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So Many Bikes, So Little Time

A hardtail mountain bike.

Image via Wikipedia

Mountain biking has become a favorite way to stay active and fit, so much so that today there hundreds of different bikes to choose from. Trying to decide what is the best bike for your needs doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Consider a few key points and you will soon find yourself hitting the trails on your brand new bike.

First, consider what you will be doing with your bike. If you are in for the full on adventure, you will need a full-suspension bike and all the latest technology. If you are not interested in that much adventure, a hybrid bike is more in keeping with your needs. Hybrid bikes are great bikes because they work just as well on streets as they do trails.

Finally, you must consider what your budget is. Like anything, a mountain bike can cost you a lot of money. Typical bikes will run between $600 and $5,000. You can find a bike to fit your budget.

When you think about it, a mountain bike is not unlike a pair of running shoes. Just as a runner must decide what they need by speaking with an expert, sometimes your best bet is to go into the bike shop and talk to them. They will help find a bike that is the best fit for your needs and your budget.

Remember, if you are new to the sport, it is a good idea to start with a less expensive model. You can always upgrade later.

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Basic Mountain Bike Maintenance

Mountain Bike Wilder Ranch

Image by richardmasoner via Flickr

Mountain biking is all about getting out in the wilderness and having fun. However, there is a boring and tedious part to mountain biking; having to care and maintain your bike.

Bike maintenance is critical to ensure the safety of yourself and others who are riding the bike. A well maintained bike will also run smoother which allows you to focus on the thrills and excitement that comes with mountain biking and not worry about getting injured.

Here’s a look at some of the basic mountain bike maintenance you need to do to your bike on a regular basis.

A Complete Wash

Mountain biking can be a very dirty sport. The dirt and debris that you ride through while biking can collect in the wheels, chains and other parts of the bike which puts your safety at risk. Every once in a while a complete wash of the mountain bike is needed. Everything from the seat, handlebars and wheels needs to washed with soap and water and hosed down.

The Wheel Test

A complete wheel test needs to be performed to make sure your bike is operating properly. Place the bike with the wheels up to perform this test. Take each wheel and make sure it turns properly in the bike and there is no interruption. You will also want to check the air pressure of each wheel and fill any that have low air pressure.

Running through the basic mountain bike maintenance steps once a month will ensure that you are safe and secure while enjoying your favorite extreme sport.

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How to Bet on Cycling

lance Armstrong

Image courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Lance_Armstrong_Tour_2010_team_presentation.jpg

Most fitness oriented people either run, bike, swim or do some other aerobic activity a few times a week. Cycling as a sporting activity is very healthy for legs and torso as it builds muscles, develops stamina and provides a good workout for people.

Cycling as a sport has been made very popular by people such as Lance Armstrong. Armstrong is a cancer survivor who underwent gruesome treatment. Yet, through his grit and determination he displayed triumph of will, he became the most famous Tour de France champion.

As a sport, cycling has become very popular due to Armstrong’s successes and is considered very hip and sexy these days, much like tennis and baseball. Sports betting sites have traditionally been very strong in football, baseball, basketball and hockey, but cycling as a sport is very attractive for betting also. Cycling can be a very enjoyable sport with the family and friends in an after work sunny evening when it is not too hot and windy. Newlywed couples can take their bicycles and ride around town or the suburbs depending upon how safe it is in terms of crime and traffic.

It also keeps you alert and mentally active as you have to keep a balance and watch out for pets such as dogs, traffic from vehicles and stay alert to see if there are kids out playing who you might not see as they run towards you trying to explore the surroundings or grab a ball. Cycling is an activity which the young and old, men and women, and especially environmentally conscious people love to get involved in.

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Difference Between Mountain Bikes And Road Bikes

Many people get confused between mountain bikes and sports bike; however a trained sports person can easily tell you the difference by just looking at both the bikes. Mountain bikes are designed to be short and sturdy whereas road bikes are tall and lightweight. The basic structure of these bikes differs a lot because they are designed for two different terrains. The road bikes are meant to traverse through smooth asphalt roads, whereas the mountain bikes are meant for more dusty and uneven terrain.

The tires of mountain bikes are thicker and they have more treading to avoid skidding against the pebbles and stones. The tires of road bikes are larger in circumference and are thinner as compared to the mountain bikes. Road bikes do not have excessive treading on their tires. The road bikes have shorter inward curved handles whereas the mountain bikes have straighter and shorter handles. Mountain bikes are not meant to travel at high speeds. These bikes are designed for uneven terrains and the emphasis is more on control and technique of riding. On the contrary, the road bikes are designed to slice through the air so that the rider can achieve optimum speed. Mountain bikes are heavy and sturdy whereas road bikes are feather light and easy to break down. The maintenance costs of a mountain bike are higher as compared to a road bike due to the rough usage of the bike.

