People who love sports usually can’t resist mountain biking. The sport is considered to be most adventurous and also provides an amazing back country experience. The tour is enjoyable especially if you have taken good experience in bike riding.
If you have already had a pedaling experience on an exercise bike, you would enjoy your tour. It is time to carry some maps and go ahead with your challenging expedition. The outdoor game will get you acquainted with the nature and also help you stay fit and also in good shape. You would simply love racing down the mountain. It may seem to be a dangerous game but the thrill would allure towards it to experience more.
North America has some of the best locations for mountain biking. If you have already decided to go for mountain biking, you should follow certain tips in order to make sure that you remain safe during the whole journey. You need to get into the game with caution.
a) You should always carry good reliable and accurate location maps so as to avoid confusion. Maps prove to be a good source of relief and help during any kind of inconvenience and confusion during the journey.
b) It is extremely important to check the fuel tank and air pressure in your car tyres. Also check if the clutch plates, brakes, gears, engines are working well and arranged in good order.
c) A valid license will let you enjoy the trip. It is a proof of your valuable experience in this field.
d) There are certain essential skills you require to possess. You need to get familiar with “technical single track” if you are keen on riding. This kind of a tour is usually meant for experience holding mountain bikers who possess the skills to handle things such as light turns, obstacle –strewn paths, stream crossings and rock ledges.
e) Your bikes should possess a good low-gear ratio like the 22x3 or bottom gear such as 24x28. Make sure that your rental bike is equipped with front suspension. Some of these bikes come with full-suspensions and shocks in front and rear that can assist you in your rugged ride so that you can ride with comfort and safety.
f) Don’t forget to carry at least two sets of bike clothing such as padded bike shorts and some synthetic or wool jerseys with good quality gloves and helmet.
By: Steve Manik
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Italian Cycling Trips: What To Ask So It Matches Your Cycling Experience?
Do you know that Cycling in Italy offers a vast array of choices for almost any type of bike enthusiast from novice to expert rider? This is true whether you select the Swiss Alps, or the small outer volcanic islands that are a short hop off the Italian coast. So what you really want to know is how to pick the best cycling trip, so you don’t get in over your head?
The most important recommendation is to have a prepared list of questions to ask any bicycle trip operator. Questions that require precise answers so that you know how physically demanding this tour option might be BEFORE your airplane touches down in Italy.
Questions like maybe asking how far one might typically travel on the average each day.
What is the expected change in elevation in your chosen corner of Italy? Cycling in the mountains can be somewhat misleading. You might begin the day at one elevation and find that when you end the day it is at the same elevation and yet have spent every minute climbing up hills and speeding down the other side. Thus asking how many feet you will be climbing could be somewhat useless, depending on how the individual chooses to answer.
Maybe a better question might be to ask how long to expect that participants will be in the bicycle saddle? What is the average grade of the trails you’ll be traveling? If it takes 5 hours to make it 15 kilometers, then it should give you a pretty good idea that this terrain is not flat.
Ask whether they consider this a beginner, intermediate or advanced course? Is it a technical bike challenge or does it just requires a little peddling muscle and long distance stamina? In the later case they call this an “athletic beginner” course. This means you have to be in shape, but don’t necessarily need to know how to maneuver around single track trails or draft down long hills.
It is also extremely important to make a fair evaluation of your own peddling abilities, if you are planning a trip cycling in Italy. Cycling half way up the Dolomite Mountains is not the time to admit that maybe you’re not really in great shape and should have spent a little more time at the gym before you took on this particular challenge. So ask ahead of time, if they have a cargo van that might be able to transport riders in moments of exhaustion.
Remember the one great thing about Italy, cycling trips can be designed in every area to fit most biking skill levels. Even in the Swiss Alps there are long bike paths through the lower river valleys that let you enjoy the fantastic mountain views without forcing you to take on a bicycle tour beyond your physical talents.
The most important thing then is to ask lots of questions before you sign on to a specific bicycle trip. Evaluate fairly your competence and physical capabilities. Then check out a few tour itineraries before you put some money on the line. Those that design Italian cycling trips can then tailor a vacation specifically for you that will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
By: Luc Lacasse
The most important recommendation is to have a prepared list of questions to ask any bicycle trip operator. Questions that require precise answers so that you know how physically demanding this tour option might be BEFORE your airplane touches down in Italy.
Questions like maybe asking how far one might typically travel on the average each day.
