If you have ever wanted to travel to Maine to visit the national parks that they offer, you are in luck.  Due to the United States Government Sequestration of 2013, the national park Budgets are seeing a cut of $400,000 this year.  This has forced them to cut many services, and to open the parks later than is usual in the spring.  For this reason, cyclists and bikers are going to enjoy free riding sessions without motor vehicles to points up to Cadillac Point until May 15th.

Travel to Maine to Ride your Bike

With the government cuts, you will see less services offered during this period of time, but you as a cyclist will be able to ride in a comfort that is rare and unusual in America.  Making lemons into lemonade, an adventurous biker or mountain biker, will find a nice clean road awaits, without the foot traffic of pedestrians and cars.  The envy of the country, Acadia National Park is one of the most pristine and lovely parks in the world.  With the high slopes and the ease of access, you can welcome the break of dawn at the earliest time from anywhere in the world.  You can climb to Cadillac Mountain, and see Nova Scotia from 25 miles away.  The height of the mountain will allow you to enjoy a natural and beautiful experience, and the park will be open, but not to motor vehicles for this brief period of time.

Travel to Maine And Stay At Bar Harbor

Visitors and Tourism thrive at Bar Harbor, and they are broadcasting cyclists and bikers only until May 15, 2013.  With this rare opportunity, you will be able to meet and enjoy some of your fellow self propelled enthusiasts enmass,  with no fighting amongst vehicles and other traffic.  From this point on highway 233, you will not be allowed to travel further up to Cadillac Mountain, so there will be much space and tranquility to enjoy the many views of the area.

The ride to the point parking lot is around 30 miles from the KOA campground in Bar Harbor, but you could easily break this into a couple of days ride, as the park does have good campgrounds available.  Be sure to check with the Bar Harbor community chamber of commerce, for good insight for your quiet ride to the mountain.

Travel to Maine and Save a Town

Not only does the sequestration of the United States Government kick the community of Bar Harbor a little hiccup, but it does bring on some hardship.  Relying on the spring and summer months for tourism, the city is built to make your trip as pleasurable as they can.  With the loss of car traffic, there will be many grateful bars and restaurants waiting to serve you.  Not only do servers and owners of tourism specialty stores rely on your visit, but there are many gas stations, banks, grocery stores, and motels that will welcome your friendly face.

Travel to Maine during the April 14-May 14 period where bikes are doing the park and the town a huge favor, and you will be welcomed instead of warned.

A great way to spring into the summer season, or to revamp your fitness routine, is to find time for biking.  The cycle is the best exercise machine for the human body, and allows a range of motion that is stress free, and often less damaging to major muscle groups.  When building your next fitness regime, be sure build into this plan, biking.

Biking into Spring with Stationary Bikes

Whenever you are building a fitness routine, start simple, and the best way to start on a bike is to try a stationary biking platform.  Biking can be a great way to stretch, move and evolve your fitness routine into a cardiac-vascular workout.   The routine should start with a simple time of 5 minutes per workout, each day.  This easy way to build muscle and endurance, will not discount your efforts by injury or lack of motivation.  If you are building your fitness routine into a more robust program, and you have not exercised for years, why build your routine too quickly, and then find your motivation depleted, and yourself injured?  Biking is best when you build your momentum slowly and with caution.

Stationary Bikes will improve your agility and ability to handle the stress of the road, without having to build your strength in a dangerous roadway. Biking can be very engaging, but the road is a dangerous place for most biking ventures.  Cars, trucks and municipal transit offerings are very often busy and will offer some challenges for those bikers who bike with a level of physical challenge. It will be important for you as a cyclist to build your strength, and do it preferably on the bike you will road ride.  You can do this with a indoor exercise trainer stand, and build your bike into this stand with a simple attachment.  This is a great way to convert any bike to stationary, and start biking with safety.

Seats, gloves and biking in the weather

Your biking efforts will only be hindered by a too quick jump onto your new bike, without an adjustment to the seat on your bike, and the gloves you will use.  The handlebars are a point of stress, and unlike the pedals that have increased movement to stop stress from building, your seat is the second stress point in biking.

