It’s National Bike Month, and we’re all looking forward to having more company in the bike lane. But if you’re a beginning rider, knowing the basic rules of the road might not be enough. Here are a few common traps for new cyclists—and simple fixes to make riding more safe and enjoyable. Experiencing pain in the front of your knee? Your seat is probably too low, causing you to under-extend your pedal stroke. At the right seat height, your knee should be slightly bent at the bottom of your pedal stroke, when the crankarm is parallel to the seat tube, not perpendicular to the ground. To check this, pedal unclipped with your heels on the pedals. You should barely maintain contact with the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, without rocking your pelvis. Measure the distance between the bottom bracket and the top of the seat. This is your seat height. It should be very close to the product of your inseam (in centimeters) multiplied by 0.883. Enter your email address You may unsubscribe at any time.

Assume you need all the best gear You don’t need fancy clothes, clipped-in shoes, or a top-of-the-line bike to become a cyclist. motorcycle shops in smyrna tnSure, slick equipment can be a lot of fun, but there’s nothing like smoking a bunch of high-end carbon bikes on a climb when you’re riding an old beater. motorcycle dealers eau claire wiThe important thing is that you just get out there and ride—and worry about any potential upgrades later.motorcycle helmet regulation singapore How your bike fits you is the most important aspect of riding. If the fit is painful, you’re not going to spend much time in the saddle, no matter how excited you are to ride that new bike.

To get the right fit, two elements are key: seat height and reach. The seat height should be high enough to give you a very slight bend in your knee when your foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Proper reach means your arms and torso make a 45-degree angle over the bike. Too long, and your back will be sore reaching for the handlebars; too short, and your knees will be too close to your arms. When you’re shopping for a bike, make sure to take it for a test ride to see that the size is correct for you. RELATED: The Right Way to Get Adults Riding Bikes Not maintaining your bike You don’t have to be a pro wrench, but routine maintenance will not only save you a bundle at the bike shop but also prolong the life of your bike. Check out these three super-easy maintenance tasks your bike mechanic wishes you’d do. Too much too soon One of the biggest sources of injury comes from trying to take on too much mileage before you’re ready. Build up slowly, ease in, and give your body time to adjust to new distances.

Similarly, if you’re on a training ride, don’t start too fast and risk burnout and fatigue in the second half. Warm up during the first third of the ride, then settle into a rhythm for the second, and give it everything you’ve got for the final third. Not carrying a spare or a patch kit One minute you’re out there on the trail, cruising along with the perfect tailwind, having the time of your life. Then that unmistakable sound of air hissing out of your tires shatters your peaceful reverie, and the party is over. If your flat tire backup plan is to phone a friend, take a few minutes and check out this guide to changing a tube or patching one. You won’t believe how much more independent you’ll feel with the proper tools on hand—a spare, a patch kit, levers, and a mini-pump—and the know-how to get yourself back on the road in 15 minutes. Not using your gears Gears are your best friends on a climb, and your greatest source of speed on a long, rolling stretch.

But it does take a little practice to get the hang of when and how to shift into your most efficient gear. Here’s a basic guide to using all your gears. Not respecting the pack Group rides have their own protocol and etiquette for a reason—it’s easy to cause a crash if your riding isn’t predictable. If it’s your first time riding with a new group, hang at the back, observe, and ask for help if you need it. For more on group-riding rules and technique, check out this article. If you’re only riding for an hour, you don’t need to eat on the bike (but bring water). But if you’re planning to ride over two hours, bring a snack along and start eating 45 minutes to an hour into your ride, and continue to eat small amounts every 15 to 20 minutes. Forgetting to refuel can put your body into a deficit and cause you to bonk—or go into a hypoglycemic state. Tiredness, irritability, dizziness, nausea, confusion—it’s not a strong way to finish a ride.Stunt RidersStunt BikeRyder StyleLakeland FlFmx PhotosCrazy MotorbikeAuto StuntsBike StuntersMotorcyle StuntsForwardStuntwars stunt riders - Seen them in Lakeland, FL one year.

What a show they put onDucati's Scrambler isn't just a retro, isn't just a cafe racer, and isn't just a flat tracker. It's all those things, and also probably the best all-around fun motorcycle you can buy. IndefinitelyWild is a lifestyle column telling the story of adventure travel in the outdoors, the vehicles and gear that get us there, and the people we meet along the way. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In 2014, Ducati did the unthinkable. The current dominator of the sportsbike arms race—its performance bikes are now the most powerful, lightest weight, and highest spec in nearly every segment—launched something that was the exact opposite. The Scrambler didn’t set out to be the fastest bike on the market, it simply set out to be the most fun, for any rider. With an 800cc v-twin, that first model set out to strike the proverbial Goldilocks balance, but was still a little too much for brand-new riders. Today, the new Sixty2 sets out to address that disparity.

