Google the word “Bicycle” and you’ll find a litany of proclamations referring to the mechanical advantage of this ingenious conveyance.

“The bicycle is the most efficient self-powered means of transportation in terms of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance.”

“From a mechanical viewpoint, up to 99% of the energy delivered by the rider into the pedals is transmitted to the wheels…”

“In terms of the ratio of cargo weight a bicycle can carry to total weight, it is also a most efficient means of cargo transportation.”

Like every machine, however, your bike needs to be maintained. We at Bicycle Month in Mississippi Mills encourage you to learn about bicycle maintenance to keep your bike fit, rolling down the road and with proper mechanical advantage!

So far we’ve offered two bike tuning clinics, one with Greg Earl of SportX, a full service bicycle shop from Smiths Falls, and one with the folks from Kunstadt of Kanata.

Thirty cyclists, from kids with well-used BMX bikes to older guys with carbon fibre roadies, learned a few tricks from these experts. What better way to learn than to get your bike up on the stand, watch the pros and ask tons of questions.

(I’d had a flat on my ride home two nights before, I had fixed it but sadly my wheel was out of true. In short order, spoke wrench in hand, Alex from Kunstadt put it right. Like tuning a piano!)

Bicycle Month has two more clinics. Wednesday June 17 at 6:30 pm, join us at Stonebridge Inn in Pakenham for a family bike clinic with long time riders and mechanical whizzes Bill Barrie and Ralph Bretzlaff.

Wednesday, June 24, at 6:30 at the Almonte Arena is “How to Buy a Bike” with Simon Cousineau from Pecco’s of Ottawa.

All Bicycle Month events are free. However, we encourage “free-wheel” offerings to support the programs of Bicycle Month.

Many thanks to SportX, Kunstadt, Pecco’s, Stonebridge Inn and Bill for offering these valuable clinics for MM Bicycle Month.

Please remember to support these businesses. Thanks