Building strength on your stationary bike, you can see how your hands and butt will be affected by your exercise efforts.  This is key information, as some cyclists and riders find the biking efforts better suited with additional padding, or less padding.  The choice is really how your body works, and how it is best accommodated during your biking ride.  If you have any issues with your ride, more than often it is related to your seat or your grasp on the handle bars.

The third stress point is surprisingly not the bike itself, but the environment in which your ride will occur.  Often the weather will be a benefit, or a true impact on how successful your ride can become. That is another reason the stationary trainer position can be successful to continue your endurance skills.  With rain and wind, there will be days with no outdoor possibility, but, you may want that 10 minutes of freedom to keep your pace.

Biking into Heat and Summer

Continue your goals of running fast, but with caution, and do this on your stationary biking setup.  With a stationary setup, you may like it so much, that you end up finding a similar or the same bike as your outdoor runner.  This is a great way to continue into the summer your biking exercise regime, and find that stress free and safe exercise program.  No one needs a treadmill with a stationary indoor bike restrainer or exerciser.

Biking can be fun when you are fit, safe and in a position to continue that path into the future.

Mountain Bike Sizing and Fit

In choosing a new bicycle, picking the right size frame is vital if you want to have the perfect position when riding. There are various other factors to consider but frame size is the most important and if you get this wrong, nothing else will matter.

 Mountain Bike Sizing and Fit Matters

There are many online charts that are designed to help cyclists in choosing the right frame so I will not reproduce one here. However, before you head off to look for one, make sure that you have your height and inside leg measurements on hand. As frames are usually measured from the centre of the crank to the top of the frame where the seat tube will be inserted, the most important measurement to consider when choosing a frame is your inside leg as this will dictate whether a certain model will be a good fit or not.

Once you have established what size frame you need, it is time to consider the other factors that will affect your riding position and whether you are likely to be comfortable over long distances. The four most important of these are listed below:

1. Seat post height – To set this properly, it is best to ensure that your seat is parallel to the floor before starting. Mount your bike and rotate the cranks until one pedal is in the lowest position and the other is as high as it can go while making sure that the cranks are in line with the seat tube. The angle of your extended leg should be around 10-15 degrees; any more and you will probably need to raise the seat post, any less and it should be lowered.

1. Stem length – Although the ideal length will depend, to a large extent, on the ratio of your leg to body measurements, personal preference comes into it as well. You may need to experiment a little before you find the ideal position so do not be afraid to try several different settings. Generally speaking, the longer the stem, the more your body will be angled forward and your back flattened. A shorter stem will result in a more upright riding position. The best position should involve a slight bend of the elbows when you are riding in a straight line, in order to avoid placing unnecessary strain on your wrists.

1. Handle bar width – As this is not something that can be adjusted, you will need to choose the most suitable handlebars when you order your cycle. For those who regularly ride over rough terrain, wider bars can make it easier to steer. Due to the riding position that results from fitting wide bars, they can also facilitate deeper breathing when tackling demanding gradients. This makes it handy for those who live in mountainous areas or regularly take on the most challenging mountain bike routes that they can find.

1. Handle bar height – The height of your bars, as well as the length of the stem, which was covered above, can affect the angle of your back when riding so it is important to make sure that you get it right. How much adjustment you have available will depend on the design of your bike but if you need more than is provided by using spacers on the steering tube to raise the height of the stem, you may need to think about investing in a riser bar.

Other factors to consider include handlebar grips, the length of your crank arms and the position of your pedals and saddle. By keeping the aforementioned points in mind, you should have no trouble in getting the perfect bicycle for your outdoor pursuits.

About the Author

ProBikeKit is a leading provider of bike tires, frames, and other components across the UK. They offer clients with a wide range of products, both online and offline.

People ride outside one of many
stately homes in northwest Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

[This story was written by northwest Portland resident and local transportation activist Rebecca Hamilton.]
—
While our neighbors in southeast Portland emblazon their Neighborhood Greenway intersections with painted sunflowers and north Portland artists envision gold-leaf murals of cycling heroes along popular cycling routes, the Northwest District has long seemed to pedal on indifferently, unattached to biking as a part of its identity.

