4ucycling

Road Racing is the most famous form of cycle racing. The idea behind a road race is very simple. A bunch of cyclists start at the same place and the first among them to cross a finish lines win. This type of race is called a mass start. There are however a ton of different formats of races that are available that are a lot more complicated then just your basic mass start. There are the races like the incredibly famous European tour races such as the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France which are stage races around a country. The biggest is the the tour de France which lasts 21days and covers 2500 miles. The only sporting events that are larger then the tour de France is the Olympics and the world cup. There are around 50 professional teams in Europe with about 1000 members who are pretty much the best in the entire world. If you are an American looking to get into road racing, our season lasts from February to October with the biggest months being May June and July. Most road r...

With dust forming at the heels of participants surrounded by flashes of red, blue, and metal, BMX riding is a form of cycling that involves twists, turns, and smart maneuvering. A different kind of bike is used to perform the tricks and moves associated with the sport, such as 20-inch wheels. BMX stands for Bicycle Moto-cross (X) and utilizes tracks fashioned from earth and dirt. While some enjoy the aspect of performing BMX tricks, others simply favor the racing aspect of the sport. During the late 1960s, BMX riding found a home within California, where the teenage population emulated motocross icons with their bikes. It is believed that the actual sport of BMX was the brainchild of Scot Breithaupt, who actively participated from 1970 to 1977. It is also believed that a motorcycle racing film called On Any Sunday, captured the public's imagination. Soon after, the middle of the decade saw a skyrocketed interest of the sport. Before long, BMX catapulted into the mainstream, as ...

A criterium or a crit as it is sometimes known as, is a short cycling race around a closed circuit. The circuit is usually somewhere between 1km and 5km is length and generally is closed off from other street traffic. Criterium's are usually raced as either a time duration or a number of laps of the circuit. For time duration races, a time limit is set plus an additional 1-3 laps. For example a crit stating that it is 45 mins + 3 laps, means that the racers will ride the circuit for around 45 minutes and then complete 3 more laps to determine the winner. The race referee will blow a whistle at the end of a time period and ring a bell with 1 lap to go. Because of the frequent turns and high speeds, bike handling ability is vitally important during a criterium. To successfully race and win criteriums, riders need a good balance between bicycle handling skills, explosive power to close gaps and accelerate out of corners as well as a fast final sprint. The rider must also have good...

Often dubbed the race of truth, the time trail is one of the purest disciplines in the world of cycling. Each rider against the clock, the time trail is a true test of fitness, technique and attitude. Depending upon the distance of the race, time trailing can offer something for everyone. In the UK at least, time trails are regularly held over set distances, usually 10, 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles as well as 12 and 24 hours. As roads have become a little more congested, hilly courses or less rounded distances on circuits, on quieter roads are also gaining in popularity. Many stage races also pepper the race with times trails as a means of testing riders under different conditions. While skilled sprinters may become adept at hiding in the field until the last 100 meters, the time trail offers an opportunity to riders who have both natural speed and a mindset that enjoys the prolonged effort. During races such as the Tour de France, the race is begun with a prologue time trail. The prolog...

Many amateur cyclists dream of taking their passion to the next level and joining a bike racing team. But before this can be done there are some very important considerations that must understood first. Here is what you need to know before joining a bike racing team. Riding a bike for pleasure and biking as a member of a competitive team are very different. Once a person joins a team there is an important commitment that is made where other team members will depend on you. It is important to be prepared to fulfill this commitment responsibly. Participating on a competitive team also takes a lot out of the individual both physically and mentally. The stress of the race, inclement weather conditions and the physical hardships all compound to make bike racing challenging enough. There are certain things which you must be aware of before embarking on a professional journey. Here is a quick checklist of what you should know before joining a bike racing team. The first prerequisite bef...

A good planning activity starts from the map. There are all kinds and forms of maps. In order to be able to go out in the middle of nature, you need to have a tourist map of the region you want to visit. You can also add a general road map to the list in case you have to ride on the main road a lot. The vital information you need includes phone numbers of the rescue team in that region, phone numbers and locations of different pensions, as well phone numbers of the transportation companies in the area. These pieces of information can be written on the back of a map and they can actually save if anything happens. Once you have made a few phone calls and gathered the crew, you need to think of what to eat throughout your cycling trip . You shouldn't pack too much food, but you should pack too little food either. You will never succeed in getting exactly what you would like to eat, unless you have a really impressive budget. Therefore, this part with the food can take a lot of your ...

Are you considering making a long-distance bike ride, perhaps across the nation? Well if so there are many ways to do this. You can go solo like a bicycle tourist with lots cargo packs or you can go with a team or group. There are many groups that ride across the nation and many bike tourist organizations that can help plan a ride. If you are planning to do a ride for a non-profit group this is a great option, which will ensure your safe arrival and completion. Going with other team riders, who like to really crank and enjoy going with a chase team or "sag wagon" (cyclist slang for the chase car). Riders like this, just ride, hard and fast and allow the team wagon to give them food and drinks as they ride or change out flats or do repairs. The sag-wagon, would pick them up at the day's final check point and take them to a local hotel and bring them back to that point for the next day to start again. Now then, considering these concepts and knowing that the fundraiser you ...

SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS in the saddle is no longer enough for pro cyclists to win stages or, better yet, get invited to represent their team at prestigious events, like the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. Fact is, what these elite athletes do indoors is just as important as what they do outdoors. And the same holds true for you. To get in the best biking shape for spring, do these five exercises from the top riders on the new men's team, Cannondale Pro Cycling. Core Cyclist says: “Sprinters generally have more muscles—just put sprinter Andre Greipel next to Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador and you'll immediately see the difference,” says Peter Sagan, nicknamed the “Tourminator” for his killer performance at the Tour de France last year. The all-around rider, who also excels at sprinting (making him a perfect mix of Contador and Greipel), took home the green jersey at the 2012 Tour and will return this summer to defend his title. Sagan's crunches: Forget modern-d...

Experienced riders will likely have several, but for those just setting out on their cycling adventure – it pays to know what you’re looking for. Battling with the wrong bike for your needs isn’t just tiring, it’s a waste of hard-earned cash. Think about where you are planning to go with it the majority of the time and who with? Is it training, commuting, family fun, trail riding or are you even considering getting into racing? To help you figure all this out, we recommend visiting one of our stores to speak to an expert colleague and where you could start test-riding a few options. It may also be reassuring to know that every bike bought at Evans Cycles comes with our Right Bike Guarantee, a 30 day, no quibble exchange policy. To start narrowing it down a little, we’ve outlined 4 very common types of bikes and the functions that define each. Hopefully, you’ll identify yourself with one before further exploring our online treasure trove. You need a Road Bike if… …you’ll be riding...

What is bonking? So if bonking isn’t the fun we might initially imagine it could be, what is it? In simple terms, bonking is when your body feels as if it has completely run out of energy, bar the absolute minimum needed to turn the pedals at the slowest possible pace. In scientific terms, bonking comes about when your body’s easily converted glycogen energy stores are depleted and instead your body has to resort to solely burning fat for fuel. How do I avoid the bonk? Step 1 The most obvious way is to eat glycogen-promoting complex carbohydrates (such as rice and potatoes) in the time leading up to a ride. However, it’s actually a relatively fine balancing act. If you spend the days before a big ride gorging on pasta, you’ll almost certainly take on more carbs than you’ll burn on the ride itself and will therefore put on fat. So simply make sure you have a sensible amount of complex carbohydrate foods in meals during the two days before a big event. Step 2 Once you’ve start...

So, you wake up, draw back the curtains and everything is thick white snow outside. Does this mean the bike stays cuddled up next to the warm radiator? It should signal the chance to get out there and challenge convention and in some people’s eyes, wisdom! We always err in favour of a challenge, it’s the way we’re programmed. Stay loose Whatever style of bike you have, the over-riding thing which will help you get the most from riding in the snow this winter is to relax. Nothing unsettles the bike like tension in the riders body. It transmits right through the bike and into the tyres. It pays to be loose and limber when riding in the snow, from the finger tips in your gloves to the toes in your shoes and everywhere in between. The same is true for all mountain biking, but when the conditions are as sketchy as they often are when snow is on the ground, it’s even more important. Road bikes Snow is usually partnered by its sidekick, ice. Ice and the typically narrow, high-pres...

What is safe cycling? You’ll probably get a different answer from every website you read or any other cyclist you talk to. To me, ‘safe cycling’ relates to the combination of common sense, road rules and cycling knowledge to get you from Point A to Point B in a safe and efficient way, preferably with the journey having been a pleasant one and not fraught with danger. Firstly, please make sure that you are visible when you go out on the bicycle. Fit bright lights to your bike (steady white light in front; flashing red light behind the saddle); wear reflective strips or bands eg around your ankle where the motion attracts attention, and wear bright coloured kit (luminous colours work well) – especially when it is rainy, misty or overcast or at dawn/dusk. What do you need in order to cycle safely? a) You need the right vehicle… Choose the right bicycle for the job. I prefer using a hybrid or mountain bicycle for commuting purposes. It is more comfortable than a road racing bicycle ...

How much tire pressure should you run? Start by trying the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which you'll find printed on the tire sidewall (it's often on a small label but it might be molded into the casing, too, so look closely). This suggested inflation range is a good starting point. If it's a wide range, for example 40 to 60 psi, experiment to find which pressure works and feels best. Pump Road Rubber More, Knobbies Less The most common mistakes are riding with too little pressure in road tires and too much pressure in off-road rubber. The former happens because road treads don't have a lot of air volume. Sure, road tires are pumped up to high pressures. But, because they're skinny tires, there's hardly any air inside. Consequently, even if only a little leaks out (most bicycle tubes are made of butyl rubber, which is porous and naturally seeps air), the pressure and volume are greatly reduced. To prevent this, check tire pressure on a road bike bef...