Posts Tagged ‘Cyclists’

Preparing For A Mountain Biking Adventure Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

For outdoor recreation, mountain biking or simply bicycling is one exciting and thrilling activity that is making lots of fun to many people. And, more than fun, many join group of mountain bikers for health reason. Many have proven that cycling is very effective way to achieve a healthy and fit body.

Mountain biking is popular in and out of Bryce Canyon; however it is dangerous due to the fact that the bikes move both fast and quiet. Also, the nature of the activity requires that most of the cyclists attention is on balance, concentration, and control, and less is available for watching for bears.

Cycling is something that you can do for your whole life as long as you keep it fun. It is an individual challenge, obliging you to depend on your own skills when out alone. Knowing how to repair your bike or care for a wound are necessary to avoid becoming stranded or worsening an injury– these are just some you need undergo in cycling.

Mountain biking is roughly broken; it is a lot like tennis or skiing. Just a few minor adjustments in techniques can make a huge difference in your control and proficiency.
It needs a lot of dedication and passion to really become a successful cyclist.

Mountain biking is mostly riding off road, but much of the time you are riding on backcountry dirt roads. A mountain biking experience is commonly slower than road biking, dustier, and with shorter climbs.

There are some important things you should remember when you want to experience this extreme sports. First, you have to visit your doctor first to make it sure that you are best-fitted for mountain biking. Then, having checked and told you are capable, you need to undergo some sort of physical fitness activity to prepare your body system. Stretching/Exercising in the morning is one way of doing that. You also need to consider eating right amount of foods, with the right nutrients. Taking vitamins can also help.

When your are already prepared physically, emotionally, mentally, it is time to prepare the necessary mountain biking accessories– ask about biking accessories you may need at the stores near you. You wil also need first aid stuffs.

More tips:

Joining in mountain biking clubs allows you to be more aware of the do’s and don’ts of this sport. That includes of course, knowing several prohibition for the sake of environmental protection. By joining clubs, you have the opportunity to be exposed in several orientations or seminars.

Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com

For more information, visit www.bikingmastery.com/

Mountain Biking Endurance Races Sunday, October 18th, 2009

For the casual cyclist, mountain biking is a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors as well as get a great work out. Today, mountain biking is growing rapidly into an excitingly popular sport. With that growth arises an entirely new subculture of mountain bikers who race professionally.

Every year there are hundreds of events and races organized across the nation for mountain bike enthusiasts. These endurance races are generally for those in the absolute top percentage of mountain bikers. It takes a certain amount of conditioning and performance to compete in endurance races as the competition itself is so demanding. There are plenty of different categories, but these races can be as long as 12 hours, taxing the limits of human endurance.

Types of Races

Of the many categories of endurance races, most are beyond the scope of normal cyclists’ physical limits. Starting at three hours these races only scale upwards, reaching six or even twelve hours in length. The shorter three hour races are separated by gender and occasionally by age groups, but the longer races often open up to include both genders and all age groups.

There are numerous formats for endurance races as well. Some races are strictly solo races such as the shorter races. However, as they get longer, endurance races include all combinations of team work and trade off riding, with teams of up to four riders.

Endurance races are highly organized much like the marathons many of the nation’s major cities hold annually and require registration and occasionally physicals. In addition to assuring the participants are physically capable of participating, these events often require a demonstration of certain safety equipment that meets particular regulations.

Safety Measures

Safety is probably the most important thing organizers see to when there is a race. In addition to making sure each rider is in acceptable physical condition and has the proper gear, mountain bikes themselves are often checked to ensure they are in top shape, with fully aired tires, tightened handlebars, and properly adjusted frames and shocks.

Prohibited materials on the bike are also carefully watched. Such prohibited materials include reflectors, kickstands, adjustable hubs, sound frames, true wheels and any personal media devices. All of these items are checked for and expected to be removed before the race starts.

Finding Endurance Races

Endurance mountain biking is a high level addition to the sport of mountain biking. For that reason, if you are interested in getting involved, you should try and contact your local mountain biking association or club. They’ll have all the information you need to not only train for and prepare your bike for competition but the rules associated with the sport. There are numerous websites out there that cater to the crowd of endurance mountain bikers if you are looking for more information.

For anyone who has just gotten into mountain biking endurance racing might be a bit too much for you yet. However, you’ll find that in time you’ll be looking for a bit more of a challenge, and these longer more intense races might be just the thing you’re looking for to push your limits and test your physical conditioning. If you’re serious about endurance racing, take the time necessary to research and get in the shape necessary to compete in these races.

