“Although the temperature is starting to turn chilly, you can still easily exercise outside by bicycling. Bicycling offers the ability to choose the intensity of your workout, along with the location, which makes the workout anything but dull. If you don’t already have a bike, you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the benefits of bicycling.”
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Although the temperature is starting to turn chilly, you can still easily exercise outside by bicycling. Bicycling offers the ability to choose the intensity of your workout, along with the location, which makes the workout anything but dull.

If you don’t already have a bike, you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the benefits of bicycling. Since it’s nearing the end of the biking season, nationwide stores such as Target and Wal-Mart may have bikes at reduced prices. They may not have a large selection, so a local retailer may be a better choice.

One of the closest bike stores for University of Akron students is Eddy’s Bike Shop, which just opened in the new Exchange Street Residence Hall. Eddy’s offers BMX, mountain, road, comfort and hybrid bikes.

The right type of bike for you depends on which terrains you want to ride on. If you’re interested in a more contemporary bike, Eddy’s even offers an automatic bike, where the transmission mimics that of an automobile in both men’s and women’s styles.

Store manager Bill Hay brings his previous experience from the motorcycle industry to Eddy’s. He offers customers the chance to get whatever bike, accessory, tool or equipment they are looking for through a customer kiosk located in the store. The kiosk allows you to sit at the computer, browse Eddy’s Bike Shop web page, and order gear that isn’t in the store. Eddy’s Bike Shop in Stow will ship it directly to Hay’s store, so there is no need to drive beyond campus to pick it up.

The store is convenient for students because it accepts all-campus Zip cards and bike prices range around $260 – $500. Also, Eddy’s offers repairs for bikes and you can drop it off and pick it up at the store. Every bike comes with an owner’s manual, so you can access information about bike repairs and problems, but the store allows you to save 10 percent off parts and accessories for one year, free adjustments for a lifetime, and the first two tune-ups are free.

Eddy’s Bike Shop in Exchange Street Residence Hall is open 10:00 – 6:00 Monday through Friday and 12:00 – 5:00 Saturday and Sunday. Hay is considering renting bikes to students in the future, so be on the lookout in case you want to try out one of the many bikes that the store offers.

Once you have a bike, consider clipless pedals to increase the intensity of your workout. Clipless pedals replace the bike’s original pedals and require special shoes that snap in and out of the pedal.

This type of pedal forces your legs to pedal in a complete circle, instead of pedaling down and allowing the force to push up your leg. It is a way for bicyclists to utilize more energy.

The intensity level of your workout also depends on whether you ride on the road, on a flat trail or through rough mountain territory. No matter what type of bike or workout level you want, an ideal location to ride is along the 101 mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which is accessible to most communities in and around Akron.

Most of the trail is a flat, compressed limestone surface, which makes it an easy level of difficulty. The surrounding trees and foliage make this a scenic location for a pleasant bike ride.

If you crave a more extreme workout with a tougher terrain, you can mountain bike at the 4-mile loop at Quail Hollow State Park in Hartville. The trail ranges from easy to intermediate levels, but it is full of sharp turns, high climbs, winding paths, crossing creeks and darting through trees. If that’s too extreme for you, riders have access to paved segments and roads, which makes the entire trail seven miles.

Whatever skill you have or haven’t acquired as a biker, the fall season around Akron is a perfect time for a bike ride through some of the area’s most intriguing and scenic places, and it’s the perfect weather for an intense mountain biking workout.

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