Col De Tourmalet Ascent in 5 Mins
What do you want to do, what do you want to see and where do you want to do it? The art of cycling is not a simple act of making pedals go round and round at different speeds. Many different activities are covered in the topic of cycling and each one has a different equipment need and fitness requirements.
Indisputably the first trick is to have a bike. Bikes usually have two wheels when you visualize one. There are trikes that are three wheeled and quads with four that are much more strange contraptions. The bike is usually just one seat although the old tandem is recovering in popularity amongst couples who wish to spend some time at the weekend not looking at each other.
The what do you want to do is also important.In this introduction to the casual cyclist we will concentrate on the two wheeled versions.
If you want a fast track bike , increasingly popular as more velodromes appear there are certain companies’ products to look at. Specialized bikes are just that, don’t get a mountain bike and then try to track race in a Madison.
If you are searching for a road bike most buyers look for the weight as the determining factor as the lighter the bike the easier it is to get up the hills using the gear ratios allowed, the only thought is to actually lose some pounds quickly so as to make it even easier.
If you are looking for or want a mountain bike , then the rigid tubular structure, well sprung suspension and really thick tyres may help you avoid the nastiest falls and the inevitable broken collarbone (Yes I am bitter about it)
The occasional cyclist may well want a hybrid that allows you to cope with the hills and a bit of off road as well as getting up a head of steam on the flat roads on the way to your destination.
Whichever is the type of bike and the sort of cycling that you want to do you will find innumerable benefits for your general wellbeing and health. Weight loss, lower resting heart rate and a general feeling of wellbeing will only be offset by initial saddle soreness until you become accustomed to the bike. And all of the above types of cycling allow you to get into the open air and enjoy the scenery, just don’t take it too seriously to start because you will get passed at first by 60 year olds with beer bellies. They are freaks of nature and there is no explanation as to why they are so much faster than you.
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