Group urging people to ride their bikes to work this week

Most people would grimace at the thought of biking from home to work, in addition to the daily office drudgery and demands at home. The excuses often outweigh the benefits, even when gas costs $3.15 a gallon and a favorite pair of pants is getting snug.

For one week, a group of Carson City residents will bike to work. Even though it's for a cause she believes in, Rota Rosaschi is apprehensive.

"I don't bike regularly so this is going to be a huge effort, but I think I have to practice what I preach," she said.

A local group that advocates for healthy living by muscle-powered transportation is urging workers to bike to work this week. Other benefits include saving gas and maintenance money and cutting down on vehicle emissions.

Rosaschi, 53, wants to set a good example. She's executive director of the Nevada Public Health Foundation and chairwoman of the Carson City Obesity Coalition. The $350 Sears bike she bought a few years ago still has its original tires. She probably hasn't put 100 miles on it.

"Statistics are showing that too many people are obese and I happen to be one of those who are too overweight," Rosaschi said.

Her bike has 26 gears and she knows how to use three of them.

"It's brand new and looks pretty, but now I'm going to start climbing on top of it," she said.

Rosaschi would never call herself a "die-hard cycler." But her bike-buddy, 43-year-old Barbara Howe, is.

Howe, a dietitian for the Nevada Health Division, raced in college and has continued to tour and commute on her bicycle.

"I like to share what I've learned with other folks, to get their confidence up to empower them to get where they need to go," she said. "If they can replace one car trip with a bicycle trip that would save lots and lots of gas."

Howe is mentoring her friend on the ups and downs of cycling in Carson City. The Bike-Buddy Program pairs experienced bicycle commuters with those who don't know the difference between "drops" and being "dropped" (see the information box on road biking lingo).

Those who are participating in the weeklong event will receive discounts for repairs and products at two local bike shops: The Bike Smith, 900 N. Carson St., and the Bicycle Authority, 1501 N. Carson St.

It would be a long commute for Denis Coyne, a Fremont Elementary School physical-education teacher who also works part-time at The Bike Smith. He lives in Stateline.

"I may park at the bottom of Spooner and commute to work to set a good example," he said. "I work with a lot of people who live within two miles of where they work and they drive. I would like to inspire them to commute to work as well."

Dan Turner, owner of the Bicycle Authority, usually drives to work so that he can drop his grandmother off at work. This week, grandma is driving with someone else.

He said the basic bicycle will cost around $230. Right now, the mountain bike is the SUV of the cycling world, popular for its tough look. Don't buy a bike just for popularity, he said, that mountain bike may not fit your need for driving up and down Carson Street, unless you just want to be seen.

For beginning cyclists a deterrent is often the cost of a bike, which can be the equivalent of 100 gallons of gas, or more.

Howe, the dietitian, owns a $600 bike. She's had it for seven years and it'll last her another 15. She recommends buyers check out thrift stores. Her line for newbies: you don't need an iPod to start walking, and you don't need a $1,000 bike to start cycling.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

Bicycling tips from Muscle Powered

• Wear a helmet for every ride and use lights at night

• Obey traffic laws: ride on the right, slowest traffic farthest to the right

• At intersections, ride in the right-most lane that goes in your direction

• Signal lane changes and turns

Road biking lingo

Cadence - Your rate of crank speed, measured in revolutions per minute

Draft - Following closely behind another rider to reduce wind resistance and save energy

Dropped - Getting left behind by a group of riders

Drops - The lowest and most aerodynamic position on the handlebars

Road rash - Any abrasion from a slide across the pavement

Source: Muscle Powered of Carson City

Bike to Work Week activities

Bike-Buddy Program

A mentoring program which pairs experienced bicycle commuters with people who are just getting started - also offered to help people get into touring cycling. The mentor helps on topics such as: finding a route, strategy for dressing to cycle in different weather and lighting conditions, bike storage, cleanup at work. Call 684-3205 if you want a buddy or to be a buddy.

Showers at World Gym

Drop by the nearest World Gym for a free morning shower during the week. Locations at 3243 Research Way and 829 Fairview Dr.

Sales

The Bike Smith, 900 N. Carson St. and the Bicycle Authority, 1501 N. Carson St. will discount maintenance and certain products for those participating in National Bike to Work Week.

Coffee Commuter Day on May 24

Stop at Comma Coffee, 312 S. Carson St., or Java Joe's, 319 N. Carson St., on Northern Nevada Bike To Work Day and get a free cup of coffee. Free raffle includes grand prize of $500 toward a new bicycle.

Bicycling tips from Muscle Powered

• Wear a helmet for every ride and use lights at night

• Obey traffic laws: ride on the right, slowest traffic farthest to the right

• At intersections, ride in the right-most lane that goes in your direction

• Signal lane changes and turns

Road biking lingo

Cadence: Your rate of crank speed, measured in revolutions per minute

Draft: Following closely behind another rider to reduce wind resistance and save energy

Dropped: Getting left behind by a group of riders

Drops: The lowest and most aerodynamic position on the handlebars

Road rash: Any abrasion from a slide across the pavement

- Source: Muscle Powered of Carson City