Yes, you most certainly can. Getting around the city on two wheels is a healthy choice that goes beyond fitness. Taking your bike instead of a fossil-fueled vehicle helps to reduce greenhouse emissions such as CO2 which right along with deforestation, is one of the leading contributors to global warming. For those who are already taking bikes or ready to take the next step to bicycle commuting, just a little south of town, on West Temple, The Bicycle Collective is definitely a resource you should be aware of if you aren’t already.
The Bicycle Collective: Tell me more…
Not only can you repair a bike or purchase a used bike at the Collective, as a non-profit, they supply hundreds of bikes to adults and kids in need each year and teach free repair classes.
2312 S. West Temple. SLC
801-FAT-BIKE (328-2453)
My bicycle is a road bike, which has very thin high-pressure tires. Versus a mountain bike with thicker more sturdy tires makes them much more susceptible to damage and requires frequent maintenance. The advantage of road bikes is that they are lightweight and clip along at a nice speed on smooth bike paths and roads.
Having the confidence and the equipment to repair bike tires has been an ongoing dilemma, and when they act up, often run over to a local bike shop and have them do the work. Last Saturday evening, headed out to meet friends and within minutes, noticed that something was up with my front tire. On closer inspection, the wheel was bulging out—not good—having one blow up before, which is not only dangerous but incredibly loud.
Before retreating back home on foot, realized that I was only a short distance away from the Bicycle Collective. And within minutes, my bike was up on a repair stand with a table of tools at the ready. With the help of a staff member Cole, he diagnosed the issue (a bum wheel) and gave me the needed replacement, tools and taught by demonstration, placing the actual hands-on work back in my court.
Wow!! With slightly blackened hands from stretching the new tire onto the wheel hub, I left the Bicycle Collective with not only a workable bike, like a right of passage, felt empowered with my tire-repair knowledge and was on my merry way.
Need another excuse to get riding? Our weather is perfect, the new Parley’s Trail is dope and smiles come to bicyclists a lot more than you’ll ever get inside a vehicle. So, attach on some reflector lights (most needed at dusk), wear your flipping helmet and get out there.
To read more SLC community-related posts like these, visit here.