Now, on the brink of transformation, the Northwest District is becoming aware of the significance of cycling for its future. With the approval of the Con-way Master Plan last month — a plan that calls for the transformation of the parking lot tundras north of Overton into multi-story residential and office space — we can expect a possible influx of tens of thousands of new residents into this area over the next two decades. Northwest Portland’s best move is to embrace active transportation as the preferred and dominant modes of getting around the neighborhood if it is to avoid an auto-dominated circus that would wreck our quiet quality of life.

Events like this one are signs of
life for northwest Portland’s
bike culture.
(Graphic: Damon Eckhoff)

But despite a comfortable network of sharrow-ed, low-traffic streets, enthusiasm and ridership seem lacking. If the northwest wants to join its eastside quadrants in consciously cultivating a neighborhood of bike commuters, errand-runners, and recreationalists, it will take a culture shift. So, how do we do that? We think we can start with bike fun.

At first glance, Bunny on a Bike rides and Mario Kart mushrooms in the bike lanes may seem like frivolous elements unrelated to the serious business of increasing bicycle mode share and safety in American cities. But these little things show that cycling is something celebrated and is part of the character of a neighborhood; it cultivates a camaraderie among riders that can that develop into pride. With pride comes ownership and a sense of responsibility. Over time, a strong bike-fun culture can attract new ridership (and the safety that numbers bring) and develop the local advocacy that is essential if cycling is to (metaphorically) take the lane in our neighborhood.

Local organizers are looking for ways to make cycling an integral part of how our neighbors experience their home. For example, the Northwest District Association (NWDA) tied their local love of our parks to enthusiasm for family cycling with their second annual Bike-In Movie event last week (it was Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure). Everyone who arrived by bike received a raffle ticket for a chance at lots of great prizes from Bikeasaurus.

Local historians, too, have been making the connection between bikes and our pride as one of Portland’s first neighborhoods. This past spring, the Historic Preservation League of Oregon used a bicycle tour as a way to showcase the places that make northwest Portland unique in their Pedalpalooza ride called, The Dream of the 1890s is Alive in NW Portland.

Building on the interest from that event, the 2012 Slabtown Festival (tomorrow, 9/15!) will also feature a bike tour of the former working-class, immigrant neighborhood north of Pettygrove St. — again demonstrating to neighbors how bikes can be part of the way we celebrate our distinctive historic character.

Going beyond passive existence and moving towards conscious participation in — and celebration of — a neighborhood cycling culture will take some work. But if we can adopt cycling as a key part of our identity now, then the NW District may be able to retain its quiet historical character even as it welcomes thousands of new neighbors to join us on the roads.

We’re looking to head in a new direction. Come join us for the ride.

BikePortland.org » Front Page

A Cycling Tour through the Isle of Wight

In the summer of 2011 I decided to take a cycling tour in the UK. I spent hours researching where I was going to go and which tour to take. There are dozens of choices that cross gorgeous mountains, open fields and rocky coastlines. I ended up booking a tour for the Isle of Wight in July 2011. My fiance and I planned to do the tour together as a bonding experience.

We chose the Isle of Wight because of the beautiful scenery, slight hills and photography opportunities. As two hobby photographers, we wanted the best opportunity for photos. We also wanted a physical challenge that wasn’t too overwhelming.

Buying Supplies

Supplies are the most important thing when taking on a biking tour. We both chose mountain bikes from bikesnbits website. My fiancé chose the “Claud Butler dalesman 2012 touring Bike”, and I opted for the “Dawes karakum Ladies touring Bike”. Both had the specifications we needed for our body type and goal. We purchased some simple equipment in addition to the bikes from bikes-by-mail-order.co.uk. We already have hiking and cycling packs, but we needed water packs to include in our luggage. Bikesnbits provided all of our materials.

Setting Off On The Journey

The Isle of Wight tour is a medium-level challenge. It’s the perfect balance between easy and difficult. My fiance and I were very excited to set off on our journey. Day one started at Cowes, and it moves counter clockwise around the isle. It is 64 miles around the entire area. This takes five days to complete and four nights.

