Smile and wave – that was the take home message bicycle retailer Justin Bax gave the women who attended a women’s’ bike maintenance course last week.
“It’s across the board really for blokes and girls,” Bax of Evo Cycles in Cambridge told The News.
Justin Bax, front, and Josh Wildeboer show women attending a free bike maintenance course the various parts of a bicycle. Photo: Penny Thompson.
A lifetime cyclist – he used to ride to Cambridge High School from Roto-o-Rangi – Bax has run two maintenance nights in association with Bicycle Revolution.
He and side kick Josh Wildeboer drummed home the importance of looking after your bike to the 30 women who attended. There is a waiting list for the next session in spring.
“It all starts before the bike ride,” said Bax.
Women who attended the bike maintenance night watch as Evo Cycle’s Josh Wildeboer shows how to fix a tyre. Photo: Penny Thompson.
Pre ride checks are necessary and include checking tyre pressure and the state of your chain. A dusty, dirty and unlubed chain can slow you down and make riding a bike miserable.
There is nothing worse than having to put a chain back on when you are miles from home. Riders should even be prepared to change tubes out on the track.
“And if you can’t we always say ‘smile and wave’ and someone will help you out.”
The two men took the women through some of the on-the-fly repairs they might need on the road, the names of bike parts and a list of essential bike tools.
Bax, who still rides to work most days on a bicycle but from north Cambridge rather than Roto-o-Rangi, said the town is now such a cycle friendly place, more people are cycling.
Courtesy and a pre bike maintenance regime were key to any cycling experience, he said.
Jorja Swain, of Bicycle Revolution, with the women who attended a bike maintenance course at Evo Cycles. Photo: Penny Thompson.
