SAFETY TIP

Heavy biking season is under way, so it's imperative to remember safety basics.

The most essential detail might be remembering to wear a helmet when you ride - every time.

According to the Colorado Bicycling Manual issued by the Colorado Department of Transportation, 75 percent of all bicycle rider fatalities are the result of head injuries.

Wearing a helmet can reduce the severity of a brain injury in a crash by 88 percent.

And remember, helmets have a limited life and should be replaced when they don't fit properly. That is, they should fit snugly and not move around on your noggin.

Also, if your helmet has been in a crash, always replace it, even if it looks new.

GOTTA-GET GEAR

• The North Face Rock 22

• Cost: $149

• Why you need it: Keep you and your wallet from getting soaked. The budget-priced Rock boasts a super-stable fly design that attaches to the canopy midway up the tent and stakes out tautly around the perimeter. It's a bit slow to pitch at first but makes up for it with sturdy protection. Space is adequate for two hikers, with room in the vestibules for gear. Plenty of mesh on the doors, sides and ceiling keep condensation at bay, even with the fly battened down tightly. Plus, the fly-only pitching option lets you save 2 pounds in mild weather (and yields that smug satisfaction of having gotten more than your money's worth).

• Where to get it: 1-800-362-4963; www.thenorthface.com

Dennis Lewon, equipment editor of Backpacker magazine

For more bargain two-person tents, see the June issue of Backpacker magazine.

GOOD HORSE SENSE

The star (well, one of them, anyway) of the hit movie Seabiscuit, a horse named Fighting Ferrari, has retired to Skyline Ranch near Telluride.

The all-inclusive dude ranch offers a variety of active getaway packages that include meals, riding, mountain biking and hiking.

What could be better than learning to ride or polishing your horsemanship while rubbing shoulders with a cinema celebrity?

• More information: Call 1-888-754-1126 or check out Skyline's Web site at www.ranchweb.com/skyline/