Biking followed by massage -- it doesn't get much better than that. The 7th annual Women's Ride for Heart Health takes place in Freeport on Sunday, June 1. This event, sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, keeps getting bigger and bigger as more women join the fun. There are three rides (5, 10 and 25 miles long) as well as yoga, massage, medical screenings and lots of information and presentations about heart health. Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of Maine women? I'll be riding this again with the two girls (now 9 years old) that I rode with last year; it's never too early to develop healthy habits, right? The rides cover lovely rural sections of South Freeport, starting from the LL Bean Conference Center on Casco Street.
Visit the BCM Web site for more information.

If you missed the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's two great bike swaps, here's yet another one where you might find some great bargains. Gorham Bike and Ski, 1440 Congress Street in Portland (near the Westgate Shopping center), is having a bike swap this Saturday, May 17. If you've got a bike to sell, bring it to the shop from Wednesday through Friday. If you're looking for a bike, turn up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (but remember, early worms do get the best stuff). Get more details on the Gorham Bike and Ski Web site.

Don't forget: Friday is National Bike to Work Day, so make it happen! If you've never done it, then make it easy for yourself. Take work clothes and shoes to the office on Thursday, and bring whatever else would be awkward to lug on your bike. With gas prices skyrocketing, who needs an excuse?

Check out the Go Maine web site for more details on Commute Another Way Week. The League of American Bicyclists has more about Bike Month including a fun list, from American Bicyclist, of 50 Ways to Celebrate Bike Month, including rent a bike movie and host a screening, throw a bike helmet decorating party, have a moveable feast on bikes, or clean up a local bike trail.

Are you biking to work yet? If not, why not?
Next week is Commute Another Way Week, so if you need a little push or advice or incentives, now's the time. Go Maine organizes the event every year to help folks see just how easy it is to walk, bike, carpool, take the bus, vanpool or telecommute. Friday, May 16, is National Bike to Work Day so consider biking to work. Go Maine offers tips, T-shirts, prizes and more, so check it out. If you're in Portland, the Portland Maine Bicycle Commuting group has lots of useful tips too.

Out on a bike path today, I had the chance to help out a cyclist with a flat tire. I got to use a pump that I had purchased a few years ago and, amazingly enough, had never used (I just never get flat tires, so having said that I'm sure to have one tomorrow). I've got a CO2 cartridge pump and it worked like a charm. It did serve, however, to give me two useful reminders about my gear.