Sports Then and Now

Fishing has been a human pastime for generations upon generations, and it isn’t hard to see why! Fishing offers a unique and fulfilling experience that allows us to reconnect with nature, challenge ourselves physically and mentally, and create lasting memories. But like any skill or hobby, it takes practice and knowledge to continuously improve your fishing success. Ready to reel in a great catch? Let’s get started!

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into advanced techniques, we need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of fishing. This includes knowing how to properly set up your equipment, understanding different types of lures and baits, and being familiar with basic fishing knots. Taking the time to learn these basics will not only make you a more efficient angler, but it will also help prevent any accidents or mishaps on the water.

Knowing Your Target Species

Different species of fish have unique behaviors, habitats, and preferences when it comes to feeding. Understanding these factors is crucial in determining the best techniques and locations to target your desired catch. Researching your target species beforehand can greatly improve your chances of success on the water.

Some common fish species that anglers often target include bass, trout, salmon, catfish, and walleye. Each of these species has its own unique characteristics and behaviors, so to get any kind of success you need to familiarize yourself with them before hitting the water. For example, bass are known for being aggressive predators that prefer lures over live bait, while catfish are bottom-feeders that are attracted to strong-smelling baits. Knowing these differences can help you choose the right approach and increase your chances of a successful catch.

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.

In the past decade, gun sales have increased significantly in the US. This begs the question of whether these guns are treated with the safety concerns they deserve. If you are a first-time gun owner, you should learn the following basics of firearm safety. Doing so will help you be more responsible and avoid accidents from occurring in the long run.

 Always Treat All Guns as Loaded

As a gun owner, always respect the ability of the tool by treating it as loaded at all times. Before doing anything else, check whether or not it is loaded. If you aren’t able to do so, seek assistance from an experienced gun owner. Also, you should always keep your finger off the trigger, even if the firearm is unloaded. This habit will help prevent accidental discharge or mistakes in the future. While checking if the gun is loaded or not, always remember to point it away from yourself or another person, even if it is not loaded.

Get Some Training

As a gun owner, getting as much training on firearm safety as possible before heading to a gun shop is important. This will help you understand the mechanical and handling characteristics of the firearm. As a golden rule, you are advised to refrain from using a firearm unless you are fully familiar with it. One way to get familiar with your gun, after you have learned the safety behind it, is to go with an experienced gun holder to a shooting range. This will give you a chance to practice what it is like and what to expect when shooting.

Avoid Carrying a Gun in Your Pocket

The other thing you should do is avoid carrying a handgun in your pocket. Having a firearm in your pocket is extremely risky as the trigger can easily point toward the ground, and this can lead to an accidental discharge. If it is a must, you carry it in your pocket and ensure it is in a well-sealed holster. This will also help people around you get a better idea of what the purpose of the gun is. Having it placed without the holster is not only dangerous but can also give people the wrong idea when carrying it.

Know Your Target and What Lies Beyond

Gunshots can never be called back. As a gun owner, you should ensure they are aimed at the intended target. Knowing what lies beyond your target also helps protect people or buildings that may be in the line of fire. On the same note, never pull the trigger at moving objects unless you are absolutely certain you can hit your target or when necessary.

Gravel bikes have become a common staple in the cycling world. Allowing cyclists to experience a wider range of riding – from forest roads, two-tracks, single track, and other forms of unpaved terrain – gravel bikes give ways to more freedom and more possibilities.

With the growing popularity of gravel bikes has come more gravel-centric races throughout the U.S. A unique cross between road cycling and mountain biking, these events provide participants with a greater sense of adventure. You don’t need a high-performance bike to get involved, either. Many cyclists, especially those who are beginners, find a budget gravel bike gets the job done.

If you’re keen to participate in a gravel event sometime in the near future, check out these top gravel bike races found all throughout the U.S.

1. Unbound Gravel

Formerly known as Dirty Kanza, Unbound Gravel is one of the most widely-known gravel bike races in the US offering a range of short-course options along with the coveted 200-mile course and XL version extending 350 miles. Navigation is key for this race, so it’s highly recommended to use a GPS-enabled multisport watch or bike computer to help guide your way.

Bringing amateur and professional cyclists from around the world, Unbound Gravel transforms the small town of Emporia, Kansas in early June. The long courses meander the rugged and remote roads of east-central Kansas’ Flint Hills region, which hosts the only remaining expanse of natural tallgrass prairie in North America.

Unbound Gravel attracts several thousand gravel cyclists every year, yet not all participants finish. The race is extremely challenging with considerable climbing, self-supported race dynamics, and hot conditions. Learn more about this world premiere gravel bike race at UnboundGravel.com.

Owning a gun comes with an increased level of responsibility and caution. You cannot be lenient about gun safety if you only handle guns and don’t shoot them. Whether you sell, manufacture, collect, or shoot guns, you have to maintain safety for all types of firearms. Below are a few ways you can optimize safety when handling a firearm.

1. Handle Your Gun Responsibly

Whether the gun has bullets or not, treat it as if it’s loaded. Don’t let anyone handle the gun if they lack basic safety knowledge and training. Do not automatically assume that a gun is unloaded or test it to see if it’s loaded or not.

This tip requires that you know how to operate the gun properly. Understand the basic mechanical components of how to load the bullets, how to unload, how to handle malfunctions, what to do if a bullet gets jammed, etc.

Not every firearm’s make and model is the same, so take the time to learn about your particular gun before handling it. Most gun shop owners or gun suppliers have in-depth knowledge of the guns they sell. Before you purchase a gun, discuss the necessary safety precautions with the seller to ensure that you understand everything you need to know about that particular weapon. If you’re new to handling guns, ask for recommendations that are good for beginners.

As a gun owner, your number one responsibility is to practice proper gun safety. One safety precaution involved ensuring that your gun is clean and properly maintained. A lack of cleaning and lubrication can result in a firearm that doesn’t fire when needed. So then, how do you clean your gun to ensure it’s in tip-top shape? The following tips will help you learn how to properly maintain your firearms.

Dissemble Before Cleaning

While this goes without saying, you should always unload and disassemble your gun as per the manufacturers’ recommendation before cleaning. Dissembling your gun enables you to gain access to the inner parts. Therefore, you can easily clean dirt and powder residues that would otherwise cause inefficiency. If you don’t have a user manual to refer to for dissembling, make sure you get a digital copy of the same firearm online. Ensuring that your weapon isn’t loaded will also prevent it from firing off unexpectedly.

Use Recommended Cleaning Brushes

In order to properly clean your gun, be sure to use a specially-made gun cleaning kit. Normally, these kits have brushes made of quality bristles to take out dirt even in their hard-to-reach spots. At the same time, these brushes can clean out the barrels without causing deterioration. Inside the cleaning kit, you should also get brush types that are made of nylon, phosphor bronze, cotton swabs, and stainless steel. Note that each brush type has a different cleaning purpose. Again, be sure to consult your manual.