the way to my turn. I’m relieved and amazed to see that he has managed not to get hit in the ten or so blocks that I’ve been watching. Maybe this guy has some kind of deity looking out for him… maybe he’s just lucky. I don’t know. What I do know is that he’s needlessly endangering himself.

The brakeless cyclist is an extreme example but I witness plenty of smaller ills everyday. Gears that won’t shift, chains so dry that they groan, grossly out of true wheels, loose headsets and more can be observed on the streets and paths of Denver. A poorly maintained bike isn’t always dangerous but it is inefficent and annoying.

A bicycle is a simple machine, but it’s still a machine. It’s parts need to be maintained in order for it to operate properly. Some maintainance is simple. Lubing the chain and airing up the tires come to mind. Many repairs can be made with basic tools and good instruction. Other repairs require specialized tools and knowledge. It’s up to you whether you want to perform maintainance and repairs yourself or find someone to do it for you. But if you are going to be riding, maintainance is going to have to be done.

by Thomas Birks, BikeDenver Volunteer

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