What is the expected change in elevation in your chosen corner of Italy? Cycling in the mountains can be somewhat misleading. You might begin the day at one elevation and find that when you end the day it is at the same elevation and yet have spent every minute climbing up hills and speeding down the other side. Thus asking how many feet you will be climbing could be somewhat useless, depending on how the individual chooses to answer.
Maybe a better question might be to ask how long to expect that participants will be in the bicycle saddle? What is the average grade of the trails you’ll be traveling? If it takes 5 hours to make it 15 kilometers, then it should give you a pretty good idea that this terrain is not flat.
Ask whether they consider this a beginner, intermediate or advanced course? Is it a technical bike challenge or does it just requires a little peddling muscle and long distance stamina? In the later case they call this an “athletic beginner” course. This means you have to be in shape, but don’t necessarily need to know how to maneuver around single track trails or draft down long hills.
It is also extremely important to make a fair evaluation of your own peddling abilities, if you are planning a trip cycling in Italy. Cycling half way up the Dolomite Mountains is not the time to admit that maybe you’re not really in great shape and should have spent a little more time at the gym before you took on this particular challenge. So ask ahead of time, if they have a cargo van that might be able to transport riders in moments of exhaustion.
Remember the one great thing about Italy, cycling trips can be designed in every area to fit most biking skill levels. Even in the Swiss Alps there are long bike paths through the lower river valleys that let you enjoy the fantastic mountain views without forcing you to take on a bicycle tour beyond your physical talents.
The most important thing then is to ask lots of questions before you sign on to a specific bicycle trip. Evaluate fairly your competence and physical capabilities. Then check out a few tour itineraries before you put some money on the line. Those that design Italian cycling trips can then tailor a vacation specifically for you that will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
By: Luc Lacasse
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Learn Mountain Biking
Riding a mountain bike is pretty much the same as riding any other type of bike. Except for the rocks, the fallen trees, the streams and the occasional mountain. In other words, mountain biking is the extreme version of two-wheeling around the neighbourhood. It can be dangerous, so should be respected and even a little feared. If you want to hit the trails, you need to learn mountain biking skills.
Mountain biking skills involve agility, balance and stamina. Review the following list of exercises, and find a suitable place to practice. These can be don at home, at a school or park, on a bike path and ideally, at a place with a steep hill.
Sit and Spin
In other words, just go for a ride. Get on your bike and cruise around to find the best position for mountain biking. Your arms should be slightly bent. Your legs should be 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal, so it may be necessary to adjust your seat higher or lower.
Get used to keeping your body relaxed because when you're on the trail, your knees and elbows should never be locked.
Feel the Pedal
While on your bike, practice moving your foot away from the pedal. Do this first while sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground, then try releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around. If you have toe clips on your pedals, you'll need to spend a little extra time with this exercise. There will be times on the trail that feet will have to leave the pedals. Make sure you're comfortable with this move, before you have to use your feet to balance yourself over a bumpy path.
Switch Gears
Get used to shifting gears. You'll use them a lot on the trails. Higher gears make the bike go faster, but it's harder to pedal. Lower gears make pedaling easier, so you'll use these gear positions when climbing hills. Be sure to shift to a low gear before you reach the hill, rather than when you're already climbing it.
Drop a Curb
Ride down the sidewalk, and then find a curb that's easily accessible. Approach the curb at moderate speed, stand up and coast right down onto the road (look for cars first!) If you want to learn mountain biking, you need to know how to handle sudden drops. Try this exercise at different speeds until it becomes second nature.
Coast is Clear
Coasting on a bike can feel like flying. Get your bike up to a reasonable speed, stand on your pedals and just cruise without sitting down. Keep your arms bent, don't lock your knees, and try to lean your body towards the rear end of the bike. Mountain biking involves very little sitting, so spend some time coasting to get used to the feeling.
Stand and Pedal
Just like coasting, you'll also spend a great deal of time pedaling while standing. While pedaling, simply lift your body off of the seat. Or, start off standing on the pedals then start cranking them. After you've mastered standing and pedaling on flat ground, practice while climbing a hill in lower gear.
It's easy to learn mountain biking. You already know how to ride a bike, so now it's time to master these additional techniques. Once you're comfortable coasting, dropping, standing, pedaling, spinning, and switching gears, you'll be ready to hit the trails, and tackle any challenge along the way.
By: Christopher Johnson
Mountain biking skills involve agility, balance and stamina. Review the following list of exercises, and find a suitable place to practice. These can be don at home, at a school or park, on a bike path and ideally, at a place with a steep hill.
