While the above topic can probably lead me here into letting out an inferior emotion, I don’t mind saying it. You see, I have a problem sleeping. The nearest to medication I tried was beer. It works sometimes. But I have had nights drunk but take to thinking in bed all the same, until I get a headache and blame it on the sun just rising and I can then really go to sleep. With cycling it is different. I ride in the morning on weekdays, before I go to work, and on weekends I ride in the morning but it can last up to noon and really leave me all exhausted and all right well into the night. I don’t know how to explain it, but you try staying out of your house for most part of the day and you’ll see.

This is about last week’s bike push to Manila and it took me only now to put some sense to it, if any. It was the Holy Week but, as was the usual, we rode to the bay area in Manila. Nothing much there, that day being Easter and most folk just coming back from the provinces and all. I wasn’t merely with the local cycling club that day, but also with the relations of one of its members. They were some sort of headed not by the club member, who took to riding his bike in full cycling regalia, but by a rich relative who took a redeye flight back to Manila for the Lent.

After a few rides around the bay area, rather on a slow and tiresome pace, about four of us found out that each of us needed to buy some bike parts and then decided to make a push to Quiapo in Manila that morning. Around 10 a.m. we were on our way to Quiapo. We took Roxas Boulevard and then turned right to T.M Kalaw. It was what I have long been afraid of, riding in the highways of Manila. The being a holiday didn’t help very much, there were still many jeepneys, buses and cars that made the road difficult. But somehow I was able to hang on.

The hard part was the bridge over the Pasig River. It led to downtown Manila and probably it was not only me who got it hard. One cyclist, a tall and wide-set man of about 30, rounded the bus outside the curb, rode with no hands afterwards and stretched his leg and arm muscles. I supposed he thought the bridge was hard for a bike, and showing off that he was relaxed proved that I was right. Under the bridge was the Pasig River, and at the end were the strings of stores selling practically anything that a person wants. And I mean that exactly. There is nothing you want that you can’t find at Quiapo.

By that time the sun was high and folk were really pouring in around the busy Quiapo district. I replaced the sprocket on my bike with an eight-speed Shimano, and also got a new handlebar. My neighbor got a new pair of tires. The whole thing took around two hours probably and I witnessed that part of manila coming alive. By the time we were ready to go back to Makati it was like an ordinary lousy weekday there in Quiapo, not like a Sunday I supposed. (Continue…)

Bicycle Diaries

1. Base Fitness.

Base fitness refers to the underlying aerobic fitness of an athlete. Aerobic fitness is increased through training at a heart rate zone of between 60 - 80%; this level of training is often associated with long steady training rides. At this level of training the heart is exercised, increasing its capacity to send blood around the body. Base fitness is important for endurance events, however it is also important to have a good base of aerobic fitness before undertaking more strenuous, interval training sessions.

2. Winter training.

Winter is a good time to have a break for 2 to 3 weeks. You will lose some top end fitness, but in the long term it can beneficial, especially if you have had a hard season. After taking a break for a couple of weeks it is important to work on building up your base fitness through steady training miles. This will get you ready for the racing season in spring.

3. Monitor performance with Power Meter.

A power meter enables you to accurately measure how much effort you are putting in. It can be useful for gauging effort levels during training. A power meter is more accurate than a heart rate monitor in determining effort levels.

4. Have a clear focus.

To enable the best progress in cycling fitness it is important to have clear goals and a training plan to match. This enables you get the most from each training sessions. When training the quality of training is more important than the quantity.

5.Train at an intensity greater than Race pace.

If preparing for a 10 mile time trial, training should involve more than just riding 10 mile time trials. Interval sessions which involve short time periods of efforts greater than in a race will increase your anaerobic threshold and increase top end speed.

6. Adapt to signals from body.

When training it is important to listen to the body. If we ignore signals of the body then it can easily lead to over training which can do more harm than good. It is an important skill to be able to respond to signals from our own training. This will come over time, it is also helpful to keep a training diary where you can write down how you feel and signals such as average heart rates.

7. Enjoy your Training.

If we view training as an experience to be endured, if we feel training is only about suffering then we have the wrong attitude to training. If we enjoy training we will have a positive attitude and this will enable greater progress. Interval training will never be “enjoyable” in one sense but we should try to maintain a positive attitude to our training.

R.Pettinger is a member of href="http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/cycling">Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team and races in UK time trials. He finished 6th in 2006 National Hill Climb Championship.

Website of Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team: http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/cycling

BMX Parks are either made of wood or they come in concrete forms. In most cases, the parks meant for BMX riders are council supplied parks made of metal. The style of riding determines whether the parks are made of wood or concrete. Parks made of wood are apt for technical rides while concrete allows a fast flowing style. Riders who are always in look for gaps and have an aim to fly from the coping generally like the hasty style.

