FitSugar

Five Mountain Bikes For Women Under $2,000

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:00:00 PDT

I'm looking to get a new mountain bike, so I've been doing a little research. I already have one I spent only a couple hundred bucks on, and after trying out the more expensive ones, I can really feel the difference. So I'm ready to splurge since a bike is something I'll have for a while. If you're in the market for a new mountain bike, here are five women-specific bikes on my list.

Trek 8000 WSD ($1,979.99): I just love the way this bike looks and feels. It has a sturdy aluminum frame, is lightweight enough to schlep around if I need to, and comes in four sizes to get the right fit.
Specialized Myka FSR ($1,450): Made with an alloy frame, this bike is women specific and uniquely designed to give a smooth ride. It's meant to handle rocky descents or cruise on even surfaces.

To see some more affordable bikes

What Type of Bike is Right For You?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:45:00 PDT

Are you looking to get a new bike this summer? It can be pretty overwhelming to choose the right one once you see them all lined up at the store.

The best way to find a bike that is right for you is to ask yourself "What kind of rider am I?" Are you planning on riding on rocky terrain or do you plan on sticking to paved roads and bike paths? Are you a racer looking for a speedy, lightweight bike? Or do you plan on using your new bike to casually commute or enjoy a light Sunday ride?

Here are a few different types of bikes and what they are used for:

Mountain Bike: This bike has wide, knobby tires, so you can ride on almost any surface including dirt roads, mountain trails, and paved streets. This bike has a gear system, which is helpful when you're trucking up hills. It also has a sturdy frame and suspensions, which are helpful when you're on rugged terrain. It's a popular bike (it's what I have) since it's durable, fast and versatile, so you're not limited to certain types of roads.

Want to learn about the other types of bikes? Then

read more Road Bike: This bike is built for speed, so it can be used for racing, but also just for riding around. It has a lightweight frame and strong yet thin tires that are less than an inch wide. If you're planning on sticking to paved bike paths and streets, this could be the bike for you. Hybrid Bike: This is a bike designed for use on roads and bike paths. It is influenced from both the road bike and the mountain bike, hence the name hybrid. The bike aims to retain the features of mountain bikes, which have made them accessible and popular, but are designed to be more suitable for urban use. Ultimately the manufacturer determines if the hybrid leans more to the mountain or road bike side. Track Racing Bike: This bike is for serious racing. It's extremely lightweight and has no brakes, since brakes would add extra weight. It also has one fixed gear, so the rider can go as fast as possible. The handlebars are low, enabling the rider to lean down and increase his speed. If you are planning on racing, this is the kind of bike you should look at. Street Bike (City Bike/Granny Bike): These bikes are made more for casually strolling the streets and/or commuting than for serious riding. The tires are like those you would find on a road bike but the bike itself is more elongated than your average bike. The city bike is very popular in urban areas right now, but they're especially popular in Holland. Fit's Tips: I definitely recommend going to a trusty bike shop and riding a bunch of bikes to see what feels best to you. Also be sure to pick up a helmet when you buy that shiny new bike - You've got to protect that fabulous brain of yours. Source

Get in Gear: Cannondale Mountain Bike

FitSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 03:00:00 PDT

For some women, going for a hike isn't done by feet alone. Mountain biking is fun and hard, and great if you love the challenge of getting up a mountain, but hate how your knees hurt when you're running back down. If you're in the market for a new mountain bike, check out the Rush Féminine from Cannondale.

Despite the name, there's nothing girly about this tough, ride-wherever-you-want bike. It's great for off-roading because it's lightweight (the frame only weighs 5 lbs) yet easy to control.

It's able to get up steep climbs, has precise steering capabilities so you can maneuver around tricky terrain, and it can break confidently (which it extremely necessary). Plus it has superior suspension, so when you're on a bumpy trail, it absorbs the bounce.

I love that it doesn't look like it's for women either, because this bike is tough. Just because we're women, doesn't mean we ride like girls (although I used to do endos into piles of leaves when I was girl...but you get my point).

Fit's Tips: If you're not sure how a bike is supposed to fit, check out this post.

