The Beginning of Your Pedal Stroke

Throughout my blog this year, I have talked about every part of the bike an gear, expect for the part that is the thing that allows you to move forward! How could I forget to talk about such a thing??? Well I guess its now or never. So as you might expect I am talking of pedals and biking shoes. To get started there are two different large categories for pedals including flats and clips, and particular shoes that compliment each area. For the most part these pedal differences are based on preference and riding style.

Flats have been the most commonly seen pedal to the general public and are very easy to use. To most the flat pedal is just a regular bike pedal. A flat bike pedal has many upsides and applications. A flat pedal can be used by anyone, and is easy to ride on. A flat pedal gives a stable support for the foot and are used by most recreational riders. Along with these recreational riders, many mtn bikers and bmx riders use the this type of pedal, for increased surface area and maneuverability. These bmx and mtn bike pedals, usually are a little larger than the standard pedal and have gripers that look like metal spikes that rise around .5cm off the pedal to ensure stability and control for the rider. Shoes that are used for flat pedals are usually just tennis shoes or mtn biking and bmx shoes which have a flat sole and increased amount of traction a stability that comes from its higher rise.

Clip pedals also can be used by anyone, but are usually used for those that are more serious about cycling. Clip pedals increase performance, because they allow one to put pressure on the pedals longer as they can not only push down on the pedal, but also pull up. This action increases speed and efficiency while riding. Clip pedals are used throughout most areas of cycling including most areas of professional cycling excluding most bmx riding. One down side to clip pedals is that, one must usually wear particular cycling shoes because they need to have cleats to clip into the pedal. One option that has been transformed is the pedal that appears to be a flat pedal, but actually has a clip also which allows for a person to ride this pedal with either a biking shoe or a tennis shoe.

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The Ideal College Bike

Like I have talked about in my previous blog, transportation can be one thing that you are overlooking in the college planning process. I car can be a good form of transportation for applications of a greater distance than a mile or so. But what are your ideas for getting to class each day, when your classes are across campus and a car cant be used? Do you really want to have to walk a whole mile or more in the frigid, blustery cold, or the rainy, windy, and cold, or the hot, humid days? For most the answer is no. One form of transportation that can be very good in this type application, that would actually give you some exercise is biking.

Biking throughout the campus can be a very good and healthy way of transporting your self to your classes. Not only does biking give you a little work out, but it also can decrease the amount of use of the buses, which decreases the pollution into the environment.

Another reason that biking is a good way to get across your college area, is because it can actually be on of the fastest ways of transportation in a college town. Okay, so obviously it is faster than just walking or even jogging, but in many situation it can be faster than driving or even taking a bus. Many College towns are very busy places, which can a pose a problem in traffic for those cars and buses. Unlike a bus or car, while biking one can take the side walks across the campus to make a direct route across the campus, while avoiding all traffic.

Now if I have you convinced that biking could be a great way for you to get to your classes you might have no clue what kind of bike to purchase. Most campuses offer an abundance of trails and sidewalks, which means that you probably do not need a heavy duty mountain bike. Although these trails and sidewalks do offer a smoother surface they can be plagued, by snow, ice, rain, leaves, and cracks so the ideal bike would be a hybrid with no suspension and a little tread on the tires. A cheaper bike would be the best because it might be left outside a lot of the time. So anything under 750 dollars, would probably be the way to go. Another thing that you might need is a bike chain to protect your bike from theft. And one last thing that might be useful is a bike rack or bag to carry any extra supplies.

Hopefully these tips will help you roll through college with ease.

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The Ideal College Car

Many of you reading this blog, are individuals who are in your waning years of high school, with the glare of college stooping down upon you. As you think about college, you might be preparing for financial costs, housing and books, but one thing that is considered as much as it probably needs to be is transportation. How are you going to get to and from college? And how are you going to transport your self across the campus, and even the metro area? Some people overlook the idea of having a car with you on campus, because they believe that it is unneeded with the busing systems, and suspected little distance that one must need to travel. Although this may be true in some sanitations, a car is usually a very useful item to have during your college years.

A car can be very helpful throughout your college years for many reasons. One reason a car can be useful, is when you would like to go out for the night on the town with your friends. A car allows you more freedom than just the ordinary busing system, that is implemented in most towns. With a car you don’t have to wait for the bus to come at a certain scheduled time.

Another way that a car can be very good at college, is it allows much more freedom and ability to visit home over the weekends. Without a car, ones parents must pick them up from the campus which can be a large hassle. Along with these very useful applications, a car can also be a pleasurable item that a college student can obtain and use while at college.

Now if you/you parents are convinced that a car would be a good thing to have while your at college you may be wondering what kind of car would be the best for the college atmosphere and for a college student. The most well suited car for a college student and campus is one that is efficient, cost effective, safe, and small. A small efficient car will keep the costs of gas down. The particular car that I will most likely get for college is a Subaru WRX, which also gives a fun factor to the equitation.

A car could be one thing that you could be forgetting to consider on your college planning and check list, so take the time to consider this idea.

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