As the leaves budded out this spring, I knew it was time to get a new bike. So I called Nina Pienaar from the Boise Bicycle Project to get some tips about how to get into (or back into) cycling.
What etiquette do novice bikers often miss out on?
“If you are riding on the Greenbelt, especially this time of the year, there are a lot of folks out there, so it’s really good to be a respectful and responsible rider … The correct way to pass someone is to ring your bell to let them know that you're coming, slow down before you reach them, say ‘on your left,’ and then you can pass. If there is someone approaching from the opposite direction, don't squeeze by. Don't make people feel uncomfortable and feel like they need to jump out of your way.”
What are the safety habits that veteran cyclists should pass on to beginners?
“Number one for me is eye contact. If I see a vehicle approaching and I'm not a hundred percent sure [the driver] is gonna stop or that they have seen me, I make sure that we meet eyes. If we don't lock eyes, that means they probably have not seen me. If we lock eyes and they acknowledge my presence, I feel a little bit more comfortable proceeding through an intersection.
“Number two is being predictable. So often because bikes are very nimble — we can hop up and down curbs, we're in the bike lane, we're out of the bike lane because there’s often an obstruction in the bike lane, and so we swerve out of the way — that seems great to us. But it can also be really difficult for vehicles to read where we're going next.”
How should someone start the bike shopping process?
“If you’re walking through our front doors, you’ll be met with warm, friendly faces, and a mechanic will walk you through all the bikes that we have on the shop floor. Those bikes typically run between $300 to $600, or we have a DIY option as well.
“Get [a bike] you’re excited about. If you walk through our doors and nothing is quite what you wanted, come back the next week and I can guarantee you that we’ll have a whole new feed of bikes on the floor.”
