I like to ride my bicycle, i like to ride my biiiike.

Yesterday I attended one of many workshops in a series to help maintain and fix a bicycle. I have wanted to ride my bike so bad for the past couple of months but it way too cold! I sound like a pansy but i don't think i could handle my feet, hands, nose and ears freezing on those down hills.. I know i can do it, i'm just not prepared but hopefully i can man up next winter season.

<center>http://www.krankitup.info/</center>
Krank It Up is a volunteer bicycle shop, based in Tallahassee, that runs on donations dedicated to helping people understand the inner and outer workings of a bicycle. They really are the best! It's great to see such nice people waiting  and willing to help. During the workshop we focused on drive trains which include adjusting derailleurs, managing cables and cable housing, chains, pedals, index and friction shifters, cassettes and some tools used to fix these.
Luckily, my roommate has a problem with her bicycle that deals with the drive train and now i can attempt to fix it! Besides fixing my roommates bike, i plan on hopefully building one from scratch soon. I know that i first need a 52 cm frame. This is the ideal height for my body and would be the most comfortable ride.

<center>http://www.miafixed.com/</center>

This is another great website for bicycle lovers. You have to apply for a membership and wait to be accepted but they are very lenient and nice people. This is purely Miami based but they can help you locate the best bicycle shops in town, help you with questions about problems on your bike or how to upgrade yours parts, you can discuss anything about your bike on the forums and meet new people that love their bicycle as much as you do!

Both of these places as well as many other places around the country (nationally) and around the world (internationally) have started a thing called Critical Mass. This is the gathering of people anywhere from fifty to two hundred or more that enjoy a nice bike ride on the street where cars drive. Bicycles that take up the road you say? We're creating traffic you say?! Well great! What better way to make a stand and show that bicycles can be a major part of transportation and can help us alleviate our dependence on cars.

There critical masses usually take place once a month every month usually the last friday but it may depend on your city. What better way to get involved than to ask your local bicycle shops the who, what, when, where, why questions and get your bicycle out on the road!