An Easier Ride with Weight Training and Cycling Performance

Bicycling is a fantastic pastime, a fun way to stay in shape that doesn't place too much pressure on joints, making it less tiring than other forms of exercise. Beyond being a source of exercise, bicycling is a popular recreational activity on a pretty day and a preferred method of travel in many areas around the world. To increase your cycling performance, you can use other exercises in a complementary manner. Weight training and cycling performance go hand in hand.

Building Up Your Muscles

For difficult stretches of road or path, such as going up a steep incline, you need not only to be aerobically fit, but your muscles need to be strong enough to propel you upwards. Here, weight training and cycling performance are especially important. If your muscles aren't large enough, you may find it too difficult to go up a steep incline, and you may be stuck walking your bike up the path. However, weight training and cycling performance also affects the overall enjoyability of any biking experience, no matter how easy or difficult. Having stronger muscles will make any biking trip easier, and you can enjoy the outdoors much more readily.

So how does one go about combining weight training and cycling performance? The first muscles that come to mind are in the legs, such as your quadriceps and calves. The weight training equipment usually costs thousands of dollars, so you may find it in your best interest to simply pick up a low cost monthly gym membership in your area for access to all the weight lifting equipment you'll ever need. If you don't want to go to just a gym such as Gold's, you can check out the gym at your local YMCA for a more laid back atmosphere and get access to other activities such as swimming and basketball as well.

However, there is more to weight training and cycling performance than just your legs. A stronger back will make a long cycling trip more enjoyable because your back might get tired otherwise in that position. Arm, stomach, and shoulder muscles can also get tired, so you will want to work out all the muscles. Even if you don't plan on losing any weight, weight lifting can tone and build muscle and make you feel better about yourself. In fact, regular exercise is a recommended deterrent to depression, so there really isn't any reason why you shouldn't get to the gym three times or so a week. To make your cycling experience more enjoyable, try out weight lifting and cycling performance.

Trek Cycling: A Great Adventure

A trekking bike used in trek cycling is basically a touring bike with upright handlebars instead of drops. The word "trek" has African roots and means a long, painful journey on foot or by oxcart.

History

The history of trek cycling began in the late 1960s in Northern California when racing down mountain trails, also known as "Repack races," caught the imagination of biking enthusiasts. The race trail was called "Repack" because of the twisting, torturous route downhill on Pine Mountain, California.

The route forced the bikers to use the coaster brakes of their bikes to such an extent that the smoking hubs had to be repacked with grease after each run. These races also gave rise to the introduction of mountain trek bikes, or the kind of bicycles that were suitable for the rougher terrain involved in trek cycling.

In the late 1970s, manufactures of road bicycles started producing specialized trek cycles. The handlebars of trek cycles used for mountain biking have a different design compared to regular bikes. Unlike the curved, dropped handlebar of road bikes, the handlebars of trek cycles are traverse mounted and straight. The first mass-produced trek cycles meant for mountain biking were equipped with 18 gears.

The brake being mounted on the frame or hub was universally adopted in the early 1990s This was along with six bolts being used for bolting the rotor or disc to the hub, as well as the system of using two bolts to attach the brake pad assembly or piston to the frame.

Trek Bicycle Corporation

The Trek Bicycle Corporation is a major American trek cycle and component manufacturer. Trek cycling's high-end bicycles are built at Trek's world headquarters in the town of Waterloo, Wisconsin, while the price-competitive models are manufactured in Taiwan or mainland China.

More trek bicycles are used in trek cycling than any other brand. Trek manufactured the Madone road bike that was ridden in three of seven Tour de France victories by Lance Armstrong.

Trek is the largest U.S. manufacturer of bicycles and related aftermarket products. They formerly supplied the bicycles for the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team and Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team of the U.S.A. Trek owns several bicycle brand names in the U.S. including Klein, Lemond, and Gary Fisher, many of which are produced domestically in Waterloo.

In Europe, Trek manufactures the Villager, Diamant, and Arrow brands. Trek also owns Wrench Force, Bontrager which was a well known and well regarded manufacturer of high end bicycles in Santa Cruz, California. They are also the exclusive supplier of Nike bicycling products.

At the 2005 Dauphine Libere, Lance Armstrong unveiled the new Trek TTX time trial bike frame. Designed for maximum aerodynamic advantage and developed in just five weeks, the company used a cutting edge software program also used to design Ferrari racing cars.

The End of the T-Mobile Cycling Team

As of the end of the year 2007, the T-Mobile cycling team is no more. Although the cyclist will still be biking in the near future, the mobile phone division of the German telecommunications company, Deutsch Telekom, has pulled out its sponsorship of the popular cycling team. T-Mobile will not be sponsoring any cycling teams as of the moment. In spite of the earlier announcements of T-Mobile that it will support the T-Mobile cycling team for as long as the year 2010, recent drug use allegations could have prompted the telecommunications giant into cutting off ties with the cyclists.

