Bikes And Your Life

by: Rolf Karlsen

One look at the modern roads say it all. Inevitable traffic jams, smoke, noise, and air pollution are adamant, not to mention accidents left and right.

Cars take thousands of lives each day worldwide in automobile accidents. Some are results of driving under the influence of drugs or alcoholic beverages, while some are just too tired to be on the road. Instead of heading off to a place for some rest, the drivers will continue driving, so they are most likely prone to accidents.

Automobiles are also harmful to the environment. Cars leak liquids, and owners drive off without wiping the stain, leaving it for wildlife to taste. How many animals fall prey to these vehicles and become road kills in an instant?

Humanists, environmentalists, and animal lovers alike now have the solution for all the death, pollution, and killings. The answer comes with two wheels - bikes and how they can save your life.

Why You Should Start Using Bikes

No pollution is involved with cycling. It does not emit smoke, leak liquids, and is very quiet. Bikers also contribute to saving a space in a crowded parking lot as more than a dozen bicycles can fit in one slot of a car.

For pet lovers, you can tie your pet’s leash on your handlebar and pedal to an easy pace so that your furry friend can run beside you. It cuts out the work for you.

For your pockets, cycling can help you save more money. No insurance has to be paid annually, and no license is required. No fuel bills either as your bike will run to the speed of your pedaling. The maintenance costs about a quarter of what you spend on cars per annum, and a bicycle, once well taken care of, can last for years, if not decades.

In a crowded mall for instance, your bicycle can be parked anywhere. You don’t have to roam the parking area for agonizing minutes after minutes with the stress building up. You can just park it on one corner, secure it with your lock, and leave it to be ready for you until you’re done shopping.

How Your Health will Benefit from Using Bikes

According to a reliable source, a cyclist’s fitness level is equal to his health ten years ago. It can make you feel younger as you are still well in control of your limbs by the exercise, giving you power and building your stamina.

Irked by the way motorcycles pass by your car in the midst of a traffic jam during the rush hour? It can give you that same sense of power. Now, you can weave in and out of traffic, so you’ll reach your destination faster.

It also reduces the risk of heart disease as your heart is healthy and receives proper exercise. In addition, it builds up your muscle legs to give you more power and strength. If you’re a soccer player, then at least now you’ve got that strong kick you’ve always wanted.


About The Author
Rolf Karlsen think that his excellent health comes from his extensive biking, so he tries his best to promote biking everywhere. You can read more about his thoughts and recommendations on http://www.cykeltid.dk

Maintain The Chain - A Necessary Bike Skill

by: Alastair Hamilton

The chain is the crucial element of a bicycle - if it breaks, you aren't going anywhere. So proper maintenance is essential.

Of all the components on your bike, the chain is the most important. No chain....no go!

Proper chain maintenance will extend the life of your chain - although any chain should be replaced after you've put 1000 miles on it. Don't use a chain any longer that necessary - if its rusted or stretched, it's time to get a new chain.

A bike chain is put together from hundreds of precision-machined parts, consisting of pins, plates and rollers. If it gets full of gunk it will negatively impact your biking experience, and not do your cogs much good either.

The easiest way to take care of the chain is simply to keep it lubricated. Of course - too much of anything is a bad thing. You want the chain lubricated, but the lubrication itself does attract grit, so you don't want to use too much of it.

If you've ridden your bike through a trail full of mud, you'll want to clean it as soon as you return home.

Cleaning a chain

It's a hassle to take the chain off your bike, but you can certainly do it if you want to. However, in most cases it works just to clean it while its still on the bike. Simply spray degreaser (which you can get at your local bikeshop) onto the chain, the derailleur, the cogs and th echain ring. Let the degreaser do its thing for about 20 minutes - then use a rag or stiff-bristle brush to clean off the gunk. Then, simply hose it down. Then, dry it. Then, lube the chain.

