Uk Roads Too Dangerous For Cyclists?

According to research commissioned by the department of transport, over 60% of people interviewed believed that UK roads were too dangerous for cyclists. This explains why there has been a huge increase in bike sales over the last few years but no comparable increase in cyclists on the roads. The belief among non or infrequent cyclists, that UK roads are too dangerous for cyclists seems to be well embedded.

Over half the respondents said they would love to cycle more but were afraid to do so because they believed that UK roads were too dangerous for cyclists. they said they would cycle more often if there were more cycle paths available. Over half of those interviewed had a bike but only a quarter cycled at least once a week, the majority were convinced that UK roads were too dangerous for cylists.

It’s easy to see why many people believe our roads are like a scene from the whacky races, the perception comes, in my opinion, from the sheer amount of traffic in urban areas these days. Also we are notoriously bad in this country at building good cycling infrastructures compared to our European partners who appear to be ahead of the game. Due mainly to the fact that they are willing to invest in cycling infastructure. I’m beginning to think our own government structure is inherently bikeist.(Anti Bike)

On top of this there is the negative image many drivers have of cyclists, believing they are a “bloody nuisance” ,rather than a legitimate road user. Local councils need a complete review of their cycling strategy. There’s no shortage of politicians who will spout the politically correct line about the need to go green, the need to get people out of their cars etc.

Every politician in the country will come out with the same green spiel if you press the right button. Unfortunately talk is as far as it goes. They’re like those action men with the pull out cord to make them talk. There’s more cycling lanes appearing slowly but surely, in some areas but many are not good enough, usually just a white line painted at the side of the road. Fair enough, this might keep a couple of council road painters employed for a day or two but it does nothing for cyclist’s safety. Nor does it do anything to despel the fear of infrequent cyclists about UK roads being too dangerous or cyclists.

If the government is serious about encouraging people to become more energy efficient and use their cars less it should make some serious investment to the cycling infrastructure in this country as well as a massive education program for drivers about the rights of cyclists to share the road. As long as people believe, rightly or wrongly that UK roads are too dangerous for cyclists then they are not going to cycle.

It’s commitment to cyclists is shown by its decision to abolish “Cycling England”, the government body set up in 2005 by Alister Darling to promote cycling in England. It was designated as a “Quango” by the government and abolished to save a couple of quid to help fight their debt problem.

Meanwhile the government splashes our cash all around the world, £650 million quid to Pakistan for government officials to share out amongst themselves. Watch out for the increase in Mercedes sales to Pakistan in the next year. Imagine what £650 million quid could have done for cyclists on UK roads.

The question I ask myself is what right does Cameron, or any man have, to give our tax money away like a drunken father of the bride at a wedding do. We should be able to vote on how our money is spent, it’s easy enough to do, we can vote on pop idle and other consumer shows, why not on how our tax is spent?

Uk Roads Too Dangerous For Cyclists

Dangerous Uk Roads?

Anyway the roads in this country are not as bad as they look to the non-cyclists. There’s always scope for improvement and always will be but on the whole our roads are pretty safe, once you can get used to the volume of traffic. It’s all about building confidence. Cycling England knew this and incorporated it as part of their strategy to get more people cycling. The government’s decision to abolish Cycling England is a clear message that it does not support cycling.

Picturers of David Cameron is not going to encourage people to jump on their bikes, only a long-term program of continuous investment will do that. I’ll leave the last word with Cycling England:

Our core hypothesis, back in 2005, was that with a consistent strategy and continuity of funding at a level equivalent to that of “cycling towns in Europe”, we could reasonably expect to achieve similar rates of growth in everyday cycling. These first six years have already proved us right, and we will all treasure our small part in that success for ever.

Unfortunately, Government has yet to appreciate these key lessons of consistency, continuity and the need for a long term strategy for an integrated transport policy for Britain. Sadly cycling still seems to be a “party political football” to be played with according to fashionable ideology or dogma.
But the challenge facing us – of a real change to behaviour, and of much more cycling especially for short urban trips – is not a “quick fix”. We never thought it was.

