FitSugar

Guess Which Celerity Couple Is Biking?

Anna Monette Roberts — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:35:07 PST

Guess which celebrity couple were seen this week biking in their bathing suits? (If you're stumped, you can enter the name of just one of the vacationing celebs.)

Can You Bike No-Handed?

Susi May — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:28:59 PDT

Back in junior high, riding your bike no-handed was an essential skill. It was beyond cool to clap when singing John Cougar Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane" while biking with a posse of like-minded girls. As I've aged, I've lost my chops and maybe gained some fear; I like to bike keeping at least one hand connected to my bike. But I have been inspired by the pros in the Tour de France - the double arm-pumping after winning a stage, but also two-handed tasks like handling a bag of food or removing a layer of clothes - to regain ~~my lost youth~~ this lost skill.

I am working on riding sans hands on my quiet, slightly sloped street and hopefully I will get the hang of it soon. What about you?

Bike to Work Safely and Stylishly

Shape — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 05:08:40 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

To get where you're going safely and in style, use these simple rules from two of our favorite bike commuters.

Go chic. "You don't need to go all spandex crazy to ride your bike to work and heels are definitely okay! It's actually easier to bike in heels than it is to walk in them," says Jessica Bosanko, inveterate NYC bike commuter and Vice President at M+R Strategic Services. "As far as what to wear, if you can walk three or four blocks in it, you can probably bike in it," she says.
Never, ever leave home without a helmet. And put a good, bright blinking red light on the back of your bike. (Red always goes on the back; use a white one if you want a light on the front.)
Get a basket or a rack. "A backpack or messenger bag makes you sweat more," says Bosanko. Get the bag off your body - there are plenty of cool bags (panniers) that attach to racks on bikes. "This will make you look way more put together when you get to your destination and you won't have a big sweat stain on your back," Bosanko says. "The one who arrives at her destination looking the most put together is officially the 'winner' in this adventure."

Keep reading for bike commuting tips and tricks.

Biking Basics: Presta Valves vs. Schrader Valves

Susi May — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:49:45 PDT

Bike tires are a complex science unto themselves - I've heard people say, "It's not about the bike; it's about the tires." When it comes to filling your bicycle tires, you need to know about the two kinds of valves out there: the tall and skinny Presta valve and the more utilitarian Schrader valve, which you probably had on your first bike way back when.

The Presta valve, sometimes referred to as a French valve, is common on most performance road and mountain bikes - tires that require high air pressure. This style of valve has built-in valve caps, which you open before pumping air into the tire and which must be tightly closed to prevent air from slowly leaking out of the tire. Presta valves are used in high-performance bikes because they are lightweight and slender, so they don't require a large hole in the rim of the wheel, which would decrease the stability of the wheel. Unfortunately, you cannot use the automated air at a gas station with Presta valves without an adapter, which you screw on once the cap has been opened.

The Schrader valve is your basic automotive valve and is generally sturdier. You will find this style used on kids' bikes as well as utility bikes and beach cruisers. The little plastic cap that screws onto the valve is not really necessary for the tire will hold air without it. But the tire may slowly leak, so you might want to check your pressure more regularly. The cap also helps keep debris out of the valve.

What do you have on your bike?

Do You Still Go to the Gym in the Summer?

Leta Shy — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:47:11 PDT

Sunny days are meant for outdoor activity, so it's no wonder that fitness fans come out in full force when the weather warms up. But between bugs, humidity, and searing sun, is an outdoor cardio session too much to take when the heat strikes?

While San Francisco's Summer may not be typical (it's been cold and rainy here), even on a cool, sunny day I love to run outdoors. But while there's nothing like a run in the park during a nice day, I still enjoy the convenience of working out in a gym; mine is just a few blocks away from work, so it's hard for me to justify skipping out on a workout, especially after I've lugged my gym bag with me during my commute.

Do you still work out in a gym during the sunny months, or do you shun the indoors to take advantage of the season?