Lubrication

Wipe and lubricate your chain before every ride - it's that simple. Lubrications are made from various ingredients - there are wax-based lubes and there are wet lubes. It's a good idea to keep a notebook in which you record which lube you use and how long your chain lasts. In this way you'll find out which lube works best for your bike and your type of riding.

Chain Suck

Ever experienced this? This happens when the chain doesn't release from the bottom of the chainring and pulls up instead - rather than running straight to the lower rear derailleur. Don't blame this on the front derailleur - it's caused by a worn chain.

Chain wear indicator

The rule of thumb is to replace a chain after you've put a thousand miles on it, but if you don't have an odometer on your bike and don't keep track of how many miles you ride, what can you do? Simple. Purchase a chain wear indicator, and use it on a week-to-week basis. You want to replace the chain as soon as it "goes out of spec" because if you don't, it will wear down the cogs on the drive train and you'll have to replace that as well, as the new chain you eventually do get probably won't fit.

About The Author

Alastair Hamilton use to write on bike reviews and similar subjects for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A focused website that offers articles on cycling accessories, read more here: http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/parts.html.

Read Reviews Before You Buy Bikes

by: Alastair Hamilton

There are so many different models of bikes on the market today that it is almost impossible for the average rider to know them all. It's a good thing, therefore, that bike magazines and websites provide reviews of all the bikes and gears available.

The sport of bicycling has exploded in the last several decades. No longer are people content with casual over-the-road cycling - not that that has lost its allure, merely that it has competition now. The sport has expanded to embrace adventure-loving individuals who like to head cross country on their fat-tired bikes, or head down mountains at full-tilt, or even go round and round in velodromes.

And with the expanding biking disciplines comes an expanding array of bicycles - each one specially designed with certain needs in mind.

Now that there are so many models available, made from so many different kinds of material, with all kinds of sophisticated gadgets on them, and with corresponding prices to match that sophisticatoin - it's imperative that the buyer make an informed decision.

And how can buyers better inform themselves than by reading reviews of the latest models that come out each year?

Every bike magazine has a section that reviews the latest technology - from the bicycles themselves to the various pieces of gear and accessories that you can add on to them. It only makes sense to do as much research as possible before going out to a bike shop to consult with the people there on what to buy.

There are also a vast array of biking websites out there that also offer reviews of products. When you're searching the web, however, be very careful as to whose words you take as gospel. These days anybody can set themselves up as an expert - but very rarely do they give you a byline and a brief bio so that you know their credentials. And when it comes to buying big ticket items - you should know the credentials of the people advising you what to buy.

How Much Do You Want To Spend

Before going out and buying a brand new thousand dollar bike, and a couple of hundred dollars worth of bike gear - the shorts, the jerseys, and the cool sunglasses - you have to ask yourself... is your enthusiasm going to be the same a year from now?

Just as many people buy memberships to health clubs and never go, so many people buy expensive bikes, use them once, and then never use them again. You know who I'm talking about! For newbies to the biking scene, you still want to get a good bike - because riding an ill-fitting cheap bike that isn't comfortable and is a pain to pedal will turn you off biking quicker than anything. So in a sense you're walking a tight rope.

The solution is to try a few disciplines first, borrowing bikes from friends who are "in" to it, checking it out over the course of a couple of weekends, and then making your decision at that time if the sport of biking is for you.

Reading reviews is all very well and gives you invaluable information when you go out to acquire the bike or the gear in question, but there's no substitute for actually getting on the bike and riding it to see if the reviews are right!

About The Author

Alastair Hamilton is the author of more resources published at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A website with tips on mountain bike reviews, and many related topics: http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/mountainbikes.html

The Art of Mountain Walking

by: Chris Haycock

Effective mountain walking may mean relearning how to walk, and includes the correct technique reinforced by experience. There are several techniques which may be used, but they all have the same goal. Safe movement over difficult terrain, with the least expenditure of energy to arrive at a destination in good condition. Let's go over a few of the principles to be borne in mind.