So my final message as the Chair of the almost extinct Cycling England is one of determination. Every one of us knows that the challenge is worth all our effort; we all know how relevant and how important it is. In our various ways we will not give up. We know that investment in cycling works; it brings results; it makes a difference to everyone’s life. It’s worth it.

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Hazzards to Avoid For Cyclists

There’s plenty of hazards to avoid for cyclists on the road for the cyclist to avoid this is especially true for city cycling on busy roads. Alertness and anticipation are two of the most important skills a cyclists needs to deploy when on the road. Not only do we need to ensure we don’t make mistakes but we also need to anticipate the mistakes of other road users.

Todays roads are full of drivers who have never cycled and are unaware of the problems faced by cyclists so it’s up to us to anticipate the mistakes of others and take action to avoid being placed into a dangerous situation. We’re the most vulnerable road users because we’re not encased in a ton of metal so our only defence is alertness and anticipation. The kind of hazards we need to watch out for are:

Hazzards to Avoid for Cyclists

• Worn and uneven road surfaces, potholes, raised manholes, badly repaired roads are just a few of the hazzards to avoid for cyclists that are a major problem for the cyclist. In winter, after a freeze be extra vigilant because potholes will appear on previously even roads. I went down a pothole travelling home from work one night that hadn’t been there the previous night. My own fault, I wasn’t watching the road. Fortunately the road was clear but it didn’t do my front wheel any good and I was walking like John wayne for a few days.

Hazzards to Avoid for cyclists

• Visibility. Make sure drivers can see you. They’re locked in their heated cars listening to the radio and thinking about the next mortgage payment so you need to make yourself really visible. In your face visibility. I still see plenty of cyclists who cycle in dark clothing with a weak light blinking away. They’re playing Russian roulette. All it takes is one half asleep driver and they’re gone.

Hazzards to Avoid for Cyclists

• Bad driving. Impatient drivers are a pain, and a major hazzard to avoid for cyclists, Theses people think they’re so important that they have to get wherever they’re going super fast. You’ll see them accelerating from light to light like Jeremy Clarkson going round his test track. Gesturing impatiently to other drivers. These people are just idiots. We can’t change their behaviour but we must react to it. We need to make allowances for it. In the interest of our own safety.

• Distracted drivers. It’s illegal to use a mobile while driving but many drivers don’t care, they’ll be on the phone while driving through heavy traffic. If you’re on the phone you’re not paying 100% attention to the road. As a cyclist you need to be aware of this and be prepared to take action to ensure your safety.

Hazzards to Avoid for Cyclists

• Unsignalled turns. I see this a lot lately, maybe modern driving schools don’t teach signalling anymore, or maybe some drivers are just so selfish they don’t think they’ll bother letting other road users know what they’re going to do. I’ve seen this occasionally and had to brake hard on one occasion to avoid a collision with a driver who accelerated past me then turned.

You’ve also got to watch out for slippery roads, wet roads and tired drivers.

Sometimes I think if you did a risk assessment on the hazzards to avoid for cyclists you’d never be allowed on your bike. It’s not all bad news though, most of these problems can be eliminated by a vigilant cyclist. I don’t wear my ipod when I’m cycling to work through traffic, I use all my senses to cycle safely.
Staying safe on the road is all about anticipation and attention to what’s going on around you. It’s up to us as cyclists to take evasive action when necessary because it’s us that will sufer if we don’t. there’s so many hazzards to avoide for cyclists but most can be negated by an alert cyclists.

Safe Cycling

Paul

I bought myself some cycling shoes on Saturday for my Shimano spds, I’m glad I decided to buy them from a cycling shop rather than on the net because of the problems with getting the right size to fit me. The first pair I tried on was a size 9, my size, but felt like a size seven. I looked down at my screaming feet and they had disappeared under my trousers. They looked like a bad fitting pair of ballet shoes.

