Cycling in NYC: Five Tips from a Local Pro

Before Wednesday afternoon, I had never biked in Little Neck, at least in part because I so enjoy participating in the mania that is driving around the neighborhood. What? You don't crush the gas pedal the instant the light changes? Prepare to be run over. And forget enjoying a leisurely hunt for a parking spot in Little Neck Plaza. The minimum speed limit in the parking lot is something around 50 mph, even on turns. Especially on turns. Are there small children present? Make that 60. 

Therefore, I decided to make my first foray into neighborhood biking a modest effort: a utilitarian journey to a nearby cycling store gather tips from the people who know the area best.

An apt destination, then, was , located at 42-42 235th St. in Douglaston. The shop is actually situated almost directly next door to the Douglaston LIRR station but, as I am generally a woman of my word, I completed the short and painless journey from the Little Neck station, where, , all of my rides for the purposes of this column will begin.

The trek to Peak lasted less than 10 minutes - I started from the station at 11:54 a.m. and arrived at 12 p.m.

From my short and likely unrepresentative interaction with the drivers of northeast Queens, I learned that, like spiders - albeit large, steel spiders outfitted with internal combustion engines - the cars on the road seemed more afraid of me than I was of them.

From my two-wheeled vantage point, I experienced none of the aggression that I usually do from the warm coccoon of my car. Though a handful of trucks rumbled by on Marathon Parkway, each gave me a wide, comfortable berth. On Northern Boulevard, the right-most lane is largely dedicated to parked cars, leaving a handy slot for cyclists to maneuver away from the fast-moving traffic. That said, always be very careful when pedaling directly next to parked cars - people choose some strange times to swing open their doors.

Once I arrived at Peak, I met Kenny Schmitt, the store's manager and an avid New York cyclist, who gave me two things: The Official Guide to Biking in New York City, and the 2011 NYC Cycling Map, both of which are available for free at the store, or viewable online here.

Schmitt, who lives in Little Neck but regularly bikes to Manhattan and beyond, had the following tips to offer fledgling cyclists:

1. Wear a helmet, no matter what. Even if you're just going down the street to get milk.

2. Never wear headphones. Uncomfortable with the sounds of nature/your own thoughts? Strap a radio to the front of your bike.

3. Always make predictable maneuvers. The goal is to let cars know what you're up to, not to dart suddenly in front of them.

4. Always have lights on your bike if you plan to ride toward the end of the day. It gets dark quickly, and even as dusk settles, reflectors don't do much. Lights, on the other hand, do a lot.

5. Make sure your bike is safe to ride. Check your tire pressure, test your brakes and tighten your wheels. If you're not absolutely sure how to do these things, Schmitt helpfully adds that his store will give your bike a full safety inspection for $40.

Until next week: Happy cycling!