Patrick Dempsey Avoids the Mall and Spends Black Friday at the Beach

Katie Henry — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:21:43 PST

Patrick Dempsey packed up the car and headed to the beach in Malibu on Friday. He was joined by his wife, Jillian, and their twin boys, Darby and Sullivan, on the sunny day. Patrick spent the holiday with his loved ones, and recently dined with fellow cycling enthusiasts at the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League's annual Cyclefest fundraising dinner. That wasn't the actor's only cameo appearance this month. Patrick also popped by the LA Auto Show for the unveiling of Mazda's 2013 CX-5. He's a long-time Mazda supporter, having checked out the Mazda Formula 1 vehicle earlier this year during a racing event at Le Mans.

Beginner Bicycle Buy: The 7.2 FX WSD by Trek

Leta Shy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:31:30 PDT

You never forget how to ride a bike, but hopping on one for the first time since those school days gone by can be intimidating. So when Trek sent me a bike that it promised was perfect for beginner cyclists, I was hoping it was the ideal gateway bike for me to start navigating San Francisco's hilly roads on two wheels.

What's New
Released over the Summer, the 2012 Trek 7.2 FX WSD hybrid bike ($550) is an update of the company's most popular model. Since it's a part-road, part-mountain hybrid bike, it's made for anyone who commutes in the city, cycles for fitness, or is just the casual rider. Upgrades to the new model include a lighter body, shock-absorbing handlebars, and improved saddle comfort. Also, Trek's WSD line features women-specific design to ensure that the bikes' proportions and sizing are made for your body.

The Ride
As a city cyclist newbie, I loved how comfortable the 7.2 FX felt from the start. From the seat to the shock-absorbing handlebars, I felt confident and at ease. The low-rise handlebars make for back-friendly upright riding, and the bike's sturdiness reassured me that I was in control (everything helps when those cars are whizzing by). When I took the 7.2 FX with me during a camping trip, its hybrid tires - wider than a road bike's but not as big as a mountain bike's - navigated well-worn trails with ease, whether they were paved, rocky, or sandy.

Besides the comfortable ride, many of the 7.2 FX's other features make me a fan. My appreciation for the 7.2 FX's aluminum frame and eight speeds, for instance, grew exponentially as soon as I confronted my first hill. Its light body meant I wasn't weighed down, and once I got a hang of shifting gears I was able to actually make it to the top using the bike's low gears.

Read on for more details about the Trek 7.2 FX WSD.

If You Spin, Try Clipping In: Cycling Shoes Rock

Susi May — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:03:36 PDT

Indoor cycling classes make for lovely gams, this is true. But with cycling shoes on your feet, the ones that clip into the pedals, you will be toning your muscles much more effectively. Rather than overworking your quads by mashing the pedals downward to make the crank move, when you're "clipped in," you can make a smooth circular stroke that activates your hamstring, too. Pulling up with your heel at the back part of your pedal stroke utilizes the power of your hamstring - I for one am always trying to figure out new ways to work my backside. When you work the entire leg, you bike stronger and more efficiently, too, so you tire later and can really kick out the jams throughout your sweat session.

Another feature of cycling shoes is the stiff sole, which decreases the chances of your feet bugging you in class by going numb or developing hot spots. The stiff shoe also ensures that the power you put in to pedal moves the pedal rather than flexing the shoe. Cycling geeks like to wax poetic about the "power transfer," but when you're in standing sprint, rocking out to the latest Rihanna remix, you want your pedaling to move the crank, not bend your shoe.

If you're looking into purchasing a pair of kicks dedicated to your spinning obsession, look for mountain biking shoes with SPD cleats for two reasons: most spin bikes are equipped with pedals to fit this cleat style, and the shoes are much easier to walk around in than road bike shoes that tend to have very big, slippery plastic cleats. The Women's Spirita Touring Shoe ($90) by Specialized has a great stiff, nonslip sole for easy walking to and from the cycling studio. Cycling shoes may seem like a big investment, but in my experience each pair lasts for many seasons, unlike running shoes, which I find need to be replaced every 300 to 400 miles.

