Newfound Passion For Bicycle Cycling Extends To Effeciency In Everyday Life

August 25th, 2009 No comments »

I will never forget the life changing moment that introduced me to bicycle cycling last year as I moved into my first apartment.  Just moving out on my own, I was unpacking and just having a very long day.  So to help out, I grabbed my little TV and hooked it up, not expecting much.  I only got one channel to come in clearly, and of all the sporting events to show in the world, the Tour De France was on, and I lost all interest in finishing my unpacking that afternoon as I discovered deep down a passion for the sport of cycling I had never known before.

With the way things are going today in the markets and economy, I find it to be a comfort that I have become less reliant on my car and more independent thanks to bicycle cycling.  And with the wide array of options out there on the market right now, I truly believe that this industry is only going to continue to grow as the times grow tougher.  Since I work down town, riding my own little “tour de France” road bike just isn’t a viable option due to the design of the bicycle tires, so I’ve expanded my love of bicycle cycling to include the more causal and useful options for getting around the big city.

The first is the classic and well designed Schwinn bicycle that we’re all familiar with.  We’ve seen them for years and years, and that’s for a reason.  They’re an excellently built bike and perfect for anybody at any age looking for a very comfortable and causal design.  You won’t find a smoother riding bicycle any where for the value. But don’t think that’s all they have to offer.  Schwinn has been in the business for a long time and have developed some fantastic introductory hybrid road bikes and standard road bikes as well for those looking for a bit more speed in their bicycle cycling experience.

Yet, for those wanting a space saving design for easy storage at the office, you might consider the very handy bicycle folding setups that have been around for some time.  These make bicycle cycling an every day event for the working class person and not just the “Lance Armstrong” wannabe like myself.  And the real advantage, is the efficiency of the entire industry.  Using lighter, stronger, and more durable metals to build these bikes, they’re easier and more enjoyable to ride than ever before.

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Understanding Risks and Benefits of Bicycle Helmets

August 24th, 2009 No comments »

While riding in their suburban neighborhood, Rebecca Sorenson was horrified to watch her daughter veer out into the road and crash on her bicycle. By sheer luck, no one was driving down the street and her daughter quickly righted herself and avoided any serious consequences. Mrs. Sorenson was relieved that her daughter had on her giro bike helmet, so the worst of her injuries were just a few scrapes and bruises. Because she’d taken the time to research the best safety features for her daughter, they had avoided a potentially tragic scenario.

The most important part of choosing a bike helmet is getting the proper fit. This can be a bit confusing. Bicycle helmets that are not fitted properly are known to increase risks by as much as two times. When you realize that over 90% of helmets are worn improperly, this can be a huge problem. Your child’s helmet should sit level on his head, with only about a few fingers width between the helmet and the child’s eyebrows. The strap is used to hold the helmet firmly on the head and should therefore be adjusted so that it is tight, but not binding on the child’s throat. It should be all the way under your child’s chin. Most bicycle helmets are made in children’s and adult sizes, with several size variations in each designation. Also, you may notice that your helmet giro has a plastic cradle inside. This doesn’t provide any extra protection, but only helps with fit.

When choosing a bicycle helmet for your child, you really need to have an understanding of the benefits and risks. First, it’s true that tumbling head over heels off a bicycle can result in some head injury. However, severe injuries are extremely rare. Riding a bike is really not any more risky than walking down the street. Even if your child rides without a helmet, they will likely never experience anything more than a mild concussion, so don’t panic if she happens to make it out the door without it. Also, your child’s helmet can actually reduce visibility, especially when worn incorrectly, increasing risks of collision, which is much more risky than just falling from a bike. Of course, as parents, your job is to reduce the likelihood of an accident happening, and a properly fitted helmet can provide you with some peace of mind. In the event that your child hits her head, you’ll be glad that you took the time to do your homework.

Many states are working to make wearing a helmet for cycling compulsory, especially for children. However, when it comes to bicycle helmets, there has not really been any independent study done showing the actual ratio of risks to benefits. In fact, most professional cyclists chose to not wear a helmet. They feel that the reduced visibility is a liability and the extra weight can actually throw off their balance too much. Of course, your child isn’t riding competitively and it is often better to be safe than sorry. Do your research, pick proper features such as a helmet bell and make sure that your child’s helmet fits them correctly. By doing so, you and ensure that your young rider receives as much protection as possible.

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Balance Bikes Have Taken the Place of the Big Wheel

August 23rd, 2009 No comments »

When I was, growing up we used to ride a Big Wheel around the block all day long. I remember having a blast. Kids today no longer have Big Wheels to ride; they now have a balance bike. As kids, we thought riding a Big Wheel was all about having fun. In reality, Big Wheels were all about preparing you to ride your first balance bike. At least that is what they were supposed to be preparing you to do. I just remember my mother telling me that once I could master my Big Wheel that I would get a big girl bike. Growing up I could not wait to have my very first bike. I did not even care if they had training wheels. Technology today has moved kid’s right pass those Big Wheels days and right on to riding a balance bike. The theory is to provide the rider with the mechanics of riding a two wheel bike at a younger age.

