Category Archives: Biking

How To Choose The Right Bicycle Accessories That Will Make Riding Your Bike Fun And Safe

If you like riding your bike then you know it’s hard to ride without the best accessories. Especially when you know a lot of the best accessories out there are for safety as well.

The one bike accessory that you will always need to wear and own is the bike helmet. A lot of states have made riding without one illegal. So you should wear one anyways to be on the safe side.

Also when you are taking a little bike trip on the road you need to be motorist friendly. Even though a lot of drivers are good ones there are bad and you are also on a bike. Accidents happen and you can’t stop them so do the right thing and just wear a helmet.

Another thing that is bad to do when riding your bike is to take a ride at night. The best thing that you can do to protect yourself if you are going to ride at night is to buy some type of light source or reflectors for you and your bike. So people can see you at night when you ride.

Something else you can buy is reflector striped shirts or pants possibly. So when you ride at night when you move your legs and arms the reflectors will shine off the lights of the cars and you will be seen and not road kill. You can probably buy any type of light or reflector source at any bike shops near you.

Another accessory that you can add to your bike can be lights to the handle bars or to the back of your seat to shine and show others you’re on the road too. When you get rained on or you are going on an early morning ride and there is fog lights will help you in some way. Some you can buy can be attached to where they can’t ever come off others you can get that are detachable and you can bring with you where ever you go.

The other good bike accessory to have is a horn. This is so if some bad driver is swerving you can honk. I would recommend and air horn of some type something that is really loud and will get the attention of the driver.

Bike accessories can be a very good way to upgrade your bike. There are also the things that you will need anyways to ride like mentioned the reflectors, lights, light clothing as well will always help, and remember to wear your helmet. These are the things that you need to buy and remember to do when you go riding whether it be at night or during the day.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle parts at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

Why The Choice Of Bicycle Seat Is So Crucial For Your Biking Enjoyment

Often when or if you buy a new bike it will always come with a stock seat. The seat that is stock on the bike is made to fit and take your weight. Most of the stock seats are very uncomfortable and hurt. That is why you can get other bike seats with a gel mesh that is like a bed for your butt while riding your bike.

If you have never ridden with a different bike seat then the one that is stock on your bike then you’re in for a surprise. The thing you will need to think about when you are getting anew seat is whether you like it hard or soft. If you are a heavy rider than you will probably like it soft and not hard it is better I say to ride soft then hard. Others may like a hard seat thought.

The other choice is whether to buy a narrow or rather width size seat. You should get the seat that fits your bottom. If you get one that’s too small take it back and gets one that’s bigger because you are not going to enjoy the ride at all. So when you pick one out do it right the first time and buy the best one that will fit you and that will last.

You can even choose from what kind of material your bike seat is made from. You can get a mesh gel kind, soft, hard, cushiony all kinds of seats are made to comfort your ride wherever you go or how far you go.

As a man you need to pick the one bike seat that will fit you as tests have proven that it is hard on the penile areas in the legs. If ridden like this over time may make you infertile. If you ride with the right kind of seat for your body then you will not have these types of problems. Women may also like to ride so she will need to choose the right seat for her too. Women need to have the seat that fits them too so when you are picking out your new seat make sure whether you’re a female or male to buy the correct seat.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time upgrading the seat then pick one that is quick to install and will comfort you as you take a ride. When you buy a bike seat you need to always buy the one that will make it a comfortable bike ride for you. If you don’t then it wont be such a good ride and might result and some pain to your butt.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle seats at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

How To Choose The Best Urban Road Bike For You

Racing bikes are good bikes and they all have similar traits to them. The light weight frame that you might have to your bike may be made of some light weight metal such as aluminum. The wheels that you are riding on called tires are made to be able to withstand high pressures. The handle bars are slightly lower than usual and the gears and brakes may be in a cluster so you don’t have to take your hands off the grips anytime.