“Are you sure these are a size 9?” I asked the very helpful sales guy.

“Yeah, what’s up are they a bit tight?”

“I feel like my feet are being squashed in some contraption that the witch finder general would have liked.”

“It’s these European sizes, they’re all different, they’re supposed to be a nine.”

“Have you got a ten?”

He disappeared through a hole in the stack of boxes like a potholer and emerged a few minutes later with a box, beaming like he’d just found some missing relic. “Got some, try these.” I did and they were perfect, my feet began to breathe again. They’re not road bike shoes but mtb, I prefer them because I can walk in them.

I did a quick mental calculation and worked out they were about a tenner more than on the net, I intended to ask for a discount but I was happy to pay extra to make sure I got a pair of cycling shoes I liked and that fit me. If I’d bought off the net I would have ordered a size nine and then would have had to go through all the hassle of sending them back.

Buying cycling shoes can be problematic because different manufacturers produce different widths and sizes, no idea why, I can remember when a size nine was a size nine wherever you went. If I bought a size nine pair of shoes in Leeds they fit me, and if I bought a pair in York they fit me. Now it seems standardization has gone through the window.

The sales guy was really helpful and knew his cycling shoes, he explained all the advantages and disadvantages of each pair, he even fit the cleats for me. I was tempted with a pair from eBay but I’m glad I didn’t buy them now. I think you have to try cycling shoes on to be sure of them before buying. If they don’t feel right and are uncomfortable then they’re pointless. I like to be comfortable on my bike.

As I got to the till I was reluctant to ask for a discount because the guy had been so helpful and without him I wouldn’t have got a perfect pair of comfortable cycling shoes. I didn’t ask, I didn’t need to, he said, “I’ll do you a discount, knock 7% off, prices are fluctuating so much we don’t know where we are at the moment.

I thanked him for his help and left with my new shoes. Eager to try them out, I was just thinking about an afternoon ride to York when my mobile went. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw my wife’s name flashing at me in what seemed to me suspiciously like an angry flashing.

I’d told her I was just going to get some cycling shoes and it wouldn’t take me longer than twenty minutes, a quick look at the clock on my phone showed I’d been through some sort of star trekkie time distorter, I’d been gone one and a half hours. I pressed the answer button and braced myself for some electric shock treatment, but at least I’d got my cycling shoes….

With the winter virtually here and snow on the ground it means more time in the gym to keep in shape. I hate stationary nikes, they bore me stupid; ten minutes on one and I feel like I’ve been on it for two hours. I must admit though I liked spinning. This is a nice article about how to use a stationary bike effectively. It’s quiet good but it won’t help me, ten minutes is my max on a stationary bike. I prefer the treadmill.

Cycling endurance is all about being able to ride over long distances while still having the strength to ride at a good pace. The most basic stationary bike workouts for improving cycling endurance involve riding over long distances.

To be able to improve your cycling endurance, you need to ride on your bike over a long distance. A stationary bike will help you to track the distance you have traveled and this will help you to monitor your improvement.

Here are the 5 steps of this cycling workout;

1. Determine how far you need too ride your stationary bike.

If you are just starting out and feel you are not so fit, set the distance to ride at 1 to 2 km. Then as you get better and improve your body’s oxygen uptake levels, increase the distance which you ride.

2. Set the resistance level appropriately.

Do not set the resistance level too low or too high, set it moderately at a resistance level in which you are comfortable. The main aim of this stationary bike workouts is to first improve your cycling endurance for riding over a set distance.

3. Ride at a constant pace.

Do not pedal very fast or very slowly. Riding at a moderate speed will help you to complete your long rides more easily and help you to improve your oxygen uptake levels. This is because you will be training your body to regulate its oxygen uptake levels over the long rides.

4. Increase the resistance level over time.

Increasing the resistance level will help you to build your leg muscles further. This will help you to ride up hilly routes with more strength and much faster. Make sure that you do this only after you feel more comfortable riding at the resistance level you have been practising at.

