Why Wear a Helmet

When falling off a bike and it can happen at whatever level you are at or what previous cycling experience you have, most of your body can handle a fall, sure you will be cut, grazed or possibly even have a broken bone or two. You cannot risk this impact however with your head, it can be the difference between life and death depending on how hard the impact is and what sort of fall it was. Your head is precious, it holds your brain, damage your head and you risk facing brain damage. The outcome from that happening could be anything from slight memory loss, to not being able to function properly, to the very ultimate, loss of life. All easily avoided if a bike helmet was applied.

What If I Am A Careful Cyclist

That’s fantastic news to all who are and everyone should be when controlling any sort of vehicle, however accidents do and can happen at anytime.

Being careful when cycling does not mean other people are careful, most accidents happen due to another persons ignorance when cycling, this could be anything from a pedestrian walking, misplaced items on a route, another cyclist, or a person driving in a car.

Particularly when cycling on the road you are especially vulnerable, most motorbike accidents happen due to the car driver not spotting them, the same can be applied for cyclists and if anything they are even more vulnerable than a motorbike rider. So being a careful cyclist should not ever put you off wearing a helmet.

Don’t be disillusioned either, mistakes can happen with your own bike, the brakes could stop working, a wheel could fall off, a pedal could come loose causing you to crash, if you are travelling at any sort of speed and something like this happens, you will need a helmet on to avoid any permanent serious injury.

Be Responsible

Not only should you be responsible to yourself, but be responsible if you are cycling with others, younger children or people with less experience have a far greater chance of falling or causing an accident, make sure that you, and all around you are protected. It only takes a minute to advise someone on the dangers they face due to them not being properly protected, and actively encourage them to purchase a helmet, or if it is your own family do it for them and ensure they wear one at all times.

Wearing it Properly

I have seen countless times people wearing a helmet but wrongly, they would just be as well not wearing one at all. The most common mistakes are not wearing a size that is properly fitted to your head, this can be from a small child wearing a growing adults helmet, to a person wearing a helmet but not securely attaching it around the face. If the helmet can slide back and forward on your head it is too big and needs replaced. An impact with a wrongly fitted helmet, to a helmet that is not correctly attached will most likely fall off when in hard contact before your head has connected with the ground or solid object. So not only wear one, but wear it correctly.

This article was brought to you by Shaun Connolly, owner and developer of Review Saver ( http://reviewsaver.co.uk ) If you are interested in cycling and would like to view all the latest bike helmets, you can easily do so by visiting http://reviewsaver.co.uk/Sport-and-Leisure/Bikes-and-Accessories/Bike-Helmets

Traveling is one of the most common and the most enjoyable ways that people turn to in order to rebuild themselves and to make it possible for them to replenish their depleted resources. Through it, we got to visit new places and experience and view life using the perspective used by the residents there. Indeed, traveling widens our horizons and improves our understanding of life itself.

It’s going to be a lot fun if you are able to bring your bike with you in some of your travels. With the bike to ride on, your explorations of the new places that you visit will become a lot easier and a lot faster–making it very possible for you to save time and energy for other things tourists normally do such as spending valuable moments with the locals. But are you just going to place your bike inside the car with during your journey? That’s a bad idea. It takes up too much space.

What to use then?

Really, this is very easy! Use a bike rack. You just have to have a bike rack mounted on your car. But with all the bike racks available, which one should you choose? To help you with that, we are bringing you some of the most interesting reviews about the Yakima bighorn series.

The most important concern for your bike when you bring it with you is its security and safety. One reviewer thinks so too. Because of this, he saw to it that the bike rack on which his bike will be placed will have the capacity to hold the bike securely in place, even when the ride gets rough. Hence, he chose no less then the Yakima Bighorn. This bike rack securely holds on to the bike even when the ride gets all bumpy and messy. Because of that, scratches and all sorts of damage have been avoided.

The Yakima bighorn is also a very good bike rack because it is very easy to mount. You can just place it at the back of your car or at the top of it without much hassle, and even without the help of many tools. You could just imagine the ease and comfort on your part.

So, if you are looking for a bike rack, then don’t go for anything less! Choose the best. Choose this very amazing and very good bike rack from Yakima.

