This article is sponsored by Easton Cycling. Learn more about Easton EC90 AX wheels on their website.

With group trips spaced further and further apart over the past year due to Covid-19 restrictions and shorter days, I’ve turned to other outdoor activities to stay mentally and physically healthy. Riding my bike has always been a big part of my life. My first bicycles were family projects that my father, brothers and I assembled from scrap parts.

I’ve spent a large portion of my time in Portland, bike commuting and have always had a “bar bike” for tooling around. Being able to ride helps keep my mind and possibilities open even as the pandemic tries to limit my perspective and keep me trapped in a mental funk. Biking also helps me feel better about the high vehicle mileage I typically put in to get to some of my outdoor adventures.

In Portland, OR, where I’ve lived for the past 14 years, commuting by bicycle is a way of life. Pre-pandemic, the city was home to one of the largest populations of bike commuters, local greenways and bike-shops. Now, during the pandemic, it is currently in the midst of a boom in bike sales and and an expansion of bike culture. So are many other cities. If you’ve ever considered buying a bike, here are a few reasons why this is a trend you should jump on. Don’t get sticker shock and make sure to talk to the folks at your local shops. They'll be happy to get you set up and get you riding as soon as possible.

I’m excited to get back into bike commuting and packing—to take this metal speedster through the pines and firs of the Oregon forests. I’m eager to ride on local trails with my friends. Whether I’m taking a quick jaunt up the Leif Erickson trail or exploring logging lands on the Oregon coast, these wheels keep me feeling light and fast.

1) Cut down on commuting costs

Let’s face it—vehicles are super expensive and bad for the environment. If you’re navigating unemployment, reduced employment, or a sudden loss in income as a freelancer, biking may be just the thing to help you cut costs and gain peace of mind. If fueling, maintaining and repairing a vehicle , no longer fits in your budget or worldview, it might be time to buy a bike! The same applies to non-essential employees who find themselves working from home. Why continue to pay insurance or parking costs for a car when you no longer have a daily commute? Or when quarantine restrictions have refocused your travel plans on local destinations? A two wheeled speedster can help you experience the outdoors daily and cut down on carbon emissions.

2) Get outdoors locally

Owning a bike is a great way to explore local spaces like your local greenway. Go for a ride with your partner or quarantine pod or go for a solo adventure. Here in Portland many of the greenways have been closed to outside traffic, which means there are miles of pathways designated for pedestrians and cyclists. Not having to worry about narrow bike lanes and aggressive drivers makes the experience great for new cyclists.

When I commute I primarily ride on concrete and asphalt. When I’m out learning the local forest and rivers I tend to ride on forest and logging roads. My All City Macho is outfitted with Easton EC90 AX wheels and a moderately knobby set of tires. It’s commuter friendly and I can turn and head out to the hills without having to switch my set up.

3) Learn the basics and increase your comfort level

Purchasing a bike for the first time as an adult can be intimidating. Fortunately, many bike shops offer affordable or free classes on bike maintenance, best practices and safety. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Currently, many of the shops in Portland offer inspections and maintenance by appointment only due to Covid-19 restrictions. While this may require a little more coordination, you actually get more of the mechanic’s time, as some shops may have limited space and staff.  When my bicycle needed a tune up beyond my limited knowledge, the folks over at Cat Six Cycles in Portland were able to get my bike in and out of their shop in very little time, even with the need to schedule an appointment. Call around and see which shops are open and offering service. The internet is also a great resource with many of the leading manufacturers investing in high quality tutorial videos, ranging from the basics of maintenance to technical rebuilds.

4) Plan a trip

Even if state-by-state Covid-19 restrictions increase this winter, don’t worry!—that just means you’ll have plenty of time to plan a bike trip for spring or summer. For your first bike trip, I recommend starting with a local ride. Get familiar with cycling directions on apps like Google Maps or Apple Maps. Download mapping applications like Gaia to learn about routes and trails in your surrounding area. Both are good for your spirit and having a plan will motivate you to ride during the interim to familiarize yourself with your bike and learn your limits.

5) Find an affinity group

Have you ever shown up for an outdoor recreation class or weekend trip only to realize that you were the only Black person, the only deaf or hard of hearing person, the only single leg amputee or the only person of Asian descent? When that realization hit, did you wonder if you would be treated differently, if they would be able to accommodate your differences, or if you’d have to listen to offensive jokes or face being labeled as sensitive for speaking up? It’s challenging to learn something new when you're the only one who looks like you. Even if your outdoor community is supportive, everyone has implicit bias and, often, it’s all too easy for the overrepresented group to judge you as incompetent for making novice mistakes while overlooking the same mistakes when they’re made by people who look like them; or compliment you on your English, when you grew up speaking it. As a new cyclist, it’s important to find community. That doesn’t mean isolate yourself, it does mean you should find a supportive space where you can learn without worrying about microaggressions, code switching and offensive speech.

So take a few minutes online to find a local or nationally chaptered affinity group, like Black Girls Do Bike, The Black Foxes, Pedal 2 The People, All Mountain Brothers, K.R.T. Cycling or WTF Bike Explorers, that offers group rides or online support. Follow hashtags like #mejorenbici and influencers like Tibetan-American cyclist Namdol Tenzin, pro-road cyclist Ayesha McGowan, and Belizean American & USA Cycling National Criterium Elite Class champion Justin Williams for inspiration! Learning together forms some great bonds and creates opportunities for new shared experiences and friendships. If you are a member of an overrepresented group in cycling, remember to take the time to be kind, friendly and solicitous of the folks you see at the bike shop or while out riding—especially if they don’t look like you.

One last thing to know before you go*

In Portland, and many cities across the Northwest, Midwest and Northeast United States, winter is a hard time to get into riding. Proper gear helps protect against the cold and damp, but low light and freezing temperatures bring their own problems. Invest in bright lights for your bike if you need to ride in the early morning or evening. But do not fear, if sunny day rides are your desire they will return. Have faith! Plan your trips with those in mind and work towards them. Don’t let inclement weather or a seven-season binge-worthy show on Netflix keep you from riding your new bike. Even a half hour outside will be good for your mental** and physical health. So mask up and take that steel stallion for a ride.

*Check out your local regulations regarding cyclist safety and rights. Be informed and be safe!

**Cycling is great, however, it is no substitute for the care of a trained mental health professional. Here at Melanin Base Camp, we strongly believe in mental health care. Nature is wonderful and so is therapy and medication.