Archive for July, 2009
Posted by Richard on July 31st, 2009 | Comments Off
John Philip
Riding a bike can be enjoyable, but like many things in life, there are some dangers that go along with cycling. The two major issues that affect cyclists in terms of safety are falling off their bike or getting hit by a car while out on the road.
The most obvious way to cycle in safety is to wear protective gear, most noticeably, a helmet. For many years’ children, and adults alike, didn’t wear helmets when cycling. This caused numerous serious head injuries. In the past few years it has become mandatory in many jurisdictions to wear a helmet, especially for children. Wearing a proper fitting, good quality helmet will reduce the risk of head injury if you do happen to have a spill. Other types of protective gear should also be considered including protective eyewear, elbow and kneepads and gloves as well.
When riding on the road there’s always the risk of getting hit by a car, but there are many things that can be done to avoid this. First and foremost, make sure to always obey road signs. Bikes have to stop at stop signs and light as well. Follow all road signs and clearly indicate with hand signal, which direction you are going.
Also, wear clothing with reflective tape on the sides and make sure that you have adequate reflectors on the bike as well. The goal is to make you as visible as possible on the road. If the area in which you live has bike lanes, make sure to use them. While it may be tempting to ride so that you are facing the traffic, this is also a safety issue as cars pulling out of driveways and streets may not see you.
Filed under Cycling | Tags: Reflectors, Safety Issue
Posted by Richard on July 23rd, 2009 | Comments Off
Jem Jamey
Riding outdoors is a complicated affair, and sometimes risky if the rules of the road and proper safety are ignored. Because of this, efforts are put into ensuring that those who ply the roads will have proper and sufficient protection for themselves to keep them and other road users out of harm’s way. The dangers posed on travelers are especially serious if the vehicle in question is either a motorcycle or a bicycle, both of which demand balance at all times.
The Thrill of Riding a Motorcycle
Riding a motorcycle is a truly thrilling experience. There is probably nothing that compares with the experience when you feel the wind rushing past your ears, sometimes creating that whistling sound when one reaches higher speeds. On the other hand, a bicycle is a nimble machine, and anyone who uses it must be equally nimble in maneuvering it. Compared to a motorcycle, a bicycle can get you anywhere on brute human strength. Both machines are appreciated for their ability to navigate the tightest of passageways deemed impassable for other vehicles.
Protective Gears for a Safe Travel
No one who uses either a motorcycle or a bicycle can be fully protected. As such, it is always important for everyone to observe proper safety measures to avoid disasters or to mitigate the effect of one. When it comes to road safety, one company that gives a complete line of protection for motorcycle and bicycle users is Fox Inked Gear. Fox Inked Gear is the brand of choice for motorcycle and bicycle users because of the proven quality of their products.
Fox Inked Gear’s Top-sellers
Some of the proffered products by Fox Inked Gear are the following:
▪ Fox Inked goggles. The lens of this goggle is made from durable Lexan material, which is immune to fogging as a result of dust accumulation or from the rider’s breathing. The Lexan lens is also resistant to scratching. It has a removable nose guard, and the interior is padded with foam that wicks away moisture.
▪ Fox Inked Gear helmet. This helmet is designed according to the latest standards in road safety. An extended visor and chin guard protects the wearer’s face and nose from hitting the ground in case of an accident. The helmet is made from durable hard plastic that will not disintegrate during impact. The stylish design features flame-red configuration.
▪ Fox Inked jerseys. This will protect your body from accumulating dust especially in off-road races. The jersey is made from a material that allows great ventilation.
▪ Fox Inked pants and shorts. These are fashionable articles of clothing even when one is off the race track. They come in flame red color or a similar black-and-white configuration.
Fox Inked Gear products are preferred not only for the quality of their material or for the stylish design they flaunt, but because they also can be worn outside races. No wonder then that Fox Inked Gear products figure prominently in motocross races as well as in off-road biking.
Fox Inked Gear on the Internet
For more information on how to get your Fox Inked Gear products, visit Bob’s Cycle Supply for a glimpse at some of the finest products they have as well as to compare their prices.
Filed under Cycling | Tags: Demand Balance, Goggles
Posted by Richard on July 21st, 2009 | Comments Off
Gregg Hall
Remember when you didn’t think about the gears on your bike? Your bike had a bike sprocket connected to the pedals and a small sprocket connected to the back wheel an that’s all you needed. Then you got a little older and got your first 10-speed. That bike had two sprockets up front and five on the back. In all likelihood, the shifters were a pair of levers connected to your bike frame near the handlebars. As time went on the shifters moved to the handlebars themselves and then became advanced-looking dials right beside the grips. And next thing you knew, instead of a paltry ten speeds on your bike, you were riding a 27-speed mountain climbing machine!
Why all these gears? To make riding faster and easier, of course. Whatever the number of gears your bike has, if it has 2 or more then there’s a basic set-up which almost every bike employs.
