Two More Excellent Sunny Day Rides

We are always looking to discover a new ride. Not too long ago, I provided some information on great rides: Lighthouse Run and Sterling - Front Royal - Charles Town Loop. See my previous post for more information about those rides. Customers are always coming into Pete's Cycles to get some ideas on good rides, so I figured I’d share some info.

This week I’d like to share some information on two additional rides. First is the Winchester VA to Deep Creek Lake MD, coming in at 104 miles. This ride gets 5 stars for just about everything, from scenery to road quality to available amenities. For those based in Baltimore, the start of this ride is indeed far away, but it makes for a great section of a weekend ride or just a long day in general.

One rider said it best on Motorcycle Roads when he commented: “As you're climbing up through the hills and coming back down, you are surrounded by trees (GREAT in the fall colors!!!) you pass through plenty of quaint towns, cross over and run along rivers. As you cross over the tops of the mountains you get some GREAT valley views along the way.” See the map for its beginning and end. And click here to learn more.

The second ride is the Catoctin Mountain and Frederick County, a 64 mile figure eight loop through some absolutely beautiful country. Unlike the previous ride, this one is easy to do from Baltimore, and it will keep you in Maryland, though you will near the PA line. The ride begins in Libertytown, MD. Click here to learn more.

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Finding the Right Gloves

A bad pair of gloves can ruin your ride. If you’ve ever worn a pair of gloves that just doesn't fit your hand you know what I am talking about. Riding without a pair of gloves can be equally painful, especially in some circumstances. If a glove is too big you can develop blisters. If it is too small then you will not have as much dexterity in your hands, which will make just about everything more difficult, such as pulling the brake in an emergency. These are all good reasons to buy the right pair.

Here are some things to look for in good gloves, all of which you can find at Pete’s Cycles:

·         Fit: There should be no excess material at the tips of your fingers or thumb. It is also advised to get a pair that extends past your wrist, if only slightly. This comes in handy if you hit the pavement. In case you are tempted, fingerless gloves have little benefit, so don’t bother. Also be sure that your jacket and gloves work together. Take your jacket with you when you are glove shopping, presumably at Pete’s Cycles.

·         Pairs: Have a few pairs. Have a pair for riding on the trails, one for cold weather and one for warm weather. Obviously, insulated gloves are best for colder weather, and gloves with ventilation holes for the warmer weather. Trail gloves will need to protect the tops of your hands in a way road gloves do not.

·         Materials: One rider said it best when he said to imagine putting your hand on a belt sander, and that is what hitting the pavement is like. Make sure that whatever type of materials your glove is made out of—cow, kangaroo, nylon—it will suit your riding needs and you feel safe in. If you foresee riding in the rain, getting a rain proof pair will do you good.

·         Flexibility: This is close to the fit category, but not exactly. Not only make sure that your gloves fit your hand snugly, but that the material is flexible enough. If the material is too tight, it can cause numbness and give you a lack of dexterity.

Find some of the gloves we carry here.

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Motorcycle Awareness Month - Drivers "Must Share the Road"

Riding a motorcycle does not have to be dangerous. In addition to educating riders about motorcycle safety, which Pete's Cycles and this blog has helped accomplish, we also need educate automobile drivers about the plight of motorcyclists. Thankfully, just this past wednesday the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and the motorcycle riding community announced that the 2014 BikeSafe Maryland educational campaign is now underway. The campaign rides the pronouncement of Governor Martin O'Malley that May is Motorcycle Safety Month. This campaign is not to be confused with the American Motorcyclist Association’s national Go Ride! Month, which was in April.

Some good news from officials has it that "motorcycle-involved traffic fatalities in Maryland dropped to the lowest levels in a decade, declining from 77 fatalities statewide in 2012 to just 61 in 2013." However, despite a steady drops in fatalities beginning in 2008, Anne Arundel Country was a rare exception that saw an increase to five motorcycle fatalities in 2013. For obvious reasons, Anne Arundel county is stepping up is safety measures this month, and offering classes as well.

Bikers will be thankful to the safety month for a stepped-up public awareness campaign that will post on boards, yard signs, banners and internet advertisements messages to look for cyclists before changing lanes.

The obvious question is--does any of this stuff work? According to an article posted by WBAL, the BikeSafe campaign led to a 25% reduction in U.K. motorcycle fatalities since its inception in 2003. The program began in the United Kingdom. And across the pond in North Carolina, which began the program in 2007, there as been a reported 20% reduction in fatalities. 

Don't forget that Pete's Cycles stocks all the gear you need to keep you safe on the road, such as clothing, helmets and accessories!

For more information regarding BikeSafe Maryland contact Lt. David Ennis, Commander of the Anne Arundel County Police Department's Traffic Safety Section, at 410-222-8573.

Follow BikeSafe Maryland on Twitter: @BikeSafeMD

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All About Tires

Since we at Pete’s Cycle do a lot of business in tire sales, I figured I would take the opportunity to post something on understanding all you need to know about your tires.  I must in-part thank Tip #252 from The Total Motorcycling Manual, which is recommended reading for any rider. Also, at Pete’s Cycle we stock tires for all types of bikes and atvs, such as Dunlop, Michelin, Bridgestone, Shinko, Avon, Kenda, and Continental. You need it we have it.

Here's a quick guide to tires:

Wheel Rotation: Always make sure your tires are rotating in the right direction. This will ensure they grip properly—as they were designed to do—and so the tread doesn't peel off.

Tire Pressure: The maximum tire pressure rating is to be found in your manual. Also, know that the maximum or minimum rating will differ according to whether the tire is hot or cold.

Load/Speed Index: This tells you how much your tire can bear in terms of weight. This letter indicates the max speed rating for the weight that tire is bearing when the tire is at maximum pressure.

TT or Tube Type: Some tires need an innertube and some are tubeless. The sidewalls and parts of the tread are made of a mix of the following: steel, fiberglass, nylon, Kevlar or aramid.

Tire Width: Tire width is measured in millimeters.

Aspect ratio: Aspect ratio is the percentage of a tire’s height against its width.

View our tire selection here. Also, if you haven’t done a thorough check of your tires after winter, now is the time. Look for dry rotting, cracking and flat spots, and be sure to stop into Pete’s Cycles for expert advice on all your tire-related needs.

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