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Gel Bike Saddle
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 NEW ISM ADAMO PELOTON ROAD TRI TT GEL Bike Saddle Black  US $106.76
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 NEW 2011 ISM ADAMO ROAD GEL Bike Bicycle Saddle Black US $104.58
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"A well-functioning paceline is a beautiful work of art."
Pull into the slipstream and start drafting behind another cyclist and you'll immediately feel the difference-your heartrate drops 15-25 beats per minute. Competitive riders realize up to a 30% energy savings by using the paceline strategy. It is what makes cycling a team sport and gives a team extra power over individual riders. Even recreational riders, cruising along at 15 to 18 mph, can save 10-15% of their energy by riding in a paceline. Your 17 mph riding can turn into 20 if you work together with a group. On informal rides this is often accomplished by having several strong riders at the front sharing the work, with everyone else enjoying the chance to draft. But in a real paceline, everyone takes his or her turn pulling at the front, working together as a team of four to eight riders. This kind of paceline riding requires caution, keen awareness of other cyclists, and new skills.
Pulling, the tough part that everyone takes a turn at: The idea here is to have everyone take short intervals pulling, which is much harder than dafting, causing one's heartrate to go up. Half-mile pulls or one mile pulls-at most-is a good way to proceed. Weaker riders can take shorter pulls, but everyone should rotate toward the front, then to the back. (Competitive riders in team time trials often pull for only 30-40 seconds.) When taking over the lead, don't get excited and speed up. It is imperative that the one pulling maintain a smooth, steady pace-think of those behind you-and not make any hasty moves, turns, changes in speed, etc. Let those following, who can't see the road ahead as well, know when you plan to turn, or slow, or when there are obstacles/holes/gravel in the road.
Dropping back: Check the road behind you before you drop back to make sure there are no cars or cyclists coming from behind (a mirror is a good idea for this). Keep your speed up while moving to the left, and signal to the next rider in line that you are finished pulling by waving that person forward or, as many do, slapping your butt. Then slow down some and drift to the back of the line.
Taking a break: Your time at the back of the paceline is the time for you to take a drink, stretch your legs, break out your gel, spit, blow the snot out of your nose, and fart if you have to. Then move into position and catch the draft.
Cycling in the paceline: Enjoy the benefit of the draft but be careful. Follow 18-30 inches behind the wheel in front of you. Look over the shoulder of the rider ahead of you; avoid just starring at the wheel in front of you. Keep pedaling-always-except maybe on long downhill stretches. DON'T let your front wheel overtake the wheel in front of you-this is one of the most common causes of bike-on-bike crashes. When wheels touch, the rider behind loses the ability to turn to catch his/her balance and often crashes. (If you do inadvertently come in contact with another wheel it is best to not panic and quickly try to turn away, but lean up against the other wheel for a second or two then turn away. This takes practice, however.) If you start getting too close to the rider ahead of you, avoid hitting your breaks to slow down. Sit up to catch more wind or move a bit to the left, out in the wind. If you do resort to your breaks, do so lightly to avoid a sudden slinky effect in the entire paceline behind you.
Spreading out: On the downhills when everyone speeds up, spread out for increased safety. Eight to ten feet is not too much. But keep your place in line. Don't mess up the paceline by overtaking other riders. Likewise, on the uphills, spread out a little as gears do slip and people drop chains, resulting in crashes from behind. Also, when riders stand up they often pull their bikes back 8-10 inches and right into the wheel following. (Learn to stand in a smooth motion so you don't pull your bike back.) Again, keep your place in line, even if you are a stronger hill climber. It's a team effort. Don't try to race up the hills. Start shifting down early and keep shifting down to keep your exertion at a comfortable level or until you get to your lowest gear. Don't wait until you are really grinding before shifting down. Uphills need not be anaerobic intervals.
Thinking of the Team: Paceline riding takes consideration on the part of participants. What you do can affect everyone else in the paceline. Communicate with the others. Avoid sudden moves. Don't hog the lead; it's a team effort. Take your turn pulling; don't just be a "wheel sucker." With a group well practiced at working together, it is a great experience and a lot of fun. A well-functioning paceline is a beautiful work of art.
Jack E Nelson, PhD, is an avid cyclist in the Charlotte, NC, area, as well as a personal historian. Visit his website at: http://www.preservememories.net
Mountain Biking Gear
Every sport has its accessories, and mountian biking is no different. But many of these accessories are designed to save, if not lives, then certainly unnecessary aches and pains.