First of all you have your front and rear sprockets. These, along with the chain, form the most basic components of the gearing system. To determine your gear ratio you compare the number of teeth on the front sprocket to the number of teeth on the rear sprocket.
If your front sprocket has 52 teeth, and your rear sprocket has 20 teeth, then you’re looking at a ratio of 2.6. The higher the ratio the faster the gear. Typically the gears on the front, starting from the inside, get larger as you move out. On the back wheel, though, the largest gear is typically the farthest inside and they get smaller as you move out.
The next key component for your mountain bikes gears is the derailleur, or derailer. The derailleur is what moves the bicycle chain from gear to gear. A typical shifting system employs both a front and rear derailleur. Without the derailleur you wouldn’t be able to shift gears. The derailleur consists of pulleys and the cage, which is the part which actually comes into contact with the chain. The pulleys are attached to the gear cables. There are separate cables for the front and rear derailleurs. The gear cables connect to the gear shifters.
There are a variety of gear shifters available today and they cover a wide price range. The gear shifter is what allows you to change gears. The first type of shifters were levers known as friction shifters. These worked simply by pulling the cables attached to the derailleurs.
Friction shifters can be troubling because the way they’re designed you can easily get caught between gears and accidentally damage your gears or even wreck. The more advanced variety of shifter is known as the index shifter.
Index shifters have specific stopping points and are calibrated to perfectly shift from gear to gear. They remedy the drawbacks of the older friction shifters. Gear shifters may be placed anywhere from the frame to the handlebar base to the grips to models which seem to be part of the brake levers.
Mountain bikes have multiple gears to make it easier for you to negotiate difficult terrain. Higher gears are there to help you speed downhill or across the flats, and lower gears are there to help you surmount those difficult inclines. Remember, it’s best to shift gears when you’re not putting a lot of stress on your pedals. Shifting when there’s heavy pressure on the pedals can damage your shifting system.
Filed under Cycling | Tags: Fr, Gear Cables
Posted by Richard on July 21st, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Awesome Bill I want to convert my gear shifters from the thumb operated type to the twist type (sort of like the twist throttle on a motorcycle). But, I am wondering if it is possible that a product exists that includes a secondary, upright handlebar grip and mirrors that extend outward from the normal handlebar in addition to the twisting shifters.
If you know of a website that has a HUGE selection of bicycle parts and accessories, that would be a plus.
Thanks a lot for your help, I really need it. And happy cycling.
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Filed under Cycling | Tags: Handlebar Grip, Thumb
Posted by Richard on July 18th, 2009 | Comments Off
Robert Sheehan
Mountain bike shoes are specialized footwear. They are customized for the kind of cycling you plan to do, the model of your cycle, the terrain you are going to cover and finally your personalized needs.
However, the basic criterion that makes a cycling shoe is determined by the pedal of the bike.
Originally, biking shoes were made of hard leather soles made firmer with a metal or plastic shoe plate or cleat nailed to it. The cleat had a slot that fitted into the pedal of the cycle, while the toe clip and strap worked to keep the bikers grip on the pedals.
When the clipless pedal became the norm, the features of the cycling shoes had to be modernized accordingly. Hence, the shoes featured cavities or clefts to smoothly accommodate cleats for clipless pedal machines for instance in Shimano’s SPD (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) and LOOK.
Special features of modern cycling shoes.
Mountain cycling shoes have features that make it safe and ideal for this fun filled yet highly challenging activity. They are:
1. Sole is very smooth, tough and inflexible
2. Sole is slightly curved at the ball of the foot that works to transfer force and pressure to the toe while cycling
3. Adaptable while in use
4. Features either velcro straps or even more complex straps instead of laces
5. Unhooks easily
Types of cycling shoes soles
The stuff the sole is made of and degree of tread it ensures determines the weight of the shoe, which is vital to this special footwear. There are generally three kinds of soles available:
1. Economical brands feature an injection-molded plastic sole. However, they are heavier and prone to flexing.
2. Moderately priced brands have a combination sole, either made of plastic and carbon fibre, plastic and fibreglass, or completely carbon fibre.
3. Premium brands manufactured post-2002 use carbon fibre soles.
How do the cleats of mountain cycling shoes differ from others?
The kind of pedals your cycle features determines the cleat. A clipless type pedals requires some specific cleats.
Mountain biking shoes generally come with a sunken cleat and studs lining the sole. This helps negotiate the tough terrains. These mountain specific cleats are smaller than those designed for road shoes (that generally have protruding cleats and are attached with three bolts) and are fixed to the shoe with two bolts.
Quality of the shoe
For knowing the quality of the shoe you plan to buy, check the following:
1. The firmness and grip of the sole: A stiff sole ensures better pedaling
2. What is it made of?: Premium brands come with carbon soles
3. Breathability: It should ensure good air circulation and coolness
4. The total weight of the shoe: The lighter the better
5. Durability: It is a must to endure the tough terrain
6. Comfort: Your feet must be at ease while you ride
Filed under Cycling | Tags: Biking Shoes, Plastic Shoe
Posted by Richard on July 16th, 2009 | Comments Off
Roberto Sedycias
A ride on a bicycle tends to take one to flashback memory when as youngsters bicycle ride to schools with friends was an enjoyable affair. Thanks to the rising petrol price, today people opt for bicycle rides more often.
