What Exactly Is Bicycle Touring? I Have My Bicycle Saddle Bags Now Where Do I Go?
January 31, 2010 by Chris Smith · Leave a Comment
Bike touring is basically travelling large distances on your bike. Seems simple right? Well, we've all seen these guys on the road chugging along like a backpacker heading into the wild. If you're reading this article then you're probably looking for a new and exciting activity and bike touring won't disappoint you.
Why do people do it? Some people do it as a great form of exercise while being in the outdoors. Many enjoy meeting new people they see on the road or in towns they happen to stop in. Some people ride in groups to bond or get to know each other better. Others like the solitude of riding alone with only their thoughts as company. Although many people state different specific reasons for bike touring ultimately it's to have fun.
Bicycle touring is basically separated into 3 different categories depending on how much weight or lack of weight you're willing to carry. We'll take a look at credit card, ultra-light, or fully loaded bike touring and what makes each unique.
Credit card touring is basically your lightest form of bike travel. Like the name suggests you don't carry much more than a credit card and a change of clothes with you when you ride. All of your meals and hotel stays are paid for by credit card. This type of touring is the best for those of you who enjoy face paced riding.
Ultra-light touring can be best described as toting loads less than 16.5 pounds. Cyclist in this group may want to carry some extra food, clothing and maybe even a light weight tent and sleeping bag. These enthusiasts enjoy a minimal level of self-containment.
Finally, fully-loaded touring is carrying everything you could possibly need when you travel. Items may include clothes, toiletries, sleeping bag, tent, foam sleeping pad, food, camp stove, flashlights etc. This is for the cyclist that enjoys being completely self reliant. I guess I'd compare a fully-loaded cyclist to a backpacker who goes into the back country with everything he needs to survive.
Check out this great article on bicycle saddle bags, or this neat video on choosing the right bike saddle bags and panniers for your needs.
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Indoor Bike Trainer Buying Guide
January 23, 2010 by Jack Travers · Leave a Comment
As the cold weather sets in and the chilly winter wind starts to blow, you know that snow will soon be falling. This combination makes cycling outside extremely difficult in certain parts of the country and definitely not much fun.
On the assumption that you are similar to most cyclists, you are likely considering a purchase of an indoor bike trainer to maintain yoru fitness and keep your legs in tip top shape during the winter down time. I can't imagine that anyone out there would actually want to work hard all summer getting in shape, only to spend the winter time loafing around and lose that conditioning.
As you know, there are a tremendously large selection of bicycle trainers available to you and while it is good to have choices, it can be confusing when trying to make a good decision. You would be very wise to read the various bike trainer reviews online and check out what owners have to say about each bike trainer. It's also a great idea to stick with a known name brand if you aren't sure what exactly to buy.
Three of the most popular name brand bike trainers are:
Minoura Bike Trainers - Minoura USA has been making trainers for a long time and they produce some of the best around. They have a really cool rim drive trainer that is nice, especially for the mountain bike riders.
Kurt Kinetic Bike Trainers - The Road Machine is the bicycle trainer that I purchased for myself. It is excellent quality, very quiet and provides a superb workout that is hard to match from other bike trianers. I strongly recommend this bicycle trainer.
Cycleops Fluid Trainers - Cycleops bike trainers are amongst the most popular bike trainers you can buy. Cycleops is a name brand that screams quality and they produce some superb cycling products.
The 3 trainers that I have listed above are certainly not the only bike trainers that are any good but they are three of the most popular that I am aware of and I have personal experience with each and would recommend them to anyone I know. You can probably tell that I lean towards the Kurt Kinetic and would definitely recommend it over any of the others.
One great feature of the Kurt Kinetic bicycle trainer is that it has a sealed fluid chamber, which basically means that it cannot leak like some other fluid trainers. It's hard to explain but the design simply won't allow leakage so you get all the benefits of a fluid trainer, without any of the issues or problems. I also like the Kurt trainer because it is simply solid as heck when you ride it, it pedals nicely and gives a great workout that closely emulates a real road ride feel. I definitely recommend it.
At the end of the day, you need to make the decision that is right for you and find the perfect bike trainer for your needs and your budget. Check out the bike trainer reviews out there and then choose wisely.