If you just like to simply go on an easy going bike ride, than more than likely a racing type of bike isn’t for you. The bike and its wheels are made smaller for lighter weight and the breaks are made for light weight also and not a quick stop so you may want another bike like a mountain bike. The gear ratio is probably going to be a lot longer on a racing bike to gain speed but you can get another bike such as the mountain bike that you can climb steep hills and mountains with, with ease.

With a light weight frame that you can pick up with one hand and the tight positions you may have to sit will make you accelerate at high speeds higher than a normal bike. The way the bike is made is to limit the wind and create a good position for the rider. With owning a racing bike they can reach pretty high speeds up to 35 mph I would say or at least what I have seen. They might be able to go even faster but I am not a bike rider fan so I wouldn’t know.

Another thing that racing bikes don’t have that a regular bike would is mud flaps to keep you from getting mud all over the back of your legs and bottom. Mudguards are good when riding in a dirt environment or a muddy road. As I stated this is also a choice that goes with a regular bike and not available in racing bikes.

Although you might have been thinking of getting a racing bike, and might have had the rack up for it in the garage already. It might not be the bike for you if you just like to go on easy rides and not fast speedy races. Other people may prefer to challenge their friends or family when owning a racing bike, but the family just may like the regular bikes too. Just choose whichever bike is right for you and what you want out of it. Don’t get the bike that you just want to have to own, get the bike that’s right for you and that you will enjoy riding.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle clothing at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

Why You Must Buy A Bike Lock For Your Bicycle No Matter Where You Live

When you buy a new bike lock you need to buy the one that is going to guarantee that your bike will not get stolen it is better to have a bike than have to walk. It does not matter how often you ride your bike or how you ride your bike you are always going to need a bike lock if you go some where in public with your bike. If you’re going to the store real quick someone who needs a new bike only needs a minute to steal your bike while you’re inside the store.

This crime happens everywhere. Even though New York has the most number of bikes stolen every town and small city will have its bike stealers. There are all kinds of bikes that can be stolen from a thousand dollar race machine to a junky bike just needed by someone to make it home. Some thieves will steal the bikes to sell them and get money for your bike. Maybe a thief just needs a ride to get somewhere and he needs your bike and you are not watching it at the time. If you have a cheap lock on the bike the thief could pick it or clip it.

If you have that cheap lock and it has been working for you your day may soon come. You need to buy a lock that is going to make sure that your bike is safe. You can buy any kind of lock. You will need something that will have some sort of key not a combination as someone with a good bit of luck could just say, “oh lets try it just for a second”, and might pick your lock and steal your ride.

Chain locks are the other really good type of lock. They can be very heavy and a thieve wont think about clipping the chain it will probably make a lot of noise and also probably wont be worth going to jail or getting beat up over. The bigger locks that are out there on the market will help you with securing your bike though and companies like bell will make a good lock for you. If you buy the right bike lock then you will be able to ride anywhere you want and be able to lock it up anywhere you want without it getting stolen. That’s the last thing you would want to happen as you ride up to the store for a soda is to walk out and see your bike gone when you could have just bought a lock for your bike. So do the right thing for your ride and buy the lock so it doesn’t get jacked like all your other bikes did.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle locks at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

Some Of The Main Reasons Your Really Need To Wear A Bike Helmet When Bicycling

If you are going on a ride anytime soon you will need to remember one thing, to wear your bike helmet just to be safe and not get a ticket. Even if you are not riding on the street you should wear a helmet. If you are riding on streets you should always where a helmet, you will lose an in accident and be hurt if you are not wearing a helmet.

As you probably already know there are all kinds of add on bike accessories that you can buy like lights, light clothing, reflectors and horns as well. Every single one of those items is made for your safety. You need to at least wear a helmet and have some type of reflectors on your bike. You might also want to wear light colored clothing as well.

