Ride Society Leaders

Sara Jarrell
Barnett Bicycle Institute Graduate and Service Lead - Alameda Bicycle
http://www.alamedabicycle.com »
Sara is the service lead at Alameda Bicycle and a Barnett Bicycle Institute graduate. She enjoys riding her rigid single speed mountain bike and racing cyclocross. Her bike collection includes a rare late 1880s Columbia Model 34 bicycle that she is planning to restore to its original condition with wooden rims. Her dream is to one day be a frame builder.

Sara and Kelli, both of Alameda Bicycle, created Women on Wheels (W.O.W.). This popular instructional series that demystifies cycling by offering basic tips to improve riding skills and mechanical knowledge to help women feel safe on their bikes. As women who live, breathe and work the cycling lifestyle, they realize buying a new bike is only the beginning – the real fun happens when you find others who share your enthusiasm.
Check out Sara's latest posts from the Ride Society below:

Ugh, Humidity... How to Ride in the Heat

Recently I moved from the Bay Area of California back to the mountains of North Carolina where I grew up. I was very excited about this move for a couple of reasons, one being that the riding, mountain and road, in Western North Carolina has always held a special place in my heart. I longed for the lush spring, green summer, colorful fall, and mild winters of my childhood that kept me outside and on… »
(2) Comments Permalink Training Wheels

How to Change a Flat

Changing a flat is one of the most basic repairs on a bike—it only requires a minimal amount of tools and a certain amount of patience to learn. The tools you will need are tire levers, a new tube or patch kit (I recommend keeping both handy), and a pump to inflate your tire. Tire levers come in many different sizes, shapes, colors, and materials. I prefer the plastic ones because they are lightweight… »
(2) Comments Permalink Service Department

A True Ride Life...

A couple of years ago I was wandering around Dirt Demo at Interbike in Las Vegas. I had been on what felt like a couple million test rides and was about to call it a day when my jaw dropped. I had seen his picture on the Internet but it was the golden eagle mounted to his helmet that gave him away for sure. He was just returning from a test ride and seemed very focused absorbing every detail about… »
(0) Comments Permalink Inspiring Women

Cookies to the Rescue!

At a cross race this season rather haphazardly I found my favorite pre race fuel. I woke up a little late and had to rush to get out the door in time to pre ride the course before my race. Usually I like to wake up in time to have a light breakfast of oatmeal with raisins and almonds, coffee, juice, and water. As I gathered my things and loaded up the car I did a last minute sweep of the kitchen to… »
(2) Comments Permalink Training Wheels

Tour de Pink 2007

It has been about two months since I have returned from the 2007 Young Survival Coalition’s York Tour de Pink presented by Hershey’s. Before I embarked on this epic 200 mile ride, across some of the most beautiful Pennsylvania farm country, I knew the facts: this was a ride to benefit the YSC, it was about 200 miles in three days, there were going to be some hills, and about 100 riders were going… »
(0) Comments Permalink Tour de Pink

Commuting (Part 1)

For many the thought of having a bicycle as their main form or transportation is a romantic venture that they feel is far too dangerous to actually pursue. Commuting by bicycle is actually a refreshing change from the hassle of sitting in traffic subtracting the minutes or hours off your life. Personally the difference in my mind-set when I ride my bike compared to when I drive is noticeably more buoyant… »
(3) Comments Permalink Training Wheels

Flat Prevention

So we have all been plagued at one time or another with the cursed flat. There are a couple of ways to help prevent flats, some that do not even require spending a grip of cash or adding a load of weight to your bike. For many riders, it’s easy to grab your cruiser out of its winter shelter in the garage and hop right on for the perennial spring outing only to get down the driveway and be halted… »
(0) Comments Permalink Service Department

Cleaning your Chain

The best kind of maintenance for your bicycle is preventative. This blog will help you maintain one of the components on the bicycle that does a tremendous amount of work to keep you rolling-- the chain. Regularly cleaning and lubing your chain will save you money and it makes for a super smooth and quiet ride. There are probably a million different ways to clean a chain. I am going to detail the ways… »
(1) Comment Permalink Service Department

Winter Riding?

The big question, the one that comes up every winter, you know the one, think hard, most of us have tried to block it out… How am I going to ride in this foul weather? Well I am here to tell you that it is possible. Depending on how foul the weather is in your location you may have to invest in a trainer or a gym membership or it could be that you need to invest in some warmer biking clothes, meatier… »
(1) Comment Permalink Training Wheels

W.O.W- Whee

About a year ago while working at Alameda Bicycle I realized that I was a part of a unique work environment in the bike industry. I was working in a shop that was half men and half women. In my experience as a female customer and shop mechanic this was out of the ordinary. The three of us, Kelli, Casey, and myself, realized the potential of our situation so we banded together and started a program,… »
(4) Comments Permalink Training Wheels

Get to Know... Starting to Ride

Riding your bike is one of the best ways to get to know it. For many, getting out and riding can be intimidating: When, where, and how does one ride? These types of questions are what keep some at bay while others go ahead and take the plunge. Those riders that find themselves contemplating these types of questions need to remember that more riding equals a better understanding which leads to an increased… »
(11) Comments Permalink Training Wheels

Get to Know... The Parts of the Bike

Sometimes the most intimidating part of getting into cycling can be actually understanding what the heck all those little parts on the bike do and what they are called. Going into a shop to buy a bike can easily turn into a mess if the sales rep is using terminology that you do not understand. This sort of situation is what leaves many new cyclists flustered not knowing whether to buy a bike or pick… »
(18) Comments Permalink Service Department

The Perfect Bike is Just the Beginning…

You've done it! You've found a bike that you love, that feels and looks great, and now you want to start riding. The community element of cycling is one of the biggest joys of the sport. It helps to instruct, foster lasting friendships, challenge and open the doors to exploration. However, unless you're very lucky, you won't find a ready-made network right outside your front door. A cycling community… »
(13) Comments Permalink
 
 

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