Want to read more about Indoor bike trainers or maybe find a great deal on Minoura Bike Trainers then come on over the Jack;s Bike Trainer Reviews site.
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Are Electric Bike Kits Worth It?
January 22, 2010 by Garrick Baxter · Leave a Comment
An electric bike kit has several advantages. Lets not be ignorant about it. This kit has an electric motor, powered by a battery and made for conversion of a bicycle into an electric bike. One of the most important plus is that this battery can be recharged whenever it runs down. Simply plugging it to the electric supply point can get this done. If you are already used to riding a bicycle, then this converted electric bike is easy and less stressful to ride. You simply pedal your bike to allow the motor kick in. You can now relax and enjoy yourself.
Personally, I believe that in these times of recession, one ought to prefer buying an electric bike conversion kit rather than opting for a brand new electric bike. This decision hs mant dvntages. One of them is that, this conersion kit is very cheap. Instead of spending a huge amount of money on electric bike, I would simply convert my bicycle to n electric one. I don't need fuel to power my bike. When it runs down I recharge and ride on.
It is obvious that bicycle manufacturers greatly outnumber electric bike manufacturers. So, there are more brands of bicycles than electric bikes. Buying a conversion kit gives you a chance to choose any bike that suits your lifestyle.
Another advantage of the electric bike conversion kit is that it makes your electric bike very light and stress free. Since you are already accustomed to your bicycle, it becomes friendlier and easier to use.
The electric bike is recommendable for physical fitness exercises. If you are overweight and needs to burn some calories you can as well get an electric bike conversion kit. This kind of exercise mixed with pleasure can be very effective for management of certain ailments including hypertension, diabetes and arthritis.
You shouldn't waste time at traffics. Install an electric bike kit on your bicycle and save yourself a lot of time, fuel and energy. During rush hours don't use your car for short distance trips. Instead, make use of your electric bike. You will go through any available space on a traffic jam. You don't have to worry about the need for parking space.
Compared to the electric bike, buying the electric bike kit is far more economical. Do you have a bicycle? Then, spend a little money and buy an electric bike conversion kit. You will not only enjoy it but also will be proud about it.
If you want to buy electric bike kits, hurry and visit Electric-Bike-Kits.net. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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Bicycles For Free – Where You Can Find Free Bicycles
January 21, 2010 by Garrett Brock · Leave a Comment
Bikes are a great way to get around cheaply and effectively. They also are great for exercise and weight loss. When used often, you can get where you need to go and lose weight. Instead of getting into your car and lazily driving everywhere while not burning any calories, you can enjoy the weather and burn off calories on a bike. While you may not have one because you can't afford one, this article will show you a couple of places to go where you can sometimes find free bikes being given away in your area.
I live near a college, and at the beginning of every year, many college students will buy a bunch of stuff and then when the school year ends you'll find futons, TV's, chairs, bikes, and lots more of perfectly fine stuff piled in and around the dumpsters. Some students will even get a kitten or a puppy and then when the school year ends, they will abandon them.
The Internet is a great place to start your search for a free bicycle. There are two web sites in general that should be checked for bicycles that are being given away near you. Of course, you'll find much more free stuff being given away than just bicycles, so you should definitely check these out even if you don't want a free bicycle!
The first web site is called Freecycle.org. There you can join the group for your area and see what is being given away for free. Depending on where you live, you can often find someone giving away a bicycle they no longer want. Everything on this site is being given away for free. This site is a good place to get rid of some stuff you don't want also. If you have a bunch of stuff lying around that you want off of your hands, you can give it away on Freecycle.org.
Craigslist.com - it's such a simple web site, and it's so popular that, depending where you live, you should be able to find a free bike that someone is giving away near you. After you select your area on Craigslist, look under the "For Sale" area for the "Free" section.
Those are two great sites that you can often find a free bicycle on. If you can't find one right away, check back later, as you never know when someone will decide to give away their bicycle!
For extreme toys, alternative transportation, and human powered fun, check out ActionIsle, a web site filled with the latest and greatest, scooters, electric skateboards, cycles, sleds, luges, watercrafts and more. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.
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Top 3 Fat Burners
January 20, 2010 by Rick Ziletti · Leave a Comment
Have you ever wondered what piece of cardio equipment to use? The answer to that question differs depending on the physical goals and abilities of the the individual. A good answer to this question is that the ideal piece equipment the one that provides the most rewards while minimizing the risks.