If you look at what happens when a car hits a biker it’s not good, most of the time the injuries are to the head and this is the main cause of the deaths. As I write this article a seventeen year old boy was just killed by being hit from behind while riding his bike, he wasn’t wearing a helmet. The best thing you can do riding a bike and preventing a head injury is to wear your helmet. Though you can not stop accidents you can still wear your helmet and protect what you can while riding. Some bike accidents aren’t even that bad but you should still always where your helmet.

At least bike helmets being made today are created to comfort your head and protect it as well as it can. Although they may look like they can break easily but they wouldn’t be being sold if that were the case. You should always check just to make sure that the helmet is certified to be a bike helmet. So be sure when you are buying one to pick the best and right one for you and your noggin.

The most important thing to think about when you are buying your bike helmet is to make sure you get the one that fits your head well. If you bought a helmet that slides and moves around your noggin then that’s what will happens in an accident and your head will be open to the ground. You need to have it just right on your head not to tight not to loose but you always want it more tight than loose so it wont slide and move.

In a lot of parts around the world today they have made it a legal law that you have to wear a bike helmet everywhere and anywhere you ride your bike. Even though you may not like to wear a helmet it may be the law and it will protect you in an accident and will save you from getting a ticket which if you are traveling you may not be able to afford at the time.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle helmets at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

What Makes a Super Pocket Rocket Different From Regular Minibikes?

If you’re not a pocket bike enthusiast, or if you have never bought a minibike, the term “super pocket rocket” may confuse you. For starters, the term “pocket rocket” doesn’t apply to just any minibike – there are minibikes after all that aren’t motorized, and are just good old-fashioned pedal cycles. These rockets generally refer to miniature motorized bikes – or mini motos, are they are sometimes known – which are built especially for racing and/or display.

And far from being redundant, a super pocket rocket is more than an ordinary mini moto. If you still aren’t sure how a big pocket rocket would differ from a regular mini motorbike, here are some of the most common and most noticeable differences:

1. Engine size. This refers to more than just the physical size of the engine, although of course that figures, as well. As any good motorist knows, engine capacity determines engine size, and it is measured in ccs or horsepower.

The larger number of the cc on a bike, the more powerful it is, and the faster it goes. Some super mini motos could go as fast as 70 km per hour. There’s really no way to mistake them for toy vehicles – these babies are built for racing!

Many super minibikes can go over 70cc, and even go as high up as 110 cc. Ordinary minibikes, even ones that were made at home, could be fitted with 50 cc engines or smaller.

2. Seat height. Super pocket motorbikes may have seats that go as high up as 28 inches or higher, when regular minibikes may have seats that go lower than 25 inches. Note that some manufacturers measure seat height by millimeters instead of inches.

3. Bike size. In order to accommodate a larger engine and a higher seat, super pocket mini motos should also be larger than their regular counterparts. Their dimensions may even approach those of full-sized motorcycles, but it should still be easy to distinguish them from larger bikes.

Size may be the main difference between a super pocket rocket and a regular minibike, but the make is also important. The former, for example, is made for racing, regardless of how it is used, and it should show in the design. A mini dirt bike may come larger than usual, but this should not be mistaken for a super minibike. Take note of the wheels – large, thick wheels are made for the trail, not for the track.

Super pocket rocket, minibikes and baja minibikes; At About-minibikes.com we have the latest and greatest info on these cool little motorcycles, come take a look! http://www.about-minibikes.com/

What to Ask Yourself When You’re About to Buy New Pocket Bikes

About to buy your first mini motorbike? You’ll have to know the basics of buying new pocket bikes. It’s not just a matter of what’s hot and what’s not – no matter what kind of bike you buy, you should be aware of some factors that may actually complicate the fact that you own one.

Planning and being aware of the risks and pitfalls that come with owning something like a mini motorbike are necessary. These are just some of the things you have to ask yourself before you can rest assured that the new pocket bikes you have your eye on are actually worth the purchase.