5. Increase the distance you cover overtime.

After several completing several cycling workouts at a specific set distance, increase the distance you ride, so as to improve your endurance much further. But do this after you feel more fit at the distance you have been cycling at.

In this article you have learned one of the many stationary bike workouts for improving cycling endurance. Cycling endurance involves several other factors such as having a good recovery ability and muscular endurance, but basic stationary bike workouts like the one above are a good start to improve your cycling endurance.

If you would like to learn more stationary bike workouts that can help you to improve your cycling performance visit my blog at Stationary Bike Workouts

http://www.bikingtraining.com

A look at the science of cycling shoes.

Cycling is an art and a science. The very indulgence calls for more than consideration of speed. There is a technique involved in the activity and the success o the endeavor lies in mastering this technique. A good cyclist needs to pedal well and this is possible only when he is able to place cycling shoes cleats properly on the pedals. Cleats help in clipping shoes onto pedals of the cycle. The main purpose is to help the cyclist to place the ball of his foot perfectly on the central area of the pedal. During the initial stages it can be very difficult get the ball of the foot placed well but with a little bit of practice this can be well learnt.

Using cycling shoes cleats for enhanced performance

Marking the position of the cleats on the cycling shoes helps in getting them into a perfect position. Whenever there is a replacement necessary the process of finding the cleat area gets much easier. Many of the cycling shoes available lately in the market have special markings made on them for specific use. In some cases you may get to see a sticker or so to indicate marking for the cleat. If such an arrangement is not available, the next best thing you could do is make a marking in ink yourself.

Remember that you could end up having a hot foot or a numb foot just in case you are riding a very long distance. There will be lesser pressure exerted on the foot of champions opting for long distances when you get the cleats to move completely to the back of the slots. This helps in reducing pressure on the feet. In this type of long distance riding there are no side effects of this arrangement. Another method would be to find a natural angle for adjusting the cleat. Some of the cleats are provided with the ability of ingrained automated adjustment.

There are a number of ways of getting the cycling shoes cleats placed perfectly on the pedals but it is most necessary to find the appropriate one for your specific need. Another interesting tip to be followed is before the installation, ensure to get the bolts of the cleat well lubricated which will help in tightening them as required.

It is very necessary for the bolts to remain tight and this should be checked after every few rides on your favorite bike. Check the screws as well and make sure that cleats are in top condition always as worn out cleats will hamper your biking performance.

Looking for more information about cycling shoes cleat, be sure to read my reviews at BikeCyclingReviews.com

Here’s a nice article I’m happy to help promote. If you are looking for Cycling Holidays then this might contain some good information for you.

French Lifestyle Cycling

Just when you think there’s nothing new under the cycle travelling sun – a new idea squirts some grease on your gears.

Like – Why not make French Cycle travel a lifestyle? Not just a vacation option?

Ok – not a new idea for me, bien sur, but then, I’m an exception. Not the rule. And so are Darren Alff, Alastair Humphreys, Tom Kevill-Davies and Kate Harris. Four dyed in the lycra, obsessive, passionate, take no prisoners cycle nomad/explorer/adventurers.

Each keeping the wolf away from their panniers with websites/blog/books relating to their cycling adventures. Great for them, yeah? So – how does this affect you?

Well… now these “Fantastic Four” have morphed into cycle lifestyle evangelists. Encouraging “young people”(hopefully, “young at heart” too?)to follow in their pedal steps.

Their “Mission Control” is the Bicycle Travel Network. I managed to catch up with Tom Kevill-Davies, the “Hungry Cyclist” between mouthfuls recently.

BG – How did you get inspired to create it?

TOM – The cycle touring community is a small one and all four of us had been in contact with each other for some time. Through conversations it became clear that individually we were helping encourage people to look at bicycle travel as happy and healthy alternative but it was also clear that working as a four we had much more influence. So after a few emails crossed the globe we decided to pool our resources and try and make a collective difference. The result was The Bicycle Travel Network.

