Now that the summer season has hit the Chippewa Valley, it’s time again for riders to take to their bikes and hit the trails! Volume One asked some local bike shops what they would recommend for young adults looking to get some fitness in now that the warm weather is here to stay.

MID-Distance + Long Distance

Road bikes featuring thinner-width tires and higher pressure are best suited for long-distance rides ranging from 35-50 miles around the local area. Also included would be drop-down handlebars and a higher gear ratio, allowing for faster speed than a hybrid or shorter distance bike. Those looking to travel 20-30 miles could do so with the same bike, but they could probably get away with flat handlebars and wider-sized tires. –Eau Claire Bike & Sport, Eau Claire

Check out 700c-sized wheels. They allow for an extra foot-and-a-half travel per rotation of the wheel, allowing for a big mechanical advantage. –Anybody’s Bikeshop, Eau Claire

An endurance road bike featuring high gears allowing for faster speeds or a mountain bike if looking to go off-road. These bikes would have fatter tires and lower gears to allow for safer riding. –Spring Street Sports, Chippewa Falls

It’s not all about distance when choosing a bike but rather the customer’s concept of fit, their perception of fuel and their enjoyment of the whole ride. –Riverside Bike & Skate, Eau Claire

Flat-bar road bikes are recommended here for mid- to long-distance residential riding. The Specialized Vita, a female-specific geometry bike, and the Specialized Sirrus, a male-specific geometry bike, have been most popular in their shop this season. –Erik’s Bike Shop, Eau Claire

SHORT Distance

For bikers looking to travel shorter distances, a hybrid would be recommended. This style of bike is more for people interested in taking in the scenery or having conversations while riding rather than a more aggressive position suited for road bikes. –Eau Claire Bike & Sport, Eau Claire

For distances under 10 miles still in that residential area, those looking for some fitness biking are recommended the Raleigh Cadent which sports a good variety of gears and multi-use tires. This model is somewhat similar to the Specialized flat-bar road bike, so either would do. –Erik’s Bike Shop, Eau Claire

Hybrids have been most popular for around town, casual use recently for this shop. They have been selling a ton of their Electra Cruisers or what they like to call Townies. These are bikes meant for residential, urban riding. These are similar to the Manhattan Cruiser Smoothies, featuring a higher front end and forward pedals allowing for a comfortable ride. –Riverside Bike & Skate, Eau Claire

For those looking to ride shorter distances, the shop recommends a more specific brand of bike. The Manhattan Cruisers Smoothie is a bike featuring forward-positioned pedals and a higher front end, allowing for a super comfortable ride. Rather than taking efficiency into account, this bike focuses more on the comfort aspect of biking. –Anybody’s Bikeshop, Eau Claire

WHERE TO GET STARTED

Area bike shops with specialized service

Anybody’s Bikeshop 411 Water St., EC • 833-7100 • anybodysbikeshop.com

Bad Cat Bicycles 327 E Main St., Menomonie • 231-2453 • badcatbicycles.com

Eau Claire Bike & Sport 403 Water St., EC • 832-6149 • bikeandsport.com

Erik’s Bike Shop 4130 Commonwealth Ave., EC • 835-6746 • eriksbikeshop.com

Mikes-E-Bikes 431 Water St., EC • 577-5429

Riverside Bike & Skate 937 Water St., EC • 835-0088 • contact@riversidebikeskate.com • riversidebikeskate.com

Scheels All Sports 4710 Golf Rd., EC • 833-1886 • scheels.com

Simple Sports 326 Main St. E., Menomonie • 233-3493 • simplesports.us

Spring Street Sports 12 W. Spring St., Chippewa Falls • 723-6616 • springstreetsports.com