You should know how to ride a bike. I learned how to ride a bike as a child, but for those of you who didn’t, here’s how:

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Biking is great exercise, and an efficient means of transport for short distances. If you don’t absolutely need a car of your own, biking is a great way of saving money and staying in shape (even if you do have a car, you should bike when you can). For distances of a mile or less, it’s even often quicker to get from one point to another if you live in a small town (bikes are supposed to follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles, but in some places it’s not a big deal if you ride on the sidewalk at times—just watch out for pedestrians).

It’s also important to know how to maintain a bike, especially the following tasks:

  • Inflating tires
  • Putting a chain back on
  • Oiling a chain
  • Patching or replacing a tube
  • Adjusting the brakes

The more often you ride, the more you’ll need to pick up other basic repair skills. It’s also a good idea to get a tune-up at a bike shop about once a year.

Safety is important too. Wear a helmet. Wear bright clothes. Carry water. Make sure your bicycle has reflectors. Learn and use turn signals.