Tri Bike Under a Budget

So your looking into buying a tri bike that will give you the speed to compete very competitively in some of your regional triathlons, but don’t want to dump a lot of money in this kind of machine. Well I have got some advice for you, because I am actually in the same exact situation that you are in.

Some tri bikes can cost up to 14,000 dollars, which for most people is beyond unreasonable. Some tri bikes also cost as least as 1800, which are very entry level tri bikes that may lack in component choice and frame design/ material. I person like me is willing to pay within a medium of these two extremes, in hopes of purchasing a creating the fastest bike humanly possible within a tighter budget.

Well for many who are serious about this sport, 3500 dollars is usually a reasonable price to drop on a brand new tri bike. Many bike companies today produce a bike in this general price range that exemplifies those characteristics of a carbon fiber aero frame along with either the nicest cable components or even electronic shifters. Although the component system is about as good as a bike can get on these bikes, the only down fall are the mere mediocre wheels. The wheels on this level of bike are usually just your average tri bike wheel which leaves much room to improve wheels and reduce racing time. Now if your thinking that this might be the best option for you, because you are intrigued with the highly technological components but aren’t necessarily looking for the fastest bike for the money than this bike be best suited for you. But based on my research this type of stock bike isn’t the fastest bike you might be able to create with this kind of money. A tri bike with nicer wheels would make a bike much faster and aero dynamic. Instead of spending lots of money on these components, I have found a bike with just a little lesser components being the only difference for about 2000 dollars, leaving you with another 1400-1500 left over. This bike that I have found is the Felt B14. With the exact same frame as the higher model this bike price gives you plenty of room to purchase some very high end wheels deeming the bike much faster than the higher bike model with better components but lesser wheels. The wheels that I plan to buy along with the Felt B14, are the Hed Jet 7. These upgraded wheels give the rider a much faster bike.

So if your just looking for the fastest bike that you can buy, your best option would be to follow the route that I am taking with my purchase this spring.

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Cars of Cedar Rapids

            Everyone has probably been to a large city or on a highly populated coast of the United States and seen many very wealthy people. One of the largest signatures of wealth comes through the car that’s driven by an individual or the house/ or houses that they live in. Well most people would not expect it, but some even smaller towns within the rural Midwest house people with large amounts of wealth, which can definitely be seen within their cars.

            One place that a person might not expect to see some very high end cars would be Cedar Rapids. Whenever I see an exotic car, it always turns my head. As for Cedar Rapids being a city of around 120000 people in residency it shouldn’t come to one’s surprise that there are some large centers of wealth. Well these centers of wealth own some of the nicest cars that I’ve ever seen and those of the world.

            One individual that lives just outside of Cedar Rapids has owned to what rumors have said to be over 400 “super cars”. Some of these super cars that have been seen range anywhere from a Porsche 911 Turbo S to a Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir addition. It’s suspected that this man is the dentist that owns and is a doctor of “Gentle Dental” on Blairs Ferry road, with a father that is royalty in the Mediterranean. Some other cars that I’ve seen that this man probably owns include, a hand full of Lamborghinis, an Audi R8 Spyder, a couple GTRs, a Ferrari Italia 458, a Bugatti Veyron (Which was supposedly bought from Drake the rapper for 3.4 million recently), along with many others. Just in the cars that I have just named, there is the potential worth of millions on millions of dollars of cars….And this is only one guy!!

            Among others in Cedar Rapids, there include doctors, business owners, and lawyers who drive some very nice cars including ones like BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Maserati, Bentley, and Jaguar. Many of these cars have been seen by both me and many others in country clubs or at fancy restaurants. One might not expect this quality of cars to be hidden within the smaller towns within the Midwest, but they would be wrong as you can see based on the different cars that I have seen across Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas.

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Indoor Cycling Re-invented!!

Still wanting more winter exercise alternatives to biking outdoors? Well I’ve got one more option that will fulfill both your fitness needs and pleasure of biking.