You should centre your weight directly over your feet at all times (whenever practically possible). Place you foot flat on the ground to obtain as much sole-ground contact as possible. Place your foot on the uphill side of grass tussocks and other level spots to avoid twisting the ankle and straining the achilles tendon ( something to be avoided in my personal experience, achilles injuries are very painfull and can take weeks to heal). You should rest between steps by straightening the knee after each step. Take small steps at a slow pace. Try to avoid steep angles of ascent or descent, taking advantage of any indentation in the ground.

When in a group a tempo (number of steps a minute) should be set according to the pace at which the group is moving. Since physical differences will mean that the tempos of two people moving at the same speed will not be the same, an interval of three to five paces should be kept between individuals. This allows each person to adjust their stride for changes of slope or terrain, enhancing their tempo, pace, and rhythm. Those at the end of the file will benefit from this interval, since the accordian effect will be lessened.

Terrain, weather, and light conditions affect the rate of climb. The more adverse the conditions, the slower the pace. Moving too fast, even under ideal conditions, results in early fatigue, requiring more rest halts, resulting in loss of climbing time. You can only move as fast as your legs will allow. The key is rest, good nutrition, proper conditioning and acclimatization, as well as the will to climb.

Breaks, though necessary, should be kept to a mimimum. When taking a rest, boot laces should be loosened and the body ventilated (through layer dressing). At the end of a days climb, a good rest will revive tired muscles.

The rest step, as described above, is used for steep climbing, though not exactly elegant, this slow, steady, halting rest step keeps the pace slow and rhythmic. This is much more efficient than bursts of speed, which are rapidly exhausting and require longer recovery.

There is much to cover in mountain walking, and for that reason I intend to make it a short series of articles. Look out for part two with more techniques for different terrain.


About The Author
Chris Haycock is an information publisher, one of whose many hobbies is climbing. With recurring knee problems, including one replacement, making it no longer possible to physically climb, he spends a lot of time researching resources to help other climbers. For details of one amazing resource, go to http://www.climbingknowledge.com

Mountain Biking

by: Dev Sri

Mountain Biking is a sport of endurance, skills and self-reliance. From a back yard to a gravel road, from country sides to mountain slopes, fire roads to the thrills of biking down narrow tracks through forests, mountains, deserts – mountain biking offers incomparable thrills and fun.

There are aspects of mountain biking that are more similar to trail running than regular bicycling. Because riders are often far from civilization, there is a strong ethic of self-reliance in the sport. Riders learn to repair their broken bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded miles from help. This reliance on survival skills accounts for the group dynamics of the sport. Club rides and other forms of group rides are common, especially on longer treks.

Mountain Biking entails the sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, whether riding specially equipped mountain bikes or hybrid road bikes. Most mountain bikes share similar characteristics that underscore durability and performance in rough terrain: wide, knobby tires, large, round frame tubing, front fork or dual suspension .The durability factor means a far heavier bicycle weight to rider ratio than their road touring cousins.

Mountain Biking in Kerala

Mountain Biking in Kerala works as a pretty good adventure experience for those who love to explore the unbeaten tracks and not so frequently visited paths. Mountain biking amongst the majestic backdrop of the great mountains of Kerala is an unforgettable and thrilling experience. The opportunity of mountain biking in Kerala is from the Munnar, Thenmala and many other places. The training of mountain biking adventurous sport is available.

Those travellers who want to travel differently for them the mountain biking at Kerala is undoubtedly one of the safest and the most enchanting ways to tour Kerala. It has its own advantages; you don't have to be an avid mountain biker to go for biking in different places of Kerala. More than just the excitement of biking you can be delighted by the beautiful whistle of a hill myna or by the amicable smile of a villager.

Each ride is a display of personal expression. There is the gonzo daredevil who rides for the adrenaline rush of speed and danger. Then there is the more careful rider who takes time to enjoy the scenery. Mountain biking in India is famous at Kerala.

