Flat tire? Westchester Cycle Club gives you a hand, or at least the know-how to do it

Flat tire? Westchester Cycle Club gives you a hand, or at least the know-how to do it

Empower yourself. Learn how to change that flat.

The Westchester Cycle Club has partnered with bike shops around the county to offer workshops that teach the basics and then some, whether you’re new, need to review or just build confidence. Enjoy a casual dinner at each workshop while the shop staff demonstrates basic tire-changing skills. Each evening will offer different pointers. Participants will receive a discount on gear that evening, and/or a special gift. Get acquainted with your local bike shop and fellow riders. All presentations from 6:30 -9 p.m. Cost includes dinner and varies slightly depending on venue.

• Monday, April 23, Hastings Velo, 45 Main St., Hastings. $25. Dinner is being prepared by The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry, recognized by Westchester Magazine one of Westchester’s Best New Restaurant’s. During the evening, expect information about bike safety and basic maintenance issues. The shop will also be showing its new line of Capo cycle clothing. Capo has established itself as a premier brand of cycling apparel and accessories, products are designed to deliver technical performance, progressive design and proven quality.

• Tuesday, April 24, Hickory and Tweed, 410 Main St., Armonk. $20. This shop will go through a hands-on flat tire clinic, ideally with riders bringing their own wheels or bikes so they can know how their equipment works (although the lesson is pretty universal).  Depending on time, the shop will try to cover some basic cleaning and maintenance tips as well. H&T has been named best bike shop in Westchester by the readers of Westchester Magazine (2009 and 2010).

• Monday, April 30, Bicycle World, 7 E. Main St., Mount Kisco. $20. At this “Bring Your Own Bike” workshop, the staff will be illuminating some points about bike fitting, in addition to tire changing. One lucky attendee will be used as an example for the bike-fitting portion. Bring shoes and shorts in case you are the one. Bicycling Magazine named Bicycle World as one of the top cycling stores in the USA in January 2012.

Seating is limited so register early. Westchester Cycle Club members are asked to register on the club website - www.westchestercycleclub.org. Non-members are welcome. Contact event organizer Flori Carlin Doyle at floricdoyle@gmail.com for details or to register.

The Westchester Cycle Club is a not-for-profit organization that has been riding since 1975. With approximately 1,400 members of all ages, the club is dedicated to encouraging and supporting bicycling of all types and at all skill levels through road riding, mountain biking and advocacy. The group actively promotes safe and courteous bicycling on many and varied types of roads, and was designated the top bicycling club in the country in 2011 by the League of American Bicyclists.

Annual membership ($20) provides a variety of member-led rides – beginner through expert - throughout Westchester as well as Putnam, Dutchess and Fairfield (Conn.) counties. Rides are scheduled on weekends, weekdays and evenings, winding their way through some of the Lower Hudson Valley's most scenic areas. For more information on the club or to become a member, please visit the website.