There's more to mountain biking than just getting a cool bike. Mountain biking can be a dangerous sport - as is any sport where you're heading downhill at speed.
The younger generation has a tendency to think it is invincible, and so will not bother with the common sense safety gear that could save them from unnecessary bumps, bruises, cuts or breaks. Of course, even with all the safety gear, those bumps, bruises, cuts and breaks can happen, but they'll more than likely be less severe.
Bike helmet
The helmet is not really an "accessory," is an essential part of the mountain biker's gear. Every mountain biker is going to fall off his or her bike at one time or another - and the helmet will very likely come in for a beating - much better than the rider's head. Helmets these days are comfortable and come in an array of styles. Make sure you purchase one which fits properly.
Eye protection
Second only to the helmet, eye protection such as goggles are a must. Going downhill at speed, it's easy for your tires to kick up rocks or dirt that, if they get in your eyes, will blind you and cause you to run off the trail and into a tree, as often as not. There's always the chance that mosquitoes, midges, or other no-see-ems will get into your eyes, which is why goggles are better than glasses or sunglasses - although they will serve.
Once you've got the helmet and eye protection out of the way, everything else can safely be classified as "accessories," which would definitely be nice to have but are not mandatory.
Trail repair kit
Of these types of accessories, perhaps the most important is the trail repair kit. You may be able to ride your entire life on the streets of your city without getting a flat tire, but when you're going cross country or down mountains, the chance of getting a flat tire rises exponentially. You don't want to get stuck on the trail - so make sure you have a repair kit underneath your bike seat. And just as important - practice with that repair kit so that you actually know how to use the tools!
Gloves
It is more comfortable to ride any bike with gloves than without them. Mountain bike gloves ar specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions under which they're used, and not only will they save you stress in just gripping the handlebars, but they'll also prevent any nasty scrapes should you take a header.
Hydration system
Nothing ruins the ride more than feeling hungry or thirsty while you're in the middle of it... but thirst probably is more annoying than hunger. Bring a water bottle at the very least. A hydration backpack also fits the bill - all this is is a specially fitted backpack with liquid of your choice in various containers, fitted so that they feel almost weightless.
Shoes
For many types of biking, your average tennis shoe will work just fine. But for mountain biking, shoes made specifically for the sport are pretty nice to have. You want them to be comfortable, durable, and suited to t heir purpose - which is to keep your feet safe and injury free while you ride. They come with stiff soles for better efficiency while pedaling, and you can get them for clip or clipless pedals.
Shorts
Padded shorts are a must for any type of biking! It increases the comfort of the ride no end (along with a gel-filled saddle!)
About the Author
Alastair Hamilton contributes adding content to http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A focused website that offers the best articles on
mountain bike reviews
and cycling shoes.
Bicycle Seats: What do you get for your money?
Bicycle Seats: What do you get for your money?
At Nashbar and Performance Bike I see saddles for 29.95 and for 259.99. I think a saddle can be very important on long rides and I don’t mind paying a little more. But what do you really get when you pay $100 or $200 dollars for a saddle? Can the gel (or foam) or covering really be different enough to make it feel better after a long ride? I've purchased bikes for less when I was a kid.
Saddles are subjective. You won't find a consensus. Some people rave about their $29 generic, while others wouldn't be caught dead on anything costing less than $150, even if it's not the most comfortable or most practical for their purpose. As for $300 saddles, there are also $900 cranksets, $2900 wheelsets, and $600 bars with integrated stems. People that have the money and the passion (or possibly ego) for the most expensive items can find a multitude from which to choose. For the average cyclist, a terrific saddle can be had for $100, and a good saddle can be had for half that. Your butt needs to be the judge. And contrary to what others may say, Brooks saddles are comfortable, though not necessarily light. The leather adds more comfort than what you can get from synthetic-covered saddles. Anyone that thinks maintaining a Brooks is difficult shouldn't own a bicycle. Both foam and "gel" padding deteriorates, often much sooner than is reasonable for an expensive saddle.
Blogs Last updated: July 17, 02:14
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage from stage 15 of the Tour de France from Pamiers to Bagnères-de-Luchon. We're still in Pyrenees and we've got another exciting stage ahead of us.
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