BG – Why the word “network” in the title?

TOM – A good question – countless emails went around the four of us while we looked for a name and in the end network seemed to work best. As well as providing funds and aid to first time bicycle travelers one of our main aims was to create a network of new generation bicycle travelers who are out there doing what they love and sharing what they learn from their experiences in an online environment.

BG – What were some of the challenges you faced putting it together?

TOM – Coming up with a name? no that was pretty simple in the end… – I think the biggest hurdle was trying to pin down the four founders at any one time to make decisions- hard to do when each one us spends the majority of our time out on the road looking for adventure. But once we were all talking it became very clear that we all wanted was to combine our collective knowledge and experiences with other prospective bicycle travelers – from then on the whole project took on its own momentum and it was downhill from there – so to speak.

BG – What expertise/inspiration etc. does each individual member of your team contribute?

TOM -The world of bicycle travel is a small one and we had all been in contact for some time. Knowing about each other and our different offerings it became clear that each of us was making good head way in the same field and yet each with a very different approach. Darren was forging ahead providing first class technical information for cycle tourists through Bicycle Touring Pro, Al is leading his field in motivational advice and expedition planning, Tom has been showcasing the more enjoyable and cultural sides of bicycle travel while Kate is out there as a ground breaking female adventurer. With these four areas of expertise covered it was a case of ‘One for all and all for one!

BG – Why the focus on “young people?” i.e. – why not all people on the same wavelength?

TOM – This was a tough decision. We were keen not to discriminate through age but with all of as having made talks at schools and youth clubs to promote travel by bicycle we were aware that the younger generation were the ones that needed the most help. Like so many things in life if you can get the little push and encouragement you need when you are young the rest is history.

And so by helping budding young bicycle travelers we hope to be aiding bicycle travelers of all generations in the future.

BG – Explain your funding strategy/process. (i.e. – how do you prospect for donors? what’s their return, if any, other than a tax-write off?)

TOM – Its early days for the project but we hope our main revenue streams for donations to come through the following sources.

1. Income from cost per click advertising on a website dedicated to a niche market.

2. Equipment donations from equipment companies in return for advertorial, field testing, and banner space on the website.

3. Donations of old equipment and private donations from generous folk who want to help change a young traveler’s life.

BG – What’s your goal?

TOM – To make travel by bicycle the first choice for anyone looking to have an adventure or see the world.

BG – How can people help?

TOM – Spread the word – pop a link on your blog or web page and tell your friends! If you’re a company looking for a targeted marketing opportunity for your products get in touch! And if you have a few quid you can spare, make a donation today!

THROW ME A BONE HERE PEOPLE!

What are ya thinkin’?

Christopher Strong is the Creator/Director/Host of the Lifestyle/Adventure TV Series – “Bicycle Gourmet’s Treasures of France”, and author of “Gliding to the Bonheur.” His behind the scenes story of the “Bicycle Gourmet experience.”

Share more of his adventures at – http://www.bicyclegourmet.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Strong

Well like it or not winter is approaching fast and with the wet autumn we’re enduring I’ve already seen a drastic drop in cyclists on the roads. The bike shed at my work place has been emptying steadily week by week until it’s just the hard core riders left with plenty of spaces to choose from.

The enthusiasm for commuting to work on a bike soon drops off in the winter but it doesn’t need to. Winter cycling calls for a few adjustments and a change of clothing. I was reading on one forum about a guy who had braved the wind and rain to get to work in shorts and a vest. Was he brave or stupid?.
I can’t even imagine getting on my bike in a vest and shorts in wind and rain; the mere thought is sending me into spasms of shivering. I thought winter riding would be a good topic to write a post about so here goes.

What I consider crucial to winter cycling is staying warm and dry. There’s nothing worse than getting wet and having miles to ride. In the bad old days, when I was a young man and used to cycle in jeans, I can still remember cycling in the rain with my thighs soaking wet and water dripping from the hems of my jeans.