Sit and Spin
In other words, just go for a ride. Get on your bike and cruise around to find the best position for mountain biking. Your arms should be slightly bent. Your legs should be 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal, so it may be necessary to adjust your seat higher or lower.
Get used to keeping your body relaxed because when you're on the trail, your knees and elbows should never be locked.
Feel the Pedal
While on your bike, practice moving your foot away from the pedal. Do this first while sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground, then try releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around. If you have toe clips on your pedals, you'll need to spend a little extra time with this exercise. There will be times on the trail that feet will have to leave the pedals. Make sure you're comfortable with this move, before you have to use your feet to balance yourself over a bumpy path.
Switch Gears
Get used to shifting gears. You'll use them a lot on the trails. Higher gears make the bike go faster, but it's harder to pedal. Lower gears make pedaling easier, so you'll use these gear positions when climbing hills. Be sure to shift to a low gear before you reach the hill, rather than when you're already climbing it.
Drop a Curb
Ride down the sidewalk, and then find a curb that's easily accessible. Approach the curb at moderate speed, stand up and coast right down onto the road (look for cars first!) If you want to learn mountain biking, you need to know how to handle sudden drops. Try this exercise at different speeds until it becomes second nature.
Coast is Clear
Coasting on a bike can feel like flying. Get your bike up to a reasonable speed, stand on your pedals and just cruise without sitting down. Keep your arms bent, don't lock your knees, and try to lean your body towards the rear end of the bike. Mountain biking involves very little sitting, so spend some time coasting to get used to the feeling.
Stand and Pedal
Just like coasting, you'll also spend a great deal of time pedaling while standing. While pedaling, simply lift your body off of the seat. Or, start off standing on the pedals then start cranking them. After you've mastered standing and pedaling on flat ground, practice while climbing a hill in lower gear.
It's easy to learn mountain biking. You already know how to ride a bike, so now it's time to master these additional techniques. Once you're comfortable coasting, dropping, standing, pedaling, spinning, and switching gears, you'll be ready to hit the trails, and tackle any challenge along the way.
By: Christopher Johnson
Biking For Health And Fitness
There are many different types of bicycles available on the market today, the comfort bicycle, which is used by many recreational bike riders, a trail bike or light duty mountain bike, crusier bikes, recumbent bikes and heavy duty mountain bikes. No matter which type of bike, or biking interests you biking is a great way to increased stamina, improved cardiovascular strength and all around better fitness.
Recumbent bikes have become very popular for the middle aged and older riders. On a recumbent bike you have a very comfortable seat that you can lean back in, quite like sitting in your favorite reclining chair. Your butt is very comfortably cushioned. Your feet are out in front of you, quite like when you're driving your car. Recumbent bikes are the fastest type of bicycle. One reason is that with your legs extended forward and pedaling in front of you, you are able to move much more weight with much less effort than on a conventional bike where your legs are underneath of you. Beginning recumbent riders will tell you it takes a while to develop what are called "recumbent muscles" but once you do you'll never go back to an ordinary bicycle.
Mountain biking is a popular activity that is enjoyed by a wide age range of people. Heavy duty mountain bikes can be quite costly, so it may be best to go to talk to a mountain biking organization about bike rental. You may only decide you need a light duty mountain bike which would also be good for regular riding. Not all mountain biking trails are killers and for experts only - they had to start somewhere too! Mountain biking trails are rated somewhat like ski trails, the easiest is green, an intermediate is blue and difficult trails are pink. Go slowly, mountain biking can be hard on the joints, and you'll need to learn how to handle the bike to minimize chance of injury.
Whichever type of bicycle you choose, just do it! Biking is a great way to achieve an aerobic work out and burn calories at the same time. The best part is that anyone can ride a bike and it's a great family recreation to be enjoyed together.
By: Ryan Larson
Recumbent bikes have become very popular for the middle aged and older riders. On a recumbent bike you have a very comfortable seat that you can lean back in, quite like sitting in your favorite reclining chair. Your butt is very comfortably cushioned. Your feet are out in front of you, quite like when you're driving your car. Recumbent bikes are the fastest type of bicycle. One reason is that with your legs extended forward and pedaling in front of you, you are able to move much more weight with much less effort than on a conventional bike where your legs are underneath of you. Beginning recumbent riders will tell you it takes a while to develop what are called "recumbent muscles" but once you do you'll never go back to an ordinary bicycle.
