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Biking Wardrobe

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (0 Comments)

As I was riding the ferry from my home on Staten Island to Manhattan, I sat next to the bike racks. I noticed a definite trend in wardrobe as the cyclists lined up their bikes in the small rack on the front of the boat.

Most cyclists have bike accessories like helmets but they have other similarities. Most of them had their right pant leg either rolled up or tucked into their socks. This is so that they don’t have a problem with their pants getting caught in their bike chains.

Another part of the bicycle wardrobe that seems to be almost universal is the bike gloves. You can get these at most bike supply stores. Their uses are several fold. The pair pictured here are made with a special material to absorb any perspiration you might work up from a heavy ride workout. They are also padded so that your hands don’t go numb from being on the handle bars and absorbing all of the shock from the bumps and divots in the road. The thumb construction is ergonomic so that you don’t hurt the muscles and tendons in your hand.

If you’re ever biking in New York City and ride the ferry, make sure you wear the “uniform” which includes the rolled up pants, helmet, and biking gloves!

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Eating Right Before a Bike Race

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (0 Comments)

There’s no doubt that before a big race you’ve already trained for months, fretted over what bike accessories you need, and checked your bike endlessly for any problems with the gears, the breaks, or the tires. What you may not have thought about is your diet leading up to and on the day of the race.

It’s a good idea to eat things with a lot of carbohydrates. Carbs are the most accessible form of calories that your body can consume. The carbs are then stored in your muscles and your liver as glycogen. The reason for eating a lot of carbs is that your body is going to need to feed off of the stores of glycogen in your body to power you through your long ride. When you “hit the wall” in a race, it’s your body running out of these energy pockets and starting to find energy elsewhere. Obviously your body doesn’t like doing this and makes you hurt for it.

On the day before and day of a race eat foods high in carbohydrates and not protein. During a race, protein is not as easily converted to energy as carbohydrates. Maybe the most important bicycle accessory you can have on your person during a race is an energy bar high in carbohydrates!

Bike Shoes

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (0 Comments)

Biking shoes might not seem like a necessary bike accessory to the average commuter cyclist. However, the more competitive cycling racer will disagree. While cycling computers and other accessories can help you train, the fact remains that cycling shoes can help you on race day.

Have you ever seen runners take running practices with weights on their ankles and wrists? This isn’t just to build up the muscles in those areas (though that helps) it’s to help train the body to run with that extra weight on it. This is great because on race day you don’t wear the weights on your body and it helps you to run as if they were there. This makes you faster, stronger, and feel lighter, making the race easier for you and on your body than a “normal” ride.

I have done this on several occasions and it actually helps quite a bit! Regardless of the nerves that you feel on race day you can feel almost weightless…literally. Bulky shoes can help you train and cycling shoes can help you race! Regardless of what you eat the night before and how much sleep you get, you can approach the starting line with confidence and a light hearted air!

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Colorful Bike Accessories

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (0 Comments)

I can remember my first “big kid” bike. It was a purple and pink Huffy with white handlebar grips. I got so many compliments on it. I bought bike accessories with my pocket money. First came the basket that I sat on the front and then the handlebar mounted mirrors. I was so proud of that bike.

Now when I go riding, I still like to have my bike looking as good as possible. I also have changed my style a little bit. No longer do I ride around on a purple and pink bike with subtle white accents. I currently ride a lime green bicycle with teal blue accents. I figure that if a car can’t see me coming on a bright green bicycle, we have a problem!

The great thing about being an adult and being able to customize your own bike is that there are so many opportunities to buy multicolored bike accessories. For example, I have left the days of the pom poms and glossy white handlebar grips behind in favor of the brightly colored and comfortable aqua set that show off the green bike nicely.

You can get your own set and color your bike exactly how you want to! Just because you’re not a kid anymore doesn’t mean you have to ride a boring bicycle!

Seeing Behind You

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (0 Comments)

We talk a lot about the importance of bike accessories on the daily commute. Yes, you need things like a bell or a horn and definitely a helmet, but what we haven’t mentioned before is an often overlooked cycling accessory, the mirror. Cars have rear view mirrors, motorcycles have rear view mirrors, even little scooters have them! Why? It’s so they can see the traffic behind them. Well, why don’t bikes have them? We need to see traffic around us as well!

Bikes are everywhere, especially in big cities. We drive around in heavy duty traffic and in areas that aren’t exactly conducive for riding. We do it out of necessity to get to work and back or to run errands but it’s not really an ideal situation. This is why mirrors are important. You might be able to hear the car behind you, but what about the car that’s speeding past him? You could be momentarily deafened by any number of city noises like garbage trucks or ambulances. It’s important to be able to see behind you so you can be more aware of the space around you. This is for your own safety!

Handlebar mirrors might be just as integral as saving you from a bike accident as a helmet.

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Handlebar Tape For a Better Grip

Posted by TimD in BikeAhead - (0 Comments)

I never really felt fully comfortable on my bike. It is not that I am a bad cyclist, I am in fact quite good. That said, my palms tend to get sweaty. Following traffic rules means that I cannot cycle on the sidewalk, and with my sweaty loose grip I was always afraid of what might happen to me in busy intersections.