Mountain biking in Kerala is a sensory experience like none other. You must concentrate on the intricacies of the terrain. Your hearing becomes fine-tuned to approaching streams, animals or rock slides. As you adjust your speed, you pick up the scent of a cluster of pine trees or a field of grass. In fact, you may even taste honeysuckle carried by the wind. Kerala adventure mountain biking is popular.

Every bike riders riding kit will have all equipment, to enjoy a safe and fun ride. Only keep those things that you are going to use in your riding expedition. Among the essentials that you will require in your mountain bike trip is a first aid box and a basic bike repairs.

Must have items for short riding trips include wrenches for all the nuts and bolts on the bike, tire levers, pump, patch kit/tubes, chain tool, crescent wrench, zip ties, duct tape and a small first aid kit. For long rides also add up things such as cables, brake pads, food, water, a bigger first aid kit, crank remover, spare spokes, casette remover, and extra clothing. To carry these items, you can use a jersey pockets or bike bags.


About The Author
Dev Sri invites you to try adventure tours of Kerala. With Adventure Kerala (http://www.adventurekerala.org/), you will enjoy adventure sports like mountaineering, rapelling, rock climbing, river crossing, and a whole lot of adventure activities.

Skills For The Beginning Mountain Biker

by: Alastair Hamilton

Mountain biking is a fun sport but it is also dangerous. However, participants can lesson their chances of injury by taking a few precautions. First off, of course, they should have the necessary skills before even getting on the mountain.

Practically anyone can get on a bike and ride around their neighborhood, go across flat countryside or ride up and down hills, but when it comes to mountain biking, the rider should have certain skills before giving it a try.

Depending on how long you've ridden your bike, it's quite possible that you do have these skills - so let's just run through them.

1) Feel the pedals

Are you used to keeping your feet on your pedals at all times? Of course you are. But when you're mountain biking (or doing stunts), feet come off the pedals... and have to be able to find them again without hesitation.

So practice taking your feet off the pedals and replacing them...this will instill "muscle memory" so your feet always will know where the pedals should be at any given time.

2) Shift the gears

If you live in a flat area, you probably don't do a lot of gear shifting. This will change when you get on the slopes, so find yourself a hill near your home and practicing shifting as you go both up and down. Also, if you get tired just biking up a regular-sized hill, you'll want to do some wind sprints up that same hill for a couple of weeks before you decide to take on a mountain.

3) Stand up for yourself

Most people sit on their bikes while they ride, but again, on a mountain bike you don't have that luxury. You'll be off your seat more often than not. So practice coasting along while standing, and then pedaling while standing....and don't do it for just a few yards and then stop.

4) Before you go hurtling down

Mountain biking is a dangerous sport, and you should always wear a helmet, and knee and elbow pads. And when you're practicing going over curbs - the same should apply.

You want to practice going up and over curbs to get the feel of doing it on a hill. You know your own bike best - exactly how high can an obstruction be before you can't go over it with your bike? Probably about six inches.

Going off a curb is another thing entirely. As long as you have good balance and strong hands to keep your front tire straight, you can get quite a bit of "air" before hitting the ground again - but you need to know the ground you'll be landing on to ensure that there's no obstructions that will get in your way. So always ride a downhill trail relatively slowly the first time, before you go full out.

But back to practicing. Check out the curbs in your neighborhood, and - while wearing your safety gear and making sure there's no traffic in the area - practice going over them at different speeds. If all the curbs are of the same height, you'll have to increase them using man-made objects such as ramps. However... you learned to crawl before you could walk, and by the same token, become very comfortable on those short curbs before you try to increase the height and air of your jumps, and always wear your safety gear while you do it.

There's no need to be impatient. Work on your skills first, then tackle a beginners mountain biking trail or two to perfect your skills even more. Once you've got the skills, mountain biking will be a breeze!

About The Author

Alastair Hamilton contributes editing long articles on bicycles for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . Find more publications about mountain bike reviews at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/mountainbikes.html

How To Buy A Mountain Bike

by: Alastair Hamilton

In a perfect world you could buy any bike you wanted at a price you could afford, but in the real world mountain biking prices vary wildly. We provide some tips on what to look for.

