Archive for September, 2009

What Cycling Shorts Have That is Superior to Other Sportswear

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 9:04 pm  
Comments (12)
There is an almost standard image of the professional biker wearing lycra tight cycling shorts and a matching jersey or t-shirt; such apparel items are often vividly colored, bearing the names of the brand they belong to as well the competition number of the biker. Many cycling shorts have special reinforcements for the contact area between the body and the saddle, given the fact it is very important to make sure that you feel comfortable during any ride, be it short or long. The protective pad added to the cycling shorts usually prevents chafing by the stretchy shape and the structure of the fabric.

The best cycling shorts must have an ergonomic cut, and this peculiarity can be achieved by the use of several pads in the design; one thing a biker needs to look for is the kind of seam the cycling shorts have. Though for the inexperienced eye the single or double-needle seam doesn’t mean very much, experts claim that more comfort is achieved with a better sewing quality, as the risk of chafing is drastically reduced. Most cycling shorts have all kinds of pockets particularly at the back where sweating is more reduced. For the areas more exposed to perspiration, the breathable fabric features include a form of antibacterial treatment that prevents microbial growth in the moisture-exposed area.

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Manufacturers of cycling clothing?

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 am  
Comments (10)

James asked:

My housemate has to do any essay on Cycling Clothing at the moment.
Would any one be able to tell me the main competitors/ manufacturers of cycling clothing? (So far we’ve got Endura, Altura & Protective)
Does anybody know of any others?

Also, can any one tell me what percentage of the clothing market is devoted to cycling clothing?

Reply:

In addition to what others have mentioned – North Wave and Briko, Descente, Campagnolo do some clothing, Rapha, Sidi for shoes…there’s lots really.
I’d recommend having a good browse around wiggle.com (they have their own dhb brand) or similar sites to get a better idea of who’s making kit.

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Tips To Understanding The Basics Of Mountain Bike Gear And How They Work

Sunday, September 20th, 2009 at 3:46 am  
Comments (15)
Remember when you didn’t think about the gears on your bike? Your bike had a bike sprocket connected to the pedals and a small sprocket connected to the back wheel an that’s all you needed. Then you got a little older and got your first 10-speed. That bike had two sprockets up front and five on the back. In all likelihood, the shifters were a pair of levers connected to your bike frame near the handlebars. As time went on the shifters moved to the handlebars themselves and then became advanced-looking dials right beside the grips. And next thing you knew, instead of a paltry ten speeds on your bike, you were riding a 27-speed mountain climbing machine!

Why all these bike gear? To make riding faster and easier, of course. Whatever the number of gears your bike has, if it has 2 or more then there’s a basic set-up which almost every bike employs.

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Bicycle jackets: What should I look for any recommendations?

Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 10:35 pm  
Comments (8)

Lucas Asked:

I’m thinking of buying a high visibility jacket for bicycling but I don’t know what to be on the lookout for. I live in Wisconsin so I can ride in colder weather (which is probably all time)

What’s a good “cold weather ” combination that will keep me warm,dry and comfortable?

Reply:

i recommend wearing layers. make your jacket a high-vis water proof kind. make sure it has LOTS of vents, though. i used to be a messenger. layers are good because you can lose them one at a time without sacrificing your outer weather-proof layer.
sugoi makes good jackets. also, try www.mec.ca. it’s a co-op store (i think you have to buy a membership for either $5 or $10, but it’s for life and they have a lot of great gear).

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Mountain Bikes – What Every Rider Needs

Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 2:58 pm  
Comments (14)
Mountain bikers need only two things when they go biking – a good bike and a good helmet. But there’s dozens of other pieces of equipment which riders should stock up on to increase their enjoyment of the sport.

When you’re out on your mountain bike, the only things you really need to have, apart from a bike suited to the terrain over which you’re writing, are a helmet and goggles. Everything else can really be considered accessories, although they’re the type of accessories that it also important to have.

But let’s consider mountain biking equipment from the ground up.

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Bike Helmets as Life Saving Accessories

Sunday, September 13th, 2009 at 3:03 am  
Comments (6)
Anyone who spends a lot of time riding a motorcycle or lists biking as his passion will recognize that his life is on the line whenever he devotes time to his mode of transport. As a result, not only should he spend time learning the finer points of riding a bike and all the related aspects of maintaining and fine tuning the vehicle, he should also spend as much effort and money ensuring that the right motorcycle accessories are used to protect his life and longevity. Many riders experience the thrill of high speed rides with the wind blowing in his face and are hooked on the adrenalin rush that comes with it, but the dangers and risks associated with such joy has often been ignored by just as many motorcyclists, who opt to gamble with their lives in a bid to taste the thrills or are eager to save time.

What are the accessories that a motorcycle enthusiast should have that would provide an additional layer of protection that could potentially save his life? There are many accessories which help achieve that aim, such as bike jackets, gloves, pants and of course, the ever essential bike helmet. However, it is surprising how many riders choose to ignore these items either because they prefer to save some money or time. Some of these essential biker apparel are admittedly expensive, but with better quality comes a tradeoff of cost. Bikers are also impatient individuals, and many would rather choose to save a few seconds of getting in gear, than to spend a few minutes changing in and out of their jackets, pants and helmet which could in turn be a life saver.

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I’m looking for a chart showing recommended bicycling clothes for different temperatures. It’s getting cold!

Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 12:09 am  
Comments (8)

Aida Asked:

I have seen a chart showing clothing recommendations for each 10 degree F category. Cannot find it again…

Reply:

Check out the icebike mailing list (see link on the www.icebike.com site.) You can get good feedback from regular winter cyclists.

The clothing required depends on temperature, precipitation, wind, and cycling intensity. Generally, when you start a ride in the cold, you should be a little bit cold. that way, after you warm up, you will be a comfortable temperature. (Though I sometimes cheat and put on a light jacket that I can quickly remove.) Windy freezing rain can be one of the most painful things to deal with (waterproof, warm and breathable.)
I simply used layers of clothing that I had, gradually bringing out the ski goggles once the temperature reached -15F. Cold actually gives you more flexibility than wet.

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