What psi should my mountain bike be at?

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Kyle

I have a 2013 specialized HK and I have been riding trails a lot but I'm not sure if my tires are to hard and what the psi should be at. Trails have moderate to advanced climbs and my tires are spinning a lot and not grabbing traction. What psi should I keep it at. 29 inch tires

Answer
i keep mine at around 35psi to 45psi max. they grab really nice. too much psi will make the tire stiff and too hard so it wont grab in looser dirt and will simply slide out under you. a low psi will alow the tire to flex and accommodate better to the terain your ridding in.

Is my hybrid bike climbing hills properly?

Q. I recently purchased a hybrid bicycle. A 2013 GIANT Cypress DX.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/cypress.dx/9019/48868/

I took it out and realized that I seem to go a bit slower than most cyclists I come across that aren't on road bikes. This could just be due to my lack of skill or something.

But when I try to go up hill I notice that it is incredibly difficult, and I think I'm using gears properly, but it's just so painfully slow. I don't know how normal it is or at what speed I should expect to be able to climb hills - I'm sure it depends on how steep the hill in question is -- but is there any way to know how fast I should be going up certain kinds of hills?

Are there certain problems with the bike that could account for this?

Answer
Hiram

You have just begun your cycling journey. Consider that you do not really know how to ride yet. You are not in cycling shape. It can't ate you a long time to understand just how to ride. Months to get into shape, and years to understand how to handle your bike.

Start by reading up on "spinning". You can ask here too. Spinning allows the modern cyclist to ride both distance with speed, and have little fatigue. That will help you understand why you are slow on the road, and even slower on the climb. There are many people ho never learn.

Enjoy the knowledge. It will get you to where you wan to go. The other part is training!

Soccerref

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Where could i find a cheap truing stand online?

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m.a818

I'm trying to find a decent cheap truing stand online for truing my bicycle wheels.Where would be a good place that you would recommend and at a good price?I'll choose the best answer!

Answer
If you are only looking to true your wheels once, I'd recommend taking it to your local bike shop as they have the skills and tools needed to do it properly. If you want to invest in a truing stand for doing this on a regular basis, I'd keep your eye on Performance Bike's website. They regularly have sales of up to 20% off and if you catch it at the right time of the month you might hit a Free Shipping sale as well. They have good quality stands at a decent price. The one down in my source is a very high quality model by Spin Doctor, and while the price may seem a bit high it's not bad when you take off the 20% (30% if you're a Performance member). Spin Doctor tools last forever and have great resale value.

Is the simplest way you can define it, what is radius of gyration and how do you find it?

Q. What is it?
What is it used for?
What does it explain?
And how do you find it mathematically?

Answer
The moment of inertia of a body is â m(i) . r(i)^2

Which means that you take all the individual masses that make up the body , multiply each one by the square of the distance it is from the axis of rotation and add them all together.

For each body there can be any number of axes of rotation and so there can be any number of different Moments of Inertia for the same body.

We concentrate on simple shapes with axes of rotation in obvious places.

For example - a bike wheel with all the mass in the rim ( zero weight spokes ! ) , and every bit of that mass the same distance R from the centre of the circle . So the MI of the wheel is M . R^2

Next step = A solid disk ( like a CD ) , spinning round its centre. This time some of the mass is closer to the
centre, and contributes less to the MI .
The total MI for a solid disc can be worked out ( it needs calculus ) and it comes to 1/2 M R^2

Another way to write this would be Mr^2 where r is the radius of gyration - the single value for the average distance from the rotation axis that will give you the correct moment of inertia

In this case r = R/â2

All moments of inertia can be represented by the formula MI = M . r^2 where the r ( the radius of gyration ) is the representative distance that gives you the correct answer.

That is all it is.

A solid ball spinning about a central axis, has a moment of inertia of 2/5 . M . R^2

so its radius of gyration will be 0.4 . M . R^2 = M . r^2

r = R . â 0.4 = 0.6325 R

You don't usually work out the radius of gyration.... you measure it practically by seeing what torque is needed to spin an object, work out the moment of inertia ( by experiment ) and then calculate what the gyration radius must be.

Unless you are doing engineering, I would just ignore it.

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My washing machine only sometimes goes fast on fast spin cycle?

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gary c

My washing machine only sometimes goes fast on fast spin cycle? I have a kenmore washing machine and it only sometimes goes fast on fast spin cycle. What is causing this and what could i possibly do besides trashing it and paying someone to fix it? I d like to do it myself if possible.

Answer
i also have kenmore. I would suggest you put less clothes in the washer.
i've found that if i put too much in the washer, sometimes it won't spin at all. I remove some of the heavy clothes and walla the washer goes back to normal.

Washing Machine Not Draining During Spin Cycle?

AndreFirst

My washing machine wont drain fully during the spin cycle leaving some clothes soaked..what might be the problem?
this is a Tappan mid 90's model.. the model number might be 52Az some times it doesnt drain all the way during light or medium loads.What might this be?

Answer
Sounds like the drain line is clogged, or the water pump is broken.

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What's the best upright exercise bike on the market?

what is the best spinning bike for home use image

Sale Photo

I think it's Keiser, but maybe someone has a better idea? I want to buy a stationary upright exercise bike for home, but I'm having trouble finding a used Keiser bike for sale in my area. Is there another brand that's just as good or better?