Orlando Bloom Talks Swashbuckling, Fear, and Fitness With Men's Health

Katie Henry — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:25:13 PDT

In a simple and sexy black t-shirt, Orlando Bloom struck a pose for the October cover of Men's Health. Normally we see Orlando's wife, supermodel Miranda Kerr, doing her thing for photographers, but Orlando is equally talented in front of the lens. Orlando is currently shooting The Hobbit in New Zealand, but he spoke with a reporter for the magazine recently and dished about his other physically demanding project, The Three Musketeers, which is due in theaters Oct. 21. Orlando's secrets to staying in shape, tackling fears, and having a healthy sense of risk are some of the topics covered in the interview. He said:

Orlando on beating his moments of doubt: "I call [doubts] my mind critters. Can I defeat myself? I really like going downhill on a mountain bike, and if I just feather the front brake and let it roll, I’m fine. But if I’m not in that zone and I clutch that brake, boom, I’m over the handlebars. Or worse."
Orlando on fear: "Fear is not a friend of mine. But it’s something to have a healthy awareness of."
Orlando on having a healthy sense of risk: "I can’t stop living. It would ruin my creativity, the person I am."
Orlando on success vs. greatness: "To an untrained eye, yes, success is what people aspire to, and only success. The thing is, success can allow you to try for greatness, can give you an opportunity to take a chance on something. I’m very blessed to have the success that I’ve had, and that’s given me so many opportunities to work on being great."
Orlando on fencing: "I love swordplay. It’s a mental and physical challenge. It can also be balletic and dancelike."

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 Be Safe When Exercising Solo

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:37:35 PDT

I went trail running yesterday and on my way back, I got a call from my mom. She was furious that I went by myself saying, "Do you know what kind of weirdos hang out in the woods?!" I assured her that I wouldn't have gone if I felt at risk, but I saw her point. There are perks to exercising alone, like time to be in silence and think and the ability to push yourself as hard or as easy as you choose, but it's not always the safest idea. If you prefer exercising outside on your own, here are some ways to keep you protected from danger.

Always tell someone where and when you're going. I recently saw the movie 127 Hours, and if Aron just mentioned to someone that he was going out hiking alone in a crevice in Utah, he probably could have prevented hours of agony and the loss of his arm.
Choose a safe location. Now is not the time to explore that new waterfall cliff your friend told you about. Exercise in an area you are familiar with, preferably one that's close to home, which you've visited before. You're more likely to avoid dangerous critters, poisonous vegetation, weird dudes with bad intentions, getting hurt, or getting lost.
Even though you're solo, don't exercise alone. Choose a populated hiking trail or bike path so that even if you're on your own, help is just a yell away.
Choose safe forms of exercise. Walking, hiking, running, or biking are usually harmless when you're alone, but if you get into more extreme sports like rock climbing or mountain biking, the risks for getting hurt are greater. Go easy when you're on your own and bring a friend when you want to kick it up a notch.

Keep reading for more life-saving tips.

Calories Burned With 15 Minutes of Exercise: Summer Edition

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:29:01 PDT

Summer weather inspires me to exercise outside, even though some days it's super hot and humid. I usually work out early in the morning when temps are the lowest, and if I'm done by 8:30 a.m., I usually beat the heat. Not only do I love not having to wear a lot of clothes, but there are also so many different ways to move your body, you'll never get bored.

With busy Summer schedules and the sometimes unbearable heat and humidity, 15 minutes may be all you can spare (or bear). It may feel like a short time, but some exercise is always better than none at all. Check out how many calories you'll burn in your mini-workout. All stats are based on a 130-pound woman.

Running at a pace of 6 mph (10-minute miles): 148 calories
Walking at a pace of 4 mph (15-minute miles): 59 calories
Biking at a moderate pace of 13 mph: 118 calories
Mountain biking: 126 calories
Stretching/light yoga: 59 calories
Swimming laps at a moderate pace: 118 calories
Snorkeling: 74 calories

Not seeing your favorite Summer activity? Keep reading to find out how many calories you burn in 15 minutes of hiking, tennis, or playing Frisbee.

Giant Arête ($1200): Also made with a durable aluminum frame, this bike is ergonomically designed so it's great when racing fast or casually rolling. I love the color - Metallic Eggplant.
Scott Contessa 20 ($1034.99): This bike has a thick alloy frame that's decorated with delicate artwork, and a comfy seat that matches. It offers great control on all surfaces and comes in five sizes so you can get the most ideal fit.
Cannondale F7 Féminine ($579): The frame is strong yet lightweight because it's made of aluminum, and the saddle is women specific so it's very comfy. This bike also comes in pink if you're into that.