1. How powerful do you want your bike to be? Pocket bikes are made for racing, but not all such vehicles are created equal. If you want a miniature motorbike that could go fast, you should check the horsepower or the ccs on the machine. Some bikes can go as fast as 70 km per hour! These are normally also the large bikes called “super pocket rockets.”

If you want your bike to be able to carry a large load, you should look into the weight capacity of your bike. All these factors contribute to the power of a bike.

2. Can you afford the maintenance? Mini motos may be significantly more affordable than their full-scale counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they are cheap to keep!

Good, imported mini motos could cost up to $3000 upon purchase. These don’t include add-ons, customization fees and repairs! Super pocket bikes, or larger bikes that go beyond the standard 2-feet height and actually approach the full-scale sizes, of course cost more than usual. If you’re just starting off, perhaps you would like to consider a budget bike which costs somewhere around $200. You could then set aside more of your money for customization, streamlining, and learning the ins and outs of mini motorcycle maintenance.

3. Does your state allow pocket bikes on the street? That is to say, do you have the assurance that your bikes are street legal? Pocket bikes are too small to be ridden in public, so they are banned from the streets in many states.

But just because pocket bikes are not street legal, you are not exactly prohibited from owning one. You could own a bike for display, or for riding off-road. You could also take your bikes to designated racing or parade areas, where you could ride them with relative safety and without the hassle of worrying if you’ll have to reason with the police just for riding something you actually own!

If you’re determined to get your first bike from the new pocket bikes that are out in the market, your priority is becoming aware of your capacity to take care of it. It’s not exactly a small investment, and taking care of it is not an easy task!

New pocket bikes, minibikes and pocket rockets; At About-minibikes.com we have the latest and greatest info on these cool little motorcycles, come take a look! http://www.about-minibikes.com/

Baja Mini Bikes: Are They Safe for Children to Ride?

Children like to play with miniatures. They have their doll houses, toy cell phones, toy guitars, and even toy vehicles. But older children may have more adventurous tastes, and want for toys that are – well, still miniatures, but are flashier, more expensive, and more functional. Mini bikes are among such toys. If you happen to be a mini bike enthusiast, your child may be lucky enough to have a parent who knows all about the fun of owning and riding Baja mini bikes.

Technically speaking, Baja mini bikes aren’t toys exactly, but simply smaller versions of real motorcycles. The design of the mini Baja motorbike is derived from that of the full-scale Baja motorbike, which has been a favorite offroad vehicle for many years. It may be safe to say that the Baja has become a classic among motorbikes, being preferred for use by not a few biking tour outfits on steep mountain roads and rough terrain.

Baja pocket bikes have the advantage of looking like motorbikes that have been shrunk to just the right size for a smaller person. But it’s really not too small – with a height of around four feet, a regular minibike is large enough for a full-grown adult to ride. A small child under the age of 12 would have a hard time even reaching the foot pegs. If and when your child starts to express an interest in riding pocket bikes, he or she must first be of the right age and height to be able to confidently steer the vehicle.

And of course, if you are going to let your child ride any vehicle, have the proper safeguards in place. In the case of mini bikes, get the right equipment. Start off by making sure to get a helmet which fits your child well. Gloves and boots are also important. Some kinds of clothing such as pants and jackets have been reinforced with padding in key areas such as the elbows and knees, which would insulate your child in case of an accidental fall.

Instill in your child an appreciation of the safety measures. He or she doesn’t have to get into an accident just to understand how important it is to be fully protected before riding a motorbike!

Before you give your child permission to ride a mini bike, you should be confident that your child is responsible and aware of the risks involved. Riding pocket bikes may in fact be a good introduction to full-scale motorcycles. From cruising around in Baja mini bikes, a child can learn and appreciate the worth of good offroad bikes. He or she can also learn how important it is to regularly tune up a vehicle and keep it in top shape.

