If you saw my first post, my spring was spent reviewing and testing many road bikes and I’ve been asked…what did I buy? I purchased a Specialized Dolce. Since purchasing, I attended a free maintenance workshop at The Wheel Thing to learn how to change the tube, as well as various maintenance techniques to keep it running smoothly. After the initial first 5 mile ride, I heard some rubbing of the chains so I went to the bike shop. They said that was a smart thing – take it for a 5 mile ride to start getting the ‘new bike’ kinks worked out. The employee made a couple of adjustments, explained what he was doing, and gave me great tips.
On my bike, I carry two bags. One on the top tube and one on the seatpost. In the bag located on the seatpost, I carry a few items to assist me if the bike breaks down while on the road. The bag includes a new tire tube, tire lever, co2 cartridge, disposable latex gloves (changing a tire can be greasy), rain jacket, and cell phone charger. For the bag located on the top tube, I wanted to find a bag that had a zipper to protect the contents as I tend to always get stuck in unexpected storms. Always. This is the easy access bag so I keep my cell phone, nutrition, and Kleenex.
Bike diagram (not of my bike)
I am a member of AAA and a fantastic feature they added this year called Roadside Bicycle Assistance. If you are a AAA member, check to see if this free service is available in your city. Although I have went through the workshop to change my own bicycle tire (yes, I can change a car tire as well), I have a safety net of AAA. This service is included on all membership levels.
Overall, I am enjoying my bike, still learning aspects of it, and hope to improve my riding abilities over the next few months.