Answer
The Schwinn Airdyne or Aerodyne or soemthing like that has been a staple of exercise bikes for awhile. Assuming you want an exercise bike, and not a Spin bike

Where can I order a spinning bike for my home online?

Justina

I am not looking for anything over the top expensive or overly fancy. Just something that I can hop on and do my thing if I can't get out for a run. Any suggestions on brands etc would be very much welcomed.

Answer
Google spinning bike and you can find all kinds of places.

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spinning classes tell me bout em?

best gel seat cover spinning bike image

nanananahe

are they really intense?
i am a long distance runner
im not sure what to expect at all tho
and are the seats uncomfortable cuz they look like it! how long do they last ususally?
tell me about them!

Answer
You can control the intensity of the class by changing the resistance on the bike, a class is usually about an hour but only 45 minutes of workout the rest is stretching etc. if you are used to riding a road bike the seats are not uncomfortable but if you are not used to riding it may be a good idea to take a gel seat cover with you until your butt adjusts to the seat.

uncomfortable exercise bike seat?

HelpMe

I recently bought an upright exercise bike from Walmart (Gold's gym power spin 210). It is incredibly uncomfortable and I would like to know if there is a way of replacing the seat with another one, kind of like a universal exercise seat that will fit on my bike? Thanks!

Answer
It looks like it is a proprietary seat and seat post from looking at the manual. You can try to keep riding and it will get better once you get use to it. Everyone has to go through butt training when they first start riding a bike even if they rode the whole summer before and took the winter off. You can try a gel seat cover or just use a piece of 1 inch foam. Raise the saddle high enough so that your leg is straight with the heel of you foot is over the center of the pedal and a slight bend with the ball of your foot in the same place.

Take shorter rides until you get use to it.

http://sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

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What is the difference between recumbent bike &stationary bike?

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km

What is the exact difference between a recumbent bike and a stationary bike? I have an Edge 280 which has a "bucket" seat, and it does NOT have an actual "wheel" that spins when you pedal. Does this sound like it's recumbent or stationary? Thanks.

Answer
It's both.

"recumbent" refers to the seating position - on your butt with legs out front.

"stationary" refers to the fact that the bike doesn't go anywhere.

So there are recumbent road bikes and stationary bikes. There are upright road bikes and upright stationary bikes.

Sounds like you have a recumbent stationary bike. The "wheel" is a non-issue.

What is the best way to fix a bicycle's brake cable?

Chase B

I have a Honda Racing bike and, unfortunately, my mother left it out in the rain. (Tragic isn't it?) Now, the back hand brakes do not work (very well that is, they barely slow down the bike) and whenever I use my front handbrakes, the tire squeaks and it takes awhile to slow down. Does anyone know what I can do or how I can fix it without going to a bike repair shop??

Answer
A honda racing bike? Could you post what model it is? I've never heard that honda makes bicycles. I'd like to look it up.

You need new cables, as a minimum. It's possible that you also should have the brakes rebuilt. Leaving the bike out in the rain will not cause this if it was done once. It takes months of building up crud and water getting into the brakes and able to do this.

Sorry to say, but the best thing for you to do is to take it to a shop. Try new cables at first. It will certainly be less than $100 including labor for them to put them on, and they will at least put them on right. If there are any other issues, like sticky pivots, they'll let you know and can lube them probably for no extra fee. Worst case, they'll tell you the posts/pivots are corroded and you need to replace the brakes. Look to spend another $50-75 if that's the case.

If you want to do it yourself, buy new cables and try it. The best way to learn about how something goes together is to take it apart.

Note: improperly adjusted brakes can lead to serious injury or DEATH. DO NOT attempt this if you have no mechanical experience.

-Loosen the bolt/nut that tightens the cable to the brake.
-Open the brake lever slightly and push the cable from the brake end toward the lever end. it should push out far enough to grab it with needle-nosed pliers.
-remove the old cable
-Remove the old housing.
-removve the new cable from the new housing
-Cut the new housing to the same length as the old one (http://sheldonbrown.com/cables.html#cutting)
-install the new housing
-feed the new cable through the new housing and the cable binder on the brake from the first step
-Squeeze the brakes closed on the rim, pull the cable tight with your other hand and retighten the binder from the first step.
-spin the wheel.
-You may need to give a little more 'slack' to the brake cable if you can't get the wheel to turn without rubbing. Not too much though, or you'll be right back where you started.

Once the brake is adjusted per above, again squeeze the lever. the lever should squeeze with a light touch and feel little resistance until the pads touch the rim. It should bounce right back to position when you let it go.

If you try this and the bike still won't stop well, take it to a shop. It won't cost you any more money to try it yourself first, and you shouldn't risk the brakes failing if you don't get it right. (see warning above) The mechanic may even help you figure out how to do it yourself if you're nice to him.

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Spinning bikes? Better? Worse?

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Rachel W

I'm looking into getting a spinning bike but I'm really lost as to which one to get. The main brands that I'm looking at are revmaster, which I think is ou of my league pricewise. The schwinn, not much better in terms of money but I've actually heard of them. And then the mad dogg brand original spinner bikes, which vary in price but since I've heard that they coined the name spinning I assume they have something more going on there. I'm leanin towards the spinning brand because they have some lower priced bikes but I intend to not just sit but do the harder rides sk I'm looking for one that is sturdy and can take the harder workouts. Please give your opinion if you actually have or have used a spinning bike not just where I should be looking. Thanks!