To ensure my safety I knew I needed two important bike accessories. For one thing I needed a sturdy helmet. If something was going to happen I wanted to be sure that my head was protected, but perhaps less obviously I need some handle bar tape. Cycling accessories are not all cosmetic and high tech. Some of these items are absolutely must haves, simply to effectively and safely bike around.

Some extra gripping tape is important to keep on you at all times. Even if you do not have the same sweaty palmed problem I have, things can get treacherous on the open road. You want to be able to keep as strong a hold on your handlebars as possible should turbulence occur.

So when shopping for bike supplies, do not forget the handlebar tape and ride as always with safety in mind.

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The Commuter Necessities

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

Just because you don’t ride up to your workplace in a big, black Lincoln towncar doesn’t mean you can’t have all the necessary bike accessories to get to work in style. You might not have a moon or sunroof, but you have the open air! You might not have air conditioning, but you have the wind! You might not have heated leather seats, but you have padded shorts. Okay, that comparison might not have quite matched up, but you get my point.

Why not try the Topeak iPhone DryBag. Just because you’re on a bike doesn’t mean that you can’t take those important pre-meeting calls. This cool bike accessory clips onto your bike and has a covering to protect it from the elements and foam padding to protect it from potholes. It’s guaranteed to stay on your bike as you pedal and even lets you use the touchscreen through the plastic covering.

Now, when you’re pedaling past the big, black Lincoln towncar in the mornings you can smile. You’re enjoying the outdoors, getting exercise, and are still talking to that big wig at Company B about the merger. Now if only there were cupholders in this thing… Oh wait! There are!

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Wearable Camera Snaps the Good Stuff

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

You’re about to head out on an incredibly epic trail ride. You’ve been planning this bike trip for months and you’ve got everything you need, all the important bike accessories. You’ve got your helmet, cycling computer, and backpack. All the bells and whistles. But wait, do you really have everything? One of the coolest and high tech new accessories to take with you on a big, crazy, epic bike trip is the GoPro HD Hero2 outdoor wearable, waterproof camera!

This is a great camera that the professionals are using to catch their adventures. It can catch 1050p video or shoot up to 10 photos per second. With an angle of 170 degrees you’ve got a great shot no matter which way you’re facing!

It comes with the following accessories:

1 11MP HD HERO2 Camera
1 Waterproof Housing (197′ / 60m)
1 HD Skeleton Backdoor
1 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
1 USB Cable
1 Vented Helmet Strap
1 Head Strap
2 Curved Surface Adhesive Mounts
2 Flat Surface Adhesive Mounts
1 Three-Way Pivot Arm
Assorted Mounting Hardware

Think of all of the great things you’ll be able to capture with this camera. You’ll have a great time with your buddies on the trail and have the photos to show afterwards. It’s a brilliant little accessory and a definite must for the technophile biker in your life.

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Finding the Perfect Helmet: Part 2

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

Last week we were talking about one of the most important cycling accessories: bike helmets. After discussing what type of helmet you need for your riding style, it’s time to concern ourselves with the fit of the helmet.

Usually helmets on the lower end of the price scale, and those that are for the more casual rider, will come in a one-size-fits all for men or women. Because fit is so important however, you should measure your head to make sure that your head will actually properly fit into the helmet. Below you’ll find an approximation in inches and centimeters. You’ll want to check the product carefully though before purchasing as these are approximate measurements.

Small: 20″-21.75″ (51cm-55cm)
Medium: 21.75″-23.25″ (55cm-59cm)
Large: 23.25″-24.75″ (59cm-63cm)
Extra-small, extra-large: Below 20″ (51cm), above 24.75 (63cm)
One size fits all (men): 21.25″-24″ (54cm-61cm)
One size fits all (women): 19.75″-22.5″ (50cm-57cm)

The best way to find out if the helmet fits is by trying it on. It should sit flat on your head and should not slip backwards or forwards. It should sit about one inch above your eyebrows and not be overly or annoyingly tight. If you find that the helmet is too large even if you got the closest size to your head that you could, another great bike accessory to buy is an adjusting ring. This will fit inside the helmet and create the proper fit for you to safely ride.

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Finding the Perfect Helmet: Part 1

Posted by KristinG in BikeAhead - (Comments Off)

There are only thirteen states in this country that do not have any type of helmet laws whether they be state or local. Helmets are one of the most important cycling accessories that are available to you. It just makes sense to wear one (especially since you might be breaking a law by NOT wearing one!).

To find the perfect helmet you need to consider several aspects of your riding style. The first one is what type of riding you do. There are three different types of helmets: sports helmets, road bike helmets, and mountain bike helmets.

Sport helmets are the most economical of all the helmets. They are for your commuters and casual riders. Because they are the cheapest they are usually the heaviest and need to be replaced often.

Road bike helmets are popular for their featherlight. They have fantastic ventilation and are incredibly aerodynamic. This makes them perfect for long rides and for the more serious rider. Because of their popularity and specialty features, these can be some of the most expensive helmets on the market.

Mountain bike helmets are probably the most heavy duty of these cycling accessories. They’re designed to withstand branches and other trail obstacles. Because they’re so heavy they’re not recommended for the every day rider. Unless you think you’ll get smacked by a passing pedestrian!