Sports Then and Now

It is a sad day for the cycling world, as one of the most decorated cyclists passes on. Stephen Wooldridge had it all in terms of the top most accolades as a cyclist. He was at the peak of his career in the early and mid-2000s which saw him scoop multiple awards including the Olympic gold medal. It is with this that he has been greatly appreciated not only in his homeland, Australia but also around the world. There is no mention to cycling without uttering Wooldridge. Apart from cycling, he played a huge role in developing the sport and unending mentorships to the young and upcoming cyclists. As such, he will be remembered for the following:

A philanthropist

He was a joyful giver in terms of mentorship and finances. His philanthropy in the sport was received by teams and organizations. For example, he would offer his support in monetary terms to the Olympic teams over the years and also contributed to fundraising for a noble course. His desire to see young cyclists grow and become champions was clear and genuine. Up until his death, he supported almost every initiative, which involved improving the sport in the region.

An Olympic gold medalist

In the 2004 Olympics, all the top athletes and teams went head to head from across the world to compete on the grandest stage of them all. Every great athlete and sportspersons dream of dominating the Olympics and winning the prestigious gold medal. You can catch the upcoming top-rated cycling competition so that you can buy your tickets early and plan beforehand. It was time for Wooldridge to represent his country and show up to scoop the gold. He did not disappoint as he was able to win the cycling race at Athens to keep the Australian flag flying up and high. Due to this, he will be remembered in the history books as a great sportsman worth recognition. Read the rest of this entry →

Whether traveling through city or countryside, on a daily commute or across the country, every bike trip can use a little extra gear to make the trip that much easier. Everything from action cameras to active wear will keep your bike trip convenient and exciting.

Panniers

If you cycle to the store or around town, panniers are invaluable. These packs attach directly to the bicycle, making it easy to store items and ride without directly feeling an extra burden. Whether you’d like to pick up milk and groceries or transport light gear on a longer trip, panniers make transportation a piece of cake.

Active wear

Comfortable, athletic clothing can make the difference between an easy bike ride and an uncomfortable slog through the city. Moisture-wicking clothing, form-fitting shirts, and comfortable athletic shoes are just a few of the many necessities for the well-traveled cyclist. Companies like DHDWear provide stylish graphic tees provide a great example of bike-related clothing that fits in and looks great in non-athletic settings.

Lights

Nighttime safety measures are vitally important, but that doesn’t mean they’re a hassle. With reflective safety clothes and discreet-yet-noticeable flashing LEDs, you can be sure to stay safe when cycling in the dark. Headlights, taillights, and safety vests will increase visibility without much effort, giving you the power to explore the world when drivers have a harder time noticing cyclists. Read the rest of this entry →

One of the best ways to experience the fall season and its changing leaf colors and new crisp breezes, is from the seat of a bicycle. Riding in a pack surrounded by fellow biking enthusiasts, you get a new perspective of the gorgeous autumn countryside. The following six fall bike tours are some of the best rides suggested by various members of local bike clubs and tour organizers from around the country.

Boise, Idaho
October is the best time to check out the foliage in Idaho. The brisk weather ranges in temperature from the 40s to the 60s and the bike tour along a 25-mile-strech of path through the Boise River Greenbelt that skirts the Boise River is one of the most popular treks. Several bike rental shops are located along the river trail for those who want to rent a bike rather than rather than bring their own.

Lake Champlain, Vermont
One of the favorite foliage viewing locations in the New England area is Vermont’s Champlain Valley. Particularly popular is the six-day tour out of Bristol, Vermont. After heading north to Lake Champlain, the tour makes stops in Ticonderoga, New York, and ends in Middlebury, Vermont. Riding from 13 to 33 miles a day, you’ll be surrounded by an array of fall colors through the entire ride. This wonderful all-inclusive bike trip doesn’t come cheap. For about $2,000 per person, you are provided with a top-class touring bike, nightly lodging at local inns, and terrific meals at local restaurants. Read the rest of this entry →

Having bought or rented your first road bike the temptation to plunge straight in by riding long miles, riding in a pack, or climbing mountains is irresistible. Or maybe you are a bit more nervous, since you aren’t sure what to expect with your first time on the asphalt. When equipped with the right road biking tips, you are guaranteed to ride better, stay stronger, go faster, get fitter, and most importantly stay safer.

Night Riding
It is inevitable that at some point you’ll find yourself riding at night or before the sun gets up. Statistics show that this increases the chances of getting into an accident. Relying on street lights is not enough. The use of headlights enable people and vehicles to notice you and you can flash your light by twitching the handlebars so as to signal approaching drivers. Make sure you have plenty of reflective material on your clothing and bike, and that your headlamp or other lights are illuminating the most road for you to see clearly. Read the rest of this entry →

If you love being outside, then you probably have a fairly high standard for the gear you buy for your favorite outdoor activities. Braving Mother Nature is demanding on the clothing, footwear, hiking accessories, and anything else subjected to the elements. So which brands serve up the highest quality when it comes to overall durability? Here’s a look at some of the best brands.

Outerwear
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the choices available to you if you’re in the market for highly-durable outdoor outerwear. Thankfully, there are merchants both online and off, who specialize in outfitting nature lovers with clothing from the top names in outdoor gear. REI, also known as Recreational Equipment, Inc., is probably the most popular purveyor of the most durable outdoor goods, including brands like the North Face for heavy coats, jackets, and snow-sport apparel, Garmin for GPS trackers and fitness monitors, Patagonia for stylish yet supremely durable base layers, middle layers, and fleeces, and SmartWool for socks, base layers, and other garments specifically built for warmth. Head over to REI.com to locate a store near you, or to browse their selection of clothing made for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Some people are cyclists and some people are serious cyclists. Up until last year, I definitely fell into the former category, but this year I decided that I wanted to up my game when it came to my bike riding, and so I turned to the people who manage to turn cycling into an endurance art form, those people who I would never want to be in the shoes of, but would love to be able to ride like: Tour de France cyclists. They’re truly incredible. They slog it out, rain hail or shine for twenty-one days on thankless terrain, in the toughest and most prestigious cycling race in the world. So of course, who better to learn from about how to get a better cycling technique? I have combined the workout which I followed when I was training this year, and I am very happy to say that I managed to get a far better time on my daily commute and have smashed all of my previous best times on Strava. Not too bad, really! Take a look to see how I did it.

Set a benchmark for yourself

When you’re training, there’s really no way to know if you’re doing better unless you set up some benchmarks for yourself. You can do tests in order to figure out where you’re standing, and these are usually one, five or 20 minute tests which are going to determine your best power. In order to do these tests, you pelt it out on your bike for the requisite times, and while they may be mentally and physically exhausting, they’re also the best way to get a benchmark of where you’re at. If you don’t have a power metre on your bike, you can map out a course that usually takes you around one, five or 20 minutes and then track your progress on these. You’ll know how you’re doing by how long they take you! Read the rest of this entry →