Hot Wheels

The weather is warming, and so is the pavement. Why spend the summer days ahead stuck in traffic running the A/C full blast when the reliable two-piston engine--the bicycle--and Tulsa's 50-plus-mile trail system beckons throughout the city?

Maybe one vital piece of that whole hitting-the-trails equation is missing: The wheels. Problem is, new bikes cost a pretty penny, especially at the local specialty shops. In this town, it's difficult to get into a quality, new bike for less than $250--roughly, the cost of 50 gallons of gas at the peak of last year's summertime surge in oil prices.

This type of hit to the wallet isn't all bad. For that kind of money, a buyer gets top-notch machinery with which to hit the trails, saving money on bike repairs, auto wear and tear, gasoline, time and, potentially, health insurance.

For the cost of a new iPod and a set of ear buds, riders can snag a trailworthy craft that, if loved and cared for, could last a lifetime.

So, surprise, bike ownership is an investment. However, the price of entry into Tulsa's large and close-knit cycling community doesn't have to outweigh the monthly payment on the family car. If hitting the trails any more often than just a day per week sounds more like boot camp for your buns than quality leisure time, try renting a ride.

Thanks to Saint Francis Hospital, the pretty and very, very pink Tulsa Townies are available for rent for free at River Parks. Simply swipe a credit card--this is just in case the wiles of the Townie inspire you to lie, cheat and steal--and you're off.

If you like the idea of actually owning a bike but you're a little commitment-shy, head to Tom's Bicycles at 6861 S. Peoria Ave. Because the shop is so near the trails at River Parks, it's easy to take out a ride you've been eyeing for a spin, just as a test-run. Whatever you spend on bike rental--it's $30 per day, or $10 per hour at Tom's--half is put toward the purchase of a bike.

If you're ready to take the plunge into the world of spandex clothing where all your friends have bike racks on their cars, start the shopping process by determining how much and what kind of a beating your ideal bike should be able to handle.

Maybe you want a bike on which to coast down the hill to work; perhaps you'd like your two-wheeled ride to double as a grocery-getter; or, you could be looking for a mountain-taming machine. All of the above answers are correct. Just make sure the style of bike you choose is, too.

The entry-level bike for the rider who needs a neighborhood cruiser and nothing more is called a comfort or hybrid bike in bike-shop speak. Those babies start at about $250 here in T-Town and climb steadily, depending on how light you want the frame to be, what shocks you want and whether the wheels will need to tackle parking lots or the outback.

If the new ride needs to go the distance, consider a road bike-- "something more efficient, something that can keep up if you decide to go on longer, group rides," said Todd Swain, sales manager at Bicycles of Tulsa, 4733 S. Mingo Road.

These models start at about $500, and it doesn't take many extras to put the price in the $1,000-plus stratosphere.

When devising that bike budget, don't forget to plan for safety and hydration gear. First, get a helmet.

"You don't have to spend all this money, but it's a good idea. But, to get started, at least get a helmet. It's not required by law, but it's a really good idea," Swain said.

Every savvy, post-Generation X shopper knows Craigslist is a goldmine when it comes to inexpensive, used stuff. It's more than okay to shop for a bike this way, as long as a little extra legwork is worth it to you to procure a quality ride.

When not buying a used bike from a shop that specializes in 'cycles, make sure to get a comprehensive history on the bike in question. As with cars, show the bike to an expert to make sure it's ready to hit the road.

"It's hard to know what you're buying when using something like Craigslist," said Tom Brown, owner of Tom's Bicycles. "It's easy to get hold of a stolen one, and even though you paid for it, it's still considered stolen by the authorities," not to mention the guy in the park who seemingly without reason punches you in the nose while shouting, calling you a thief.

Before you tear out this page and run it through the shredder while mumbling, "What kind of Consumer Watchdog tells me to spend $500 when I could just as easily score a Huffy at the Big Box for $98?" consider this oft-quoted treasure of the cyclists' lexicon: If Huffy made an airplane, would you fly in it?

That is to say, when it comes to quality, bikes are like shoes. You get what you pay for.

"Bikes are all we do. We service, sell and build bikes, and we take care of the customer. A lot of people spend $150 at Target, bring it in here and it costs me $75 to get it to where they can ride it," Swain said.

"The bikes we sell in bicycle stores are made to ride, and they're made to last a long time," Brown said. "The bikes they sell at Wal-Mart are made to sell. They're made for you to buy, and that's about it."

The local cycling community is a force, and it supports about a dozen specialty bicycle shops -- that's the same number of shops in Oklahoma City, a town roughly 40 percent larger than the former oil capital we call home.

In fact, Tulsa was named Oklahoma's first bicycle-friendly city by The League of American Bicyclists earlier this spring.

"You are better off riding a bike on the street in Tulsa than you are being a pedestrian on the sidewalk," Brown said. "That's not saying a lot, but Tulsa is becoming a place where there are people on bicycles everywhere. They may not be on Memorial Drive--hardly anyone will do that--but, you go into the neighborhoods, and they're everywhere."

Business has been hopping at shops like BoT and Tom's, especially since last summer's astronomic gasoline prices shook the auto industry to its knees.

"When gas prices went up, we got busier," Brown said. "We noticed more people using bikes for transportation. People started getting the bikes they already had fixed. Even after gas prices normalized, business didn't slow. People like using their bikes."

Ask the Watchdog. Need advice? Have advice? Send your questions and stories to nball@urbantulsa.com.