The month every cyclist waits for all year is right around the corner. It’s not December, when bicycle gifts are given, or October when the leaves are changing. The month that every bicycle enthusiast waits for is May – national bike month.

Bike month is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, a non-profit that has been promoting the benefits of cycling to work for over 50 years, and like its been said before, Sacramento is a cyclists dream world.

The city is not shortchanging anyone this year with cycling events planned throughout the month; from bicycle flea markets to the ARMGEN Tour of California rolling through West Sacramento’s Riverwalk. But it’s easy to get caught up in the fun and start the month out ill prepared.

The first and most important thing a novice cyclist should do before saddling up and starting a bicycle commute for a month is establishing a route. It’s easy to be in a car and think that a road will be safe, fast and efficient while on a bicycle, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes there are inclines that are only noticeable on a bicycle, or the area may not seem as safe when you are out in the open cycling. Trying a few timed test routes before your first commute will help find the route that would work best.

Bicycles also need tune-ups, just like cars do. Before riding off to work, a cyclist should always check how much air is in their bike tube, make sure the chain is lubricated and the brakes are properly fitted. There is no worse time to find out your rear brake is not working properly then your morning commute.

A cyclist, novice or experienced, should always have a patch kit on them when riding. It’s not for if you get a flat during the morning or evening commute, but when. It happens to every cyclist and it’s inescapable. Local bicycle shops all sell patch kits and will usually give novice cyclists a mini lesson on how to patch a tube.

No matter how much, or how little you decide to use your bicycle during Bike month, make sure you’re prepared for what the road throws at you.

Be prepared, be seen and ride on.