Posted by admin on June 1st, 2010 — Posted in Motorbikes + Cycles
Question: What’s the #1 guaranteed way to make certain you win a race this year?
Answer: Optimize Your Power Output On The Bike
Here is Why:
With at least half if not more of your base miles already done and the season right around the corner, now is the time to optimize your power output on the bike.
The definition of power is force multiplied by speed and is the ability to turn a large gear for a long period of time. It is sometimes referred to as muscular endurance.
Power is without doubt the most important factor that you need to work on if you are going to be competitive this season and have any chance of winning a bike race this year.
So why is power so important in bike racing? Well think of it this way- how about you line up in a motorcycle race alongside 4 other riders all riding similar motorbikes to you except for one thing- they have 500cc bikes, but you’re only riding a 250cc machine. How do you rate your chances?
Not great. Of course not because your power output is exactly half theirs- you’ve lost the race before you’ve even started- but ask yourself this-
How many times have you lined up for a road race having done little more than base miles with the occasional interval here and there?
Is your power output optimized for the season ahead? Have you done everything you possibly can do to make certain your sustainable power output is as high as it can be before entering your key races for the year?
If not then you could be in for a shock when you begin racing. Your penalty for not developing sufficient power will be precisely the same as lining up in that motorcycle race- except that those higher powered motorcycles will be other riders with their own more powerful engines…
So how do you know when you’ve got a power problem and what can you do about it? Well see if any of these scenarios sound familiar:
Scenario #1
You’re riding well in a race but suddenly you enter a crosswind section and the bunch lines out in the right hand gutter. Instantly you realize you’re getting little shelter from the pace line and begin to suffer. Slowly you let a gap open and you lose contact with the rider in front. Riders behind start yelling at you to hold the wheel but you can’t and the group begins to ride away. Suddenly you and everyone behind you is out of the running- Why? Because you couldn’t produce enough power to hold the wheel in the cross wind.
Scenario # 2
Your speed drills have worked well and you’ve managed to get yourself into what looks as if it could be the winning move. But now you’re up front and there’s only four of you to hold off the pack. Suddenly you are unable to go through to do your turn. Your legs are screaming and the other riders are yelling at you to work! In desperation you cling to the last rider’s wheel to try to recover but then you realize he is taking you out the back of the break. You watch defeated from no-mans land as the rider bridges back to the pair up front and works with them to contest the sprint for the line. What happened? You were unable to sustain enough power to contribute to the working break.
Scenario # 3
In your next race you swear this won’t happen again and you’ve psyched yourself for the pain. This time you’re not going to crack you tell yourself. But this time you don’t manage to draft anyone into the break. You’re boxed in when four riders sprint away and you see what looks like the winning move disappearing up the road. Finally you hit the front and jump with everything you’ve got to try to bridge across to them. Good, there’s no-one on your wheel but you can’t believe how strong the headwind is and you start to suffer badly. There’s no-one to help you out and you don’t seem to be gaining on the break. Finally you succumb to the headwind and the pack catches you again. Why? Because you couldn’t sustain sufficient power to bridge across to the break.
The good news is if you make it your business to increase your power before you begin racing you can avoid all of this happening and you’ll be the one who not only makes it into the winning move but who’s there to contest the win!
So what’s the fastest way to develop the kind of power you need to win bike races?
Answer: Ride the Indoor Trainer.
Huh? You thought that was only for riding in the winter when there’s snow on the roads right?
Wrong!
Riding the indoor trainer is the best way to do your intervals for one key reason:
You can go MUCH harder on the trainer than you can do out on the road.
Riding the indoor trainer allows you to undertake the kind of interval training that is simply not realistic on the open road. You can go so hard that you may taste blood or feel noxious but without the need to worry about controlling the bike when you’re riding flat out. The result?
Your next race will feel easy by comparison and if it doesn’t- you can go back and hurt yourself even more until it does!
Still don’t think it works? Read this:
Former world hour record holder Graeme Obree rode an incredible 32.75 miles during his hour record. He prepared for this record by riding flat out on his indoor trainer several times per week.
Ex professional Tour De France Yellow Jersey holder and stage winner Sean Yates was quoted last year as saying:
“I’ve been riding 2-3 hours per day in the mornings and spending the rest of my time on the trainer”
Both riders and countless other pros understand the importance of doing high intensity work on the indoor trainer.