T-Mobile cycling team was very popular in the Tour de France for the exceptional performance of some of their top cyclists. These cyclists, who have made a name for themselves and their team, are Erik Zabel, Jan Ullrich and Bjarne Riis. Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France in the year 1997 but was not able to repeat his win in the following years, more so when Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France and consistently did so for seven consecutive years.

T-Mobile Cycling Team Doping Scandals

The main reason why the T-mobile cycling team was abandoned by the telecommunications company is due mainly to doping scandals that have plagued the team and its cyclists. The T-Mobile cycling team has come under scrutiny ever since the organizers of the Tour de France have installed higher standards for cyclists. These standards have focused more on restricting cyclists from entering the Tour de France if they have certain drugs in their systems.

The T-Mobile cycling team came under close scrutiny after one of their former therapists claim to have given Jan Ullrich a dose of the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO). This blood booster is said to enhance the performance of the athletes. Zabel and Riis have since confessed to using banned substances but only earlier in their careers. Jan Ullrich has since retired when the issues regarding doping surfaced.

The former T-Mobile cycling team and some of the trainers hope to continue biking under another name in the future. The team might use the name Team High Road but some changes to their roster of cyclists are to be expected.

Deutsch Telekom admits to having a difficult time letting go of their sponsorship of the T-Mobile cycling team but the circumstances have forced them to do so. The doping scandals have played a major role in the company's decision to let go of their T-Mobile cycling team sponsorship and support.

Stationary Cycling Techniques for Speed and Stamina

Cycling is a sport wherein you need to go out n the roads and cycle for several kilometers to achieve fitness. Some individuals who do not wish to go out to ride can satisfy their fitness needs in stationary cycling. There are several stationary cycling techniques wherein you can vastly improve your stamina and speed for better performance.

These stationary cycling techniques not only improve an individual's capacity to ride but also help cyclists lose weight and gain endurance for longer rides. Learning some stationary cycling techniques can also help you save some time and money. Staying in one spot can also be less dangerous than going out daily on the road for a long, intensive ride.

Kinds of Stationary Cycling

There are two kinds of stationary bikes. One is the stationary bicycles which are exercise machines built with gadgets to add resistance for harder cycling. The other kind of indoor cycling is done with rollers. Rollers are cycling equipment on which a road or mountain bike can be ridden as if on a real road. The two kinds of rollers are those that require the two wheels to move while the other need sonly the rear wheel to move.

Why We Need Stationary Bike Training

Stationary cycling techniques are needed for building endurance, stamina and strength especially for professional athletes. Many of these stationary cycling techniques require alternate exercise routines with actual on the road cycling. Many professional athletes go on the road after they have warmed up sufficiently on a stationary bike or they may also cool down sufficiently after a hard ride.

This is true for those who are training hard for an upcoming race or wish to build endurance. Many athletes have specific stationary cycling techniques which are focused on hard gearing where the stationary bicycle is programmed to be hard while some also program their stationary bikes for spinning. The stationary cycling techniques usually depend on the trainer of the athlete.

For ordinary cyclists who wish to alternate stationary cycling with actual on the road cycling, you can make stationary cycling techniques work for you by building stamina and endurance through your stationary cycling techniques. Indoor stationary cycling is very advantageous during the winter months when the weather does not cooperate with the needs and desires of the cyclists. Stationary cycling techniques will help you maintain and also build your muscle power even when you can not go out for on the road cycling.

In the Winner’s Circle with the Slipstream Cycling Team

For professional cyclists, cycling teams are the epitome of success. While not the same as baseball or basketball teams, they are equally important. Cycling is an independent sport, but like car racing, cyclists want their teammates to do well also. Cycling teams provide sponsorship, salaries, free gear and tournament fees. Cyclists who are not members of cycling teams will have to pay a lot of pocket to fund their own careers, but by earning a spot on a cycling team, they can sit back, relax and pedal toward victory.

One for All

In 2007, the Slipstream Cycling Team was formed in the United States. A UCI Professional Continental Team, the team is managed by Jonathan Vaughters, a professional rider himself. While many teams are owned and operated by businessmen, having a former rider in charge always helps to direct a cycling team toward the right goals: victory, not profit. The Slipstream Cycling Team wears orange and blue argyle, and is sponsored by Slipstream Sports, a sports marketing and development company. It is also sponsored by the Chipotle Mexican Grill and H30.

When the Slipstream Cycling Team first entered the Professional Continental organization, it participated in the Agency for Cycling Ethics program, a program aimed toward the elimination of doping in the sport of professional cycling. Volunteer participants are tested extensively and are given a bio-stable marker profile; in future tests, if these markers move, it is a red flag.

