Bike Store
Pre-Listening
What are some advantages of riding a bike versus driving a car? Is riding a bike encouraged in your area?
Listen and Read
Listen to information on bike shops, answer the questions, and then read along with the audio recording.
Listening Quiz
Select the best answer for each question, then press Check Answers.
Use arrow keys to choose between options within each question.
1. The man took up cycling to ______.
2. The man wants to get a ________ bike someday.
I’ve decided to start mountain biking to get in shape and enjoy the scenery around my area, so I took my bike into a cycling shop to get a tune up. My bike was in pretty bad shape, so I wasn’t sure if it would serve my needs. However, the man at the shop adjusted my brakes, oiled the chain, fixed my flat tire, and adjusted the spokes in my wheels.
He suggested that if I do a lot of heavy riding, I should get self-sealing bike tubes that don’t puncture as easily over rough terrain. I’m thinking about getting a lighter bike, but my current bike will have to do for now. I also bought a new bike helmet to protect my head in case I fall off my bike or fly over the handlebars on my rides. Finally, I bought a water hydration backpack so I can drink water and still have my hands free to ride.
Vocabulary and Expressions From the Audio
- get in shape (expression): to improve one’s physical fitness through exercise
- He bought a new bicycle because he wanted to get in shape by riding every morning.
- scenery (noun): the natural surroundings or landscape of an area, especially when it is attractive
- She loved riding her bike along the coast because the scenery was beautiful.
- tune up (expression): in the context of cycling, a service that checks and adjusts the various parts of a bicycle to make sure everything is working properly
- He took his bicycle to the shop for a tune up before the start of the riding season.
- serve my needs (expression): to be suitable or adequate for what a person requires
- She didn’t need an expensive bike; a basic model would serve her needs just fine.
- adjust (verb): to change or move something slightly to improve fit, comfort, or function
- The mechanic adjusted the seat height so the bike fit the rider properly.
- oil (verb): to apply oil to moving parts to reduce friction and keep them running smoothly
- The chain was making noise, so the mechanic oiled it during the tune up.
- flat tire (noun): a tire that has lost its air pressure and can no longer be ridden on
- She got a flat tire halfway through her ride and had to walk her bike home.
- puncture (noun): a small hole in a tire caused by a sharp object that allows the air to escape
- A nail on the path caused a puncture in his rear tire.
- rough (adjective): in the context of terrain, uneven, rocky, or difficult to ride on
- The trail through the woods was too rough for a road bike.
- helmet (noun): a hard protective covering worn on the head while riding a bike to reduce the risk of injury
- She always wears a helmet when she rides, even on short trips around the neighborhood.
- protect (verb): to keep someone or something safe from harm or injury
- Wearing a helmet can protect your head if you fall off your bike.
- fall off (phrasal verb): to accidentally come off something, such as a bike, usually suddenly
- He fell off his bike when he hit a rock on the trail.
Discussion
Discuss some basic tips for riding safely on city roads or in the backcountry (mountain biking). What are the rules of the road for bikes?
Role Play
You’ve decided to take time off from school to go on a cross-country bike ride for two months, but you have to convince your parents of the benefits of going and the safety precautions you will take.
Online Investigation
You’ve decided to train and prepare for a 300-kilometer bike ride through the countryside in the country of your choice. The entire trip will last between one to two weeks, and you will take some time to sightsee along the way. What kinds of equipment, including a new bike, would you need to buy for a multi-day trip? What about camping supplies? Search the internet and price all the equipment you will need and prepare a budget. To make things easier, your parents have been very generous and have given you $5,000 to spend on your trip. Enjoy!