Baja mini bikes, minibikes and pocket rockets; At About-minibikes.com we have the latest and greatest info on these cool little motorcycles, come take a look! http://www.about-minibikes.com/

Mountain Bike Your Way Into Europe

Mountain biking by its very title would suggest it to be a sport that requires the use of a mountain. This is a sport that has gathered worldwide interest and a vast majority of its following originates from the UK: strangely a country that is not exactly known for its mountain ranges.

Devoted riders have painstakingly built tracks and trails in forests and woodland throughout England, Scotland and Wales, which has certainly boosted the sport’s awareness and accessibility – even to city dwellers who are never more that half an hour away from a manmade or natural track or trail.

But this seems a poor alternative, and still doesn’t make up for the fact that UK riders are not often able to involve mountains in the pursuit of their passion.

However when some bright spark realised the potential of an otherwise redundant summer ski lift system in the French Alps, the sport has been taken to new levels. It has opened up a wealth of terrain that simply cannot be found anywhere inside the UK.

It has also attracted a new breed of rider; a rider who is not content with the uphill slog in order to get his or her highs on the downhill runs which define this sport with its ‘adrenaline-junkie’ status. Perhaps this is why over 400,000 bicycle orientated and mountain biking holidays were booked from the UK last year?

However ten years ago only one ski resort allowed bikers to carve up their beautiful French mountain side. This resort was Morzine and Les Gets, a low level ski resort which was hot off the mark to promote their summer industry, and today is still regarded as the jewel in the crown of potential destinations for mountain biking holidays.

But Morzine and Les Gets have gone about it in a clever way. They realise that the summer trade is not entirely made up of dirty great mountain bikers. They have created a resort that appeals to all, and the balance of holiday makers that ranges between families and active sports enthusiasts has allowed a very friendly and beautiful mountain town to flourish.

Many other resorts have now followed suit and offer a broader, more appealing holiday, which of course allows Mr Mountain Biker to find something to appeal to the family when he drags them all away in search of his annual mountain bike fix.

The most popular destinations for mountain biking holidays are Chamonix, Alpe D’huez, Tignes, Morzine and Les Gets. These resorts all offer a good range facilities for riding and an equally appealing level of activities for the non biker.

But riding the alps is not as straightforward a notion as one might think. It takes planning. If you want to gain a true insight into the potential of the mountain, then riders need to really make use of a local guide. Mechanic support and a full workshop facility with a steady supply of parts is also necessary to maintain the complexities of a modern day mountain bike.

Bikes being transported from the UK also require trailers and transfers to and from the foreign airport, and carriage on the plane is becoming ever more complicated with the greying of rules from the various budget airlines, as they strive to better their profits.

Furthermore, bikers require jet washing facilities and secure bike storage that stands up to insurance company small print. After all a bike can cost upwards of 3500 pounds, and obviously provides an easy and attractive picking to the well informed opportunist.

Fortunately however, the industry has spawned a handful of dedicated mountain bike tour operators who can provide all these extra necessities for a successful and hassle free mountain biking holiday.

Working professionals with limited time can book a package that will give them all the facilities required for their mountain biking fix, whilst offering the family an alternative fresh-feeling holiday in the mountains that stacks up very well against the relative stuffiness of that same old beach holiday; and certainly beats the b’Jesus out of pedalling up and down the local forest trail!

Shaun Parker has been providing top quality Mountain Biking Holidays for several years to hundreds of satisified customers. For more information visit www.alpineelements.co.uk

Mountain Biking in Whistler

Nestled between the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, Whistler is one of the North America’s fantastic resort destinations, located about 75 miles north of Vancouver in Canada. Teeming with breathtaking vistas comprising snow-capped peaks, excellent terrains, enthralling waterfalls, lush green forests, dazzling lakes and rivers, Whistler is regarded as a year-round playground providing opportunities to enjoy a continuum of thrilling summer as well as winter activities.

