SPEAKING OF SPOKES

MAT-SU — With gas prices on the climb and break-up giving way to spring conditions, bicycle season this year will prove to be a popular one. Sales at bike shops are up, inventory is arriving daily and the number of styles of bicycles available is staggering.

There are mountain bikes with full suspension and mountain bikes with only front suspension. There are bikes with 26-inch wheels and bikes with 29-inch wheels. There are road bikes, cycle-cross bikes and bikes for triathlons. There are also hybrid bikes that serve dual purposes and beach cruisers for a more relaxed ride. No matter what kind of bike you peddle the common denominator should be fun.

For Tony Berberich, owner of Backcountry Bicycles in Palmer, it comes down to where you want to ride.

“The first thing I ask is what kind of riding they want to do or hope to do,” said Berberich. “We ask questions like ‘do you want to ride on bike trails or mostly the paved bike paths?’ We really try to figure out what the customer needs and try to educate them on what will work the best then steer them in the right direction.”

Berberich said people come in all the time and ask for a mountain bike. But in today’s market, the term “mountain bike” covers a very large spectrum of bicycles.

If you’re just getting into biking, educate yourself on the different kinds of bicycles and the types of terrain they are used for. Making the correct choice can bring a lifetime of fun on two wheels. The wrong choice can be costly and will only cause you to loose precious space in your garage.

Once you’ve made the choice to plunk down your hard-earned cash and are ready to ride make sure you grab the most important piece of gear — a helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent, according to 2008 numbers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Berberich said a helmet with a comfortable fit is a necessity.

“We don’t really push other gear too much,” said Berberich. “But we do highly recommend helmets if you don’t have one. Everyone should have a helmet. People come in and say, ‘well, I look stupid in a helmet.’ I always responded, ‘well, you look stupid if you’re brain dead.’ So we tell them forget about the baskets and racks and get a helmet.”

If you already have a bike, but have not ridden it in a while there are a few things to check before throwing your leg over the saddle and head down the trail. Alaska Bicycle Center Inc. owner Richard Clayton suggests giving the bicycle a good once-over.

“Check your tire pressure, lubricate the chain and check for loose parts,” said Clayton. “Check the handlebars, brakes and levers. Check your cables and wheels.”

If you’re not sure or just not handy with tools any reputable bicycle shop can give your bike a good check-up. Both Backcountry Bikes and the Alaska Bicycle Center Inc. offer minor and deluxe tune-ups. They will check things like your drive chain and wheel bearings. They will make sure your rims are straight and all your spokes are tight. If anything needs replaced they will most likely have the part on hand to get you out riding quickly.

Even though the sun is out and the weather is nice, not all the trails around the Valley are ready for biking. Most are mud pits and swampy bogs not ready for heavy recreational use yet.

Dave Freer with Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers said walk a tail first to check conditions. “Some trails dry out fast in the sun,” said Freer. “But once you get into the trees the trails are still wet and muddy.”

Freer said every year is different as far as trail conditions are concerned. Alaska recreation is very weather dependant said Freer, but by early- to mid-May things start to improve. Parts of Kepler-Bradley State Park attract a lot of Anchorage people early on. Trails in the Valley seem to be clearer than Anchorage trails due to the wind we get, Freer said.

Freer points out riding on wet trails can cause problems down the road.

“It creates a lot of work later on and it just never gets better. Sometimes it only gets worse,” Freer said.

Freer said people will begin looking for a way around muddy sections, and before you know it there is another trail that curves out into the woods and back just to avoid a section of trail that has been rutted and abused.

“Whether you’re walking, running, riding a bike or riding horses, it is just not good for the trails. There is so much pressure and people just want to get out and do stuff,” Freer said. “It’s like people know better, but they just don’t care. They want to go anyway.”

Freer suggests sticking to paved trails for now or trying to find some other alternative so you do not do damage that sometimes cannot be repaired.

Berberich said the one trail that is good for early season is usually the river trail out to Moose Creek.

“It’s the first trail that is usually rideable. The wind off the river blows the snow off and dries it out early. It’s not a trail that gets that mush use so it doesn’t get as destroyed,” said Berberich. “It is a fairly good, short ride.”

Backcountry Bicycles in Palmer will be offering group rides and bike repair classes throughout the summer. You can check its Facebook page for more information. Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers also offer a lot of information on its website at vmbah.org.