Are you prepared for a bike breakdown?

Fran Colonna, Nikki Klingensmith and Tom Kopp of the Mon Yough Trail Council recommend that you do not leave home without two inner tubes, a reliable pump, tire levers, a chain tool and a set of Allen wrenches.

The multitalented, mechanically minded trio are trail monitors for the council and often can be seen putting their mettle to the pedal as they patrol the Yough River Trail segments of the Great Allegheny Passage. They stand out in their yellow jerseys or jackets.

On any given Sunday, they might ride from West Newton to Ohiopyle, a round-trip of almost 90 miles. Along the way, they assist bicyclists with everything from "where-are-we" questions to fixing flats, broken chains and administering first aid.

Council secretary Joanne Tyzenhouse tells their story in the current issue of The Milepost, the organization's newsletter. She said Colonna, 66, a homemaker, and Klingensmith, 38, a restaurant employee, met at the council's Yough 'n Roll ride in 1997 and have been pedaling together since.

Kopp, 47, a computer-support specialist, joined them in 2001. Last year, Klingensmith and Kopp monitored more than 4,000 miles of trail; Colonna pedaled more than 2,600 miles.

To serve their fellow cyclists in trouble on the trail, they carry inner tubes and tires of various sizes, Kevlar string to repair broken spokes, zip ties, those Allen wrenches and other tools, zip ties, bandages, a snake-bite kit and an ice pack.

Asked what items she used the most, Colonna said scissors and duct tape.

The most unusual assistance they have rendered happened a few years ago when they saw a woman walking on the trail in her bare feet. She said she had been canoeing with her boyfriend, they got into an argument, and he "kicked her out of the canoe."

She was walking back to the canoe livery where she had parked her car, a distance of several miles. Fran, riding a tandem bike with fleece seat covers, fashioned a pair of soft shoes for her. They then spotted a police officer who drove the women to her car.

The Mon Yough Trail Council, and other rail-trail organizations, are looking for trail monitors to help bicyclists with unforeseen mechanical problems and emergencies. A willingness to help and basic bike-repair skills will do.

Cyclists can help themselves by making sure their bikes are ready to ride before they arrive at the trailhead, learning how to make minor repairs themselves and "adopting" a professional bike shop to handle major repairs and tuneups.

For more information on the council's trail-monitor program, call 412-754-1100 or go to http://mytc.topcities.com.

In addition to a set of tools that can be carried on a handlebar bag, in a fanny pack or panniers, I recommend a fully charged cell phone, even though signal availability can be sporadic along some segments of rail-trails, and medications that may have to be taken at specific times.

Free Family Bike Tours Venture Outdoors is offering free family bike tours -- bikes and helmets provided -- from noon to 4 p.m. today at Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side. The tours are part of the organization's Family Outdoors Festival, and event that also includes kayaking on Lake Elizabeth, the Climb Pittsburgh rock-climbing wall. GPS treasure hunting and arts and crafts from the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

Courtney Bell, the organization's family and community programs coordinator, said all the activities are beginner-friendly. She said REI will donate $10,000 today to the family and community programs initiative so Venture Outdoors "can continue to provide outdoor programs in diverse communities."

She said funding for the multiyear festivals, which were held earlier this year in Point State Park, Frick Park and Mellon Park, was provided by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Grable Foundation, L.L. Bean, the Buhl Foundation, REI, the Robert and Mary Weisbrod Foundation and the Henry Simonds Foundation.