In fact, manufacturers of cycles that fold up, typically design them specifically for getting you from your house to another mode of transportation. So whether you need to get to a bus stop, subway station or train station, this type of two-wheeler is perfect for your needs. While these bikes aren’t designed to give you a shot at winning the Tour de France, they’ll the perfect type of urban transport when you need to travel short distances quickly.

Besides their convenient function, another reason why these cycles are so popular is based on their form. These bicycles have 20-inch wheels like the BMX bicycles that many of us rode when we were youngsters. They also typically contain two main hinges: one on the handlebars and one at the middle of the cross member. Collapsing the cycle is a piece of cake. Afterwards, you can easily tote the bicycle around wherever you need to go, such as on a subway train or bus. This contraption makes it easier to take your cycle virtually anywhere.

The cycling shorts are often referred to as bike shorts. The padded portion of the shorts is called the chamois. Certain shorts are referred to as bib shorts. These shorts actually have suspender like shoulder straps that help hold them in place. Most people wear cycling shorts without underwear, so some shorts are treated with an anti-bacterial matter and others with a moisturizing lotion to help reduce chaffing. In either case, the shorts themselves are traditionally made from a spandex material.

Originally, cycling shoes were actually affixed to the bicycle pedal. However, today, many cycling shoes attach to the pedal with a cleat on the shoe. The clipless pedal shoe is a stiff-soled shoe that actually clips to the bike pedal. It offers the most energy efficiency. There are two different versions; one for mountain bikes and one for road bikes. The other option is a toe clip. This is actually not a shoe, but a clip that can be attached to any shoe. The toe clip is a more economical method than purchasing clipless pedal shoes.

Finally, tires tend to last for roughly 1,000-2,000 miles. This is based on various factors, such as your riding method, your weight, and the location of the tire (front or back). Tires are crucial for cycling, so you may need to upgrade them if their design or sizing is wrong for the primary type of riding that you do.

When shopping for bicycles, you should definitely consider trek bikes. For over 30 years, they’ve been producing some of the top cycles in the industry. You can find the perfect bike for whichever type of cycling you do. Who knows? Perhaps you could be the next Lance Armstrong!

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Kona is well known for style, and this range of street hybrid bikes have that in abundance.

The Dew is principally directed towards street riding - to work and back say. However like any good hybrid it will also take you out on the lanes at the weekend. Most users of hybrid bikes want a bike that is comfortable and easy to use. The bike should ride easily on the road, but be able to take to grass and gravel when needed. The Dew Deluxe would seem to fulfil all these demands.

It’s aluminium-framed, using 7005 alloy, butted for strength. The sloping top tube has two advantages - a safe standover clearance and it makes the model unisex. The smart black paintwork with refined graphics looks great.

It’s in the frame that one of the main changes to this model over the lower ones will be seen. The beautifully tapered top tube intoduced to the Deluxe is truly stunning.

It features 700mm road wheels and uses Kona’s own design Project 2 aluminium fork. The 700mm wheels give you far greater speed on the road, which is where the bike will spend most of its time. The Dew Deluxe carries narrower tyres than those seen on the lower models. At 32mm the road performance will be noticeably improved. The rigid aluminium fork helps in keeping the weight down, and is simple to maintain.

The frame and fork have fittings for mudguards though - essential in a commuting bike.

It’s fitted with a triple chainset - good for flexibility and ease on hills and for distances.

Other features include:-

• Improved disc brakes by Tektro - hydraulically operated. The main advantage of disc brakes is that they keep the braking surfaces out of the mud and grit, cutting down on wear and improving stopping performance. The hydraulic system makes for smooth operation.
• 27 gears (up from 24) with useful ratios, from upgraded Shimano components. The Alivio shifters are great to use. Changing gear is simple - you just click up and down the range using thumb and forefinger.
• Kona Comfort saddle and flat pedals. A practical, usable bike. Most people will find flat pedals the best option. they can always be changed for cleats at a later date of course.

The Kona Dew Deluxe is a package of quality components, still priced at a level that almost everyone will find appealing. The upgrades to the number of gears from 24 to 27 is very useful and the improved frame gives a bike that is a joy to look at.

It’s fair to stress that the features built into the Ionos are not going to be used by the majority of leisure cyclists. But if speed and distance are for you, the Ionos will give you maximum protection, together with the comfort levels you need for long days on the bike.