Mountain biking is a popular activity that is enjoyed by a wide age range of people. Heavy duty mountain bikes can be quite costly, so it may be best to go to talk to a mountain biking organization about bike rental. You may only decide you need a light duty mountain bike which would also be good for regular riding. Not all mountain biking trails are killers and for experts only - they had to start somewhere too! Mountain biking trails are rated somewhat like ski trails, the easiest is green, an intermediate is blue and difficult trails are pink. Go slowly, mountain biking can be hard on the joints, and you'll need to learn how to handle the bike to minimize chance of injury.
Whichever type of bicycle you choose, just do it! Biking is a great way to achieve an aerobic work out and burn calories at the same time. The best part is that anyone can ride a bike and it's a great family recreation to be enjoyed together.
By: Ryan Larson
Biking For Fun
Biking is a favorite activity that is suitable for the entire family. Many people enjoy biking because on a windy day there is no better experience to have than the feel of wind blowing through the hair while sitting high on a bike seat riding along on a favorite trail. Riding bicycles is a productive way to enjoy the spare time away from the office and a way to exercise.
Riding a bike is a good way to work all of your muscles in your body and ensure that all muscles are trim and free from unnecessary fat. Bike riding is a fun way to maintain a great shape and get a chance to enjoy the warming rays of sunshine at the same time. The movements for riding a bike are very similar to running but are most certainly easier on the joints.
Riding a bike during the hottest part of the day will rid the body of impurities by causing the rider to sweat. Dehydration from biking during this time of the day can be alleviated if bikers will simply remember to drink lots of water to replenish the fluids that are lost while biking. For long trips, bikers should concentrate their fluid intake to water only.
Riding bikes is a good ice breaker for people who are just beginning to date. There is plenty of time available while riding on a bike to engage in conversation and get a good feel about the person before the relationship gets more intense. Biking will let you know how much the person likes outdoor activities and if there are other interesting sports that can be shared too.
People all over the world like to ride bikes and some countries use them as transportation to work and other areas of interest. Children as young as four or five are learning to ride bikes and enjoy every minute of it. Their parents even ride their bikes with them and environmentally friendly people ride them to work in the United States. Riding bikes is a good way to spend the day as a family. You can ride your bike to an ice cream shop or to a restaurant and spend the day with your family.
In order to ride your bike the weather has to be just right. You can not ride a bike in the rain or in the snow. If you ride your bike in the rain you will probably get sick. The best days to ride your bike are in the spring when it is not too cold or too hot. In any weather condition that bikers choose to ride they should also choose to hydrate up and have a good time while the weather conditions are still friendly.
Riding your bike is a good way to meet new people and make friends and interact with them. All you have to do is ask somebody if they want to ride their bike with you and eventually you will have made a lot of friends. After you have finished riding a bike for the day it is always a good idea to cover the seat up with a rubber cover to protect it from rotting away from dew and other moisture.
By: James Brown
Riding a bike is a good way to work all of your muscles in your body and ensure that all muscles are trim and free from unnecessary fat. Bike riding is a fun way to maintain a great shape and get a chance to enjoy the warming rays of sunshine at the same time. The movements for riding a bike are very similar to running but are most certainly easier on the joints.
Riding a bike during the hottest part of the day will rid the body of impurities by causing the rider to sweat. Dehydration from biking during this time of the day can be alleviated if bikers will simply remember to drink lots of water to replenish the fluids that are lost while biking. For long trips, bikers should concentrate their fluid intake to water only.
Riding bikes is a good ice breaker for people who are just beginning to date. There is plenty of time available while riding on a bike to engage in conversation and get a good feel about the person before the relationship gets more intense. Biking will let you know how much the person likes outdoor activities and if there are other interesting sports that can be shared too.
People all over the world like to ride bikes and some countries use them as transportation to work and other areas of interest. Children as young as four or five are learning to ride bikes and enjoy every minute of it. Their parents even ride their bikes with them and environmentally friendly people ride them to work in the United States. Riding bikes is a good way to spend the day as a family. You can ride your bike to an ice cream shop or to a restaurant and spend the day with your family.
In order to ride your bike the weather has to be just right. You can not ride a bike in the rain or in the snow. If you ride your bike in the rain you will probably get sick. The best days to ride your bike are in the spring when it is not too cold or too hot. In any weather condition that bikers choose to ride they should also choose to hydrate up and have a good time while the weather conditions are still friendly.
Riding your bike is a good way to meet new people and make friends and interact with them. All you have to do is ask somebody if they want to ride their bike with you and eventually you will have made a lot of friends. After you have finished riding a bike for the day it is always a good idea to cover the seat up with a rubber cover to protect it from rotting away from dew and other moisture.
By: James Brown
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