Sports Then and Now

Getting your bike prepared and ready before riding is critical for all riders. Whether you compete in races, relax on the trails, or use your bike for general transportation, you need to get it ready ahead of time for it to yield the best results. So, whether you’re trying to learn basic maintenance, or how to get a perfect fit, these tips will teach you how to get your bike rider-ready in no time.

Inspect the Brakes

Your brakes are a safety essential, and, as such, should always be in pristine condition. As such, you should check your brake pads often because they will wear out over time. To do this, take a simple ride in your yard and pump the brakes once you gain some speed. If they are not functioning 100%, it is time to replace the pads.

Lubricate the Drivetrain

You will need to lubricate your chain well before you ride. This ensures that the lube sinks into the chain deeply and dust and dirt do not stick to the chain, which will happen if you lubricate and then ride your bike immediately after. Add only a small amount and be sure to wipe off any excess.

Dating back as far as the 1960s, the first-ever titanium bikes were being built by a progressive race bike manufacturer known as Teledyn. The California-based bike company developed the Titan model in the 1970s, which quickly caught on as a high-performance titanium bike.

Since then, titanium bikes have maintained an authoritative reputation in the greater world of bicycles. Well-known for its durable resilience, outstanding longevity, lightweight frame, and corrosive-resistant properties, titanium has become a hot commodity across all types of cycling, ranging from road to gravel bikes and competitive racing to leisurely touring.

Titanium Takes Bloom in the Bike World

Titanium didn’t attract widespread attention as a high-end bike frame material until the 1990s. When tour racing and the bike technology that went with it picked up traction, any performance advantage was exploited to its fullest potential. Titanium is lighter than steel, more robust than aluminum, and easy to work with compared to carbon fiber. It wasn’t before long when numerous race bike manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon. From tour riding to triathlon, titanium gained popularity in all calibers of cycling.

Carbon was at the time, and still remains to be, one of the most common mainstream materials for performance cycling. It can be easily mass-produced at relatively efficient costs and delivers incredible weight advantages without compromising on ample strength. 

The number of cyclists on the road is growing every year. With more bikes comes more accidents and injuries and a higher demand for cycling gear to keep riders safe. No matter whether you go cycling casually or for long rides, it is essential to be geared with proper equipment all the time.

We know most beginners don’t feel like investing in many accessories, but these are the ones that keep beginners safe from unexpected turning points. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at fifteen must-have accessories for cyclists that will make your time spent cycling safer and more enjoyable!

1. Cycling helmet: One of the essential pieces of cycling gear is a helmet. Helmets are designed to protect your head from injury in any crash, preventing skull fractures and other trauma. A bicycle helmet is a must-have for all cyclists under 18 years old or anyone cycling at speeds over 15 miles per hour on an outdoor bike trail. Most helmets come with foam pads inside for comfort and protection against sweat.
2. Cycling gloves: Next up, we have gloves! Gloves not only provide protection when biking but help prevent blisters too. They also keep you warm in cold weather and allow riders to grip their handlebars better without getting sore hands over time (most modern gloves now even include gel padding). Cycling shoes should always be fitted with padded soles so that your feet don’t get uncomfortable on long rides.

The history of cycling and bike racing extends as far as the early 1800s when a German baron named Karl von Drais designed and built the first steerable, two-wheeled bicycle in 1817. Drais, who is widely recognized as the father of the bicycle, earned a variety of names for what is widely known as “bike” today, including “draisine,” “hobby-horse,” “velocipede,” and “running machine,” according to historian author, Evan Andrews. 

What started as a tool used by the wealthy soon evolved for many users and purposes, largely thanks to a myriad of other inventors that progressed bicycling, particularly bike racing. Bikes were mostly used for transportation and traveling during the first few decades before 1868 when the first cycling sporting event took place, which was held in Hendon, Middlesex. 

These oddly-shaped riding machines exploded in popularity throughout the 1870s and 1880s. This period marks the rise of the first bike races and riding clubs. Helping blow up the popularity of bikes, English cyclist Thomas Stevens road around the globe in 1884. Soon after, interest in the two-wheeled contraptions grew, and by the 1890s, a major bike boom swept over both Europe and the United States. 

The general classification results make good reading for Team Ineos (formerly Team Sky) when you look back at the most recent editions of the Tour de France. Out of the last eight races, the British team have won seven yellow jerseys. Last year, it was Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal who made history when he became the youngest cyclist to win the prestigious yellow jersey. Then aged 22, he was also the recipient of the white jersey, signifying that he was also the winner of the young rider classification. This year, Bernal is one of the early favourites in the odds on Tour de France winner. But will he – and Team Ineos – be successful once again?

Out of form Froome

There had been question marks over whether or not Chris Froome would be included in this year’s Tour de France team. After suffering horrific multiple injuries in a freak high-speed incident last year, that prevented him racing in the 2019 Tour de France, and only returning to action in February, it was always a big ask for the former four-time winner to come back at that same level of form and fitness. Unsurprisingly, he has been left out of Team Ineos’ Tour de France squad.

It was recently announced that Ineos won’t be extending the contract of their former leading racer, and instead, the 35-year-old will join Israel Start-Up Nation next season. After the global coronavirus pandemic put paid to many races and events taking place, the calendar has since been rescheduled and while Froome has been able to participate in warm-up events ahead of the Tour de France, team boss Dave Brailsford said of the decision: “Chris needs that little bit longer to get to the highest level.”  

Developing a fitness regime is a delicate balancing act. You need to balance exercise – your cardio, strength, endurance, flexibility and balance. Diet is also important. While you don’t need to buy into all the keto or paleo nonsense, you still need to eat a healthy, balanced diet that’s full of fruit, vegetables, grains and lean meats. And don’t forget rest days, as these help you to avoid injury, burn out and fatigue. But is there an element that’s missing from your regime? Let’s take a quick look at cycling, and why jumping on a bike may be the missing element in your exercise plan.

Cycling is a Low Impact Activity

Riding a bike – either a real bicycle or an exercise bike, is a great way to keep fit that’s also low impact when compared to running or other forms of cardio. You’re less likely to injure yourself while riding. This is great news because an exercise-related injury can leave you out of action for weeks and will undo all that good work that you’ve put into staying fit.

A Major Muscle Workout

Did you know that riding a bike will work the majority of your muscle groups? If you go to the gym, you’d have to work out on multiple machines just to activate your different muscle groups, but a short bike ride will do the job just as well.