Buying a house is just about the most important investment you can make in your life. Various means of transportation come second - from yachts or boats and cars to motorcycles. Acquiring a bicycle is not quite as expensive as that - but there are so many brands available, at so many different price ranges, that it behooves you to do a bit of research before you go out and spend any money.

Bikes can vary from used beaters to the top-of-the line road or mountain bikes. This article discusses how to go about buying a mountain bike.

How Much Will You Pay?

Are you already a biker, or are you just taking up the sport? Do you intend to ride daily, or only on weekends? Do you have a safe place to store your bike when you're not using it?

All of these are questions you musts ask yourself before you purchase your first bike. If you've only just become interested in the hobby of mountain biking, you don't want to buy a top-of-the-line thousand dollar bike until you're sure you'll get the use out of it. Of course there's a catch-22 there. Top-of-the-line bikes are so light and soooo nice that you'll probably fall in one, whereas if you get a poor bike to begin with it might sour you on the sport forever.

The best thing to do is test-ride as many bikes as you can in the various price ranges. Your local bike store won't let you test ride their bikes down a mountain - but you can rent bikes at the trailheads and give them a try.

Where Will You Buy

Any book or article you read will advise you not to buy a bike from a mass merchant store such as Wal-mart or Target. Why? Because they buy bottom of the range bikes which they can sell cheaply, and the bikes are not necessarily put together well. Whereas if you buy even the most inexpensive child's bike from a bike store, it'll be lighter than the mass market version, and the store people will ensure that it fits your child.

So, you can either support your local bike store or buy online. It's usually best to buy from your bike store to begin with, as they can help you fit the bike and give you advice. If you've ridden for years and years and know what you need, buying online does make sense.

What Will You Buy?

You'll ask yourself this question in conjunction with "how much will you pay." Again, it all comes down to how often you expect to use the bike. If you're planning on doing mostly road biking with the occasional cross country trip, and only once in a while going down an actual mountain... then you won't need the same kind of bike as someone who is strictly a downhiller.

Mountain bikes come in two different kinds - hard tail and full suspension. The hard tail has suspension in the front but not in the back - hence the term "hard tail." Full suspension bikes are more comfortable... but correspondingly more expensive.

When Will You Buy?

Just as car dealers sell models off at a discount at the end of their selling season, so will bike stores. If you live in an area with a "winter season," you're bound to see some winter season sales.

So don't be impatient... but don't deprive yourself of a summer of fun, either!

About The Author

Alastair Hamilton is the consultant for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . Find more publications about mountain bike reviews at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/mountainbikes.html

Women and Bicycles

by: Marcia Henin

Nowadays, cycling is one of the most famous sports in the world. Both women and men enjoy riding bicycles; sport competitions are held and thousands of people join bicycle clubs. Bicycle racing is very popular; men and women, children and grownups master the art of bicycle riding.

However, bicycle riding wasn’t always accessible to women. On the contrary: in 19th century it was consider inappropriate for women to ride bikes. The pose, which the bicycle riders had to take, seemed too vulgar. Some critics condemned women who decided to ride bicycles, claiming that their vulgar look is provocative and that they should be arrested, since women on bikes disturb social order.

Today, women riding bicycles everywhere, not realizing the importance of the mark the bicycle left upon gender relations. In the 19th century, cycling was considered male dominated sphere of activity, much like other sport activities, and women couldn’t play a part in these spheres. However, as the years went by, women started to protest against such discrimination, and after many disputes were also allowed to ride bicycles. The shift in attitude towards women on bikes also brought other changes – women’s emancipation changed the style of their clothes from the impractical long dresses and long skirts to sport dresses.

Bicycle riding played an important role in women’s struggle for independence. It served a tool for increased freedom and opportunity to engage in sports together with men. Many feminist writers of today consider the bicycle one of the most important tools towards women’s self control.


About The Author
Marcia Henin, content writer for Inter-dev - internet marketing company - http://www.inter-dev.co.il/en/

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