One can see different types of mountain bikes and road bikes in different sport shows. One can compare the prices and models of various bikes before you buy the right bike for your cycling needs.

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Road Bikes- An Overview

Road bikes or bicycles as they are popularly called haven’t undergone major changes from their inception. The basic frame remains the same. A bicycle is an eco friendly way of transport and is also very good way to exercise your body. Road bikes have a simple structure. They have short bent handles and are taller. These bikes are light weight and hardly have any shock absorption facility in place.

Most road bikes do not stress on the importance of shock absorbers and springs as they are run on paved road. These bikes are designed in a manner that they slice across the air and are able to catch up speed. Road bikers are usually people with long legs and tremendous muscular strengths. The curved handles allow the bikers to stay close to the bike and control the bike. The handles of road bikes are metallic and light weight. The whole frame of a road bike is hollow. It is designed in such a fashion to allow the rider to travel at a faster speed. Earlier road bikes were made of wood and they were very uncomfortable to travel by. Slowly metallic bikes were invented. The invention of bike chain made it easier for the cyclist to ride faster. The pedals allowed a firm footing while pushing the cycle.

The present day road bikes are extremely light weight and they are designed from metals like steel or titanium. Carbon road bikes are the latest toys in the road bike segment. Bikes made from titanium and carbon metals are very light in weight and they are extremely expensive. It is wonderful to see variety road bikes in cycling races.

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Mountain Bikes- An Overview

EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 23: Ben Cat...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

People, who are avid cyclists, aren’t new to the world of mountain bikes or dirt bikes. Mountain bikes are referred as dirt bikes because of the amount of dirt that they accumulate thanks to traveling through mountain trails. Mountain bikes are available in different categories and different prize ranges. A basic mountain bike will have three to four gears and will have decent seat and reasonable shock absorbers. As the bikes go to a more advanced level they have more features ad of course they are priced in the higher bracket.

One cannot use ordinary bicycles in mountainous terrains because ordinary bicycles do not have the sturdy grip in their tires, they will be unable to hold against the stones and pebbles in the mountains. Similarly the street cycles have long handles which will make it difficult for the cyclist to traverse through sharp turns. Mountain bikes are specially designed keeping the hilly terrains in mind. The shock absorbers are short and have sturdy fork springs so that the cyclist does not feel the bumps on the road. In the same way the tires are wider and have more coarse texture to avoid skidding and friction against the stones. The handle is kept short, to facilitate the navigation through quick sharp turns. The gear system in the mountainous bikes allows the cyclist to vary their speed based on the pattern of the road. Higher gears have more power compared to the lower gears.

One can buy mountainous bikes from sports showrooms or they can browse through various online sports stores to choose the best model as per their needs. One can also look at eBay for discounts on sports bikes.

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Have A Heard About Mountain Bikes Or Mountain Bicycle?

A cross country mountain bike race.

Image via Wikipedia

You have surely heard about bikes but have you ever heard about mountain bikes? Bike is a two-wheeler vehicle which people ride on the road. On the other hand, mountain bike or mountain bike are those bikes which are suitable to be ridden in the areas such as mountains, rocky areas, steep areas and the likes. It is difficult or nearly impossible to ride road bikes in such areas since road bicycle/bikes will not be able to endure the obstacles that are there in such areas in the forms of rocks or uneven surface.
If people attempt to ride road bikes in these areas, they would not succeed and their bike/ bicycle may also get out of order. Thus, mountain bikes are designed especially in such a manner so that they can withstand the conditions of such areas easily. Normal wheels are not used in mountain bikes but the wheels with the facility of rims are used in the manufacturing of such bikes. In addition to this, the tires of these wheels are wider than the wheels used in road bikes. It is the width of the tires along with the rims which make it suitable to be ridden on uneven surface.
Earlier, mountain bikes were manufactured so that people could reach their desired destination which is in hilly areas easily using these bikes. However, its popularity has changed the scenario, mountain biking is now taken as a sport as well by a number of people. Now, people ride these bikes in mountain in order to practice for their competition. This competitive spirit in people helps them in taking it up seriously as they do so with an aim to win the game.
The competitions of mountain biking are held in different ways such as cross country biking, free ride biking, endurance biking for a day and so on. Cross country is a well known form of competition and mountain bikers wait for this competition and work really hard to win these games. So, are you planning to buy mountain bike soon?