In Europe, the benefits of riding a balance or wooden bike have been popular for decades. The benefits are just starting to catch on in the United States. They are known to be an excellent method for teaching your child how to ride with balance and coordination. The bike is low to the ground and provides your child with the means to run with their bike. Learning how to ride one of these bikes is remarkably easy. You just simply place your child on one of these bikes, and instruct them to start walking while sitting on their bike. Because there are not any pedals, the rider propels themselves by using their feet. After minutes on the bike, you will notice that they will want to start running. This provides a much more stable ride than using training wheels. This will give your child a strong sense of self reliance along with improving their confidence.

Balance bike new technology has parents rushing to the store to buy a new run bike for their child. Those parents that purchase one of these bikes have started to prepare their child for an exciting future for riding anything on two wheels. Learning how to balance on a balance bike makes the jump to a pedal bike easier for the child and less stressful for the parent. You will be surprised with how quickly your child will be able to ride a pedal bike. Some children prefer to ride their run bikes even after they have mastered riding a pedal bike. They feel that they have more control and can zip along quicker. If it was not for the size of the bike, your child might continue to ride this bike well into their teenage years.

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Baby Bike

August 22nd, 2009 No comments »

Being a mom in today’s society is much different than in years gone by. It used to be that mom did not venture too far from home when she had a baby or young child.  Today, not only do mothers venture out from the home, they take their babies with them and in what your grandmother, or mom,  would consider a very unconventional way.  Now they have available baby bikes and seat infant  bikes so that the modern woman of today need not stop her exercise regimen. Before making your purchase, be sure to inspect it carefully, looking for all the safety features and quality of the baby bike.

The most common type of seat infant bike you see is where the child is sitting behind the adult.  With this type of seat, you need to turn around to see the child to be sure all is well.  Doing this can set you off balance so you must be very careful.  Balance is the key word here so you need to make sure your know all there is on know about baby bicycles and how to be in control at all times.

Recently  a friend of mine decided she wanted to get a baby bike for so that she could spend time with her little  girl.  Keep in mind that she had not ridden a bicycle for many years and had to start all over again. They say you never forget how to ride a bike, and she didn’t, that is until they put the baby infant seat on it for her to try.  Once the bruises and soreness healed, she did become quite good at it and now rides in the park with her baby two to three times a week.  She did mention how difficult it was to pick the right one. Read all  literature on the different brands now available on the market and also all the absolutely necessary accessories, such as helmets, etc., that you need to buy.   A great new innovation that is now on the market is the Zigo Carrier Bicycle.  This put the child in front of your bike and allows you to better keep watch without the need to constantly turn your head to look back and check on him or her.

After fiting your bicycle with the proper infant bike seat or choosing the baby bicycle you most like, you can now enjoy the pleasure of being with your child but still  getting some errands done as well. Now is the time to enjoy your baby. You should make the most of it.  Remember, safety is the main ingredient here for both you and your child in deciding just what type of baby bike is right for you.

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26 Bike a Good Fit for Supercross

August 20th, 2009 No comments »

When I first started out with BMX bikes, I didn’t know much about them. I had to learn about the different types of bikes and how to ride them. I also had to learn about all the various tricks that could be done on the different bikes. My main focus became using 26 bike to ride on all of my various tracks. I had a tough time finding a bike that I really liked, so I decided to just build my own. I put some pegs on the back and set it up to fit exactly what I wanted. One of the other things that I made sure to do was put on a front wheel that had 36 spokes instead of 48. I knew that this would give me better air on jumps. It is a good idea to put on a 48 spoke wheel if you will be doing more street riding because it is a lot stronger.

While building my own 26 bike was a great project, I later learned that I needed to have some more patience. When I searched a little further I came across a kona bike that was an even better fit for me. These bikes are very high quality and have been around for a long time. The bike that I found had upgraded components from what I had on my custom bike and it was a much smoother ride.

Another thing that I discovered when going through the various 26 bike options was that a comfort bike would also be a good option for me when doing a lot of my dirt track or off road riding. This type of bike provided me with more stability and balance when trying to pull off tricks on some of the more massive jumps that I was encountering.

One thing that makes any 26 bike stand out in the crowd is the material that it is constructed from. Many of the lower end bikes will use cheaper steel to make their frames, but the best bikes always use Chro Moly steel to construct the whole bike. This type of steel is much stronger and it is also lighter which provides a better ride for doing tricks and taking jumps on those dirt tracks. Another big change in many of the new bikes is a smaller gearing set up to allow for more clearance when grinding. The smaller gear set up also is lighter which gives an advantage on the jumps.

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