What’s the best clip-less system for road bikes?

Wow, this is definitely a great question for any cyclist to answer. I have been riding for some years now, transferring from MTB to Road Biking. The shift was good and at the time I was really focused on just getting a decent bike that would last and get me out on the road. So I spent more focus on getting a bike, and components that would last me longer than rather spicing up my gear closet. I carried over my Sidi MTB shoes and actually swapped out my MTB Crank Brother cleats onto my new Road Bike. I have been riding this setup for some time now and to be honest I can’t complain. It becomes very convenient when I need to walk some distance due to a bike malfunction, but can be challenging to un-clip.

Now the market today gives a lot of systems for the cycling consumer to choose from, but what have been dominant throughout the cycling community are the SpeedPlay clips. I have only played with them in my local shop, but lots of rumors and comments have stated that this pedal system is a much “forgiven” one, leaning more towards a convenience for the rider. They offer great float is one is looking for this, while maintaining a light, and easy to get in and out of function. If your racing, these pedals work wonders on turns due to a high clearance. The SpeedPlay system is very comfortable for the rider, by offering a low “hot spot” ratio within the knee. Many manufacturers are making cleats very compatible to this system, which becomes another convenience factor for the rider. Having the capability to walk into any local bike shop and find a tool or part for your clip-less system is only a bikers dream.

Another brand that is growing among cyclists is Look. This clip-less pedal system is somewhat comparable to the SpeedPlay setup, by offering great easy in and out functions. This is always an important factor to the daily cyclists because why do you want to be out on your group rides always fighting at each stop light. Trying to get out and back in your cleat constantly can be very irritating and cause you to trail the group. Look has grown just like the SPD within the cycling community, due to its convenient availability at local shops, and reduction of hot spots within the heel.

It really comes down to what works for you. If you like a tighter more locked in ride then look maybe at some Crank Brothers systems or Shimano. Both great brands that offer quality material, but at times can be a little challenging to deal with on a weekend ride with the pals.

Good luck and please let us know what setup you ride…!

What Headphones to Wear when Cycling?…Or if any!

When I go out on a ride I do like to have some short of tune source with me to pass the time by. But, for you rookies out there who are just getting into the sport of cycling I wouldn’t recommend listening to music off the bat. Get your surroundings first and understand the elements of the road, and the atmosphere around you. Cars come screaming over hills, hugging the center line all the time, so please be careful.

What’s great about my whole setup is that I bring my iPhone 3G with me and use it as a source of tunes and emergency, incase I find my way into trouble. Kind of like a get out of jail free card. My headphones that I bring along the rides are these Green Sony ones that wrap around your ear, and have bud to go deep in for sound. They work magical things and at the same time if the volume level is at a median, I can still focus on the sounds around me.

Depending on what kind of listening source you’re going for, many styles ranging from $20 to $100 can work. I used to use my iPhone White ear buds that came with the phone and they also worked very well, but sometimes popped out of my ear once I had some sweat source on my face. Get something that is going to be snug, and where you won’t have to worry about during your ride. Because the last thing I feel like doing while climbing a hill is fix my headphones, F$*@ that!

There are many brands of ear buds, headphones, and mp3 portable speaker devices on the market today, but without given some a try you will never find what fits you. Think about it, everyone’s head and face structure are shaped different. You can read reviews non-stop all day until you’re satisfied, but ultimately “who knows”! Who knows what fits you the best and what makes you happy. So, again this is a bit of personal preference, but I will say that some brand qualities are no doubt better than others.

Spend the money on clothing gear rather than little dinky accessories…that’s my own opinion.

Can riding a stationary bike give the same results as biking outside?

Going for a bike ride outside or in the gym on a stationary bike, both are very similar to in ways, but are they similar in the way you want them to be? When its comes to cycling, or any cardio activity, the whole idea is to get your heart rate up out of the comfort zone, which will then lead to your fat loss. Now you can bike both inside on a stationary bicycle or outside on your Road Bike, and achieve the same heart rate by monitoring it during your workout.

It’s important to realize that these two types of cycling do also vary in ways. For instance, your at you local gym pedaling away and get your heart rate up to 160, then the next day you go outside on your local trails, and hit 160HR again. Yes, you achieved the same HR during both workouts, causing you to get into your fat loss zone (depending on each individuals HR zones), but different factors came into play on each ride. Inside, you faced the air conditioning, which most definitely held back some sweat. While outside you faced wind conditions, and a deferent level of temperature causing you to work harder. Both exercises were successful, but at the same time you might have been working harder being outside.

