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.

If by any chance you bought a Trek girls' bike made between 2005 and 2007, sit up and take note! There's a recall on the Trek MT220. It seems that the frame was welded incorrectly. "If the frame breaks, you could be involved in a serious accident." Um, yeah. Check it out on the Trek Web site.

Ever tried to take your bike on a plane? This is a subject people obsess about and many Web sites (www.ibike.org, www.bikeaccess.net) and blogs cover this subject pretty well. My husband travels for work a lot and has, until now, rented bikes in cities across the U.S. to get some rides in while he's away. Now he's testing out a new strategy: a Ritchey Break-Away bike.