Answer
Spinning is trademarked because of the type of training that the instructors must go through in order to teach the classes, it really doesn't have anything to do with the equipment, it is just a brand name. I taught classes on Schwinn's and Lemond's for 5 years and didn't have any real problems with either of them. I would say that the Lemond's were a little higher quality and included cadence monitors. I read in a magazine that Lance was coming out with a spinning bike. I haven't heard any reviews, but it looks interesting. Below is the link. Also, one of my favorite indoor rides has always been on Cycleops (link below) They are ultra smooth and sturdy for out of the saddle sprints. I don't have as much experience with "Spinning" bikes because I never spent the money to get certified, but I've heard that it's no different than Schwinn and AGS certifications.

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How many miles does a good workout on a bike go?

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Kimberly

I like to do the bike at my gym. How many miles should I be going though to get a god workout? I usually have the intensity at medium. Right now I am doing 14 miles each work out, every day. Is that enough? Should I be doing more? How much?

Answer
Kim

How much is enough to an experienced cyclist is like asking him how long does it take.... there is no individual or real answer. Up until 3 months ago, mine was a minimum of 20 miles. Now, for some reason it is 10 mile 'sprints' I feel terrific and all is well. Your body or your needs will tell you. If it is caloric, your ride burns approx. 500 calories per ride. As important is how you ride. Make sure that you are spinning at in excess of 70 rpm with moderate pedal pressure.

Let you, tell you, what is the proper distance..... listen to your body.

Soccerref

How do cyclists train in the winter?

Marcy

I'm on a road bike and considering starting training indoors? Any tips - I hate riding in the winter but want to stay in riding shape.

Answer
What most road cyclists do is take spinning classes in winter with one or two a week that are endurance spinning classes(two or three hour spinning classes). We also ride in weather that is 40 degrees & dry in Winter. You may have to wear tights or warmers, shoe covers, bacakva and a warm jacket but will do fine. Riding/Training in winter is do-able but stay dry.

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What is the best indoor group spin bike for the price? And also if money were no object?

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what is best spinning bike image

shanana

Hoping to hear from group fitness directors, spin class teachers, and any salepeople who can give an unbiased opinion. Looking to buy 20-30 new spin bikes within the next 2 months.

Answer
I'm a customer not an instructor, but I've been to a lot of clubs and rode a lot of spin bikes. The best one I've been on was a Lemond Revmaster. There have been other good ones, but the little design details of the Lemond made it really good for a hard-core roadie like me.

If money were no object, I'd get the CycleOps - link below

Can I use my road bike shoes without cleats on a spin bike and just use the straps?

MissLady

My cleats do not go with the pedals for the spin bike but can I still use my shoes and use the straps? They won't get ruined will they if I do not use the cleats?

Answer
There are several variables to consider. I recommend trying it and see how it works for you. If the shoes work, then check what sort of wear you see on the sole. If it's minor your good to go. I question what you will do when using your bike. installing cleats is not a 1 minute job.

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Whats a Good Type of Bicycle for my girlfriend and I?

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Steve S

We live in the city (Ann Arbor Michigan) and will be using the bikes for short bike rides in the city but primarily for short rides in parks and trails around the outskirts of Ann Arbor.

Whats a good inexpensive brand of bicycle for us?

Answer
Sounds like a call for the comfort-series-mountain bike.
Diamondback Wildwood, Giant Sedona, or Trek Navigator are my suggestions for budget comfort bikes.

Wal-Mart style bikes certainly have their place in this world. They're easily affordable and they do what you expect for them to do: move forward when you pedal, and stop when you brake... for a while.

But, because they are cheap, they're built of cheap stuff by people working for cheap money. Therefore, they're often assembled poorly, the wheels tend to go out of true (wobble left and right when you spin the wheel) more easily, the gears go out of adjustment sooner, and the (hand) brakes are squishier.

If you're good with your hands, you could buy the cheap bikes along with a bicycle repair manual and be happy with your purchase for years to come.

Otherwise, you'll be bringing your bikes to a local bike shop (LBS) for repairs. So, imagine this: you pay $150 for your new bikes at Wal-Mart/K-Mart/ Target. You ride them for about a month when you notice the gears aren't shifting right and the brake levers now reach the handlebars when you squeeze them; only slowing you down instead of stopping (this is called cable stretch. it happens with ALL new bikes). Not to mention that pothole/curb you hit last time out, so your wheel is out of true. You bring it to the local bike shop and are told you need a tune up which costs $50 (first one's free if you buy from LBS). Now your bike cost is $200 and you still have cheap bikes.

So, do yourself a favor and pay upfront and get the good bike your looking for rather than the junk your wallet wants. :)

What model of motorcycle should I buy?

Don Corleo

I'm a new driver seriously considering buying a motorcycle. What model of motorcycle would you recommend? Would I also have to buy a car for when it rains and the winter season?

Answer
Since you're a new driver with little or no experience riding a motorcycle, the first thing you need to do is to take a Basic Rider Safety Course. These are offered in one form or another in all 50 states. They vary in cost, but you usually receive your motorcycle license when you pass the course. The safety skills you'll learn will be well worth the cost.