Among many other activities such as heli tours, flightseeing, sightseeing, hiking, and ATV tours, mountain biking forms one of the most popular summer activities in Whistler. Mountain biking in Whistler is truly legendary. With hundreds of well-maintained mountain biking trails throughout the region, Whistler is considered a haven for mountain biking. In other words, Whistler boasts of some of the best biking trails on the planet. Further, a specialty is that Whistler has biking trails to cater every level of riders from novice to extreme pros.

Mountain biking in Whistler is categorized into three types: cross country biking, downhill biking, and valley trail biking. Cross country biking is primarily via old dense rainforests or may sometimes go right up to the bottom of a scintillating waterfall, or may sometimes even pass through an abandoned area.

One of the specialties of this type of biking is that it allows riders to be amid the wilderness, and is also considered a great way to explore the enchanting beauty of the region. A favorite sport in North America, Downhill mountain biking is perhaps the most popular among the mountain biking categories. An interesting feature of downhill mountain biking is that it enables the riders to easily ride up the mountain and that too without applying your own pedal power. Also, a specialty of this category of mountain biking is that you needn’t have to be a veteran to enjoy it.

All of the Whistler’s valleys are well linked by an extensive paved valley trail system, which in turn forms a perfect base for valley trail riding. Valley trails join several valley lakes, apart from various parks in the valley. Since valley trails are primarily designed for non-motorized vehicles, it allows for a safe as well as fun mountain bike riding, along with your family and friends. Special bikes coupled with comfy seats are available to make your ride along the valley trails a pleasant as well as memorable experience.

Now we will discuss some of the top destinations for enjoying mountain biking in Whistler. From fantastic trail networks along the majestic Blackcomb Mountain and technical single track to the astounding valley trails as well as the trails along the dense forest in Whistler, all of Whistler’s biking trails and destinations are incredible.

Whistler Bike Park is regarded as one of the top spots for an enjoyable mountain biking. With more than 40 runs as well as more than 200 km of descending lift-serviced trails, this area is suitable for all types of riders. For example, if you are a novice, excellent options are available to ride along the banked trails via coastal forests.

For intermediates, such facilities as twisty single track are made available. Likewise, serious riders looking for challenges can choose trails running along the steep rock faces and root-strewn lines. In addition, all of the trails found here are well-maintained and patrolled, and render spectacular views of the surrounding lakes and valleys. Other specialties of the park are three access lifts such as Garbanzo Chairs, Whistler Gondola, and Fitzsimmons; two jump park areas; three skill centers for riders of all abilities like green circle, black diamond, and Blue Square; a fun-filled BikerCross; learning centers inclusive of ramps, practice obstacles, and teeter totters; and dirt trails along the canopied forests.

Another prominent biking trail in Whistler is the Lost Lake Park. Surrounded by a striking clear alpine lake, Lost Lake Park is a chain of well-linked trails, all of which are designed for a myriad of activities, such as, mountain biking and hiking during the summer and cross country skiing during winter. The centerpiece of the park is undoubtedly the lake, a dip in which after or before mountain biking is refreshing. A learning center, namely, Shaler’s Bike Land, is also attached to the park. Further, Lost Lake Park is within easy reach of almost all top-rated attractions as well as facilities of the region.

Above all, your mountain biking vacation would be incomplete without taking the Epic Ride, Comfortably Numb, which is a 26 km long ride that runs from Wedgemount to Lost Lake. In addition, the ride includes more than 4,000 feet of twisting and climbing switchbacks.

Almost all of the Whistler’s hotels and resorts render excellent packages to enjoy mountain biking. Mostly, included in the mountain biking packages are camps and clinics, guided tours, and private lessons. Many of them provide bikes on rental basis, while some even provide it for free. There are also shops exclusively for providing bikes on rental basis.

Skiatwhistler.com offers real time bookings of premium properties in the world class ski resort of Whistler, British Columbia. Our business is to market property rentals in Whistler to high end vacationers in order to maximize property owners’ return on investment (ROI).