            To most including myself, riding a stationary bike for hours on end can be very boring and not fun. The technology and quality of stationary biking options has greatly increased, with more advanced computerized work outs available to the buyer. The most recent technological advancement has many within the bike market raving. This new step into indoor biking has brought the outside inside. This mechanism gives the rider a simulation that is very similar to outdoor riding. With a TV or computer screen a rider can see the simulation right in front of them as they ride on their stationary bike. Unlike watching normal TV as we always have while riding on indoor bikes, this particular mechanism responds with increased speed and turning and relays it onto the screen. The way in which this works is based off of sensors and a turning radius that sits under the front wheel, which then relay information to the computer through a wire to then form a response that mimics your every movement almost simultaneously.

            I think this new form of indoor riding is very cool and fun based on my experience of being able to trial one of these new systems, at my work. With an extensive array of tracks and races this simulation is sure not to bore. I believe this is a cool way in which people can still bike while it might be snowing cats and dogs outside.

            These new simulation programs along with the biking stand and sensors comes in at around a price of 1500 dollars, which is not necessarily cheap. Although this new concept may cost a little more than some people are willing to pay, the price will most likely go down as more people begin to purchase these. I have seen many of these purchased at the bike store that I work at and have seen much satisfaction with this product. You will not need to worry about any confusing installation as for my bike store “Northtowne Cycling and Fitness”, will personally install it in your home or gym for little to no cost. So if you have a little Christmas money left over and are looking to give yourself a little present to make your indoor riding experience even better then I would highly recommend buying one of these very technologically advanced systems.

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Winter Riding Clothing

As you have been seeing I have talked about the upcoming of winter here in the Midwest in my blogs. And I have another thing that might help those bikers out there to stay active in this cold weather. Once the temperatures here in the Midwest drop below about 40 degrees it becomes increasingly more difficult to want to ride. Well just the way in which a person dresses our is geared up can make all the difference in the world to whether riding in this type of weather is enjoyable. And I’m here to help people figure out what the best things are to wear in certain conditions.

Well I think the best way to do it is, by working our way from temperatures that require just a thread more clothing than normal riding whether in which a bike short and jersey can be worn all the way down to temperatures close to 0 degrees. So for starters, when the temperature reaches about 50 degrees, I find it most comfortable to wear a light long sleeved breathable shirt that is bright so that traffic can see me while riding along with regular biking shorts. Oh and another thing that I forgot to mention is, that I believe that all of these clothing options are best when purchased under the brand of Pearl Izumi. Pearl Izumi offers almost any kind of outdoor clothing option with the focus of bikers in mind. If it were to be raining in this type of whether I would also suggest a light rain jacket or windbreaker that is water proof. One other key item for riding in any condition is eye wear which breaks the wind from hitting your eye. But onto the next area of riding. When the temperatures reach anywhere from 30-40 degrees I would recommend an under armor compression shirt and maybe even tights based on how you handle the cold. Another accessory that would be needed in this type of temperature e and anything colder would be shoe covers, and warm biking gloves. But finally the last range of conditions im going to talk about is that of colder than 30 degrees. I would suggest wearing many layers including the under armor tight long sleeved shirt, with a sweat shirt, and a wind breaker over that. Along with this package I would include bar covers which block wind from getting to your hands. So after seeing this I hope it will help you when you are going out next on your bike ride.

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Favorite Car Movie "Need for Speed"

Well for everyone that likes cars or loves to drive cars, car movies are always some of the best movies. Car action movies exhibiting very talented drivers and exhilarating driving stunts always makes me very excited to watch the movie. Some of the most famous car movies are the Fast and Furious movies that have been made for over 15 years and tell a different story in each one. But unlike some people, none of these are my favorite car movie.

My favorite car movie by far would have to be the newly released on DVD, “Need for Speed”. This movie premiered in theaters in the early spring of 2014 and really caught my attention in the previews and trailers. One thing that turned me off at first about this movie, was that it is made by Disney. In knowing this I made the assumption that it would be produced to suit the interests and appropriateness of younger children, but boy was I wrong.