The rider is either sick or has been taking illegal drugs. Cyclists who exhibit changes in their profiles are unable to participate in races until the scores have returned to normal; they are also required to undergo further testing to diagnose the cause of the problem. The Slipstream Cycling Team chose to volunteer for the testing establish a solid, honest image.

The Slipstream Cycling Team was originally formed as a development cycling team in 2004, used to test both professional and amateur cyclists. The TIAA-CREF sponsored the cyclists on the team during the developmental period, and it continues to the team’s 10-17 year old cyclists who do not compete competitively.

The Slipstream Cycling Team competed on the 2007 USA Cycling Professional Tour, the 2007 UCI America Tour and the 2007 UCI Europe Tour. Occasionally, the team was also selected as a wildcard to various UCI ProTour events. In 2008, former Tour de France winners David Zabriskie and David Millar joined the Slipstream Cycling Team, along with Christian Vande Velde and Magnus Backstedt. David Millar is also slated to become part-owner of the team alongside Vaughters.

Why Should You Buy Road Cycling Shoes?

Anyone who has ever tried riding their bike wearing lace up sports shoes will know what can happen if those laces get blown into your bike chain. One minute you’re biking along quite happily and the next minute you grind to a halt with your laces wrapped round the chain. If you are lucky they survive – but if you are unlucky not only will your laces snap, you can end up having an accident as well. If ever there was a case for buying proper road cycling shoes, this is it.

What Makes Road Cycling Shoes Different From Ordinary Shoes?

When you are on your bike, you generally use the front section of your foot to push down on the pedal and keep you going faster and easier. If you try using the middle of your foot you’ll notice how much more difficult it is to pedal.

Normal shoes can make an ideal pedalling position quite difficult, since they are not built for cycling. If you were to put on a pair of road cycling shoes you would notice that they don’t feel that comfortable to walk in. That’s because they are not designed to be used for that purpose.

But it’s not just the position your foot is in that makes a difference when you are wearing a pair of road cycling shoes. If you take a closer look at a pair of road cycling shoes you will see that the soles are designed to grip the pedals more firmly than a regular pair of shoes. They are also extremely lightweight and therefore make it much easier to pedal along without feeling like you have huge weights on your feet.

This is similar to all other types of clothing for cyclists. It is all lightweight because you don’t want to be carrying any more weight on your person that necessary – this is because it makes it more difficult to pick up speed as the bike has to propel more weight. Even heavier shoes can make a difference if you are racing.

Where Should You Get Road Cycling Shoes From?

Road cycling shoes should be bought from reputable dealers who stock a wide range of gear for bikers. Not all sports shops stock road cycling shoes because they tend to be a bit more specialized than some of the other items bikers wear. The best deals can often be found online, so keep your eye out for end of line specials.

Powering Up with Power Cycling Exercise Routines

For many athletes, the off season is not a season of rest. It is a season of increased training, of improvement and of power. Many athletes use the off season to train harder, train faster and train longer. The season may have pointed out some flaws, or they may have become aware of certain shortcomings. In the off season, these specific traits can be improved or fixed altogether. In the world of cycling, the off season is an important season. While injured cyclists may need to take some time, healthy cyclists will have a lot to go over. Maybe their endurance needs work, or their top speed. Maybe their hills are weak or their acceleration could be stronger. Regardless of what needs to be fixed, the cure is simple—power cycling exercise routines.

Making the Most of the Break

No matter how hard they train, some cyclists just cannot improve in the off season. The reason is that their fitness plateaus. Their muscles have memorized the motions of cycling so well that they are no longer challenged. When the muscles are not challenged, they do not grow stronger. Power cycling exercise routines help to pinpoint exactly which parts of a cyclist’s body are no longer being challenged, and help to develop no ways to challenge those muscles. The art of sports science is designed to build better athletes by developing programs based on individual monitoring and test results. With these results, fitness professionals can give each individual cyclist the perfect power cycling exercise routines to improve his or her strength, speed and endurance.

Power cycling exercise routines combine physical assessments, individual exercise prescriptions, performance reviews, hardware, software and analysis. The routines can be done at home or in local health clubs, training centers or cycling shops. Power cycling exercise routines work by stressing the necessary muscles of individual cyclists, the muscles that need the most work and improvement; consequently, each cyclist is locked into his or her personal training zone ensuring that every moment spent training is of the highest quality.

For both serious athletes and amateur athletes, aerobic exercise is not enough. Running or riding a bicycle for half an hour will not challenge anyone. Instead, training needs to be applied for a specified time, at a specified intensity specific to each individual. With the use of computer programs, power cycling exercise routines help cyclists to highlight their specific intensity zones, ensuring that each cyclist is challenged. Power cycling exercise routines are so specific that they even make use of blood lactate analysis to ensure that the exercises are right for the individual. Almost every athlete is guaranteed to see immediate improvements using power cycling exercise routines.