I have vivid memories of arriving at work and spending 10 minutes peeling my jeans off. I must have been more stupid than I realised when I was young.
Staying comfortable and dry is not only essential to your wellbeing but is crucial to your safety. If you’re freezing and wet you will make mistakes on the road. If you have your head down to protect yourself from a cold wind you’re not looking where you are going and you are reducing your safety awareness.

So wearing the right clothing is the first point I would suggest to prevent miserable winter cycling experiences. Another point is if you are going on a decent length ride, say about thirty miles plus, then you may want to take clothes off as you start to heat up, so a good bag on your back is essential.
I always carry a string pulled canvass cycle bag. I find it comfortable and more than big enough to carry everything I need.

The first parts of clothing I would look at is the base layer. The layer next to the skin. These need to be light and warm and able to pull sweat off the skin. I use training vests, the same ones I use for the gym. Good quality ones which have a thin lining inside to pull the sweat from your body. I find these are more than good enough and are pretty cheap at about 15 quid a vest from most sports shops.

I would suggest you avoid cheap vests that don’t take the sweat off your body, you’ll soon start to get cold and uncomfortable with these. I know, I’ve tried them. Your next layer of clothing would be a cycling shirt or thin jacket for insulation. These need to be light and compact because you may take them off and have to put them in your bag. A thin fleece is perfect.

The outer jacket needs to be windproof and waterproof. The summer jacket I wear can’t stop a drop of rain so it goes into hibernation for the winter. And a good pair of winter tights make all the difference to your comfort. For a few years I ignored this and continued to cycle through the winter in my normal summer tights. I eventually got sensible and invested in a good pair of winter tights. The change I can tell you, was immense, and my winter cycling experience much more enjoyable.

A good pair of warm waterproof gloves are also an essential piece of kit that will make your riding much pleasanter. The cold will get to your hands first and pretty quick, so invest in good quality gloves. You shouldn’t be cold when you’re cycling. If you allow yourself to get cold, not only doesn’t it feel nice, but you are compromising your safety. If you’re thinking about your cold hands or feet you’re not watching what’s going on around you.

Lots of guys I know have another bike for winter. Their best bike is put away and their winter bike comes out. This is a good idea if you can afford it. With a winter bike you can get some mud guards on, essential I’d say. I’ve ruined many good jackets through the winter with salt and rain splashes forming a line up my back. The roads are usually wet most of the time and getting blathered with salt and mud is not very nice. I’d consider mud guards essential for winter commuting.

With a bike dedicated for winter riding you can go to work on it and prepare it thoroughly. I’d put some heavy duty tyres on it. I’ve spent a few times with my bike upside down in the rain putting a new inner tube in so good puncture resistant tyres are an essential part of getting ready for winter.
Winter commuting is not about speed, it’s about comfort, warmth and of course safety. By having a bike solely for winter it will save the wear and tear on your best bike. You can keep that nice and clean, not subjecting it to the rigours of winter. Get it out for a blow out on those nice dry fresh winter days that come now and again, but keep it away from wet salt encrusted roads.

Some basic bike maintenance will be more essential in the winter as your bike gets assaulted by salt, water and grit. Pay special attention to your chain and gearing mechanisms. It doesn’t require much. Every week or so clean your chain. Get a piece of rag (Not kitchen towels like I have been known to. It’s not worth the hour’s ear bashing from the wife) and just run it down the chain. Get all the grit off, concentrate on the gears as well. Once you have cleaned the chain, oil it with good gear oil. Oil all the parts that move. This is basic maintenance but very effective to maintaining your bike in good condition.

Once you’re happy with that just give your bike a quick once over with a damp towel to get all the grime off it. You don’t need to be a mechanic to keep your bike running well.