Staying Safe While You Cycle and Sightsee

Leta Shy — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:21:34 PDT

San Francisco, my fair foggy city, is pro-cycling, but when I travel I'm always awed by bike-sharing programs that are popping up in cities like Paris, London, Miami, and many others around the world. The concept is simple: pay a few dollars (and swipe your credit card as deposit) and you can easily hop on one of thousands of bikes stationed throughout a city and ride for as long as you like. When you're done, you simply return your bike at any station with a free dock. Recently while on vacation in London, I was reminded of how great the bike-sharing programs are for tourists. London's bike-sharing stations, for example, are located at all the major tourist spots and the check-out kiosks don't require an account to sign up and have easy-to-follow instructions, so I jumped at the chance to experience a biker's view of the city.

Hopping on a bike and touring a city may seem like the perfect way to take in the sights, but if you're a casual cyclist like me, a little prep before claiming your two wheels can go a long way in keeping you safe (not to mention keeping you from annoying pedestrians and motorists). Read on for a few tips that helped me stay safe during my impromptu bike ride.

5 Tips to Planning Your First Bike Commute

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:06:23 PDT

Want to be leaner, have more money, and do your part in helping the environment? It’s as easy as riding a bike - to work that is! While the idea of two-wheeling to work might seem daunting, these five steps from The Big Book of Bicycling ($22) will take you from gas guzzler to bike commuter in no time.

Think on Two Wheels - The next time you drive (or ride the bus) to work, think like a cyclist. Pay attention to the entire route. Make mental notes of the roads that have shoulders wide enough to accommodate a bike as well as narrow stretches that are too dangerous. Use this as a starting point when mapping out your bike route.
Map It Out - Pick up a detailed road map of the area your route will traverse - or download a bicycle-specific one from Google Maps. Highlight only the parts of your normal driving route that you know are safe. Find alternate routes that run parallel to the sections you want to avoid - choose side streets, parks, and neighborhoods rather than high-traffic, high-speed roads. Also be sure to plan your route through well-lit streets; remember, you’ll most likely be riding alone and, often, in the dark. (Don't forget your bike lights!) The most direct route may not be the best cycling route.

See even more tips after the break!

Biking How-To: Change Your Flat Tire

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:07:01 PDT

Longer, warmer days mean it's time to dust off your bike and get pedaling. If you pull your bike out of storage only to find one of your tires is flat, fear not. You can fix it. Here are step-by-step instructions from Trek Bikes. The company, which has a great line of women-specific designed bikes, wants to help get gals two wheelin' - be it on the road or mountain.

An unexpected flat tire, when out on a long ride, can be a serious bummer. That's why it is good to practice your tire changing skills. Why not take a rainy afternoon and play with your bike if the weather is keeping you from cycling?

Tools needed: tire levers, bike pump, and if you don't have quick release wheels, you will need an Allen key

Source: Thinkstock

How to Ease Back Onto Your Bike

Heather Dale — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:09:50 PDT

Now that the weather is warming up, are you getting back into a sport that wasn't suited for colder days? My Memorial Day weekend activity of choice was biking, and let me tell you, it was good to get my biking muscles in motion again after such a long Winter!

But just like any other sport, it's not all sunshine and roses when you go from zero to full steam ahead . . . literally. I hopped on my bike and ended up going on the longest, steepest route. Needless to say I learned my lesson. Here are some primary annoyances (and lessons learned!) from my bicycling excursion this past weekend.

Pump it up: As soon as I hopped on my bike, I realized the tires were low in air since my bike hasn't moved in the past three to five months - fail. It's always good to have your own portable compact air pump. That way you aren't stuck having to find a gas station or bike shop. And if your bike is extra special, you'll have all the pump attachments you need when you want to go for a ride.
Get out your screwdriver: Without revealing too much of my bike flair, I have - ahem - some bells, and other accessories adorning my bike. As soon as I took off for my bike ride, everything started to move around and almost fell off! Note to self: quickly take a screwdriver to all of your bike's gear to make sure things are tightened up after sitting all Winter long.

Keep reading for more of my gripes!

Keep Going and Going and Going: How to Increase Your Endurance

Leta Shy — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:59:01 PDT

Signing up for a distance race is exciting! But if the length's got you worried, it's good to know that endurance is a skill. Just the act of exercising regularly will help you be able to become stronger and exercise for longer, but there are specific ways you can help your body during vigorous or long-lasting workouts. Here are five tips to help build your endurance!

Source: Flickr User lululemon athletica