Show All Answers

1. What do I do if I get a flat tire?

A flat will slow you down, but if you pack some essential bike maintenance tools on your ride, you can get back on the road in no time! Always carry the following to be prepared:

• Extra tire tube(s) or a patch kit

• C02 cartridges and an adaptor or a hand pump to inflate the tube

• Two tire levers to remove the tire from the wheel

When you get a flat on a bike, it’s actually the inflatable tube that needs more air or possibly changed if it has a hole or leak. If you just need more air, use the hand pump to inflate the tire. If you need to change the tire, check out this easy-to-follow video demonstration of changing out a flat.

Taking a hands-on class to learn how to change a flat tire can help you feel confident in your skills and ready for this scenario. Take a look at these places that offer tire changing and bike maintenance classes:

• Cascade Bicycle Club 

• Bike Works

• School of Bike

2. How do I lock my bike up securely?

Locking your bike securely helps deter theft. Here are some tips to lock your bike:

• Research different types of bike locks and choose a lock that will deter theft and cannot be easily cut.

• Use a U-shaped lock and a cable lock, locking your bike at two points on the bike rack to make it more secure.

• Make sure you are using your lock correctly. 

• Many bicycles are stolen out of yards or off porches. Ensure that you store your bike securely, even at home.

Check out our Bicycle Parking page for more information on parking your bike and discover places near you that have bike storage lockers and secure parking available for a fee.

3. What should I do if I get lost?

As soon as you’re not sure where you are, try to correct the course right away. If you can identify how to get back to the last place that was familiar to you, turn back around so you can take the right turn at that intersection. 

You can also use the sun to determine the time of day and direction, listen for road noise to get to a main point, or look for familiar bodies of water or landmarks to help you know where you are. Or use resources and people to help you!

• Check on your GPS or SmartPhone to identify your location and route yourself back on track.

• If your phone is not available, ask other pedestrians for help or pop into a local business to ask for directions.