I always have an extra flashing back light in the winter to give me added visibility. Sometimes it’s just not sensible to go out on your bike if it’s chucking it down with a gale force wind, but in milder winter weather there’s no reason to put your bike away. By wearing the right clothes and staying warm and keeping your bike well maintained you can keep cycling throughout the winter. Winter cycling can even be pleasant.
Thanks for reading

Safe cycling

Paul

Originally heart rate monitors were used by doctors or nurses to monitor the heart rate of patients who had heart problems. Today these monitors have taken on a whole new role. People who have a history of heart disease frequently use monitors. And heart monitors have become an important piece of equipment for athletes who are involved in many sports and fitness activities.

Here is some basic information about heart monitors which are also referred to as cardiac monitors. Basically, they are pieces of electronic equipment which are used to observe or track heart functions while the monitor is being worn.

When used for medical reasons, cardiac monitors can help doctors to track a patient’s heart function over a period of time. They can then compare data and modify treatment plans as required.

Heart monitors are no longer strictly used for medical issues. Today, there are many different types of monitors available for all types of activities and sports. You can choose from a variety of options depending on what you are going to use it for.

One example is monitors that have been primarily designed for use in weight loss. Other heart monitors are more for use with athletics or fitness.

There are usually two parts making up a monitor. They can be referred to as the transmitter and the receiver. Most heart rate monitors have a strap which is worn around the chest. The strap must fit snugly so that the readings are accurate. There is a device inside of the strap that collects and transmits information about the electrical activity in your heart.

Readings are transmitted to the watch which may be worn on the wrist for easy viewing. These heart monitor watches will display the readings and store them for future reference.

Although heart monitors that use chest straps produce the most accurate readings they may not be suitable for everyone. If that’s the case, there are some alternatives to this type of monitor.

If you choose a strapless heart rate monitor, you won’t have to wear a chest strap. A wrist heart rate monitor works completely through the watch. It has sensors located on the watch. You place your finger on the sensor. It then receives and displays the information on the watch.

Heart rate monitors continue to grow in popularity as more and more people use them. Whether you would like to monitor your heart for medical reasons or just want to get more out of a workout, heart monitor watches can help.

A smart and easy way to maintain your heart rate at a safe but effective level is by using heart monitor watches. Some companies specialize in manufacturing heart rate monitors for women. Others focus more on men.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Station

Where To Buy A Decent Bike
Years ago, back in the distant mists of time when I was a lad buying a bike was simple, you went to Halfords or Halfords. There were always specialist shops for the pros and you could pick up a decent Raleigh from a catalog, but overall Halfords were the kings of bike sellers.
Today you can buy a bike from anywhere, and I mean literally anywhere. I’ve even seen garages selling bikes. Add to this the amount of different bikes on the market and the scope for confusion for the novice rider is huge.
Here’s my quick rundown on the best place to buy a bike from:
The Internet
A look on the net will turn up some great deals and I have friends who have got some good bikes from the net. It’s not just from online stores that you can get a good deal. Advertising sites that list local adds like craigs list have some superb bargains. A friend of mine bought an excellent mountain bike from a local add site.
He got the address from the site, arranged to view the bike, tried it and bought it. He was very happy because he got a real bargain. Online classifieds are a great source of biking bargains.
I wouldn’t recommend the internet if you don’t know what you are doing. There are some negative sides to buying on the net like the lack of support service for example. If you are familiar with bikes and pretty good at repair and maintenance this isn’t such a problem, but for a novice it could be an issue.
You will also need to know the right size of bike to buy before ordering. Personally I wouldn’t recommend the internet for people new to cycling, for the more experienced rider though there’s some good deals.
Discount Bike Supply Stores