Article Source: http://articlekarma.com

Tony Brian is a freelance writer for outdoor sports magazines and a contributing writer for angel paintball guns specializing in mountain biking, cyclist.

What Makes Specialized Mountain Bikes So Special? Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Honestly, even if you’re new to biking – how do you think you can go wrong with a name like “Specialized”? Mountain bikes under this label have been patronized by discriminating cycling enthusiasts – and not just because the name is catchy, but because this brand has a performance history that’s no less than good and solid.

Specialized mountain bikes of the Rockhopper line, for example, have remained at the top of consumer rankings for a long time, contending with equally popular classics like the Trek 4500 and the Gary Fisher Marin. These “hardtail” bikes are lightweight and perfect for use by cyclists with different body types, which makes it a favorite for most kinds of rugged trails.

The average weight of a Specialized bike is 30 pounds. The aluminum frame helps greatly in reducing weight and increasing speed. And because aluminum is tried and tested for its durability, it is also the material of choice by Specialized manufacturers. You can test the worth of a bike of this name by putting it through a trail bike test; see how well it performs and how easily it is to transport during normally arduous uphill climbs.

Mike Sinyard, creator of Specialized Bicycle Components, founded his company in 1974, with the intent to “give everyone the best ride of their life.” Since then the professional mountain bikes turned out by the company have made the top picks, and in the past years the company’s success in developng its mountain bike lines was driven by the presence of its independent suspension FSR frame.

Specialized is also known for producing quality “budget” bikes – and by this, we mean trail bicycles that are slightly cheaper than industry standard, for their caliber. They’re still more expensive than you could expect a regular bike to be – for example, a “cheap” competition-grade Specialized model could still cost a little over $1000. Before you balk at this price, you must remember that Specialized bikes are known to compete with big-name brands like Marin, Trek and Giant, some of which definitely sell their “budget” models at much higher costs! But you could look forward to top of the line service and performance from Specialized mountain bikes. You could save a little more if you buy previous years’ models, which almost invariably drop in prices as new and shinier models enter the market. If you’re able to take advantage of special offers, you can grab a special deal on a firsthand full suspension, cross-country trail bike.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

Mt-bikes.com provides you with info on Mountain bikes, specialized mountain bikes and much more, come take a look at www.mt-bikes.com/

Biking Is Thriving In Marin County, Ca ” Where Mountain Biking Began Friday, October 9th, 2009

Whatever type of bicycling you prefer ” BMX, Mountain or Road bicycling, Marin is a great place to do it. The terrain popular with BMXers, as well as established biking trails, and paved bike pathways are all found throughout the County. It is quite well known that Marin County was the birthplace of Mountain biking. BMX and Mountain biking aside, the most popular form of biking nowadays is Road bicycling.
Beginning with a little history, BMX, as a category, isnt as common in Marin as the other types of biking, but it sure is interesting that well-known BMX biker Billy Savage lived and biked in Marin from 1976 to 1983.
BMX bicycles were designed for stunts, tricks, and racing on hilly dirt tracks. They have a single gear ratio with a freewheel and are built with smaller frames and wheels with wider, treaded tires. They take a beating during some extreme sporting events so they have to be extremely sturdy machines!
When BMX events were part of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China it was clear that BMX had finally arrived. There were events in four different venues, which was a first for the sport. Half of the first six medals in BMX racing ever awarded in the history of the Olympics went to U.S. cyclists.
The Web site www.klunkerz.com provides complete information about each of the individuals who participated in mountain biking in Marin during the 1970s to make it the world-class sport that it is today. Mountain biking is rough and tough going and a good day isnt complete without getting at least some mud in your teeth.
Downhill trails, carved out around Mount Tamalpais, were where Mountain biking pioneers did a lot of their biking in the 1970s. This was when Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher and others converted cruisers and balloon-tire bicycles into machines that could weather any type of road conditions.
The early days of mountain biking in Marin was the subject of a film that Billy Savage recently directed called Klunkerz. He said it found it fascinating that all the pioneers are very committed to the bicycle as transportation, and to the ecological and physical benefits of cycling to this day. They gave those old Klunkerz a new life, rescuing them out of trashcans and junkyards. They were reducing, reusing, and recycling long before it was hip to be green. They all continue to live this way in all aspects of their lives.
In recent years as the county establishes more bike paths where serious road cyclists can do some serious biking, Road bicycling has become very popular. The Marin County Bicycling Coalition (www.marinbike.org) promotes safe bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation. Marin County is one of only four counties nationwide that are engaged in a federal Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program that promotes road bicycling, particularly commuting. It is the MCBC goal for 20% of trips in Marin County to be made by walking or bicycling.
All the latest about this and other initiatives underway under the umbrella of this ambitious organization may be found on the MCBC Web site. One of the Web pages has links to a marvelous array of information-packed pages, including:
* (More than) 50 Good Reasons to Bicycle
* The Essentials of Basic Bicycling
* Riding Bikes for Fun
* Cyclist Etiquette
* Benefits of Bicycle Commuting
* The Marin Bicycle Map (free upon joining the Marin County Bicycling Coalition)
* Directions for riding via the North-South Greenway from San Francisco to Petaluma
* Riding over the Golden Gate Bridge

