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Ways to Prepare Your Bike Before Exercising 1

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Brooke Chaplan

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.

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Firearm Safety 101: Tips to Follow as a First-Time Gun Owner 2

Posted on October 06, 2022 by Brooke Chaplan

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.

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Top 10 Gravel Bike Races in the U.S. 0

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Tyler Tafelsky

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.

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4 Firearms Tips to Stay Out of Harm’s Way 2

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Brooke Chaplan

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.

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Cleaning Tricks to Keep Your Gun in Tip-Top Shape 1

Posted on April 04, 2022 by Brooke Chaplan

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.

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4 Beginner Tips for Becoming an Avid Sports Spectator 2

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Brooke Chaplan

As a sports spectator, it can be difficult finding the time and money needed to attend the most important games of the season, but even if you don’t have season tickets to your favorite sports event, there are plenty of great ways you can enjoy as a fan and spectator. There are 4 tips or rules to being considered a dedicated and authentic spectator and supporter.

Support Local Teams

To be a great fan, you have to support your local team. Smaller teams rely on your support in order to grow. Consider attending local high school and college games to encourage the up-and-comers. You can even consider donating to your local teams to help them afford equipment and travel costs. If you’re more interested in watching professional-level games, there are likely some local teams that you have yet to discover.

Avoid Switching Sides

If you are interested in becoming a part of the sports betting community, you might notice that it can be difficult to decide which teams you should bet on. After all, tracking the performance of every player and team can be especially time-consuming. Consistency is important when choosing a team to root for. Just remember that every team is bound to have a few rough games every now and then. If you don’t know much about the teams playing this season, consider using resources like Official Picks to help you stay up to date with which team is the favorite to win. Of course, it’s important to trust your own judgment as you use these kinds of resources. In the end, it’s up to you to make the final call.

Remember That Teams Change Constantly

It’s common to find a favorite player when you spectate a team for long enough. However, it’s important to remember that a single player is rarely responsible for a team’s strength. Remember that consistency and a well-rounded team should be valued when determining who will win.

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  • Vintage Athlete of the Month

    • Archie Griffin: 2-Time Heisman Winner
      December 11, 2022 | 1:42 pm
      Archie Griffin

      The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is the only football player ever to capture college football’s top individual award twice.

      As a star running back for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Archie Griffin claimed the Heisman Trophy during his junior season in 1974 and then was able to repeat the honor the following season.

      Griffin joined the Buckeyes for the 1972 season, which happened to be the first in which freshmen were eligible to play varsity football, and made an immediate impact. After fumbling in his only carry of his first game, Griffin more than made up for it in his second game by rushing for 237 yards against North Carolina. By the end of the season, Griffin had rushed for 867 yards.

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