Parks for BMX riders – places to try out skills

In most concrete parks, you are sure to come across several bowls and pools. However, if you prefer you can even merge the two riding styles inside one particular park form. Most concrete parks for BMX riders are built outdoors for their capacity to endure years of several climactic withering and torturing. Building a concrete park is quite an expensive venture for which contributions from different sources are put together to give form to such a concrete open space.

Most commercial BMX squares are made of wood. Some of the reasons for this have been successfully listed below.

1. Wooden parks are more easy to construct

2. Materials required for the construction are easily available

3. The cost of construction is comparatively less

4. It is safer to fall on wood then on concrete. You will not be severely injured

5. If the park is particularly meant for BMX riders, it should have steel coping, which cannot be easily damaged

Quarter pipes, spines, flat banks, wall rides, mini ramps and hips are some of the common obstacles included in the wooden parks meant for BMX riders. Irrespective of the fact that whether you are an inexperienced beginner or an experienced old hand, the parks present opportunities for riders of every level.

There are some parks specifically meant for novice and children while the others allow challenging jumps for more talented and in-art riders. These specific riding domains have provisions for more than forty jumps along with several banked turns.

Throughout the year, BMX riders are allowed to practice their skills on the park during the early hours of the day. Riders when practicing within the park should wear helmets and when juniors practice, they should be kept under the strict supervision of the seniors.

A park for the BMX riders can be both privately or public owned. If you enter a private BMX or state park, you have to pay admission fees. On the other hand, parks with no private ownership will charge you nothing. You will get to see private BMX or state parks within buildings with tall ceilings, roller rinks or warehouses.

If you are an expert BMX rider, you make sure to practice your techniques inside a state park as a means to sharpen your skills.

Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of

http://www.bicycles-are-us.com Visit Robert And

read more about bicycles at

http://www.bicycles-are-us.com/BMX-Bikes.html

Okay, so you want a bike that will handle some rough stuff when the going gets tough. You don’t want to be confined to the hard, smooth surfaces of the pavement and bitumen. You want a mountain bike, right? Maybe not. You may want to consider an all terrain bike instead.

Mountain bikes are great for hitting the trails, barreling downhills and jumping off cliffs, but is this what you really want to do when you head off road? If your thirst for adventure is limited mostly to leisurely cruises around the lake, enjoying the less arduous trails or checking out the scenery along quiet country roads then perhaps a mountain bike is not what you’re after. Mountain bikes are built for the rough stuff. From their beefed up suspension, riding position and knobby tires to their heavy duty brakes and precision gear shifters, most mountain bikes are at their best when they’re in the rough stuff. On the roads and pavement, forget about it.

All terrain bikes on the other hand offer a great compromise between the smooth and the rough. While quite capable of getting you safely through a rough patch when you want to leave the road behind, all terrain bikes are also built for a far more comfortable ride on the roads. For starters, you’ll find yourself in a far more relaxed and comfortable riding position. In fact, the handlebars can usually be adjusted so that you can sit far more upright than you can on your average mountain bike, just perfect for those leisurely rides on smooth surfaces. Also, you’ll be sitting on a seat built for comfort with lots more padding and sometimes even a suspension seat post. Another feature of the all terrain bike is the tire tread. While the knobby tires of a mountain bike are designed for maximum grip on slippery surfaces, all terrain tires offer a happy compromise between grip and smooth road riding.

Gear changes and braking are also a much easier experience on your all terrain bike. The precision gear changes of higher-end mountain bikes can sometimes prove a little difficult for less experienced riders, all terrain bikes on the other hand offer twist grip shifters that are simple to use.

If you’re looking for a new bike to enjoy the great outdoors on, then you’ll need to consider exactly how and where you want to ride. If you’ll be doing a lot of road riding with the occasional adventure off road, then you may want to consider an all terrain bike over a mountain bike. If, on the other hand, you plan on getting down and dirty in the thick of it on the trails, and you’re not too concerned about your comfort, then you’ll want to get yourself a mountain bike for sure.

For more information, reviews and tips on BMX bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, other bicycles, parts and accessories and cycling apparel, visit James Sanford’s website at BikingHeadz.com, the complete online buyers guide for bikes and bicycles.

Dirt bike dealers are always eager to introduce the popular dirt models of Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Husqvarna, Husaberg and KTM. Like Motorcross, such bikes are unmatched for thrilling off-road competitions. The dealers make sure that the machines manufactured by the said companies are powerful and frothy having knobby tires for maximum grip on the ground.