If you haven't already guessed, the treadmill has probably been the most used piece of equipment in the gym over the years. For a very low stress cardio workout, just set the incline to zero and set the speed to your desired walking pace and away you go. The risk is minimal with this, as are the rewards. The workout intensity will be too low to burn many calories; and the severely obese or people with physical limitation, could still find this a high impact exercise, and and it could prove to be painful. Also walking at a slow pace, with no incline, would probably not get your heart rate up to put your body into fat-burning mode.
There are two ways to increase the efficiency of working on a treadmill. One is by increasing the rate of speed at which the exercise is done at. You can start by jogging or running. Jogging and running are very potent exercises when it comes to calorie burning; but both of them put a great deal stress on the knees and lower back. The unconditioned, injured and severely obese should use caution when running or jogging because it is extremely hard on the joints, bones and connective tissue. Secondly, treadmill work can be increased in intensity by increasing the percentage of grade the machine is set at. This becomes the equivalent of walking up hills or mountains outside. Incline treadmill walking is an effective calorie and fat burner but it can be problematic for people with lower back, knee or foot issues. As you can see the treadmill has its positives and negatives. Using this as your main type of cardio will depend on any limiting factors due to injuries and initial endurance levels you have.
Stationary bikes are another common piece of cardio equipmant being used at gyms today. Stationary cycling has the same pros and cons as riding a bike outside (with the exception of crashing!). I believe cycling is more beneficial than jogging and running because you can burn a lot of calories without the high impact pounding to the knees and back that you get from jogging and running. To a lesser degree however; there is some stress to the knees and back that is generated by intense cycling also.
I highly recommend elliptical machines for cardio work, due to their non-impact nature and large range of motion. You can vary the ramp, resistance and speed to target the largest lower body muscles without straining the spine or joints. It is possible to really crank up the intensity level of your training with very low risk of injury. In my opinion the elliptical machine is by far the safest and most versatile piece of cardio equipment out there. That being said; get out there and get fit!.
For an excellent source on abdominal muscle toningand fat loss, and if you are tired of fad diets, go to my link. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.
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Take A Bike Tour In New York
January 18, 2010 by Zach Jacobs · Leave a Comment
Ever wonder exploring New York without much difficulty? Exploring New York without spending too much? Why don't you try the Bike Tour New York located in the center of the city; near New York?s most famous park, the Central Park, where else?
Using a bike when exploring the city is both fun and good for the health conscious. Touring the city using bikes is way much cheaper than buses. You can rent bikes by the hour or for per day basis. If one day is not enough, you can still arrange for the bike to be leased to you for a couple of days.
If you are not going alone and your group consist of four or more family or friends, the Bike Tour New York can accommodate you and with special rates and discounts especially if you belong to a big group consisting of 10 or more persons. And when you will make the transaction online, you can also avail discounts.
Bike Tour New York also offers bike tours around the city, with three times a day schedule and complete with a tour guide. If you are new in the city, you will need a tour guide so you won't find yourself lost in the city. He or she will guide you around the city with information about the popular landmarks, tourist destinations and its history.
One of the good things about having a tour guide is they know the city very well. They are also trained and know a lot like the abodes of the stars which is usually near the Central Park.
The tour guides not only knows about the histories sites, famous landmarks or famous buildings, but, they also know where the stars live. So if you are star-hunting in the city, they will point to you where the stars usually hang out in the city. So better bring your camera with you in case that you might get lucky that day.
You can also hire tour guides if you want your tour to be more enjoyable. Tour guides are very knowledgeable about the city. You can learn about the history of the city and information about the famous landmarks.
So if you are planning to go biking, browse the internet and look for Bike Tour New York. Plan your tour with us and we will be most happy in serving you and your family.
If you are looking to get on a bike tour in New York you should look for the local businesses that have bike rentals in new york. This makes it a lot easier to do a bike tour when you are in New York because you will not have to take your bike with you on your trip.
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Bike Rack Buying Guide
January 15, 2010 by Jack Duncan · Leave a Comment
It is quite common for new cyclists to overlook some crucial cycling gear when they are starting out. They might get the bike right, the jersey just right, the right shoes, socks and pedals but they forget that they are going to need a good quality bike rack. Inevitably a cyclist is going to need to transport their bike for one reason or another and it is pretty tough to do without the right bike rack to accomplish this. We are going to discuss a few of the more common varieties.