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Tips for Long Distance Riding

Many people stare forlornly at the road bike hanging on the wall in the garage with dreams of long distance riding idling in their heads. Turn dreams into reality with these tips to help accomplish your dream of long distance biking.

1. Get into great condition. Spend the winter months getting into shape. Once the weather warms up start with short distances and slowly increase that distance each time you ride. Never work out so hard that you’re incapable of riding the next day.

2. Make sure you’re comfortable. Being familiar and comfortable on your bike is paramount. If the saddle just isn’t working for you on short distances, there’s no way it’ll work on longer ones. Get a new one and break it in, and take time to find a comfortable position on the bike.

3. Wear good clothing. Comfortable clothing is key to a long distance ride. You’ll only be able to tell what is comfortable after increasing your riding distance.

4. Map your route sensibly. You’re going to be able to cover much more distance on a flat route compared to a hilly one. Pick a route that you can easily accomplish for your first long distance trek.

5. Learn your gears. Longer rides require the use of gears. Switch to lower gears when going up hills to avoid burning excess energy. Maintain a consistent pedal speed and lower your gear when you feel your legs moving more slowly.

6. Eat! Eat a proper meal before leaving on longer trips to ensure you have enough carbohydrates to sustain a long energy burn. Drink plenty of fluids prior to leaving and carry a water bottle with you as well as an easy to eat snack like a protein bar or trail mix.

Long distance cycling doesn’t need to remain a far off dream. With these tips you can take that bike down from off the wall, dust off the saddle and get pedaling.

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A Cyclist’s Diet

A proper diet is as important to cyclists as to any other athlete, but many cyclists overlook this important part of training. Not only is the proper diet required to maintain a high level of fitness and proper health, but it can also help you recover more easily from intense training.

Cycling builds muscle and reduces fat and because muscle weighs more than fat so using a scale to determine weight loss isn’t a good idea, you’re just swapping fat for muscle. A better indicator is to use body fat calipers or monitors. With all the lean muscle you’ll be developing as you’re training, it is important to eat as natural a diet as possible.

Whole grains, lean proteins, fats from nuts, seeds and avocados, as well as low fat dairy products should be the foods you turn to. Legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables are also important. Avoid heavily processed foods or those that are high in sodium, especially fast food.

Eat a healthy meal of whole grains or legumes and lean protein before a training session and always take along something to eat part way through. Eat again after the session, a snack that is high in protein, to help your body recover more quickly.

The proper diet will ensure that you have more energy for better workouts. A balance of carbohydrates and protein will allow you to have slow burning energy at your disposal for endurance. Don’t skip meals, as this sends all the wrong signals to your body. Instead, eat smaller but more frequent meals throughout the day.

Cyclists are often more concerned about their equipment or high performance clothing compared to their diet. Unfortunately they overlook the fact that their body needs to be in top condition to power the bicycle over long miles, and that body is best fueled with a healthy diet.

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Lactic Threshold Training – Imperative to Cyclists

As technology improves, so does training techniques for myriad sports, including the sport of cycling. One of the newest buzz words in the training world is “lactate threshold”. This is the point in which you’ve done as much as you can, when your body just cannot go any longer.

For years, trainers stressed the importance of heart rate as the key indicator when training.  It is now believed that the lactate threshold is better indicator of fitnees level. If you can raise this threshold then you can continue exercising at a much more comfortable heart rate. This is imperative to road racers who depend on stamina and endurance.

Lactate is what neutralizes the acids that build up in your body making your limbs heavy with exhaustion. The harder you workout, the faster this acid accumulates, until eventually, searing and burning pain in your limbs will force you to slow down or stop entirely. This point where you accumulate acid faster than it dissipates is your lactate threshold.

A self administered time trial is the easiest way to find your LT. Ride a three mile route without stopping with a heart rate monitor. Plan for a 20 minute warm up, then ride the three miles as fast as you can. Recover for about 10 minutes and then do the test again. Your threshold is 103 percent of your average heart rate for the two rides.

You can raise your lactic threshold by slowly but consistently pushing yourself and your limits, effectively teaching your body how to neutralizing the lactic acid more efficiently. Increasing the LT of a road cyclist is important; it can mean the difference in the amount of time they can ride comfortably. By pushing the limits of your LT you’ll extend the amount of time before your arms and legs are burning, forcing you to slow down or quit entirely.

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