First of all, the construction. The in-mould technique of manufacture bonds the polycarbonate shell to the impact absorbing polystyrene body in the mould, in one process. Using this method saves weight, and enables the inclusion of a carbon-fibre sub frame into the helmet .

The strength of the sub frame has allowed the designers to model in 21 huge vents - so characteristic of the Ionos. It’s these vents, in conjunction with the internal ventilation channels, which give the helmet its superb cooling performance. The cooloing performance is so good that riders such as Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong use the Ionos when they have to face the most challenging conditions.

Three sizes are available:Small (51-55cm), Medium (55-59cm) and Large (59-63cm). The helmet comes supplied with X-Static pads, impregnated with silver to kill bacteria.

The final adjustment is made with the RocLoc 5 system - a ratchet dial tightens the internal straps to a perfect fit. One great advantage is that you can for example put a hat on in cold weather without having to modify the pads (the helmet actually comes with its own cap).

A wide range of colours is available, together with some special editions. It meets CE EN1078 standards of course.

The Giro Ionos is a helmet designed with the serious rider in mind. It’s comfortable enough for long days on the bike and offers levels of protection and strength that are second-to-none. Whether you are competing or just enjoying some serious mileage, these features are just as valuable.

It’s possibly the case that some people new to the world of cycling feel that they do not need a helmet - “I only ride a little, I don’t need one”. However, the possibility of accident is always present, especially for the inexperienced. It’s our opinion that the arguments for wearing a helmet are overwhelming. Why choose a Monza?

Advanced in-mould manufacturing techniques bond the inner polystyrene body to the polycarbonate outer shell in one step as the helmet is moulded. Extra reinforcement is built into the area around the vents and ribs, increasing the impact resistance.

This extra reinforcement allows 24 large vents to be designed into the helmet, together with internal ventilation channels to increase the airflow. So it is no surprise that the efficient cooling is often commented on by users of the helmet. At only 256 grams the Monza is also comfortable to wear.

A small criticism is that there is no netting behind the front vents to keep out insects.

The Monza is available in 3 sizes - . There are Coolmax self-adhesive pads supplied to enable you to get a snug fit and the helmet features Giro’s RocLoc system. This is a way of tightening the internal straps with a dial fitted to the rear of the helmet. One great advantage is that you can for example put a hat on in cold weather without having to modify the pads.

There’s a choice of four colourways - black, white, blue and titanium.

The Giro Monza meets CE EN1078 certification, so you can be assured that when properly worn, it will give you the best protection possible.

So if you’re into doing your cycling on the road, the Monza has been designed with you in mind. But for the fast commute to work, or for safe relaxed touring, it’s just as good.  This helmet looks smart and performs well, so anyone can be comfortable wearing one.

Price probably shouldn’t be a factor in the decision to wear a cycling helmet - the contents of your head are beyond value after all. Nevertheless in the real world price is important. However, considering the technology that’s gone into this helmet, the price does not look unreasonable at all.

The styling is good too. It’s a fact that many leisure cyclists would find the styling of an out-and-out road helmet far too agressive and unsuitable. So the great advantage of the Saros is that it looks equally at home in the town and the country.

Advanced in-mould manufacturing techniques bond the inner polystyrene body to the hard outer shell in one step as the helmet is moulded. This allows for control of the weight, while allowing extra reinforcement of the area around the vents and the ribs for increased impact resistance.

Consequently, large vents and internal ventilation channels can be designed in, maximising the cooling airflow. As a result, it comes as no surprise that the light weight and great ventilation are two of the features most complimented by users of the helmet.

A small criticism is that there is no netting behind the front vents to keep out insects. So watch out for bees!

The helmet comes in three sizes: Small (51-55cm), Medium (55-59cm) and Large (59-63cm). There are self-adhesive pads supplied to enable you to get a snug fit and the helmet features Giro’s RocLoc system. This system adjusts the internal straps with a ratchet dial at the rear of the helmet to get a perfect fit. One great advantage is that you can for example put a hat on in cold weather without having to modify the pads.

The helmet comes in a wide range of colourways, so you can even find one to match your bike if you want!

The Giro Saros meets CE EN1078 certification standards, assuring you of the maximum protection available.

The design of the Saros ensures that it will suit the needs of a wide range of cyclists. So for fast commuting or fun at the weekends, this helmet seems to tick all the boxes.

