Comfort Items Help Make Bike Touring A Comfortable Experience

Does the thought of bike touring make you squirm in your seat? The idea of sitting on a bike seat all day, crouching around a tiny stove in the evening, and then being crammed into a teeny tiny tent all night sound uncomfortable? Then don’t live that way! With proper planning and attention to your needs, your next bike tour can be a fantastic, comfortable experience.

Bike tourists have carried all kinds of strange items on tour – lawn chairs, guitars, even down comforters! We each have different items we consider essential, and the important thing is to figure out what it is that you need. It is true that you can’t have it all, but you can have a lot!

For planning purposes, it’ll help to think about your day in three distinct parts: biking during the day, relaxing in camp in the evening, and sleeping in your tent at night.

On the bike: Be sure your clothes are comfortable. There is nothing worse than spending the whole day cycling in clothes that rub the wrong way. By the time you reach the campground, your skin could be rubbed raw in places and hurt! Some people know of one type of bicycle shorts that are tried and true so take multiple pairs of that type. Others find a variety work better in order to vary the pressure points.

You will also need to consider the fit of your bike. If at all possible, talk to experts at a bike shop about the fit of your bicycle. They will be able to look at you riding and tell you how you need to adjust it. If your handlebars are too low you’ll be standing on your hands all day. If your handlebars are too far away from your seat you’ll be reaching way out.

In the campsite: This is where you’ll find the most variety of personal preference. Are you OK sitting on the ground, or do you need some sort of chair. Will a small brace to convert your Therm-a-rest into a chair on the ground work or do you need an actual chair with legs? Can you cook in just one big pot, or do you prefer a variety of sizes and shapes? Do you need to get out of your cycling clothes and into something more comfortable, or are you OK wearing bike shorts all evening? Do you need something for your hands to do (knitting, beadwork, etc…) or are you OK hanging around the campfire shooting the breeze.

After a tough day of cycling, you’ll be tired and need to rest. What are your needs? Make sure those items get stashed on your bike somewhere.

Sleeping: Consider your tent carefully. Are you OK being crammed in or do you require more space for sleeping? Will you feel claustrophobic if the tent is down low over your face or will you need a higher profile tent? What a pillow? Some cyclists carry down pillows, while others simply stuff clothing into a stuff sack. Big thick inflatable pad or thin closed cell foam?

A good night’s sleep is essential to good performance the next day. Make sure you’ve arranged for comfort while you sleep.

Traveling on bicycle should not be a miserable, uncomfortable experience. If you pay attention to your needs, you will be able to pack in such a way that you can have your cake and eat it too!

Nancy Sathre-Vogel started bike touring 30 years ago. Later she toured with her husband, and now travels with their two kids and is an expert on bicycling with children. For tips on planning your own family bike tour, check out www.familyonbikes.org.

Tags: bicycle, bicycle travel, bike touring, cycling, equipment, health, recreation, sports, travel

April 20 2010 | cycling | No Comments »

Commercial Fitness Equipment for the Home

Fitness and health go hand in hand. Today additional and more people are putting in place their gyms at home and buying business fitness equipment due to the fact that is way more convenient and comfy doing gym at home and also way cheaper as you save on gas and you also don’t have to square in a very line waiting to use equipment.

There are many advantages having a gym at home as you can set up with the exact commercial fitness equipment that you need as well as have a personal training which will educate you on how to exercise effectively. The trainer will work out a program that suits your needs. You can also plan a healthy eating menu which your personal trainer can give you sound advice on.

Selecting the proper fitness equipment for your home is important. There are numerous sorts of fitness equipment that has been suggested by personal trainers that every home gym ought to have like a fitness bench, adjustable dumbbells, a compact treadmill, an exercise wheel for your abs especially, an Ab ball is excellent. Or you have got another various you don’t have to purchase your fitness equipment you’ll be able to additionally hire it.

It is extremely important that one maintain a healthy life style but also maintain your ideal weight. A healthy life means that you will not be susceptible to illness especially heart disease. Your stress levels will be far lower which allows one to cope better with the every life especially at the office. When one is relaxed and calm you tend to get far more done that when you are stressed out

By maintaining a healthy diet and eating the proper foods your sugar levels can maintain their balance therefore you won’t be having highs and lows throughout the day. You will be in a position to stay up with the pace.

The author has been writing articles online for over 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in health, fitness and relationships you can also check out his latest websites on Commercial Fitness Equipment and Abdominal Fitness Equipment

Tags: commercial, commercial equipment, commercial fitness, cycling, equipment, fitness, fitness equipment, health, lifestyle, rowing, Running

February 21 2010 | cycling | No Comments »