Dirt bikes are not sold directly to the consumers instead a group of well equipped authorized dealers manage the show. These dealers not only sell the motorcycles to the consumers but also provide services and warranty repairs.

Dealers of dirt bikes are ready to serve you with the best

Sellers of dirt bikes have recently introduced a dirt bike model of 50cc. This is just for the beginners or for kids who are just learning to stride with their bikes. 50cc is the starting point from where the limits can go up to 450cc for more efficient and expert riders.

Apart from full bike models, traders or dealers of dirt bikes are authorized to sell motorcycle parts and services, which include warranty repairs as well. Moreover, proficient and licensed dealers of the company mostly handle the entire spare parts sales, shipping and set up. Certified motorcycle dealers can even help you to avail a dirt bike or dirt bike parts if you are living 50 miles away from the nearest authorized trader.

The distributors and the sales department of most dirt bike manufacturers have a close-knit connection. A brand new dirt bike model is always quite heavy on the pocket. Therefore, dealers often promote and sell used dirt bikes suited to both your pocket and purpose.

In such matters of dealing, it is better to be aptly informed or you may get hold of a model, which has already gone through severe abuses. You must make sure about the bike’s tenure of performance and how the machine has been treated down the years. If luck is on your side you may come to get hold of a bike, which is a fairly new model and has not been used much by the original owner.

The dealers of dirt bikes in US are presently excited about four leading dirt models, the Enduro 250, the Enduro 550, the Moto 300 and Moto 450. Both the Enduros are patience racers. They are hard, heroic, and run with a stamina making others feel quite envious on scene. Motos are meant foe Motorcross racing. They are the best in this department. These varieties are the best in technicality with electric starters, steering stabilizers and liquid cooling systems.

As dealers of dirt bikes are licensed and certified, there are fewer chances of malpractice. Dirt bikes deliver style, standard, and durability. It is indeed the darling of the bike market of the present generation.

Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of

http://www.bicycles-are-us.com Visit Robert And

read more about bicycles at

http://www.bicycles-are-us.com/Dirt-Bikes.html

At our retail bike store, many of our customers say they want to purchase a beach cruiser, but they don’t live on the beach. The main question happens to be, “is a beach cruiser just for the beach?” The answer is a big – NO Way!

All riders can enjoy Beach cruisers, whether you live in California, New York, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, or any other state – or country for that matter, if there is a road, a beach cruiser bike is ready to ride on it. This style of bike appeared in the 1930’s and was the predominant style for bicycles through the 1950’s.

The large tires on beach cruisers were originally designed to handle sand on beaches (greater surface area than small tires), but the great side effect is that these tires provide one soft and comfortable ride.

Beach cruiser bikes are not only comfortable, they are also very stylish and can really make a statement about you and your personality. Cruisers are meant to cruiser, and if your riding style is a laid back ride where you can soak up the view, then try one out today.

If you live in a flat area without many hills, a one-speed should work just fine. If you live in a hilly area, or want more of a variety of speeds, you may want to consider a beach cruiser with multiple speeds.

Beach cruisers are taking hold across the land and are no longer just for the beach! You may want to consider a Beach Cruiser for your next bike.

Michael Harland is the Sales Manager for A Bike Store, which offers Beach Cruisers for sale. His information comes from personal experience and he has been writing on the subject of law enforcement, security and bike related topics since 2001.

There are several types of bicycle racks for cars. Trunk mount, Roof mount, Spare Tire mount or Receiver Hitch mount. Trunk mount bicycle racks for cars are the most common.

Advantages To Trunk Mount Bicycle Car Rack

Trunk Mount are usually cheaper than other types of racks.
Simple installation. Easy to store when not in use.
Often they are great for hauling one or sometimes two bikes.

Disadvantages to trunk mount bike racks
If your car is dirty and you put a trunk mount on, the dirt under the rack feet will act like sandpaper and ruin the paint.
Some Trunk Racks do not get the bike far enough from the car so the bike can rub on the car.
You cannot attach the upper rack straps to a glass window. If your car’s back window opens and there is not an attachment point above that that is metal you cannot attach a trunk rack. Some of the older Camaros, Firebirds, Toyota 4 Runner have this problem so you either need to use a receiver hitch rack or a roof rack.
If your exhaust pipe points directly at the tires on your bike it can overheat the tire and ruin it.
Many racks do not separate the bikes well and the bikes will rub the paint off of each other.
You cannot access the back of the vehicle when you have bicycles on the rack.