Common Bike Rack Designs
Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack - A hitch mount rack is very common, in fact, probably the most common of any style rack simply because their are so many trailer hitch equipped vehicles on the road and it is a simple solution. These types of racks work well but they have their downsides as well, the obvious being would you ever need to use your hitch and your bike rack at the same time? Vacation? Something to consider before purchasing this style of bike rack.
Spare Tire Bike Rack - A Spare Tire bike rack is a bike rack that mounts to the spare tire. It can accomplish this a couple of different ways either using ratcheting straps that wrap around the spare or some of them will actually bolt onto the wheel studs that hold the spare tire in place to begin with.
Roof Mount Racks - Roof mounted bicycle racks employ some kind of rail system and a ratcheting hold down that keep the bikes secure. The pros of this design are that you can use them on trucks or cars, you don't need a hitch but if you have one then you don't lose the use of it. The downside can be big though as you need to lift the bike overhead in many cases to load it and depending on what kind of bike, that can be a heavy load to lift.
Pickup Bed Bike Racks - Truck owners don't have to lose the use of their hitch if they prefer with a bed mounted rack. This style of rack mounts either on the bed floor or between the truck bed rails. You then load the bicycle into the rack with it grabbing the front wheel or you remove the front wheel and mount the front forks right to the rack directly.
Pros and Cons
All of these styles of bike racks have their pros and cons. The trick is to determine what each one has for pros and what each one has for cons and then match these up to your own personality, vehicle choice and lifestyle. Do you want to be able to use the rack on more than one vehicle? Do you want to leave it mounted permanently? Do you need to use both your trailer hitch and your bike rack at the same time?
The only thing left to do is study up some of the bike rack reviews available, check out your options and then once you are more informed, make as good of a buying decision as you can make given what you know.
Want to find out more about a car bike rack, then visit Jack Duncan's site on how to choose the best bike rack for your needs.
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Increasing Safety, Having More Fun, Try Glowstick Lights
January 14, 2010 by Julie Sinn · Leave a Comment
Jogging or biking at night or early morning would be safer with light. Glow necklaces and glow sticks are great for making those who wear them be seen well from all directions. Bright glow sticks come in various colors and are useful to differentiate different teams in a sports contest. Two glow bracelets can be used to create a small glow necklace for kids to wear.
Biking at night is exciting, but one needs to make sure passing cars can see him or her from distance. Bright color 6" glow sticks and 22" glow necklaces are the gadgets to have. They come at economic rates. Some folks attach glow necklaces, glow bracelets and/or glow sticks to the body of their bikes so they are more visible. Go night biking with a bunch of friends or with the little people? How about have a glowing bike decoration contest for the most creative designs with all sorts of glow products? Glow necklaces products are fun for people of all ages and they bring more safety to all kinds of outdoor activates at night too.
Another usage of glow sticks that many people many know is in deep sea fishing. It is not uncommon for ships going commercial fishing to have challenging weather but glow sticks are wind and water proof and work well in all weather conditions. Glow sticks are attached to the lines to draw the attention of tuna, sword fish, and other sea fish. 4 inch and 6 inch glow Sticks used in fishing come with hooks on the top for easy attaching. Catch rates of lines lighted up with glow sticks can be as higher as double those without glow sticks.
Campground are dark and glowsticks and glow necklaces are perfect for both lightening and make fun. Kids would love be turned into "Glow man" by wearing glow necklaces and glow bracelets. As it's so much fun to watch "glow man" dancing in the dark.
Glow Sticks and glow necklaces are functional for underwater lightening as well. Tied them to ropes underwater or equipment on deck for example so you can locate them quickly when you need them.
For more information on glowsticks, visit online resources.
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Injury Attorney: Bicycle Injuries
January 11, 2010 by Jeffery Killino · Leave a Comment
As people all over America attempt to cope with the ongoing recession, new and different ways of saving money are becoming more and more popular. For many, that means clipping coupons for the first time in their lives, dining in rather than heading to restaurants, or simply putting off high dollar purchases. Some people are going as far as riding their bikes to work.