When considering what type of motorcycle to purchase, you need to think more about what you want from riding and less about what manufacturer's you're interested in. First, ask yourself a few basic questions about what you want from riding. What kind of riding do you want to do and what capabilities do you want your bike to have? Are you attracted to the idea of riding the winding, twisty roads? If your answer is yes to this question, you should look for something in a sport, standard or even a sport touring bike (more on this later).

Or, do you think you just want to cruise along at a modest pace so you can soak in the experience of having the wind in your face? If this is what you like, a cruiser or larger sport touring bike might be more to your liking. If you like all things chrome and you think a bike should be thunderously loud, then a cruiser is most definitely your thing (again, more on this later).

If you chose a sport bike, standard or sport touring bike, then you should consider machines in the 600cc-800cc range, and NO larger. As a novice, you simply do not have the skills and experience to ride anything above that class. Personally, I'd suggest you stay in the 600cc class if a true sport bike is what you choose to purchase. Something like the Honda CBR F4i (which you'll have to buy used since they are out of production) or the Honda CBR600RR are good machines, as are the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSX-R 600. All are very capable machines, with plenty of power for a novice to enjoy. Power delivery to the rear wheel is fairly smooth so with a reasonable degree of control you won't be likely to spin the rear wheel (though it is possible).

If you choose to go with a cruiser, go with something in the 650cc-750cc range. Again, Honda, Yamaha (Star motorcycles) and Suzuki all make decent models in that range that would suit a novice. All would serve you well until you've outgrown them through sheer riding experience. That should take a few years unless you ride everyday, everywhere you go for the first two years. At that point you might be ready to move on to something else.

If you live anywhere where it snows, a rust bucket car would be enough to get you through the winter until riding season starts again. Buy yourself some reasonably priced protective gear (Cortech makes some great stuff at affordable prices and it's pretty good in the rain, too), a full-face helmet, leather gloves and above ankle boots. Full protective gear will give you the best chance to survive a mistake (a crash of your own doing) or an accident cause by some @ss in a car or truck. Don't let anyone tell you you don't need that stuff. It saved my life and it saved the life of a professional instructor I know. Both of us survived head-on collisions with cars because we had full protective gear on.

And last, but most importantly ... never, EVER, ride over your head!!!

Never, EVER, let your friends goad you into riding at speeds you know you can't handle. That's a sure fire recipe for a funeral. Yours, and probably some innocent bystander's as well. Do yourself and everyone else a huge favor and just don't go there. And, always view your riding with a critical eye. That way you can review your riding with the intention of improving your skills. Do that and with any luck you'll survive 35 years on two wheels the way I have.

Good luck!

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What's the best upright exercise bike on the market?

what is the best spinning bike on the market image

Sale Photo

I think it's Keiser, but maybe someone has a better idea? I want to buy a stationary upright exercise bike for home, but I'm having trouble finding a used Keiser bike for sale in my area. Is there another brand that's just as good or better?

Answer
The Schwinn Airdyne or Aerodyne or soemthing like that has been a staple of exercise bikes for awhile. Assuming you want an exercise bike, and not a Spin bike

How can I make my bike sound better?

Jake

I'm personally not worried about how loud my bike is, I have a 2004 Honda rebel 250. Will taking the baffles out mess up he bike? And is there any way I can remove them without drilling holes? I just want a quick easy way to make it sound better. I don't want to put to much time and money into a bike when I'm getting another soon. Any help?

Answer
It won't hurt performance, but you might have to rejet the carb.

Besides the sound baffles there are two other little items in the exhaust. There is also a spark arrestor screen and a turbulence screw.

The spark arrestor screen is just that, a screen that stops hot carbon pieces from exiting the exhaust. It is mainly made for off road, but is also required on road bikes.

The turbulence screw is something most guys don't know about. It looks like a giant screw thread or auger thread and it is welded into the exhaust pipes. The turbulence screw spins the exhaust gases so it doesn't free flow out.

I have never done it to a Honda Reble, but have done it to several other Honda's in the past. I would purchase a new muffler/silencer from an after market company that was a free flowing design. You can pick up used motorcycle silencers for under $50. Cut the pipes at where they line up with the back of the engine cases. Add an extension pipe (if needed) so you can mount the new/used muffler/silencer.

The motorcycle superstore sells brand new bolt on mufflers for under $100: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/13/118/39114/ITEM/Emgo-Dunstall-Replica-Universal-Muffler.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

You can also make a car glass pack fit. They are only $25 new: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_thrush-glass-pack-mufflers-dynomax_5291585-p?zoneAssigned=1

If you are the ultimate cheap bastard and you do not want to drill out the baffles, you can try ramming them out. This will generally not work, because they are welded into place. You would need a really long metal rod center punch. This will work for the spark arrestor part, but not the baffles or the turbulence screw.

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What's the best upright exercise bike on the market?

best spin bikes keiser image

Sale Photo

I think it's Keiser, but maybe someone has a better idea? I want to buy a stationary upright exercise bike for home, but I'm having trouble finding a used Keiser bike for sale in my area. Is there another brand that's just as good or better?