Advantages to Roof Racks
The bikes are well separated so they do not rub on each other or the car.
You can pull a trailer and the bikes will not be in the way.
The roof racks protect the finish on your car really well.
Often there are a lot of other accessories to carry canoes, skis, snowboards etc. to fit the roof rack.

Disadvantages to Roof Racks
People have been known to forget the bikes are on the roof and run into the garage. This is really hard on the car, bike and sometimes the garage.
Usually Roof Racks are quite expensive. Often it will cost over $400 for a two bike roof rack.
Putting the bike on the roof can be a chore sometimes.
The extra wind drag from the bikes above the car will significantly affect your gas mileage.
Installing a roof rack can be a chore.
Putting your bike on a roof rack can be difficult.

Advantages to Spare Tire Racks
Sometimes they are the only rack that will fit the vehicle.

Disadvantages to Spare tire racks
They do not fit many cars.

Advantages to Receiver Hitch Racks

Easy to install.
Less wind drag than Roof Racks.
The bikes are kept away from the car so they do not rub on the paint of the car.
The rack only touches the car by slipping into the Receiver and either bolted or pinned to the receiver.
Receiver racks are easy to move from vehicle to vehicle as long as the vehicle has the right size receiver. Check out my Receiver Hitch Tips page.

Disadvantages to Receiver Hitch Racks
If your vehicle does not have a receiver it usually costs around $200 or more to have a receiver put on.
You cannot haul a trailer when your rack is on your car.
Like the Trunk rack and the Spare Tire Rack when your bikes are on the rack it is often hard to get into the back of the car.

Rick C. Kern
Zbikenut
Mountain Bike Accessory and Installation Guides Also check out
Bicycle Hangar Missoula, Montana Cycling guides Don’t miss my Cateye Computer Installation Guides.
Bike to live, live to bike.

Pocket dirt bike specifically refers to a much smaller bike model. The introduces of the pocket dirt variety are trying hard to popularize this version of dirt bike to people of all ages. These manufacturers have come up with various pocket-sized editions of bikes at negligible costs. Giovanni, Blatta, Vulkin, Panterra and the big bosses like Honda and Yamaha are busy stealing the show with this pocket edition of dirt bikes.

Pocket dirt bicycle is the fastest roadrunner of the century

Yes, they are petite but in no way powerless. Some can even reach speeds of 80 miles per hour. Pocket dirt bikes are available in all shapes and sizes. They look exactly same like their big brothers but not in scale. This particular dirt bike variety is constructed in all sizes of 44cc, 49cc, 50cc, 85cc, 90cc and 110cc. Therefore, you have lots of options to choose from when you plan to buy.

Just check the Internet and you will find several dirt bike manufacturers ready to advertise their specified models of pocket dirt bicycles. It is better that you shop on line so as to get hold of the latest pocket dirt bikes. Compare the prices well and then make the decision.

Mini dirt bikes are very similar to the pocket racers and anyone can confuse one with the other. Both the mini bikes look same and both can carry a payload of up to 300 pounds. Both the bikes are light and you can carry them easily under your arms or in the trunk of your car.

The two-cycle air-cooled engine has also become the standard with gas-powered mini dirt bikes and pocket bikes. However, when it comes to hill climbing, free styling and off-road riding the minis always perform better than the pockets.

The pocket dirt variety is just right for those grown up kids who are on the verge of testing their skills as superfine riders on road. Just strengthen your nerves when you are trying it for the first time, take hold of your safety gear and zoom off.

There is a never-ending enjoyment in riding pocket dirt bikes. As you keep trying everything challenging and smart, you can give a start with the pocket dirt bicycle. It is definitely a darling in its own class. Safety is very important when you try pocket dirt bikes. Moreover as a novice, you should be a bit extra careful with your stunts because a first time ride can always cause danger and damage. Wear your helmets when you ride the bike. Take all precautions before you start the magic with the pocket dirt beast.

Remember, a first time ride on pocket dirt bikes is sure to make you fall in love with the mechanism.

Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of

http://www.bicycles-are-us.com Visit Robert And

read more about bicycles at

http://www.bicycles-are-us.com/Pocket-Bikes.html

Metabolic Profiling for Cyclists – Climb stronger – Cycle faster- Recover quicker

Elite cyclists around the world take tests to improve their performance how can a Metabolic Profile help you? Metabolic Profiling (VO2) is now readily available to all. Assessing your metabolic rate at rest and also while cycling gives you the data that you need to improve your cycling and reduce your times. The assessment requires you to wear a comfortable face mask which in turn is connected to an analyser which measures the oxygen you breathe in and the Carbon dioxide you breathe out at rest and while cycling, in turn this is connected to a Laptop computer so the software can use the data gathered to pinpoint accurately the calories you are burning and more importantly the fuel source being used, either stored fats, or glycogen.