This movie might be my favorite movie. Along with the exhilarating car stunts and races like the “Fast and Furious” movies, this movie also comes with a much deeper story. The moving story of a garage on the downfall after a series of events that would bring everyone at the garage down, the search for payback and moral rights and wrongs gives the main character the chance of a life time, really grabbed me into the movie. Along with the moving story and exceptionally good acting this Disney throws in times of comical lingo that reaches those of ages over 13 which really helped me realize that Disney actually can make a funny movie aimed at a older and more mature audience.

And like all other car enthusiast I was very intrigued with the level of cars. Within this movie an array of cars represent themselves in different races, such as modified old muscle cars, along with the most expensive and highest performing street legal race cars in the world. Some of these cars include, a one of a kind modified Mustang, a Bugatti Veyron, a Konenseg Agera R, a Lamborghini Elemento, Mclaren P1, and a Mercedes SLS. So as you can see this movie exemplify some of the nicest cars ever made.

So overall I would rate this as not only my favorite car movie, but also my favorite overall movie, and would highly recommend to this any car enthusiast, or just a person interested in watching a moving movie.

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The Indoor Alternative

Hey bikers, have you ever felt like you get bored training on the same stationary bike day after day? Have you ever thought about partaking in some cross training exercising such as running? Well if you are either of these people and you live in a place where winters can cause for treacherous conditions, then a treadmill might be a purchases that would settle your needs.

As for many people across the Midwest winters can bring a large increase of inside time and decreased exercise. To many top end athletes this can largely put a damper on their beginning of the season, after not doing much for the 4 months that we call winter. A treadmill gives a variety to the everyday biker who spends endless hours sitting on a stationary bike starring at the other side of their basement. Treadmills give a very good workout and come in many different financial levels which can be sure to fit your needs and financial abilities. Although running on a treadmill doesn’t stand up to the pleasure of running outside, it gives the runner a more cushioned surface to run on compared to asphalt. Most treadmills come equipped with a rubber track that forgives some of the impact of regular running. Along with this upgrade, the newest treadmills have great amounts of useful technology that ranges from custom work outs and cellular capabilities. With the majority of treadmills to this day having the ability to run up to 12 mph, you will surely not be hurting for speed.

Now on the other hand, my personal point of view on treadmills may contradict what others may think. I believe that running on a treadmill is very boring and I would actually rather risk it in running in the outdoors even when a little slippery or cold. Just recently my family bought a new treadmill from my own place of work, and I haven’t even ran on it once. This is only my opinion though so I would encourage you to try it for yourself to see what you think.

Most treadmills range in price between 1750-5000, in which brands like True Spirit, Schwinn, and Land Ice can be purchased. These treadmills can purchased and te3sted at most fitness stores, and if your really unsure whether you want to even get yourself into one of these, you could go to your nearest gyms or Y’s and give one a test for your self.



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Nicest Car at Kennedy High School

So I’m sure everyone who is reading this blog has had gone through high school and had that one kid who has a car that is way nicer than everyone else’s. Well today I’m going to talk about that kid at my high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I go to Kennedy High School, in which most of the cars are probably worth about an average of 5000 dollars. As a high schooler most kids don’t have any cars that are much above average, but this kid is an exception. In many situations the kid with the nice car has a say a Camero, Mustang , or any other sports cars that even the preppy girl would know, but this kid again is an exception.

My friend, that shall not be named, just got a brand new 2014 BMW 235M. Unlike other sports cars the BMW 235M is also very luxurious and sports a engine that will rival many sports cars across the market. With a price of around 60000 it definitely makes itself noticeable where ever it drives.

So now lets get to the stats. This car is a brand new model that a limited supply was made of. With its twin turbo charged inline six cylinder, it will surely get you down the road fast. Not only does it go fast but it sounds fast. With a zero to sixty time of about 4.4 seconds it really gives itself a name. I’ve ridden in this car and it is just flat out fast!