Day one

We rode for a few miles at a time. Periodically the group stopped to take photos, stretch and drink water. This wasn’t a race, so we were comfortable taking in the scenery and enjoying what the Isle of Wight had to offer. The first few hills were easy, but as the day dragged on they felt tougher. We rested in an open area spot for the night completely surrounded by beautiful grass and nature.

Day two

We started with a gorgeous sunrise over wight. We had a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and nuts before gearing up to go. Our next stretch of land was Cowes to Mottistone. This is a total of 23 miles. It was uneventful for the most part. The village here is gorgeous. It’s all very quaint and charming. My fiance and I decided that we would live here happily if we could. We spied various animals running across our path and in the grasses. The weather was pleasant.

Day three

This route took us from Mottistone to Sandown, Just 22 miles in total distance. You can see the beach from this strip, and we actually stopped to enjoy it for a brief period of time. The ocean was still quite chilly though. We didn’t spend much time in the water, but we watched the wildlife on the shore until sunset. The weather was warm so no fires were needed. It was another beautiful day of perfect weather.

Day four

This was our last night that we would be sleeping. Nearing the end of our journey we felt quite sad to be leaving this beautiful place. It won our hearts completely. Sandown back to Cowes was a nice journey, but some of the final hills were a bit of a challenge. We were tired and ready for a shower.

Day five

Our last day was spent finishing up our exploration of Cowes and enjoying great company. We made some friends on the way so we exchanged our information with them. We had one last meal and departed by ferry from the Isle of Wight.

Concluding Our Journey

Experienced riders will not face any challenges while out. Beginners will have a harder time overcoming the rocky paths, hills and sandy shoreline areas. The path isn’t secluded completely, but it is quiet and away from the towns and villages as much as possible. If there were an emergency, you would be able to get help quickly. That’s part of why we chose this area.

This cycling tour has easy access to historical sites, villages and natural beauty. This tour can be as long or short as you like. It is customizable to include off-trail routes as well. We chose to stick with the trail. We didn’t want to risk getting lost. We are now excited to go on more cycle tours in the UK and around the world. It was simply a life-changing experience. Overall it was a trip to remember with adventures and good times.

Author Bio:  Lisa and my fiancé take this tour and really enjoyed these places. We both love traveling and I love to write about tours, Traveling and biking.

When a private firm failed to meet its promise of providing enough guards for the Olympics, the British military was called in to “mind the gap” in security. A reported 3,500 British troops, some of them just back from Afghanistan, will step in to help guard Olympic venues.

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Last minute cost-cutting has resulted in significant changes to the layout of the Sellwood Bridge that could have a big impact on how walkers and bikers use the bridge. With a key vote on the final design set for this coming Monday (7/16) and a decision on the plans set for Thursday (7/19), the Bicycle Transportation Alliance is urging the county to delay the vote.

The BTA has been tracking this project closely and they have a volunteer on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee. Here’s more from a BTA blog post yesterday:

“The county, in an attempt to save roughly $ 2.5 million, is proposing to remove one of the west-side ramps. As a result, most bike/ped traffic is now on the north side of the bridge… These could be good changes, but only if they’re done right and details are addressed. Currently, Multnomah County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on this new “final plan” on Thursday of next week… The Bicycle Transportation Alliance urges its members to tell their commissioners that more time is needed to vet and improve this new design.”

At issue is a new design only made public last week that shows a shift of the biking/walking path to the north side of the bridge and the removal of a ramp on the east end of the bridge that could make bike access to the Springwater Corridor less than adequate.

Here’s the design that was approved after years of public process (and generally well-liked among advocates):

And here’s the new asymmetrical layout the County is putting forward now:

The BTA says more time is needed to vet these changes and they’re urging people to contact Multnomah County Commissioners. On Monday, a group of elected leaders from throughout the region (including Oregon State legislators, Mayor Adams, and others) will vote on whether or not to recommend the new design.

See the BTA Blog and SellwoodBridge.org for more information.

BikePortland.org » Front Page

The Madden NFL generation may not be able to relate to a game where you just had to hope the players went in the right direction. But to many of a certain age, it was one of the cool toys of the ’60s and ’70s. And it still has fans.

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Jordan Drinovz and Cavan Brady. Vancouver, BC.

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