A Metabolic Assessment can give you information about your resting metabolism and how many calories you require each day. Whether that is to fuel up for your training or to lose a few unwanted pounds. It will tell you about your exercise metabolism, how efficient you are while cycling and at what heart rate zone you best perform in. It will tell you where your Anaerobic Threshold currently is so not to over train.

If too much of your training is spent at or above your threshold you may find your fitness level plateau’s or may even decrease, the metabolic assessment will help you prevent the negative effects of over training.

With this valuable information and with the correct training regime your body will make adaptations which will improve your aerobic capacity and efficiency, help move your anaerobic threshold higher and train your body to burn fat as a preferred fuel. The metabolic assessment can help cyclists perform and train better in the following way.

The assessment will tell you where your anaerobic threshold is. AT is your highest sustainable exercise intensity expressed as a heart rate.

It will tell you how aerobically efficient you are across your aerobic base, having a wide and efficient aerobic base is critical for performance, particularly on longer distance rides.
It will tell you how many calories you burn on your rides so you will be able to fuel up effectively for your training rides and races.

As your aerobic capacity and efficiency improves you will notice how much easier the climbs become, you will be able to recover quicker after high intensity efforts. You will shed any unwanted excessive pounds.

As you improve your anaerobic threshold you will notice how your speed increases.

So if you want to be the next Lance, or just don’t want to dropped on the climbs an assessment will help you improve.

Metabolic Profiling similar to the old VO2 Max tests but with some valuable additional information which can be gained without the necessity for you to work to exhaustion, something that can worry individuals just starting cycling and even those more experienced cyclists. It is becoming more readily available as the Health and Fitness Industry has realised it’s huge potential not just for fitness levels but also for weight management, visit www.humanlabsports.com for more information and to find out how having your profile assessed will benefit you even if you are a beginner, club or Elite Cyclist or call Andy Loughray 020 8543 5288 to find out more or by email on andy@humanlabsports.com

Any sporting achievement requires good preparation and the right kind of training but winning margins are often very small. The difference between winning and losing can often be the matter of a few seconds. To make sure we optimize our performance we need to make sure we have the right attitude to racing on the day.

1. Prepare in advance of the race.

Make sure all your equipment is ready and prepared the previous day. There is nothing more stressful than adjusting your brakes 30 seconds before you are due to start a national championship. If you know your bike is working well it is one thing less to worry about. It allows you to just concentrate on your race.

2. Be focused on your own race.

Don’t spend time thinking of your opponents and thinking how fast they are. Just concentrate on getting yourself ready. To be concentrating on other competitors will mean you lose focus and you may feel inferior and unable to beat them. These kind of thoughts do not help at all.

3. Don’t allow negative Thoughts.

Negative thoughts undermine your capabilities and capacities. If you worry about how badly you do, you are more likely to perform disappointingly.. If such thoughts come, don’t pay any attention to them; just let them go. Either think of nothing or try to think of something positive. A clear mind is a real boon to getting the most out of your racing capabilities.

4. Visualise your best performance.

Before the race you can visualise in your mind performing how you would like to. If you bring into your mind the idea of going very fast it will help you to be focused.

5. Don’t lose concentration midway through the race.

Sometimes when racing halfway round you may find yourself thinking about something completely unrelated. It is often at such times that your effort levels will have fallen. To race at your highest level you need to actively work to maintain a highest effort level.

6. Be wary of your mind, which wants to hold you back.

The top riders all share a common ability to ride through the pain threshold. There are times when we need to hold back but at the same time we should avoid finding numerous false excuses to slow down.

7. Visualise your competitors racing from behind.

When you feel your competitors are behind you it will give you extra motivation to go faster.

“If somebody is chasing you, your speed will be faster than if somebody in front of you is pulling you toward him with a rope. If you feel that a magnet is pulling you to the finish line, you will run fast; but you will run faster if you feel that somebody is chasing you and you are running for your life.” (1)

8. Don’t be overly disappointed or overly excited on your result.

We can’t help be happy when we do well, but if we perform worse than expected we should not feel miserable. Often to make progress we cannot improve in a straight line. It is necessary to have peaks and dips. If we become miserable because we didn’t fulfil our expectations then can lose motivation to train.

(1) Excerpt from Carl Lewis: The Champion Inner Runner, Part 1 by Sri Chinmoy.

Richard Pettinger is a member of Sri Chinmoy CT. He competes in UK time trials from hill climbs to 100 mile TT. He finished 4th in the national 100 mile TT championship. http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/cycling