From France And Beyond: Getting To Know The Tour De France

For most Americans, the initial images that come to mind when one mentions sports are group athletics on a field. Football, baseball, and basketball are the holy trinity of sporting events States-side, but to Europeans, older and more traditional activities reign supreme.

For people in the United States, the idea of a bunch of grown men on bicycles pedaling through the countryside might not seem like a big deal. Worse yet, there might even be gross misjudgment in place that makes it seem like a delicate or easy endeavor to participate in.

The biggest mistake that people make when thinking about The Tour de France is thinking the race just lasts for a couple of days, or is actually not that long, but is spread out time-wise. In reality, the race is thousands of miles long, usually lasts for 21 days of continuous riding, and has been known not just to span France, but the surrounding countries, too. Riders have to navigate some of the steepest and most dangerous roads in France, and must be in peak physical shape to even think about doing a good job.

In fact, a number of riders have actually not survived The Tour de France, whether it was succumbing to heart attacks after ingesting methamphetamine while climbing part of the hills, or simply not being able to keep a bicycle on the road in times of great exhaustion. Riding the race has been compared to running in a marathon non-stop for a month, and it’s no wonder why this seems an appropriate description once viewers take a single look at those treacherous mountain passes.

Though most of the accidents seem to occur during stretches through crowded mountain areas, as well as on the more hilly terrain, the race isn’t all climbing and sprinting down mountains. There is a substantial amount of distance endurance riding through moderately hilly countryside, as well as some of the most famous stretches in cities, including that final lap through Paris, where thousands of locals and visitors congregate to see their favorite rider pass through and complete his epic race through France.

Aside from that, the race is known for being daunting emotionally, since much time is spent alone, unsure of one’s standing in the race, and dealing with the very real thought that, after the next hundred miles, 900 more are waiting. It takes a lot out of anyone, even a famous bicyclist, to compete in this race.

And while Americans might not have historically cared very much about bicycle racing, that all changed in recent years.. Not only were all of the Americans hanging on the daily results, but there was a huge rise in the popularity of long distance bicycling. Ever since this historic reign of terror, interest in the race has been the standard.

That one rider, who beat not only The Tour but also managed to triumph over cancer, is none other than Lance Armstrong. At the top of his game, truly, the man managed to win The Tour De France seven times in a row, often far ahead of the other riders. Armstrong is not just a legend to those in his home country, but also to many Europeans, who begrudgingly accepted him as one of the greatest cyclist of our time, and are just as excitedly rooting for him as he takes on the course as they are when their home country favorites whiz by.

And finally the Americans understand what it is that the French, the Swiss, the Italians, and so many others have been enjoying for years and years, since the races’ humble beginnings almost a hundred years ago. It’s not about the sport of bicycling, so much, it’s about the idea of a single person, on their own on the side of a mountain, trying to last until tomorrow. The physical and mental endurance of taking on a race that lasts almost a month is legendary, and no matter what the vehicle, worthy of a great deal of applause.

Damian Papworth, an enthusiastic cyclist knows how crucial hydration is in the sport, at all levels. For this reason, he published the Cycling Water Bottle website, giving free advice on bicycle water bottles

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December 30 2009 | cycling | No Comments »

Hydration Is A Key Part Of Sport

Our bodies are made up of more than 60% water – a huge and almost unimaginable amount. This essential fluid is quite possibly the most important element of life, facilitating its very existence. This is why doctors and nutritionists recommend that we drink seven to ten glasses of water during the day as a surefire way to promote health and well-being. We are told to make a conscious effort to stay hydrated as a way to benefit our physical and mental selves.

Water has several different functions in the body. It plays a big role in the transportation of nutrients and the removal of waste products. Water lubricates tissues and joints and facilitates digestion. Though sweating, it regulates body temperature and is generally an important player in the function of many organs and glands.

In daily life, it is important to stay well-hydrated at all times. When sports and athletic activity are added into the mix, hydration becomes an even more important issue.

Hydration is key to optimal performance. When we exercise, we sweat. When we sweat, we lose water. And when we lose water, it becomes more difficult for our bodies to function. In fact, studies have found that a loss of just one or more percent of one’s body weight during to sweating is linked to a drop in blood volume, which requires the heart to work harder to move blood through the bloodstream. Dehydration during exercise can cause muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue and even heat stroke.

This is why athletes have to pay special attention to hydration while engaging in a sport or working out.

Monitoring hydration and figuring out when to rehydrate is a trial-and-error process. All individuals are different, and each person must decide what works for him or her. The amount of fluid to take in during sport depends upon the length and intensity of exercise as well as the individual athlete. When taking into consideration other factors such as high altitude and temperature, the hydration process can be even more complicated. With time, however, most athletes come to know what works and what doesn’t.

But hydration isn’t just about knowing when and how much to drink – it is also about knowing what to drink. Many athletes stick with water, the old classic that has been tried and trusted for years. Nevertheless, there are tons of sports drinks available in the market today. How does one know if these drinks are worth it?

Opinions vary on sports drinks as a whole. While many recognize that they contain electrolytes that are important to replace after intense workouts, others argue that they are simply sugar-filled concoctions that do very little to promote hydration and health.

The best idea is to simply proceed with caution. Remember that sports drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde have calories – about 200 per bottle, in fact. Such calories are great to take in after a highly intense work-out, not necessarily after a 20-minute walk.

Hydration is key to performance and well-being with or without athletic activity added into the mix. Sports, however, require a special attention to the issue not required by other parts of life.

Damian Papworth, an enthusiastic amateur cyclist, recently put together the Cycling Water Bottle website. He knows how important a bike water bottle is to hydration on the big rides.

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December 27 2009 | cycling | No Comments »

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