So yah if you are wondering if I’m jealous… I am! So does this car compare to the car that, that one kid owned at your high school? If you have any stories about that kid at your high school I would love to hear about it. Its even especially surprising and almost comical that this kid has a nicer car than any of the employees at the high school including the principal. Most adults don’t think that this investment is not a good one for a kid and I would actually have disagree because high schoolers have the same ability to drive a nice car as adults. So can I just say wow because this car is just so nice and outstanding compared to every other car. Wouldn’t it be awesome to be spoiled and rich? Well, well yah of course it would be!

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Winter Driving

With winter coming around the corner here in Iowa and across much of the northern United States, it is essential for you to know the aspects of driving that are key to driver safely and success on snow and ice covered roads.

So first thing is first. Are you and your car ready for this winter? Well if not, then I’ve got some tips that can further your knowledge deriving safety this winter.

First thing that you are going to want to do before winter arrives is get your car winterized.
Some things that can help with the winterizing your car can be the simplest things.
The first thing that you should do is get your car fully checked over by a service department.
Another thing that you may want to do while you’re at the service department is purchase snow tires. (Snow tires can greatly help with traction, control, and stopping ability of your car in snowy and icy driving conditions).
If you have a rear wheel drive vehicle it is often difficult to gain traction and control under slippery roads, so putting added weight over the rear wheels can greatly help with your ability to drive your care safely this winter. (sand bags).
Some things that you might want to keep in your car in case you get stranded include; a shovel, a weather radio, fully charged cell phone, phone charger, hat and gloves, an ice chipper, tow ropes, and some salt and/or sand.
When driving in slippery conditions its key to know how to drive and handle your car.
One way that will always help you is to leave early for your destination to allow for any delay and to allow for you to drive slowly.
Another tip would be to always warm up your before you begin driving.
When loosing control of a car turn the opposite way that you actually want to turn. This may seem crazy, but it will help you gain traction again allowing for better control.
One last thing that have to recommend is to get a car that has either all wheel drive, or four wheel drive. These drive terrains will really help in snow and ice!

So as the winter is peering through the crack of the door here in Iowa I would greatly recommend some of these tips and I hope they really help you. Good luck on your driving and be safe this winter.

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Fat Bikes

With the snow beginning to fly throughout eastern Iowa, any bike enthusiast seek alternative bikes and riding styles to further there training and cycling enjoy ability. If you are reading this blog and are from Iowa you can defiantly understand that winters here are not to forgiving. And with these type of winters it is understandable that winter riding and be pretty hazardous. So is this just the end to any out door riding for the three months that winter haunts Iowa with its tight grasp? Well it was up until about 10 years ago, when the first “Fat Bike” made its debut.

The fat bike takes the ideas of a mountain bike and multiplies them by 2. The fat bike sports tires that are about twice as wide as mountain bike tires, and are filled to a low air pressure allowing them to role over objects easier and maintain traction in adverse riding conditions like snow, sand, mud, and loose rocks. These beefy and knobby tires allow for better traction and stability that might be lacked in the snow when riding a mountain bike.

I have ridden a couple different types of fat bikes and have found like many others that these mammoth machines are just fun! Some different companies that make these bikes include, specialized, pugsley, surly, and cooker etc. Along with these different companies, there has been the creation of different styles of bikes. These new styles include rigid frames, front suspension, full suspension, and even kids bikes. This variety of bikes allows for everyone to find a bike that fits their riding style. Along with these different frame moldings, some companies have started to make carbon fiber fat bikes, along with their steel and aluminum bikes. These carbon fiber bikes are very low in wait and make the riding experience on one of these bikes even greater than before.

As a member of the biking business I have seen many positive reviews of these new bikes whether riding it for everyday mountain bike training or the snow and ice riding. The ice aspect of winter allows for bike companies then to make studded fat tires which allow for substantial traction in every winter whether condition you may think of. So if your looking for a very fun, reliable, and adverse bike the fat bike might be your best option for any type of riding. These bikes can be bought and sold at many bike retailers from 1000 to 8000 dollars.



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