With half the engine capacity and half the power, can it be just right for beginners? Even though it has half the engine capacity, the Sixty2 is much more than half a Scrambler. In fact, it’s pretty much the same bike, just fitted with a smaller, 399cc version of the same, Monster-derived, air-cooled v-twin. Dimensions are identical—both have a very low, 31.1-inch seat height—and even the outright weights are close enough as to be indistinguishable on the road. The 800cc bike weighs in at 410 pounds (wet). The Sixty2: 403 pounds. There are some minor mechanical differences, like brake calipers (the bigger bike uses a single 330-millimeter disc with a four-piston caliper, while the Sixty2 has a 320-millimeter disc with two piston caliper), and the Sixty2 appears to wear forks and an exhaust that aren’t quite as nice. But that’s about it. The rest are the same top-notch Ducati ingredients, namely a steel trellis frame and minimal bodywork, now fitted with a friendly, upright riding position and handsome, retro styling. 

Ducati launched its original Scrambler model (a 250cc single) way back in 1962. Like this new bike, the namesake was a fun all-rounder, with a little more dirt capability than most street bikes, but nowhere near the same off-road performance as a real dirt bike.  Either size Scrambler will be about the best city bike you can buy. Photo: DucatiAlready friendly and accessible at 800cc, this smaller Scrambler is going to be an odd fit for the American market. In other countries, taxes, high insurance rates, and even age restrictions pegged to motor capacity and performance combine to keep many inexperienced, young, or budget-minded riders on small-capacity bikes. And the Sixty2’s 399cc capacity neatly undercuts the 400cc limit that’s present in places like Japan and Australia. Here, the model is being imported to appeal to totally new riders who nonetheless want to buy a new Ducati. It’s priced $1,000 below its big brother, and its engine is substantially less intimidating to the inexperienced.

Where, on the bigger bike, the initial surge of torque delivered as you pull away from a dead stop can catch you by surprise, the Sixty2’s delivery is decidedly friendlier and easier to manage.  Virtually identical to the larger bike, the Sixty2 is the most substantial, classy entry-level motorcycle you can buy. Photo: DucatiWhile the 800cc Scrambler will eventually be available in four different styles, the Sixty2 sticks with the basic concept. Free of adornment, it’s a little retro, a little cafe, a little flat track, and a little classic Ducati. All that’s a good thing. Where rivals from brands like Triumph, Harley-Davidson, and Moto Guzzi attempt to ape past models from the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Scrambler feels like a unique, modern motorcycle that nevertheless fulfills the current fashion for old-looking bikes. It should also be noted that, so far as entry-level bikes go, this Ducati looks and feels vastly more substantial than 250 to 500cc learner bikes from the likes of Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, or Kawasaki.

It’s small enough to be manageable, but large enough that it doesn’t feel like a toy.  Fun, easy to ride, and stylish, the Scrambler is an ideal companion to transport you to non-riding adventures. Photo: DucatiThe 800cc Scrambler is confidence inspiring, emotive, comfortable, and easy. All traits the Sixty2 shares, just with a easier-going engine that retains the uneven character of a v-twin, but doesn’t hit quite as hard low in its rev range. The Sixty2 is most at home in the city, where its light weight, wide bars, and upright riding position make easy work of dense traffic and potholed streets. Its 41 horsepower and 26 pound-feet of torque are still capable of winning stoplight drag races against virtually any car, and it keeps ahead of traffic on the highway just fine, too. Climb into the mountains to find good roads, and you’ll need to use the gearbox to get some extra oomph. But there’s still plenty on tap to make back roads fun—and to put your license at risk. 

With such upright riding positions and wide handlebars, neither model is totally at home on the highway, but a few hours cruising in the left lane are totally doable on both. You’ll just need to shift down to pass on the Sixty2.  The Scrambler's banana seat isn't just a nice retro touch, it's comfortable for you, and a passenger too. Photo: Ducati The Sixty2 will be available in this bright orange, or the muted black you can see in the top photo. Photo: DucatiDucati has delivered a motorcycle that is even more new-rider friendly than the 800cc Scrambler. And one that feels and rides much nicer than entry level bikes from the Japanese competition, at an admittedly higher price. But here's the thing: we still don't think you should buy it. Motorcycling isn’t something you can just purchase (or finance). It’s a lifelong challenge in which you trade freedom for danger, excitement for responsibility, and give up ever having to sit in traffic again for getting wet, cold, and, at some point, injured.