If I were to choose between the two, I would go outside and enjoy Mother Nature and really take in the beauty of being alive. Breathe in some fresh air, while maintaining a workout that will so benefits in the end. Go for the most natural environment that your body is used to because it will make your body react, in its most natural state.

Best Cycling shorts for long rides…..!

This is a great question when it comes to those days where its time to tackle those long, curvy hills for about 2-3hrs of pure riding power. You need to look at some factors when deciding on this, which include padding, material, temperature, fit, and Brand.

Lycra a great brand making cycling shorts for sometime now, offering a great short or bib that fits like a beauty with a butt-pad. Another brand that has developed a cycling short with comfort and durability is Royal. They have a great line of Road Bike clothing ranging from socks to bibs, do a Google search and you’ll be impressed with their products. You can also go on Performance.com and see what they have to offer too.

Now if you’re a little more anal, like myself, and kind of are hesitant about ordering online because a picture doesn’t do much justice, then drive over to your local cycle shop, or even sports retailer, like Dicks. Both places will carry very similar products, which can give you a better idea on fitting, padding, and material as you can try on multiple styles. Usually what you’ll notice is that the padded shorts are for more comfortable than non-padded, but to each his own. As you go from a low price short to a higher one you will realize that the brands on the upper level of cycling shorts are a lot better in quality and fit, which might be a solution when investing in a $80 pair of shorts.

Here’s the tricky part. Like I said up above its all about personal fit and the way that short feels on your body when you’re in the saddle. Lycra bibs with very limited padding tend to fit and feel a lot better on longer rides, due to lack of bulkiness and crowdedness in the groin area…if you get the picture. You are going to be sitting for 2-3 hours maybe and after constant pedaling for that time many things can start to develop if restriction comes into play, so just plant that into the back of your head when deciding.

What is the best position for my cycling cleats?

How should I fit my cleats on my Road Bike? This is a repeated question among the cyclist community and can ultimately be answered through your own personal experience of riding. Just like running there are people who ride with overpronation and those who are basically a neutral rider, but because of this you must compensate your riding setup. If you find yourself having trouble with your knees and riding is becoming a strain on your body, then I would try and point your cleats towards the outside of your cleat just a bit. This might relieve any pain or burden on those knee caps, which in the long run will keep you out on the bike for a longer time.

Another important tip to use when fitting your cleats on you Road Bike is the placement of the spindle. Most common cyclist place this spindle directly under the balls of your feet, but again depending on your own ride, personal preference comes into play. What most people will do just to get a ballpark of where there proper setup would be is go and get fitted. Your local bike shop should fit you for your own personal ride position on your bike at a low cost. Then once you get a standard position you can tweak it as your begin to ride more and more and feel different stuff. Now what’s really cool about going to the bike shop especially if you pronate or over-pronate, the shop can put an insert/wedge under your cleat to make your ride more personal.

Thirdly, I would recommend this easy and useful tip to find your cleat and riding position. Get on top of a table and sit on the edge having your feet dangle down. What you will notice is that when you legs hang down your feet are not directly resting parallel, and are more likely to face outward. Now, get on your bike and face your cleats a bit slanted to the outside, but remember depending on what goal your trying to achieve you either want to be on the ball of your foot, for comfort, or a bit forward to gain more power.

Good luck and I hope you find that perfect position for your knees to enjoy the ride.

How to Fight the Cold Weather: Think Smart!

Over the weekend I decided to finally grow a set and go outside and explore my surroundings, taking in Mother Nature’s beauty, and take a little run. My bike being in the shop, getting its new iBike computer installed, I had to find another solution to staying active. I have been training inside for the most part when I want to run being that the treadmill is very convenient to do my “intervals” on, but this time I was destined to explore.

Living in Pennsylvania about a half an hour outside of Philadelphia, we do get some cold climate conditions as the winter progresses. Nothing compared to those out in Colorado or New England, but still a bit chilly at times. I made sure that when I went outside on Saturday my skin was almost fully covered from any type of wind that was possible. I put a snow hat on, my tights, some smart wool long sleeves and gloves with a Therma hoody. It’s important to wear some kind of glove when out in cold conditions, being that the temperature of your body escapes through your finger-tips very easily. As, my run come to an end I would have to say that with the morning snow fall, it was one of the most peaceful times that I have ever experienced. I decided for the first time to not take my Nano with me and listen to no music, it was a good choice.