Answer
The Schwinn Airdyne or Aerodyne or soemthing like that has been a staple of exercise bikes for awhile. Assuming you want an exercise bike, and not a Spin bike

How many calories are burned in a spinning class? 10 points?

Claire

my gym uses the keiser M3 bikes. I am 5'4.5 and 110 pounds... The bike usually says 400-450.. I push myself as hard as possible and i usually use gears from 10-16 and 70-120 rpms.... is it accurate?
P.S when i hear a hear rte monitor it says 700 which there is just no way..
What is the most accuratete?
Is the Polar worth buying?

Answer
A heart rate monitor is FAR more accurate than the bike as it takes into account your stats (height, weight, gender) as well as your exact heart rhythm. I'm not sure what you have at the moment but one with a chest strap is more accurate than one without.

Good luck.

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Which should I buy, elliptical trainer/exercise bike?

livestrong spin bike heart rate monitor image

Marii

I have the option of buying a elliptical trainer or a exercise bike. I want to lose fat and burn more calories, which should I get? Please don't tell me to get a jump rope or go running, I don't have the option to as I get home late at night and would like the exercise in the comfort of my home :)

Answer
When you say exercise bike, does that include Spinning bikes? Given the choice between an elliptical trainer and a Spinning bike, I would pick the bike. Elliptical trainers don't challenge your fitness levels like Spinning bikes. I've taken Spinning classes and they were brutal for those out of shape participants like me. Especially, hill climbs. But, when your heart rate shows improvement, you will feel it all over. With the right diet, you will be energized.

Loosing fat and burning more calories will come as a result of any fitness regiment, but to increase the cardio takes exercise like Spinning, swimming, and of course running. Get yourself a Spinning bike; a participation DVD with music; a heart monitor (important); water bottles; and good padded bike shorts. If you've never been on a Spinning bike, be prepared to find out just how many muscles you have on your backside and in between the cheeks. You will hurt for about two weeks. Then, it goes away. But, you can do Spinning sessions with a DVD at home in front of a TV. Roughly, an hour each time with stretching; warm-up; Spinning; slow down; and cool down.

Something else to consider...the Body For LIfe Program. Everyone I know who's tried it has shown great results after 12 weeks. It's a small commitment, but one worth the effort.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/29608-buy-indoor-spinning-bike/

http://bodyforlife.com/

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Can I lose the weight by then?

best home spin bike 2012 image

Jillian C.

Hi I am a 15 year old girl. I'm 5'7" and about 217.8 pounds the last time I checked. I finally told myself it's time to get up off my ass and lose weight. I always talk bout losing weight, calculate when and how much I'll have to do to lose the weight but I never end up doing anything. I've been sitting around doing barely anything all summer and probably gained a few more pounds. What I want to do is starting September ( I would start now but I'm moving within a few days) I want to start on my quest to my goal weight of 120-125 pounds. I am going into Grade 11 this year so I want to lose it ll by the end of Grade 11 so I will be ready for not only summer 2013 but my prom the following year. I am going to be living not so far from a community centre where I have an unlimited gym access pass, My idea is to go to the gym 5-6 days a week do 30-45 mins of cardio (elliptical most likely, or treadmill, or bike) and 15- 20 mins of weight training. I am kind of a deer in head lights going into all of this weight loss stuff cause I have been overweight for a good part of my life so I want/need to know these things first:

1) If I were to start this journey September 1st, 2012 and stuck to my gym schedule would I be able to achieve my goal weight (120-125 pounds) by June 1st, 2013?

2) If I were to stick to that plan how many calories would I be allowed to eat each day and how much would I have to burn at the gym?

Take into consideration I am a Grade 11 high school student and I will have a full course load of tough subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc). Unfortunately due to the fact that I have so many science courses to take I will not be taking a fitness class because I already have a full schedule. I am also hoping to get a job at the beginning of this school year and I would be working weekends for sure and up to 3 more days during the week. What do you recommend I do to reach my goal within the 10 month time frame? Also, what are the best foods to avoid and what are the best foods to eat? Also one more thing, my mom is overweight and that hasn't helped me in my wanting to lose weight. The problem is that she always brings home lots of pop, cakes, pasta, breads, chips, ice cream,etc. (all of the things you're supposed to avoid when trying to lose weight. I tried to ask her to not bring so much of it home and she said I don't have to eat it, but if that's the only thing in the house to eat of course I'm going to eat it because I'm not so great with will power yet...thanks for the help! Have a great day/night wherever you may be :)

Answer
The reason why you don't finish your plans is because you're biting on more than you can chew. First of all, incorporate a healthy diet of 1300 - 1500 calories each day and have a good proportion of protein carbs and fat. Avoid all processed and junk foods and instead stick to natural and greener options. If you're active you can eat 50% of your calories with carbs and 30% 9rotein with 20% fat, but if you're not too active 30% - 40% carbs would do. Also eating fat does not make you fat. It's the kind of fat you eat that matters. Stick to healthy fats like nuts, seeds, canola, olive oil and avocado but do watch your portion control because it is still calorie dense.

