By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Check out Kalaniana‘ole Highway any Sunday morning and it’s clear Hawai‘i’s passion for cycling is robust. So why is cycling only No. 7 on our list of the top outdoor activities in Hawai‘i?
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| A rider approaches Kap‘iolani Community College during a Century Bike Ride event.
Advertiser library photo • Sept. 24, 2000 |
The three health and fitness experts we consulted for our list agree: Cycling is a fun, healthy way to enjoy the outdoors, but Hawai‘i — Honolulu in particular - simply wasn’t designed with cyclists in mind.
"I’m hesitant to recommend it for everybody because there is not sufficient infrastructure to make it safe and comfortable for the majority of people," said Angela Wagner, project manager for the state Department of Health’s Health Promotion and Education Branch and coordinator for Kaho‘omiki, the Hawai‘i Council on Physical Activity. "We don’t have enough separate, wide bike paths available."
Said YMCA health and fitness director Jeff Deininger: "It’s a great activity, but our city is not set up for bicycle commuters. There are not a lot of bike lanes."
According to Wagner, until significant improvements are made, cycling will remain an activity whose time is yet to come.
"Over the next 10 years, the state will have to improve its biking infrastructure — particularly in Honolulu," she said.
Master bike path plan
| Breakdown
 The good: Bicycling is a healthy way to spend the day with the family, tour scenic points, cross train or commute.
The bad: Until state and city master plans progress, there are few continuous bike paths on the Islands. Also, Island drivers aren’t always willing to yield space in right hand lanes, forcing cyclists to hug the gutters where debris collects. Start up costs can be high.
Watch out for: Unaware or aggressive drivers, parked cars, road debris, potholes, grates, merge lanes, wet roads, glass.
Getting started: The Hawai‘i Bicycling League sponsors free or low-cost rides for cyclists of all levels throughout the year. The organization also sponsors workshops on riding technique and bicycle maintenance. Call 735-5756 for more information.
The last word: "On a bike you can see neighborhoods that you wouldn’t ordinarily drive through," said Chris Dacus of Waikiki. "It’s a much more intimate experience and the beauty of it is you can cover a lot of ground if you just go at your own speed." |
That could happen if the city’s proposed "Lei of Parks" plan proceeds on schedule. The state’s master plan for building and linking bike paths is currently under review. In the meantime, cycling in Hawai‘i remains a healthful if tricky proposition.
Wagner said cycling is a good way to integrate exercise into a daily routine.
"It can be good for everyday life things like getting to work," she said. "It’s a mode of transportation, not just a play thing."
Dennis Chai, a professor of kinesiology and leisure science at the University of Hawai‘i, said cycling is also good because it easily accommodates whatever level of exertion a rider wants to put forth.
"You can cruise and not really raise your heart rate or you can be really intense and get your heart rate up and your muscles working hard," he said.
Proper shifting is key to getting an even, sustained workout, Deininger said. While many cyclists get by using just two or three gears, knowing how to upshift and downshift effectively can moderate the impact of hills, high winds and other conditions.
Very few injuries are directly related to the act of cycling. The danger comes from riding in traffic and on roads that are uneven or littered with debris.
"You have to know the rules of the road," Chai said. "It also helps to know when and where to ride to avoid traffic."
Cost was another concern for our panel.
Steep start-up costs
While the initial cost of buying a bicycle can be steep, ranging anywhere from $200 to $4,000 or more, subsequent costs are minimal provided the cyclist performs regular maintenance on the bike. A helmet, reflectors and a night light should be factored in to overall costs.
Of course, free-spending cyclists will have no problem finding related accessories to buy. Clip-on bike shoes and pedals can enhance efficiency by providing for more direct transfer of energy between the rider and the bicycle. They also can easily run a couple of hundred dollars. The collective cost of aero-bars, graphite wheels, speedometers, bike jerseys, specialized seats and other goodies can easily run into the thousands.
The good news is you don’t have to have a high-end bike to enjoy the activity. Bike technology has advanced to the point where stock components on most bicycles are more than adequate for recreational riding.
The primary concern for a beginning rider should be finding a bike that fits. Many new cyclists make the mistake of selecting a bike that is too small or adjusting their seat too low, Deininger said.
"This can lead to injury because of the sheer force stress on the knees," he said.
To judge the proper height for a bicycle, stand over the frame. There should be about a one-inch clearance on road bikes, two inches for mountain bikes. Seated, there should be almost full leg extension at the lowest point of the pedal.
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