If your looking for some “head-up” winter tips in preparing the stay warm and healthy, take a look at this article from www.commutebybike.com , and dig deeper to find some inside secrets from personal experiences. If, it comes down to trying to decide if you should go outside for a workout, whether it be running, riding, snowboarding, skiing or any other outdoor activity, dress warm and smart and you’ll appreciate your workout much better and not fear those winter advisories.

Looking for that perfect cycling Log…?

The New Year has landed and what better way to kick it off then with a fresh start in your daily riding routine. I know, I know the weather isn’t at its finest in some areas of the world, but for those of you who show no pain in a little winter hazard check out this great “cycling log” that was put together by a user on cyclingforums.com, name GuyGadois. Its a perfect fit for that cycling enthusiast who lives a busy lifestyle and finds trouble seeking time to develop a log for his/her daily rides. For more information click here, and download the free version. If you begin to like this log so much you can even update to the more advanced spreadsheet, at a low cost.

I actually just downloaded this for the first time today since I found it today. It has basically everything you need, plus, in the free version. Whats great is that as you become more familiar with the spreadsheet (excel) you can modify it for you own personal skills and needs. Have a look…its pretty sweet.

Have trouble staying focused on your weekly regimen, fear no longer because this cycling log is the perfect fit for the busiest individual to follow. What more could you ask for than the ability to update your mileage, maintenance visits, individual goals all at your fingertips. See some screenshots at this link and tell me if it doesn’t motivate you!

Eat Right and See Results

Its very important to know what your body is feeling and how it reacts in certain situations. The week leading into a big race or competition can already be nerve racking, but with some simple and smart eating habits, you can ease those levels of anxiety and focus on the final outcome of your ride.

Each individual is his/her own person and by eating an all carb diet vs. a high fat diet, will only determine by each being to themselves. Check out this article from bikeradar.com, and hear what British national road champ Rob Hayles has to say about keeping your energy levels up and fueling your body: Nutriton; Eating to Win

Feel free to post some of your own personal techniques that help you gain success across the finish line.

How to Buy a Road Bike

There are some great tips to help you buy a road bike. Of course, you probably have an idea of what you are looking for if you are in the market to make a purchase, however there is always the chance that you don’t know quite what to look for. One thing is for sure and that is that the prices of road bikes range considerably based on the frame material, components, brand, and the like. Depending on your budget you may be able to afford any bike you want or else you might need to pick and choose between certain features to buy the best bike you can in the budget you have available.

Remember, consider where you will be riding your road bike first so you know what to look for. If you want to ride just on pavement then a road bike is the right choice for you. However, if you have other riding desires you might need another type of bike. The recommendations made here are based solely on those looking specifically for a road bike.

Frame

The frame is potentially the most important aspect of your road bike. This is what provides support to the bike and rider as well as how fast you can ride and how well. It is recommended to buy a road bike that is as light as possible. The ultra light road bikes will be the most expensive so you may consider buying a light bike with few features. Then, over time you can add more components like handlebars, pedals, and the like that fit your style of riding. Most likely, if you find a road bike that is an entry level bike it will probably be made of either aluminum or steel. You will find aluminum frames to be stiff and steel to be heavy albeit providing a softer ride. Higher end bikes are most likely to be made of carbon fiber, which is lighter and strong.

If you aren’t sure what type of frame will work best for you simply take a test drive on several different bikes with various frames. This is the best way to figure out the frame that works best for you and your riding style.

Wheels

You will also want to buy a bike with good wheels. It’s important to find a road bike that boasts narrow wheels that have very little contact with the pavement. Similarly, the wheels should have high pressure and be as smooth as possible. You can make some judgment calls when it comes to the wheels, your riding style, and budget, so do a little research and shop around.

Handlebars

When shopping for a road bike you will also want to keep in mind the handlebars on the bike.  Generally, you will want to look for handlebars that are curled under on the bottom so you can hold on, hunch over, and ride as fast as you can with little wind resistance.

There are lots of things you can keep in mind when buying a road bike, but these are some of the more important points you will want to consider.

Evolution Mini Lock

Trying to find that perfect lock that is easy to transport, but at the same time reliable, check out the Kryptonite Evolution Mini u-lock. Its perfect for anyone’s budget costing $60 and is made from solid steel. Living in the city can not only be very cautious for cyclists, but also a fashion statement. Take a ride through your city where you live and I can guarantee on about 80% of riders that pass you on their bikes have this u-lock either in their back pocket or hanging off of their backpacks. Its so simple, with its unique shape that cyclist tend to purchase this lock knowing the benefits it has. Tune in to an article by Urban Velo, and read about the functions that make this lock so feasible for the daily rider. The Evolution Mini…”it is what it is”.

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