Since your aim is to lose weight, centering your workout on cardio is not a bad idea. 30 - 45 minutes is good, but start with an intensity that is not too hard. Something challenging but you can stick with and not burn yourself out. Also, do something you enjoy doing. Even though the treadmill and elliptical are calorie torching machines, if it's something you hate, you would likely not stick to it, so get a jogging partner or join a spin or dance class play tennis or other sports. Any physical activity is good. weight training should be done every other day to allow sometime for recovery. Take small steps and build it up.

Eat 5 - 6 small meals a day and avoid eating out. Even the "healthy options" in restos are not that healthy. Don't beat yourself up over the calories you consume. ON OCCASIONS, some excess calories are okay especially since you're an adolescent so it would actually reinforce your body's growth and development. You would encounter fad diets and all but stick to a healthy one that you're comfortable with.

When you've established good cardio vascular health, you can start interval training. having 1 day apart each session, but don't do it when you're still not fit enough as it is very strenuous and would do more damage than good at your current situation. Time your meals and exercise everyday so that your body clock would be up to the schedule.

From what I read, I think you're too much of a thinker and obsess over your theories, that's why it's hard for you to actually lose weight. Just start a healthy lifestyle and the pounds would actually come off. Don't get too upset if you didn't reach your goal at a specific time you've set. Because with a healthy lifestyle, it would eventually be gone. Avoid stress and get a good night's rest everyday. Any weight loss is better than stopping just because you haven't reached your goal. Your body is more complex than just some equation and calculations. Besides, sticking on a plan would be better on the long run to keep the pounds off, which is usually harder than just losing weight. You're still young and it's not the end of the world if you're a few pounds heavier in prom than what you envision. :] Be happy and strive to be the best of what you can be :D

which is a petter pet in your opinion, aussie shepherd or border collie?

Jamie

i am getting a dog and wanted to know which is better in your opinions. what do i want in a dog? by want i mean need lol. i want an active dog (as i am VERY active myself), i want a smart dog (i need challenges too! ;D ), i want a dog that loves to go on walks and runs (i do cross country at school in september then it stops, so i need to stay in shape all year around ;P ), i want to be able to walk without a leash (allie and misa do so it's not hard to teach for me), want a dog that loves swimming (we have a big pool, but if the chlorine does anything - by the way it wouldn't even be until june in the summer then i'll get it it's own pool). i will do everything an active dog needs as that is everything i need too. i picked these breeds because i find they have everything alike with what i like! i love to run, i love to swim, i love to play, i love to learn, i love new things, i love challenges, i love dogs, and i love my parents. :) <3
i don't want the dog as a guard dog, but if needed it would be inside and not fully, not even half. allie (14 pound schnoodle that turns 2 feb 22nd 2012) acts like a guard dog, but she's pretty small. misa (a fully grown - now - 6 pound pomeranian chihuahua that turned 5 months on dec 6th 2011) is very small. they are the family dogs, and my parents (stepmom and dad because my mom and stepdad can't have pets - my mom doesn't like cleaning after them and my stepdad is allergic to all animals - but it would be at my dad and stepmoms since we are there more) said i can get my own pet if i earn it, if i pay some money (i can earn it from shovelling snow, doing chores, anything that needs to be done)
and if i clean after it, bathe it when needed, take it on long walks and runs at the dog park and school (school is about 1km perim. and path in front is about the same length), feed it, give it water, train it (basics and extras - like allie can walk without leash same with misa, allie knows car, van, truck -we have a truck for my dad, a car for my stepmom, and a van for my dad when he goes to work so his truck doesn't get messy or dirty- she knows upstairs, downstairs, get down, go lie down, come (without command, only when we snap our fingers), faster, heel, wait (i tought her faster heel and wait, and some others, but i tought her those ones myself and i'm the only one that commands her those since no one else knows but me :D ), food (when we call her for food), pool (she swims sometimes in the summer maybe once a week), oopy, al, (her nicknames from me, i call her allie oup -like how people say ALLIEOUP! when they jump in a pool? lol. anyways:...). she doesn't really know shake a paw or hi 5 nothing like that because we never thought about her knowing that. but the aussie or border would (whichever i get) know all of the above, basics, and probably agility things with body -ie. weave (weaves through legs), frog (when you stick out your tounge and your dog mocks you lol i find that one cute), bang! (plays dead when you put your finger shaped like a gun and say bang then they fall down playing dead lol adorable), roll over (hand signal and command), get your tail (when you pretend to throw a frizbee and the dog pretends the tail is the frizbee), come here (finger movement when you pull your finger back like saying come here but with your finger?), kiss (when you put your mouth up to the dog, say kiss and the dog licks you), stand (stands on hind legs), high 5 (high five), standing high five (stands on hind legs while hi fiving), speak (say speak and the dog barks), count (lifts paw once when you say one, lifts it twice when you say two, etc), up (to jump into your arms on cue when you lift your arm up and say up), dance (i tought misa dance - it's when you put your finger up say dance when you have a treat in your hand make sure the dog can see it, and then the dog stands on its hind legs and walks backwards to dance then spins), sad (when you frown and say sad the dog puts their head heavily on the bed, your lap, your hand, or the couch near you if you're sitting on either, or whereever you are sitting, like a therapy dog does sustained chin), give me a beat (i wanted to create this one, it's when you say "give me a beat" and the dog drums on the ground dum dum dum dum in a rythym, then when you say "cut!" they stop), and fetch (everyone knows fetch is just throwing a ball or frizbee and the dog chases after it grabbing it lol).
SORRY FOR HOW LONG THIS IS!!!! :/ (not yelling, just so people can see)
so guys, please put your opinions, feel free to list your favourite dogs, your favourite tricks, maybe some tricks i didn't list that you think are cool, if you think i'd be a good owner to one of these dogs, and which one i should get. btw i'm 13 so i still go to school for 6 hours a day then i'm home the rest but if i go out the dogs would come. and no i won't neglect allie and

Answer
PHEW! I got through most of it, but dropped dead when you made your hand look like a gun...