Whatever else you do this year, ride your intervals on the indoor trainer. You’re guaranteed to increase your power output and it will likely give you your most successful bike racing season to date.
Good luck with your 2006 season!
Bart Summers is an active amateur racer and author of http://www.50topbikeracingtips.com
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Posted by admin on February 12th, 2010 — Posted in Motorbikes + Cycles
Mopeds necessitate systematic upkeep to increase its serviceable life. Even though servicing is commonly implemented to maximize the bike’s life, a large number of servicing tasks likewise have a positive influence to safety and reliability. From oil changes to tyre changes, appropriate servicing is a crucial responsibility of owning a scooter.
Changing Oil
Changing the oil is a important job, especially in air cooled moped engines. Air cooled engines have a tendency to generate more heat as opposed to water cooled engines, such as engines in cars and trucks. Mopeds likewise function at very fast revolutions, and that can can quickly damage oil. Moped oil changes must be completed every 500 to 750 kilometres. Oil must be replaced with an oil designed higher heat. In cooler climes, 10W40 motor oil works well. In more humid climes, 20W40 is ordinarily a better bet.
Brake and Throttle Cables
As time goes by, brake and throttle cables elongate and may affect bike functionality and safety. Normal oil will aid in preventing the lines from binding or prematurely stretching. Only a few drips of machine oil or WD40 on the areas where the lines get out from the sleeves and enter the controls can assist in lubing the throttle and brake cables. Although a lot of motorcycles come with self-tightening cables, it is a good move to have your cables looked over with every oil change.
Bearings and Wheel Bolts
Bolts and bearings, as well as other types of scooter fasteners, must be on a regular basis examined for tautness. This job is oftentimes best performed with each oil change; nevertheless in odd cases you may need to do random checks to make sure that all fastenings are tightened down securely.
Suspension and Tyre Maintenance
You should on a regular basis check the tyres for correct air pressure. As time passes, shocks get wear and tear and may cause tyres to not have solid connection with the road surface. Worn-out tyres and shocks have a negative influence on the safety of your motorcycle and need to be exchanged.
Lastly it’s a good move to logon to the internet to research in more detail on the matter of motorbike maintenance - simply type in related keyphrases in a search engine like scooter tyres to acquire info on the matter of motorcycle maintenance.
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Posted by admin on January 2nd, 2010 — Posted in Motorbikes + Cycles
To really understand the women and her ride, one needs to go back in history to explore the courageous women who defied the norm and road their horses in the freedom of the wind. Who could forget Joan of Arc or Annie Oakley. Two completely different women who followed their own council and fought for their right to ride in a man’s world. Or the women warlords who fought while on horseback and brandished their swords with the best of them. (and yes, women really did that) What man could resist such a women?
Women’s love affair with the motorcycle began with the bicycle back in the 1800’s. They became hugely popular with women. Susan B. Anthony once said, “A bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women more than any other thing in this world”.
When the motorized bicycle was developed in the early 1900’s, it opened up a whole new realm of adventure for the high-spirited woman of the day. Many women took to the open road not on horseback, but on the iron horse. Adventurous women enjoyed many long distance rides. Some were skilled enough to do stunt riding. No mean feat, especially on the earlier bikes.
The ride for men and women are uniquely different. A man on his ride is master of the iron muscle and his testosterone kicks in while he uses his arms and upper body to control the beast. He is lord and master of his ride. Women take a more subtle approach. They use their lower body and their curves to hug the open road. It’s a sensual bond between the bike and the woman. She is also master of the ride but she controls it with more passion and finesse.
There is something about seeing a woman on a motorcycle that makes you take notice. You can see the iron muscle being controlled with femininity. It’s the combination of power and aesthetics that make it an irresistible combination.
There is nothing like the open road for both men and women. To experience the freedom and the wind, the sites you see and people you meet along the way that fuel the spirit and feed the soul. This experience is something no one can take from you.
Enjoy!
About the author
Willie Jones
http://www.barneysmotorcycles.com
Willie is a freelance writer, researcher and artist who’s adventurous spirit loves to share with others. Barneys Motorcycle
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Posted by admin on May 26th, 2008 — Posted in Blogs + Bookmarks, Classic Automobiles & Others, Motorbikes + Cycles
Ferrari gift experiences will suit the more refined racer, these provide both unadulterated speed and comfort.
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