Bike shop upland: Common crashes #1: The Right Cross

Our bike shop Upland is running a series of blog posts exposing the top ten situations that cause bike accidents, from Bicyclesafe.com. We begin with the number one most common bike wreck: The Right CrossA vehicle is pulling out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway on the right. Note that this collision can happen one of two ways:  1.) you are in front of the car and the car hits you, or 2.) the car pulls out in front of you and you crash into it.
How to avoid this collision:
1. Get a headlight. A good headlight is something you can't ride without at night, but it can increase your visibility in the daytime too.
2. Get the driver's attention. Catch their eye if you can, ring your bell, honk, wave, whatever it takes.
3. Slow down. Stop if necessary. Yes, its a hassle, but worth it!
4. Ride further to the left. Many riders feel safer riding hugging the right curb of the road, but moving further to the left can actually prevent many of the most common bike wrecks. The "B" line in the diagram above is the best place to ride.

Bike shop Ontario: Safe cycling please!

As owners of bike shop ontario, there is nothing worse than hearing that a cyclist in our community been injured or killed in a car-bike collision.

Image by Paul Krueger

When you come into our shop, we'll make sure you find a good helmet that fits well, reducing your risk of head injury by up to 85%.  But while helmets can help you survive an accident in tact, they can not prevent one.
We will also hook you up with good lights and a reliable bicycle, but those things are not enough either.
Sadly, most of the accidents that happen are not caused by cyclists breaking traffic laws, but by drivers who are not being careful and looking out for bicycles. So following the law, while encouraged, cannot necessarily prevent all accidents either.
The thing that statistically reduces risk of accidents is defensive bicycling...not putting yourself in the position where a driver's failure to see you could take your life. Austin cyclist Michael Bluejay has done a lot of research and put together this excellent website Bicyclesafe.com. He makes his research, tips, and safety diagrams available for free use, so we will be sharing excerpts of the site in our series about the most common bike wrecks in the next couple weeks.

Bike shop Upland: History of the Beach Cruiser

At our bike shop upland we sell all kinds of bikes.  No bike has more enduring popularity than the beach cruiser.
The beach cruiser is a bicycle that was designed for recreational beach riding in the thirties. The cruiser has an upright seat position, basic steel frame, single speed drive train, and balloon tires to resist sinking into soft terrain like sandy beach. Cruisers enjoyed popularity from their introduction in the 30's through the 1960's.
The 1970’s-1990’s saw a break in cruiser sales as the two-car family became the norm, and fewer people were riding for pleasure or running errands around town. Since the mid-1990’s, they have made quite a comeback, with today's interpretation often keeping the classy retro looks. Currently they are one of the hottest bicycles on the market, appreciated by many kinds of riders for casual or short rides. If comfort, affordability, mechanical simplicity, and plenty of style are your priorities in a bicycle, a beach cruiser may be just what you're looking for.

Bike shop Chino Hills: the many beach cruisers

Some rights reserved. By Marco Antonio Torres.

Bumstead's bike shop Chino Hills knows  the cruiser is a favorite of bicycle designers who like to tinker. Its simple design makes it perfect for modifying. The cruiser has provided the base for many design innovations in bicycles including the first mountain bike models, BMX bikes, commuter bikes, lowriders, and choppers.
While you may remember the kid's single speed version from your childhood, today’s beach cruisers are developed for adults too, and for more verasatile use than beach pedaling. We have cruisers with multi-speed drivetrains, suspension seatposts and forks, fenders, and super cushy seats.  
Cruisers pack both comfort and style, and no cruiser is really complete until accessorized with personalized baskets, seats, bells, and covers. Customization is wildly popular in cruisers, including all colors, special paint details, modifications, and custom lights for maximum beach or street style.

Bike shop Ontario: The Beach Cruiser

Renovo Beach Cruiser by Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious

At our bike shop ontario we sell beach cruisers to casual and in-town riders of all ages because of their affordability, simplicity and comfort. Born in the Great Depression, cruisers remain some of the lowest priced bicycles for everyday people.
Whether you want the benefits of cycling for health, running errands, or the enjoyment of lazy beach rides, the cruiser offers a relaxed ride at an affordable price. Depending on your priorities and preferences, you may want to get a multispeed cruiser, add a cushy seat, or check out some of the special lights and baskets available for beach cruisers. The cruisers of today are enjoyed by adults and kids alike, and come in all varieties.
Consumer Reports advises purchasing your bike from a local bicycle retailer rather than a big box store. Big box stores cut costs by selling cheaply-made bicycles that do not hold up to regular riding conditions. Even a low-priced cruiser at a quality local specialty shop will be made with good components that will last you through the years.

Cyclists Are a Unique Breed: Join the Fun at Bumsteads Bicycles

What do all your cycling enthusiast friends have in common? Uh, huh. They do tend to be really lean. Here at Bumstead's, we certainly believe in fitness equipment for the indoors, but we know that there are built in advantages to taking your fitness activities outside. Cycling seems to have a way of getting folks to their ideal weight and keeping them there. Some of the reasons:

1. Bikes are social: Almost every fitness guru and study will tell you that you will be more successful if you have the accountability of a workout partner and can add a social component to the plan. Unlike walking or swimming, there are dozens of ways to hook up with a friend or a group and hit the pavement or the pathways.

 

2. Bikes don't have to be social: You can ride alone, too. Whether that is your preference all the time, or whether you just can't find anyone to ride with today, riding alone is still a lot of fun.

3. You can vary the routine to almost any level you desire. Maybe you're happy to burn 60 calories an hour with flat riding at a medium pace. But if you want to crank it up, you can do some uphill spinning that will burn those pounds away quickly. Taking a three hour walk may seem like a big deal, but a three hour ride is easy for any rider.

 

4. Cycling is a super aerobic: Great for heart, lungs, oxygenation, and all with low stress to the body. Some riders may have minor pain on long rides to knees, back, or neck, but these are usually fitting issues that we can help you overcome.

Exclusive Spring Specials from Bumstead's Bikes! Dont Wait!

Unbelievable!  Spring Tune Up for ONLY $39.95 We have been charging $39.95 for a basic tune up for as long as I can remember.  All of our costs have gone up over those years, but we just never thought about needing to raise our selling price.  We now realize that we just have to raise it.  But we are giving you one last chance.  Bring in every bike and tell all your neighbors to bring their bikes in during May.  No one else in all of Southern California has a $39.95 tune up, so even call your relatives in West LA and Orange County.

Save On Origin 8 Data Station  The new computers for bicycles are super easy to program and use, and give you tons of great data.  Go wired or wireless and get even more fun per mile.  We made a great buy on these new computers and we're passing the savings on to you.  While they last: Wired Origin 8 Data Station    MSRP  $24.99     SPECIAL   Only $16.99 Wireless Origin 8 Data Station  MSRP  $39.99  SPECIAL   Only $29.99   SAVE  $10.00

Mother's Day Means Nirve Beach Cruisers Everybody's Mom will be feeling the love if they get a super cute new Nirve Beach Cruiser for Mom's day. To make the deal, we will throw in a FREE Lift off basket on every new Nirve Beach Cruiser during May

He is a Real Booger - Our New Iguana Sadly, our long-time shop mascot, Chunks the Iguana, was pirated while basking in the sun behind the shop one day.  Since Bumstead's wouldn't be the same without a prehistoric looking lizard hanging around the shop, we acquired a new mascot and the name is Booger.  Come in and visit Booger and see if you can tell how we decided on the name.