You should look into adopting from ARPH Aussie Rescue.
There are some lovely dogs waiting for homes, all up to the task.
A Border Collie is more apt to be focused on a ball, and not on you - Aussies want to be in you, not just with you - they become a part of your mind. Once you have an Aussies, it will change your outlook on all other dogs. Sounds arrogant, but it's true. It's usually a profound experience.

Aussies were bred to be a replacement for a farmhand - so they are a bonded working partner. BC's are focused on long distance work, not the master, and while they listen for commands, they do not ahve eye contact with anything but a tennis ball or sheep (or cars or bikes or cats...).

Aussies are more often than not brilliant and love to learn tricks and tasks - so you will go far with one. Consider doing something like freestyle, which will keep you both more than busy.

Here are contacts for Aussie rescue:
http://www.aussierescue.org/ContactUs.aspx

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How long does it take to strengthen legs (cycling)?

best spinning bike 2011 image

Jocko

I went cycling today, and while I was decent with the cardio my legs gave out after about five miles. I could barely walk for 20 minutes when I got home. The hills just killed me. How long will it take to build up some strength and endurance in my legs. I'm 36.

Thanks.

Answer
If you're doing it right, with no physical limitations - not long. The key words being "doing it right".

#1) A lot of cyclists have the saddle (seat) too low. This prevents the legs from getting the full extent of power they are capable of. With the ball of your foot on the center of the pedal, there should only be a slight bend in the knee at the 6 o'clock position.

#2) "Spin" don't mash down or "push" on the pedals with anything more than moderate pedal pressure. I know this doesn't make sense for climbing hills. The higher your "cadence" (rpm on the pedals) is - the easier it will be. By building up as much rpm on the pedals at the base of a hill, the easier it will be over time to climb hills. Most would say a good cadence is between 70 - 90 rpm on flat land. I say - a lot depends on the physical condition of the rider & the weight of the rider.

Case in point... A friend has a bicycle nearly identical to mine. His - a 2009 Raleigh Sojourn 'touring road bike'. Mine - a 2011 model. Basically the same. Both steel frame (heavy) bicycles but with good low gears to climb hills. His "ideal" cadence is around 82 - 85. Mine (being a lot heavier person) is around 90 - 95. Although we both might be traveling at the same speed, I will most likely be spinning at a higher cadence in a lower gear. For acceleration & to climb hills, pros can hit 100-125 rpm easily. Actually - anyone should be able to do this, at least for a short burst of speed.

I kinda chuckled at the 5 mile mark - because it reminded me - of ME several years ago. Same situation. Thought I would die. Keep at it. It gets better. Links below may be helpful.

I want to bike across america in 2010. What kind of training should I be doing?

whompa

Assume I'm starting from about zero...How can I work up to the 3000 mile trip throughout the year?

Answer
Your too late for 2010 and 2011 will be a training year. You need to get on your bike and ride as much as possible. You want to get a good touring bike that is the proper size. You need to spend as much time as possible on the bike to get your butt in shape enough to handle hours of saddle time. You want to learn to pedal at 70-90 rpn's in a gear that is easy to spin. Pedaling slower and mashing on the pedals will wear out your legs very quickly. You need to be able to ride 50-75 miles a day with a loaded bike. I would look for a few charity rides of 60-100 or more to get an idea of long distance cycling. It will take you about two years to get into shape to do a 3,000 mile ride and you want to travel West to East so you have the wind at your back. It will make a huge difference.

There are plenty of sites about touring.

http://www.ultracycling.com/training/training.html

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Is it OK to wear a bicycle helmet during spin class?

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Blazer

I have recently begun taking spin classes. However, I have heard of people having accidents, where the spin cycle tips over or where an irate participant pushes the cycle over out of spite. I would feel more comfortable wearing a helmet. In addition, it would allow me to create the proper mental atmosphere for the exercise, similar to being on the open road. Would that look odd or result in ridicule from my fellow spinners?
I can't believe you thought I was serious!

Answer
NO!!! no helmet in a spin class, those are all rumors and if some one does push you over etc, you can take them to court for assault. Find a bike next to the wall or pillar so you can steady yourself if the bike tips.

how long does it take to revert bulky legs?

.

I've built bulky legs trough spinning/cycling. I'm trying to get my legs to be thinner in about 4 weeks. I will continue to spin but with lower resistance. How long until I start seeing results?
I also wondering if I should reduce the endurance (feel the burn type of thing) while spinning or not?