These advertise heavily before Christmas. They sell hundreds of bikes at cheap prices from 70 quid and upwards. The reason they’re cheap is because they’re rubbish. Usually bought by the container load from some Chinese factory. Superficially they may look the part but personally I wouldn’t buy one for members of my family.
The Big Internet Players
The big boys that dominate the back pages of cycling mags like Evans offer some great deals. It’s an impersonal service but you can get some great bikes for a good price. The internet takes away the personal service but if all you want is a bike you’ll get a good deal. As I said above though there are issues with buying online.
Local Bike Shop
There’s plenty of these around every city or town. These are specialist shops staffed by real cyclists who know there stuff. They are full of excellent advice and a source of great backup when you need it. I’d been riding for years before I went into my local bike shop to buy another bike. It was only when I got a proper fitting that I discovered I had been riding bikes that were too big for me.
The guy in the shop spotted this immediately. I was unconvinced at first but succumbed to his advice and bought a bike that I would have considered too small before going into the bike shop. Alas he was right. My knew bike fit me perfect and I found cycling a lot more comfortable.
Specialised bike shops may be a little more expensive but the backup service and advice are superb.
Halfords
Still one of the big boys and many people go to Halfords for their bikes. They have a good range and there’s some good bikes but there’s also some rubbish bikes. They sell their own brands which have different reviews and are currently selling the Boardman range. Personally I haven’t been in Halfords for a bike for ages, I have bought some accessories recently and they had some good looking bikes.
The cycling forums usually offer negative views about Halfords but some of this is down to cycling snobbery. Personally if I was buying a bike for my granddaughter I wouldn’t hesitate buying from Halfords.

Cycling speed

Some years ago I used to do Akido. One day during a training session a middle-aged experienced black belt man was showing me some techniques. He was very precise over every part of the technique. I made some comment about his precision; we then had a conversation that went something like this:

“Do you know why I spend a lot of time getting the technique right?”

Me: “No.”

Him: “Because when you get to my age we don’t have the strength we used to have and we don’t have the speed so we need to make up for it by getting the technique right. At your age technique doesn’t matter too much because you just power the techniques on.”

I remember thinking at the time that this was a wonderful insight. A few days ago this conversation began to appear on my internal memory screen. You know that screen that whirls up and runs in our heads from time to time, replaying incidents from our past.

What caused it to replay was some minor little incident that happened to me a few weeks ago. I was commuting to work on my bike one afternoon. As I approached a small roundabout I was travelling at 17MPH. There was a car at a junction on the roundabout.

The driver looked at me approaching and decided he could get out before I arrived. He pulled out. I had to brake to allow him to go. He’d misjudged my speed totally and I was forced to go from 17Mph down to five. He then accelerated away leaving me to build up my speed again.
It was a windy day and the going was tough. I was furious that I had to put all the effort in to rebuild my speed again. It was a waste of energy. It was this that set me thinking about what the Akido teacher had told me years earlier about applying technique to get the maximum benefit for the energy expended.

Applied to a bike it means getting to a speed and keeping to it wherever possible, to avoid stopping and starting all the time and consuming unnecessary energy. A great skill for any cyclists. The more we can conserve our energy the further we can travel.
This doesn’t mean going hell for leather and jumping lights; it means reaching a speed and maintaining it while travelling safely. Can it be done? Yes, here’s a few tips how to maintain a constant speed and conserve some energy. (And prevent global warming)

There’s no secret to maintaining momentum, like all defensive cycling it’s a matter of being totally aware of your surroundings and the prevailing road conditions. You need to be aware of the conditions ahead all the time so you can compensate by slowing down rather than having to stop and restart.
By freewheeling into a roundabout cars will have time to go and you won’t have to stop and restart. Sometimes you will have to stop. Use your gears and slow your peddling down if you are approaching a red traffic light. By changing down the light may change before you reach it. If it doesn’t at least you are in a good position to set off.
Sometimes a burst of speed can get you through a light that’s gone on amber rather than having to brake hard to stop.

Be aware of the traffic around you, if it starts to slow ease off the peddles and change down, make use of the momentum you have built up. I try to use my brakes as little as possible; at my age, conserving energy is as important as good lagging around an old boiler. I’ve found that smooth speed changes are the great cycling energy saver.
Good cycling technique will save you lots of energy and all it requires is an awareness of the traffic conditions around you. Keep planning ahead by watching the traffic, look for approaching lights or junctions and adjust your speed as you approach.

Safe Cycling

Paul