Kona is well known for style, and this range of street hybrid bikes have that in abundance.

Primarily aimed and fitted out for street riding – commuting to work, or out-and-about on the lanes at the weekend – the Dew will also let you explore paths and gentle trails when you want, which is what hybrid bike riding is all about. Comfort, convenience and ease-of-use are perhaps the most important features looked for in a hybrid bike. The bike should be equally at home on the road and on towpaths and trails. It looks as though the Dew Plus answers all these questions.

It’s aluminium-framed, using 7005 alloy, butted for strength. The sloping top tube has two advantages - a safe standover clearance and it makes the model unisex. It’s finished in a smart black, with equally good-looking graphics.

It features 700mm road wheels and uses Kona’s own design Project 2 aluminium fork. Road bike wheels will obviously deliver great rideability on the tarmac - which is where most of it’s riding will be done. This is not a mountain bike after all. The rigid alloy fork helps to keep the weight down.

The frame and fork have fittings for mudguards - probably essential on a commuting bike.

The triple chainset gives maximum flexibility on hills and for road speed.

Other features include:-

• Disc brakes by Shimano - hydraulically operated. this is perhaps the most notable improvement in spec over the lower models in the range. The main advantage of disc brakes is that they keep the braking surfaces out of the mud and grit, cutting down on wear and improving stopping performance. The hydraulic system makes for smooth operation.
• 24 gears with useful ratios, from upgraded Shimano components. The RapidFire shifters are great to use. Changing gear is simple - you just click up and down the range using thumb and forefinger.
• Kona Comfort saddle, flat pedals and wide 35mm tyres. A practical, usable bike. The tyres are wide enough at 35mm to soak up most vibration, but still have low rolling resistance for the road. Flat pedals will suit most people, but can always be upgraded to cleats if you want.
• Very competitive price for a disc-brake bike.

The Kona Dew Plus is a package of sound, basic components, priced at a level that almost everyone will find appealing. The brake upgrades compared to the basic Dew are significant, and are well worth paying the extra for in our view.

To best describe a hybrid bike is to say it is a mix between a road bike and mountain bike. They are strong and sturdy bikes and are ideal for cycling on bike and road paths. To understand the features we have to cover the key elements which are the frame, gears, wheels and handlebars.

Frames

You can expect the frame on a hybrid bike to be made of lightweight aluminum or steel due to the overall durability of these materials and strength.

Gears

The gears are not usually the same as you would expect to have on a mountain bike, the gears are more similar to road bikes. You will find a nice range of gears usually with 2 or 3 chain rings that allow for climbing hills and for fast speed on flats and downhill.

Handlebars

The handlebars are very similar to a mountain bikes, and go out from the stem, usually about shoulder width allowing you to sit upright very comfortably, maximizing control of the bike and overall vision of your surroundings.

Wheels

The wheels are a mixture between mountain and road bikes. They are wide like a mountain bike which offers far greater stability and durability, with a much higher air pressure similar to the road bike which offers a higher speed. The rims and spokes are also much lighter similar to a road bike, as you wont be doing rough riding as you would on a mountain bike.

Research & Review

Overall the hybrid bike is a fantastic choice for the cyclist who will keep to roads and paths, ideal for anyone wanting to travel to work, school or for general exercise out in the fresh air, and who doesn’t want to go off-road and travel in rough terrain.

Before making a purchase, always research the brand and bike that you are interested in and look out for reviews so you can get a better understanding. If you have any particular questions you are unsure about always contact the retailer whom you would be buying from for advice, rather than finding out something when it arrived.

This article was wrote by Shaun Connolly, owner of http://reviewsaver.co.uk if you would like to view all men’s hybrid bikes, you can do so by visiting http://reviewsaver.co.uk/Sport-and-Leisure/Bikes-and-Accessories/Mens-Hybrid-Bikes

If you want to be a professional, then you must have access to the best cycling gear. For instance, using the simple computers that come with most bikes or are sold separately is not enough. As of today, there are more advanced bike computers that can help you become a better cyclists since they measure and calculate so much more than just your speed.
 
The most important thing that you have to remember about professional cycling is that the right bike is just as important as the cyclist. Not only should you get the bike that fits your size, you should also get a bike that is very durable. It should be able to withstand long bike ride sessions and rocky slopes. A great bike is one that feels like it’s a part of you while riding.

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