But with the added saving comes a potentially dangerous situation: Bicycle accidents. In 2007 698 bicyclists died on U.S. roads. In fact, in a typical year, over 90 percent of cyclists killed in this country, die in crashes with motor vehicles. The typical bicyclist killed on our roads is a male over the age of 16 not wearing a helmet riding on a major road between intersections in an urban area on a summer night, when hit by a car.
Any bike accident has the potential to cause serious injuries and permanent disabilities. About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized.
Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders. But not all accidents are the fault of the cyclists. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of a bike accident, contact bicycle injury lawyer Jeffery Killino.
Jeffery Killino has settled dozens of cases as a bicycle injury lawyer where riders were hurt or injured by negligent drivers, poor road conditions, or dangerous and defective helmets.
Laws are extremely complex and vary greatly depending on the details of each and every accident. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a bike accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
For a free consultation, contact child accident attorney Jeffery Killino now.
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From France And Beyond: Getting To Know The Tour De France
January 6, 2010 by Damian Papworth · Leave a Comment
For most Americans, the initial images that come to mind when one mentions sports are group athletics on a field. Football, baseball, and basketball are the holy trinity of sporting events States-side, but to Europeans, older and more traditional activities reign supreme.
Those in the United States might not understand the appeal of the race, but getting to know The Tour de France means starting to get excited about watching people on bicycles, too. For most amateur athletes, even a vague understanding of how fit one has to be to even consider making it to the end, let alone winning, is enough to give the race a little bit of time in between other television programming.
But make no mistake about it--rather than a simple leisurely bike ride through the countryside, The Tour de France is one grueling bike race, and the trials and tribulations of even making it to the finish are why it's the most famous race in the entire world. Rides from all over the world are competing not just against one another, but also against the landscape, the conditions, and their own psyches. The three-week long race is broken into daily segments, with very little time for recovery from day to day.
In fact, a number of riders have actually not survived The Tour de France, whether it was succumbing to heart attacks after ingesting methamphetamine while climbing part of the hills, or simply not being able to keep a bicycle on the road in times of great exhaustion. Riding the race has been compared to running in a marathon non-stop for a month, and it's no wonder why this seems an appropriate description once viewers take a single look at those treacherous mountain passes.
Though most of the accidents seem to occur during stretches through crowded mountain areas, as well as on the more hilly terrain, the race isn't all climbing and sprinting down mountains. There is a substantial amount of distance endurance riding through moderately hilly countryside, as well as some of the most famous stretches in cities, including that final lap through Paris, where thousands of locals and visitors congregate to see their favorite rider pass through and complete his epic race through France.
Aside from that, the race is known for being daunting emotionally, since much time is spent alone, unsure of one's standing in the race, and dealing with the very real thought that, after the next hundred miles, 900 more are waiting. It takes a lot out of anyone, even a famous bicyclist, to compete in this race.
Perhaps the most world-famous superhuman winner of The Tour de France is not some muscular Swiss rider or a scrappy-looking Italian, but a bona-fide American. And this American didn't just win the race a couple of times--he swept almost a whole decade, taking home seven wins in a row. This man? Lance Armstrong, the ex Mr. Sheryl Crow, and a cancer survivor. Even the European cycling fans had to admit his talents after win number two, and every year after that, it was anyone's guess as to whether or not this old (for racing standards) man could manage to pull it off again.
That one rider, who beat not only The Tour but also managed to triumph over cancer, is none other than Lance Armstrong. At the top of his game, truly, the man managed to win The Tour De France seven times in a row, often far ahead of the other riders. Armstrong is not just a legend to those in his home country, but also to many Europeans, who begrudgingly accepted him as one of the greatest cyclist of our time, and are just as excitedly rooting for him as he takes on the course as they are when their home country favorites whiz by.
No matter the reason, one thing is definitely certain about The Tour de France: it's not a sporting event for the faint of heart to participate in, and anyone watching has to give a whole lot of kudos to anyone strong--or crazy--enough to decide they're ready to take on the mountains and the landscape of France for three weeks at a time, with only a bicycle.
Damian Papworth, an enthusiastic cyclist knows how important hydration is in the sport, at all levels. For this reason, he created the Cycling Water Bottle website, offering free information on bicycle water bottles