A Directory of Michigan Cycling Clubs

Michigan has been a bicycle-friendly state for over 25 years. The sport has grown so rapidly that there are now cycling clubs covering the entire state. Michigan cycling clubs are divided into eight different geographic locations.

Michigan Cycling Clubs - Region 1

Clubs operating in region one, which includes Detroit and Grosse Pointe, include the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association, the DTE Cycling Club, the Sisters Cycling Bicycle Club in Detroit, Miller Canfield Cyclists, also in Detroit, and the Easy Riders Bicycle Club, with headquarters in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 2

Region two is a smaller region. Cycling clubs located in region two include the Clinton River Riders in Clinton Township, and Slow Spokes Bicycle Club in Mount Clemens.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 3

Region three encompasses the towns of Royal Oak, Southfield, Oxford, Waterford, and Clarkston. In Southfield, cycling enthusiasts may join a number of cycling clubs, including Motive Force Loose Spokes and Team Comcast Cycles.

Royal Oak residents can look to the Wolverine Sports Club for cycling club companionship. Oxford cyclists who love the Lord will find fellowship with the Wheel Power Christian Cycling Club.The Cannondale Midwest Racing Club reaches out to Waterford residents, while the Flying Rhino Cycling Club has its home in Clarkston.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 4

Region four is a smallish region. It includes only the Downriver Cycling Club and the Cycling Saddlemen Bicycle Club, both in Trenton.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 5

Ann Arbor residents can roll their wheels with the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition, and the Wolverbents Cycling Recumbent Bicycle Club. The latter welcomes residents from all around southeastern Michigan.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 6

Region six clubs include the Cascades Cycling Club in Jackson. It also includes the Tri-County Bicycle Association in Lansing.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 7

There are four clubs to choose from in Region seven. These include: The Chain Gang and Kalamazoo Bicycle Club, both in Kalamazoo; Three Oaks Spokes, and the Macatawa Cycling Club.

Michigan Cycling Clubs – Region 8

Encompassing western Michigan and the Grand Rapids area, riders of two-seaters will want to join the Michigan United Tandem Society. Cyclists who follow the one-person-one-bike rule may join Big Rapids Bicycle Club, West Michigan Coast Riders in Fruitport, or Rapid Wheelmen Inc, in Grand Rapids.

Ferries

Because there are so many lakes in Michigan, ferries are frequently used during a biking trek. After you have planned your trip, make sure that you contact individual ferry operators for schedules and information on transporting bicycles, since policy can vary ferry to ferry.

Bridges

Planning a trek with a Michigan Cycling Club should involve a lot of attention being given to the bridges that you will cross. Some bridges prohibit bicycles, others make you wait and you will be transported at the convenience of the Authority.

Enjoy the Scenery with Long Distance Cycling

The invention of the gym made fitness and exercise convenient. Regardless of the weather outside, men and women around the world can exercise whenever it fits their schedules. They can run on treadmills, pedal on stationary bikes, climb fake stairs and lift at their own paces. They can even joy group classes so they feel motivated by other people. However, gyms can also be depressing places. Aside from the occasional television attached to the wall, there is really nothing much to look at, and for many people, running or biking without really going anywhere does not feel like progress at all.

Long distance cycling, whether competitively or leisurely, can be a life changing experience. There is nothing like seeing the world on bicycle. While cities have become popular places for bicycling, it is usually not for the sake of fitness. Instead, curious, police officers and even postal workers use bicycles to get around easier, avoid traffic and go where cars cannot go. But in the country, in nations across the globe, long distance cycling is an adventure unmatched by anything else.

How It Feels to Be Alive

Across the United States, there are countless long distance cycling trails designed specifically for cyclists looking for adventure and accomplishment. These trails are not used for racing; instead, they are carefully mapped, carefully marked trails consisting of roads and paths that stretch through states intended for leisurely rides. Cyclists should give these trails credit, however—some of them take up to three months to complete. For mountain bikers, there are long distance cycling trails that weave through forests, mountains and trails, linking various national parks and mountain ranges into a beautiful tour of nature. For road cyclists, every road can be a new adventure, and almost every breathtaking site in America is even more breathtaking when seen from a bicycle. There is something magical about getting somewhere by the power of the body alone—it makes the destination seem that much more amazing.

Long distance cycling groups combine the socialization of Spinning classes with the beauty and happiness of sunshine, fresh air and scenery. These groups are often paced according to the capabilities of the riders, and the tour guides often know exactly where they are going, how fast to get there and what to look at along the way. Numerous organizations in the United States exist to help cyclists find long distance cycling opportunities that fit their needs and dreams—all it takes is a little initiative, a lot of passion and a dedication to personal improvement.