About This Site
Hi. Welcome to BikeToledo.net!
The first thing I should say is that this site is designed for beginners who want to get started in biking and for intermediate level bikers who want to raise their level of activity and perhaps get into new areas, such as touring, commuting or utility riding (car lite). If you're an advanced biker (and good for you, if you are), you may not find a lot here you don't already know.
I'm Not The Expert
The second point I should make is that I don't profess to be an expert on any aspect of biking. While I've been riding all my life, my knowledge, skills and experience are strictly intermediate. I have, however, spent much time over the last two years talking to bikers who are more experienced than I am and reading the advice of the experts on the web, and I have tried to reflect the collective wisdom of their opinions and experiences on this site.
I personally have tried out very little of the equipment and used few of the vendors you'll find on this site. The lists and references are merely for your convenience and do not constitute endorsement of these products or vendors.
There's No "Best" Way
You will find that I rarely make specific recommendations in these pages, merely present a range of reasonable options. This is because I have found that no two bikers, even among the experts, seem to agree on anything - from how to ride safely in traffic to how to lube your chain. The conclusion I draw from this is that there is no true "best" way to do anything in the world of biking - there is only "best" for any individual rider and what suits him or her.
Choose Smart
One major objective in creating this site is to help people make wise decisions in the selection or purchase of gear and equipment. Like a typical Baby Boomer, I always rushed to make purchases because I lacked the patience to understand what I was buying, and why. I bought taillights at my local bike store because I thought I should have taillights, than discovered they weren't bright enough to keep me safe. I had to buy another set. I bought a set of wide tires for touring, then found out they didn't fit my rims. I had to buy another set. I bought panniers from a catalog because they were on sale, then discovered they weren't waterproof and were way too small for what I wanted to carry. I had to buy another set. It took a few years, but I finally learned my lesson.
Putting together a good bicycling package is not a simple task, mostly because of the lack of compatibility among the many brands of bicycles and biking accessories. This site will not provide you with all the specific information you'll need to make a good selection. It will provide you with enough general information for you to understand what you need to find out in order to choose the right product for your needs and avoid making a potentially costly mistake. Hopefully, as you do your own research, you'll discover more about the world of biking and the joy it can bring to your life!
Bob Beach Editor
©2010 - 2012 Bob Beach