Answer
Firstly I will assume that you do have "bulky" legs. Not just that they are bulky in comparison to the anorexic flat chested, toothpick legged, models that you see in fashion magazines. (They are only used to make the clothes look good)

Personally I would like a look at these "bulky" legs myself. Not that I'm a perve or anything just so I can give you a more informed opinion. If you do post a picture then, if you could lightly exercise just before so that the morning sun will glisten in the sweat still trapped in your pores subtly accentuating the muscle tone.........oh alright I'm a perve.( Just trying to make a point here, already coped an earful from wife)

I can only assume that you have bulked up by jumping on your bike and going at it for all it is worth, for a relatively short time (30 or so minutes) many times a day. Your probably eating a fair bit of protein also things like (eggs, milk, chicken, fish). There is a good list of high protein food at this link.
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-131850.html

To get rid of the bulk "roadiebiker" is pretty close to the money. Reduce the proteins and up the pasta fruit and vegies. get rid of all the bike's resistance and peddle for longer periods, the longer the better. (Quicker you will get rid of the bulk). Don't push it to more than a gentle pant. (60-70% heart rate) You shouldn't feel the burn at this rate.

By doing this you will be working the muscle fibres closer to the bone which will burn up the protein still in you diet. The fibres further out (the bulky looking) should start to fade.You should start seeing results within a few weeks

High repitition low load will keep you toned up. If you stay at a pant pace you will be able to stay on your machine longer and work you cardio system much more effectively.

Once you get back to were you want to be return to a normal diet.

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What's best: An elliptical, spin bike, or a recumbent bike?

the best spinning bike image

That New G

Generally speaking, what makes for the best workout, an elliptical, spin bike, or a recumbent bike? Why?

What are the pros and cons for each?

Answer
Spin bikes burn a lot, Especially if you go to spin class.
However, I prefer the elliptical. That's just me.
Oh and recumbent bike, not so much as the other two.

Do chains on a spin bike affect anything?

Chris P

Hi.

I just bought a spin bike that's chain driven. Do chain-type spin bikes have any bad effects, like noise, friction etc?

Thanks!

Answer
You'll just want to keep the chain from squeaking, which means you've worn the lubrication off. The best way to care for it is a light coat of oil, just enough to keep it from making noise. 3 in 1 was the original chain lube, but motor oil and chain saw bar oil will do as well.b WD-40 is not adequate.

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Should I purchase a spinning bike or an indoor trainer?

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ping_n_pon

I have a limited budget of $300 maximum. Which equipment would constitute a better cycling workout for me?

Answer
I prefer to train outside where the scenery is more varied besides those exercise bikes aren't very fast. .

How do I customize my Diamondback bmx bike?

Tyler P

I have a stock Diamondback '04 Grind bmx bike and I want to customize it to a good flatland bmx. Can someone please tell me what kind of sprockets, wheels, forks, etc. I should put on it? Thanks

Answer
A new Flatland bmx will set you back between US$350 and US$2,000... depending on how good you want your parts to be. Obviously, the $2,000 bike will come with the best parts on the market today. Here's an example... http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1311
At the cheaper end, you have the beginner-orientated bike, which has low-end parts, but good to start out with. Here's an example .. http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1124

As a rule of thumb, the more expensive a bike or part is, the lighter it will be, over the cheaper parts. When it comes to Flatland, a light bike is usually better, and will allow you to develop your skills a lot faster, and let you ride longer, without getting as tired as you would if you were riding a street bike for Flatland.

So in saying all that, here are your options...

1: Buy all new flatland parts for your current frame. http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2
This option will set you back around $1000-1200, but keep in mind, your frame is way heavier than any flatland frame on the market, so you will more than likely switch to a flatland frame soon enough. If ur outlaying all that money for new parts, throw in the extra $300 and get urself a nice Flatland frame while ur at it... http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=26

2) If ur on a budget, spending thousands on a bike might not be such a good idea, and since ur new to Flatland, you might wanna get a good beginners bike, and then upgrade ur parts as you feel you need to, or can afford to. This way, you have a frame that you can stick with for years, without needing to upgrade. A good example of this kind of bike is this one... http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1322 or this one... http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1331
That last one is a beginner bike, but the same bike, with pro-range parts on it, looks like this... http://flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1309, which is something you can turn the 'beginner bike' into, with some extra money.

You can still ride Flat on a street bike, if you change a few parts, it will just not be as 'smooth' and easy as riding a flatland bike. Heres what you will need to do to your current bike if you wanna make it more of a flat-bike...
- Get a longer seat post, around 300mm, and set it to max. height, as noted on the bottom of the post.
- Get minimal or zero offset forks, to make front wheel tricks way easier. They allow u to pop up onto the front wheel so eaisly.
- Put pegs on, all round.
- Be sure to have a gyro set up for back brakes
- Put a shorter reach stem on. Anywhere from 26mm-40mm.
- Get tyres no wider than 1.95, and make sure they're high-psi. For flatland, 120psi is super smooth for spinning and rolling.
- If you really wanna lighten ur bike without spending much, take the cranks off. You'll save about 2 kilos, and you can do a lot of tricks without needing to pedal. It's not a popular option, but it's a cheaper one.

So there are some options for you. The main deciding factor for people buying a Flatland bike, is budget. I splurged and bought pro-everything when I build mine, so I knew nothing was going to hold me back from learning, except myself. Right now, there is 10% off on all parts and bikes from the site I've posted links to, so now is the time to buy... you'll save a packet.
Email me if you have any more questions about any of this. :)

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