Article Source: http://www.articledirectorylive.com

Author David DuPont is an outdoor enthusiast and principal with The DuPont Group, a residential real estate firm in Marin County, California. David has particular expertise in assisting individuals and families with buying and selling Marin County homes for sale and in particular with homes for sale in Mill Valley, CA where some of Marin County’s best mountain biking can be found.

Biking Is Thriving In Marin County, Ca ” Where Mountain Biking Began Monday, September 28th, 2009

Whatever type of bicycling you prefer ” BMX, Mountain or Road bicycling, Marin is a great place to do it. The terrain popular with BMXers, as well as established biking trails, and paved bike pathways are all found throughout the County. It is quite well known that Marin County was the birthplace of Mountain biking. BMX and Mountain biking aside, the most popular form of biking nowadays is Road bicycling.
Beginning with a little history, BMX, as a category, isnt as common in Marin as the other types of biking, but it sure is interesting that well-known BMX biker Billy Savage lived and biked in Marin from 1976 to 1983.
BMX bicycles were designed for stunts, tricks, and racing on hilly dirt tracks. They have a single gear ratio with a freewheel and are built with smaller frames and wheels with wider, treaded tires. They take a beating during some extreme sporting events so they have to be extremely sturdy machines!
When BMX events were part of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China it was clear that BMX had finally arrived. There were events in four different venues, which was a first for the sport. Half of the first six medals in BMX racing ever awarded in the history of the Olympics went to U.S. cyclists.
The Web site www.klunkerz.com provides complete information about each of the individuals who participated in mountain biking in Marin during the 1970s to make it the world-class sport that it is today. Mountain biking is rough and tough going and a good day isnt complete without getting at least some mud in your teeth.
Downhill trails, carved out around Mount Tamalpais, were where Mountain biking pioneers did a lot of their biking in the 1970s. This was when Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher and others converted cruisers and balloon-tire bicycles into machines that could weather any type of road conditions.
The early days of mountain biking in Marin was the subject of a film that Billy Savage recently directed called Klunkerz. He said it found it fascinating that all the pioneers are very committed to the bicycle as transportation, and to the ecological and physical benefits of cycling to this day. They gave those old Klunkerz a new life, rescuing them out of trashcans and junkyards. They were reducing, reusing, and recycling long before it was hip to be green. They all continue to live this way in all aspects of their lives.
In recent years as the county establishes more bike paths where serious road cyclists can do some serious biking, Road bicycling has become very popular. The Marin County Bicycling Coalition (www.marinbike.org) promotes safe bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation. Marin County is one of only four counties nationwide that are engaged in a federal Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program that promotes road bicycling, particularly commuting. It is the MCBC goal for 20% of trips in Marin County to be made by walking or bicycling.
All the latest about this and other initiatives underway under the umbrella of this ambitious organization may be found on the MCBC Web site. One of the Web pages has links to a marvelous array of information-packed pages, including:
* (More than) 50 Good Reasons to Bicycle
* The Essentials of Basic Bicycling
* Riding Bikes for Fun
* Cyclist Etiquette
* Benefits of Bicycle Commuting
* The Marin Bicycle Map (free upon joining the Marin County Bicycling Coalition)
* Directions for riding via the North-South Greenway from San Francisco to Petaluma
* Riding over the Golden Gate Bridge

Article Source: http://www.articledirectorylive.com

Author David DuPont is an outdoor enthusiast and principal with The DuPont Group, a residential real estate firm in Marin County, California. David has particular expertise in assisting individuals and families with buying and selling Marin County homes for sale and in particular with homes for sale in Mill Valley, CA where some of Marin County’s best mountain biking can be found.