How to Make a Bicycle First Aid Kit for Kids

My children and I enjoy taking short bicycle trips across the valley. Whether it’s a trip on designated bike paths or a two hour jaunt up into the foothills, we never leave our car without our bicycle first aid kit.

There are bicycle first aid kits you can purchase for around $20. I prefer to make my own, and customize it for the sorts of emergencies a parent can expect with children. Because this kit will travel with you on your bicycle, it must be compact and lightweight. With the items listed below, you should be well prepared for the usual scrapes, sprains, cuts, and bug bites that typically happen on family bicycle outings.

How to assemble your bicycle first aid kit

The first thing you will need is a water proof container. A zippered or plastic or vinyl cosmetic bag works very well; these can usually be purchased at …

Save Energy: Buy a Bicycle and Ride it Every Day

As the oil crunch becomes more pronounced, Americans are looking for more ways to save energy, and more to the point, gas.

Bicycles, always a popular mode of transportation in Europe and other parts of the world, are becoming more and more ubiquitous in the United States.

The very first bicycle ever is reputed to be the Draisienne, invented in Germany by Baron Von Drais. It was made almost all of wood and was operated by pushing one’s feet against the ground.

Bicycles since then have evolved into carefully designed high tech machinery utilizing lightweight metallurgy and ergonomic designs that cater to the older American as well as children and everyone in between.

Buying a bicycle today can be an exercise in frustration and riding one in traffic an even more fearful event, especially for those Americans who haven’t straddled one since their youth.

Seek the advice of your local …

Bicycle Child Seats: Get Fit While Spending Quality Time with Your Child

Every parent wants to give to their baby the best experiences in life. Yet the constant effort to keep your child happy and involved can leave you exhausted. Too often the one thing let go to make room for your baby is the time you need to renew yourself. If you are not careful to take the time to renew your own self, the time you spend with your baby will eventually suffer. What was once quality time will become a chore and both of you will feel the difference.

But what if there was a way to begin including your child in the things that you do so you both begin to benefit and the quality of your time together becomes even stronger?

If you enjoy riding bicycles, the answer is already here. If cycling was not something you did before, the ease at which this new baby seat …

Improving Bicycle Access to Nature Lands

The bicycle as we know it; has been a fixture throughout the world for over 150 years. Some early designs can be dated easily to the early 1820's. As a mode of transportation people from around the globe have adapted the bicycle to their needs and still rely on the simplicity over motorized vehicles to this day. In regards to green transportation, only walking can be considered in comparison to the bike. Add to the green component high fuel prices, and many commuters are now using bicycles for part, or all of their daily trips to and from work.

With such a rich history it is difficult to understand why the National Parks System is less than accepting to bicycles on park lands. Until recently, bicycles were only allowed on roads and paths that were open to all vehicles. During the summer of 2012 a rule change provided park superintendents …

Bicycle Maintenance: Upkeep Provides Smoother Bike Rides Overnight

Have you ever been riding your bike out on a nice, sunny day, but seemed like you were peddling maybe a little bit more than usual? What about a tire that wobbled? I know it's not everyday you get asked this but, when was the last time you gave your bike a checkup? Silly as it may sound, your personal bikes need tender loving care too. Let's talk about some of the things you should keep in mind before you take your next bike ride.

Before you begin maintenance on your bike it's always best to make sure your have the proper tools which could include tire pumps, chain tools, chain lubricant, tire repair kits, rags, screw drivers and allen wrenches to start with. Another handy piece of paper that could come in handy is the owners manual, if you still have it. For some reason many consumers tend to …

Bicycling: Inexpensive Bicycle Accessories

A wide variety of accessories are available for bicycles, some of them quite affordable. Here are some inexpensive accessories to consider adding to your bicycle…

BOTTLE HOLDER: A bicycle bottle holder, or "cage", can be purchased for under $10 with some exceptions (like ultra-light models or units which come with a bottle). Some of these can hold regular twenty-ounce soda bottles; re-using a bottle of this type for water, if desired, is cheaper than buying a new bike water bottle. Usually they are held on by two screws, make sure it is possible to install one of these on your bicycle before purchasing it.

BICYCLE LIGHT: Some flashlights which can be mounted on your bicycle cost under $10, sometimes as inexpensive as $7. They may use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) or traditional light bulbs. LEDs use less electricity and usually last longer. Some bicycle lights have a feature which makes …

Product Review: The Electra Bicycle

So you had a bicycle when you were a kid but did you have one like the Electra Bicycle? The Electra Bicycle is a retro two-wheeler that is the perfect cure for getting you back into shape. Now where the Electra Bicycle looks retro, make no mistakes, it is ready to take on the 21st century with is unique and smooth gear system.

It doesn't really matter what climate you live in because cycling is a year round sport. If you really want to get in shape and stay in shape, and look cute, The Electra Bicycle might be the next piece of workout equipment added to your collection. At least with the Electra Bicycle you can "take it outside," and enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and watch the leaves change.

The vintage looking Electra Bicycle comes with spring-loaded comfort saddles, an awesome gear system, and coaster brakes. The …

Bicycle Safety: Reminders Before Riding

Bicycling has become a popular pastime not only for recreation but for transportation as well. It is a good idea to review the basics before incorporating bike riding into your routine.

BELLS and WHISTLES 
Wear a whistle on a chain or ribbon around your neck when riding a bike in traffic. It is louder and shriller than a conventional horn.

HILLS 
When climbing hills on a bike, do not hunch over the handlebars. It does not give more power but rather constricts your breathing.

WATER
Brake lightly, tapping gently, when braking on or after wet or slick surfaces. This maneuver will successfully whisk water off of your bicycle tires.

SKIDS
Do not try to move the wheel of your bicycle if you go into a skid. Steady the bike in the direction it is moving, tapping the brakes until completely stopped.

LOOSE GRAVEL
When riding a bike on …

How to Clean a Bicycle: Removing Rust, Dirt, Etc.

3 Ways to Remove Rust from a Bike - wikiHow

3 Ways to Remove Rust from a Bike - wikiHow3 Ways to Remove Rust from a Bike - wikiHowI adored riding my bike when I was a child. My dad fixed up my old bicycle when I was 8 years old, painted it purple, put a cute basket on the front and showed me how to clean a bicycle so that it would last a long time. Sadly, my oldest son never enjoyed riding his toddler bike and my middle son does not seem interested either. It lies in our backyard collecting dirt and rust. When preschool bike day came along for my oldest, I had to pull out of my head everything my dad taught me about how to clean a bicycle. Even though my son preferred the preschool’s tricycle over his bike, at least his bike was clean and shiny!

If you have a bike that you will need to clean often, buying a bicycle stand will be helpful. It is easier to clean a bicycle …

Bicycle Safety: Riding on Sidewalks

For many cyclists not comfortable with city riding, sidewalks seem the obvious choice. Unfortunately, this natural instinct proves to be more dangerous if done carelessly. Cyclists should be very careful about how they choose to ride, and riding on the sidewalks can be beneficial, or illegal, depending on how and when you do it.

The First Rule

Bicycles are considered moving vehicles. Typically, they are “slow moving vehicles,” but they are vehicles nevertheless. Thus, they belong on the road. Excepting limited access highways and very high speed areas, bicycles belong on the road, and we, as cyclists, should not hesitate to assert our rights in this regard. By riding responsibly, in vehicle lanes within plain sight, we are actually minimizing risks to ourselves.

Ideally, we only belong on the sidewalks when roads are too fast, inaccessible, or otherwise dangerous. Sidewalks are for walking, that is to say pedestrians, and …