WHEEL DEALS: Spring weather is warming up,...

WHEEL DEALS: Spring weather is warming up, and so is business at bike shops. . . . Mountain bikes are still the hot sellers, says Mike Olson, manager of Supergo in Fountain Valley. And they’re using them for rural trails too, not just for pavement riding. . . . “A lot of average guys who used to play golf on Sundays are mountain biking now instead,” Olson says. “People had this image in the past that it was kind of a crazy thing to do.”

UNHAPPY TRAILS: One of the county’s most popular mountain bike spots, Whiting Ranch Regional Park, is still closed because of heavy storm damage. . . . County officials say it’s unsafe to open the park until the ground is dry enough to get its dirt roads back in shape--to provide quick access for assisting any injured park users. . . . In the meantime, Canyon Cyclery in Foothill Ranch has been lining up volunteers and donated material for the repairs so it can open this month. Says shop owner James Nishida: “It’s pretty much the community coming together and saying, ‘Hey, let’s get this park open.’ ”

PUMPED UP: Road cyclists in search of a spring tune-up--and a good cause--might try the Tour de Cure on May 13, which starts in Anaheim and sticks to the Santa Ana River Trail. . . . “We raised $50,000 last year and hope to do at least as well this year,” says spokeswoman Helen Cameron. The money goes to the American Diabetes Assn. . . . Among the riders: a five-woman team called the Pumpers, all diabetics who use insulin pumps. Says Pumper Jennifer Ching: “It was a long time between the time I was diagnosed and when I was able to accept the disease.”

HEART SMART: Anyone who plans to make cycling part of a new workout regimen--particularly anyone over 40--would do well to schedule an exercise test first. “It sets your limits and capabilities,” says Dr. Herman Falsetti. “It’s important for people starting out in exercise to build a base first.” . . . Falsetti should know: In addition to being a former racer, he has been the team cardiologist for U.S. cyclists in the last three Olympics.