By Maureen Thomas
Special to the Coastal Point

As the days get warmer and longer, we become determined to whip ourselves into shape. We hop onto our bicycles, pedal to infinity and wait for results. Before you can shape up on your bike, you got to get ready. So here goes:

What to wear: Select colors like yellow and/or orange. Padded cycling shorts go a long way to protect against chafing. Although the first few times you ride, you will experience some discomfort.

A bike helmet protects your coconut, so don’t hang them on the handlebars, wear a helmet on your head.

Cycling gloves make biking comfortable. They provide a non-slip grip on the handlebars, enable you to remove debris from spinning tires, allow you to wipe sweat from your face, dab a running nose and cushion hands against road vibrations.

Check tires for embedded debris. If tires are in good condition, pump them up. Tire pressure information is marked on the side of the tire. Carry a patch kit and a spare tube in case of a flat. Cycling jerseys have multi pockets in the back to carry “stuff” like your cell phone. Carry a small pump. If you do have a flat, before installing a new tube, feel inside the tire for whatever caused the flat, before installing a new tube into the tire.

Lubricate your chain. Check to see if it is worn. A bike shop can measure to see if it has stretched. Spring is a good time to get the shop to do a tune up.

Safety etiquette: Use hand signals for approaching a turn. Use the left arm to signal left turns. Use the right arm for right turns. Do not signal right turns with the left arm. Ride in a straight line so drivers can sense how far left they have to go to get past you safely. Never weave in and out between cars. Be aware of parallel-parked cars. Stay far enough into traffic lanes to avoid being struck by opening doors. Do not ride against traffic. Go on the same direction of the road, as traffic. It is the law.

Join a bike club. Sussex County has a great group of cyclist ready for you to join.

We’d like to invite you on a ride April 2, starting in Bethany Beach. The Web site is sussexcyclists.org. Look for more ride information in local papers.

On April 16, the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the annual Ocean to Bay Bike Tour, which starts at the Chamber on Route One in Fenwick Island. You have a choice of 20, 35 or 50 miles. You can find more information on www.oceantobaybiketour.com.

You can get in touch with me through either of these organizations.