Another reason for popularity of bicycle is unlike bikes and four-wheelers, it does not pollute the environment. It requires nearly zero maintenance. Bicycle rides are considered to be a very form of exercise to burn out the extra calorie. Sport events like Tour de France inspires people for bicycle ride. If you are a bike enthusiastic looking out to buy a new bike for serious training or a casual rider who wants to have a bike for lazy Sunday family ride, this article justifies your need.
Bicycles are of various types. Thought eh basic structure remains same, the machinery as well as pick up power will be different depending upon the long and short distance riding. For example, the pick up power of street riding bicycles are different from that of race riding bikes. The trekking or expedition bikes come with stronger surcupture. Now even hybrid bicycles are available in foldable manner for easy transportation in a narrow area.
Similarly another category of bicycles are all terrain bicycles which are suitable for every occasion. Bicycles are manufactured specific to gender because traditionally, women are short and tend to have a shorter reach. Hence the top tubes are slanted to make it easier to dismount even in a skirt. The suspension may be specially adjusted with more expensive bikes.
Before buying you should decide which type of bicycle suits your need. One of the most important things to consider while buying a bicycle is to check if the bicycle fits as per your height or not lest the whole money invested on a new bike will be a total waste. It would be better if you go for a test ride to check if you are comfortable with the size of the bicycle. Do not worry; even if you are considerably shorter in height, there is bike for every size. You just need to choose one as per your height. Make sure to choose the saddle according to your pelvis shape. You can go for changing the saddle, if the one in bike does not fit you.
Gears are important component of bicycles. So double check the gear to ensure that it runs properly . Brakes and wheel come next in the consideration while buying a new bicycle. Never go in for cheap bargain. An expert and CyTech qualified sales man can guide you better while buying a new bicycle. These days, so many online shops sell bicycles and that too on attractive price.
However, it is not advisable to go in for online buying which are never seen or never tried for who knows they might be second hand or have faulty body parts. While buying a new bicycle, it is always a good idea to buy other safety accessories such as helmet, knee-pads, gloves which are a must while riding a bicycle.
People take it for granted that bicycle riding is a safer option as compared to electronic bikes. However, a considerable number of people die every year in road accident because of careless riding of bicycle. So always abide by the traffic rule. The city roads are not meant for bicycle racing. So avoid riding through red light when there is cross traffic.
If you are riding at night, a front headlight is mandatory for your bicycle. Use loud horn so that you can signal other vehicles while overtaking them. Always drive to the farthest left side, so that you can avoid the chance of being hit by a lorry or speeding cars. If you take care of these certain things, your can enjoy a safe bicycle riding!
Filed under Cycling | Tags: Bicycle Ride, Petrol Price
Posted by Richard on July 13th, 2009 | Comments Off
Muna wa Wanjiru
Though everybody thinks about proper clothing when it comes to bike trips, cycle gear is just as important for the proper and comfortable development of your tour. There are a few items that represent an absolute must when talking about cycle gear, and they include: a shell, a helmet, a wind stopper, glasses and so on.
Each and every one of these items can be purchased from any bike shop, and their importance should by no means be underestimated since you may be saved from pretty nasty situations owing to advanced protection items. Let’s start with the helmet and learn what it should be like to meet quality standards.
From the range of cycle gear, helmets are the first to save anyone from head injuries in case of falling. Surveys show that most bike owners also purchase helmets together with their bikes, but they don’t use them on a regular basis; an alarm bell should be rung here particularly for children.
All parents should include such items of cycle gear in the equipment they buy for the little ones, since it is a fact that children are usually more exposed to accidents than adults. The size and design of the helmet should be comfortable and aerodynamic so that it does not hold the user back during competitions for instance. For helmets used during the cold season, it is advisable to buy larger sizes under which a hood may be worn as well.
The shell is the part of the cycle gear that protects you from weather aggressive factors: wind, rain, excessive moisture and cold. The shell can be worn over the regular cycling jacket and it should also have a long back – the so-called duck’s behind – so that the position in the saddle doesn’t expose you to water dripping.
The shell can be matched with good waterproof goretex trousers that are ideal for the use in wet and windy conditions. It is to prevent further weather discomfort that glasses should not miss from your cycle gear.
Glasses are very useful on all types of weather; these cycle gear items must have good UV filter to ensure a good ride in the sun; but there are also special fog goggles that increase sight capacity on low visibility conditions. People who wear glasses for other eye health issues must also include some special solutions in their cycle gear in order to prevent the unpleasant steaming of the lenses.
Filed under Cycling | Tags: Little Ones, Quality Standards
