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If you are an off-roading or motorcycle fanatic or even if you just have a general interest in all terrain vehicles, it is interesting to know a little history behind this awesome sport! Honda, was the first to bring ATV’s to the market back in 1969. It was commonly referred to as the ATC back then. They supplied most of the parts for the industry including motorcycle exhaust and ATV exhaust parts. It wasn’t until the early 1980’s that the usefulness of this wonderful machine was established. Up until this point these fat-tired three-wheelers were mainly used as play toys. After the other manufacturers saw how well Honda was doing, they decided to hop on the bandwagon as well with their own versions of this fun, action-packed, three-wheeled machine.

In 1985, Suzuki introduced a new four-wheel version called the Quad racer. This was considered a utility machine more than a sport vehicle. Around this time, most manufacturers had some sort of utility machine to compliment their lineup. More parts manufacturers catered to the market as well offering flowmaster exhaust, vance and hines exhaust and other types of sport-enhanced exhaust systems. In 1988, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) put a stop to some of the fun by attacking the ATV industry based on some statistics related to injury compared to other forms of recreational vehicles.

It’s unfortunate in a way that this fun sport had its image tainted by a small group of not-so-responsible adults who drank too much and wore no helmets, and didn’t supervise their children when they rode. It turns out that manufacturers at this point concentrated their efforts in the booming utility segment. A new phase in sporting quads was born and led to a major demographic shift. The generation Y (18- to 24-year-old) demographic was exploding, and led to a boom in sportier quads. Manufacturers started to design technological marvels on four wheels that catered to the sportier types as well as to farmers, ranchers, and hunters a- like. Performance enhancement manufacturers such as borla exhaust and many others supplied exhaust tips and many other types of performance enhancement equipment. The YFZ450 and Honda’s new TRX450R started a natural progression from this day forward.

By Terry Price- Remember to visit http://www.motorcycle-atv-exhaust.com/ for other fun articles and information on atv’s, motorcycle exhaust and other performance enhancement products. Yoshimura offers you 100% titanium exhaust systems, http://www.motorcycle-atv-exhaust.com/109-yoshimura-atv-exhaust.html

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Mountain biking for a woman does present some gender-specific issues. These range from the practical pain-in-the-butt riding, to the broader concerns of women in the sport.

One of the first questions that is asked, is whether a women-specific bike is necessary in mountain biking for a woman.

The answer will depend entirely on your build, your preferences, and your riding style. Finding the right bike for you, involves test-riding as many types as possible. This will give you the best indication of your body’s fit on a non-gender specific bike, compared to a women-specific bike.

Looking at mountain biking for a woman, a regular bike is fine, but your hip structure may necessitate choosing a more suitable saddle. If you are narrow-hipped, you probably won’t have a problem. If this is not the case, you will be more comfortable on the wider structure of a women-specific saddle.

As for the bike itself, unless you are quite small, with a short upper body and short arms, there is a good chance that you won’t need a women-specific bike. In most cases a normal frame type with the straight bar, holds up better for mountain bikes, and is commonly used in mountain biking for a woman.

This type of frame encourages a position where the weight of your body is more evenly distributed between the two wheels. On the typical ‘women’s’ bike with a sloping top tube, the weight is placed back on the saddle. This position is not very effective in mountain biking for a woman.

Also keep in mind that, in mountain biking for a woman, an elastomer fork may be your most comfortable choice. Lighter riders perform better with these.

Find a specialized bike shop with a reputation for good mechanics and service, as well as knowledgeable salespeople. If you are a novice, you will need some guidance at first. It is important to make sure that they have experience in mountain biking for a woman.

Mountain biking for a woman involves more of a distinction when it comes to clothing. The main difference is in the shorts, so to speak!

You will need a good pair of cycling shorts, with a chamois, specifically made for use in mountain biking for a woman. You don’t want the chafing center seam present in men’s shorts - riding isn’t supposed to be torture! The secure-fitting Triple S Short by Shebeest is an example. The aerodynamic cut, with eliminated inseams and flatlock center seam, is a dream to wear. DriStyle fabric ensures superb wicking.

Padded baggie shorts are gaining in popularity. Look for names such as Sugoi and Pearl Izumo.

In warmer weather, your top can be a cap sleeve base in Silkweight Micro Polyester with Spandex, by Shebeest. This offers the lightness you need in mountain biking for a woman. In cold weather, you can add the Full Zip Velocity Jersey in DriStyle. The zippered pockets come in handy, and the full zip front gives a variety of cooling options.

Fox Racing protective gear has a great range aimed at mountain biking for a woman. Their elbow/arm pads and knee/shin guards in size small seem to fit most small women well.

Mountain biking for a woman, is no longer limited to the sidelines. Many strong-voiced advocates are emerging to promote the sport among women. Finding ways of making entry-level racing more open to women, are often on the agenda at conferences.

Bike shops, clinics, and clubs also play an important role in opening up the sport. Bike shops are no longer seen as intimidating and over-technical. They are constantly trying to come up with ways to make the store inviting enough to support mountain biking for woman.

Many articles and books have been written about mountain biking for a woman. These offer how-to advice, bike buying tips, basic riding know-how, and trail advice. One of these is ‘Mountain Biking For Women’ by Robin Stuart and Cathy Jensen. It is clear from their writing that they are experienced riders.

Watching the ‘Wildflower Mountain Biking for Women’ video, is a great way to start mountain biking for a woman. It features topics such as bike selection, bike maintenance, finding riding companions, practice drills, and more.

It will be difficult to find a more entertaining, mind-and-body building sport than mountain biking for a woman.

For more information visit Best-Mountain-Biking.com

Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

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It was a cool autumn morning and there had been a light frost during the night. I pulled on my cycling gear and went down to have breakfast. As I sat at the table eating it was still dark out the sunrise comes late in this part of the world at this time of year. I could see a magpie perched on the handrail of my back deck lit from the light of my kitchen. They are the early birds around here and stay all winter (even at -40). I wonder as I eat breakfast why they don’t fly south for the winter, if I had wings I would.

I head out to the garage after my breakfast and there is still a nip in the air as I take my bicycle out of the garage. The sun is just beginning to paint the eastern sky as I hop on my bike. The city I live in is blessed with a great park pathway system that follows the river through the city. I head down my street guided by the light of an orange sun rise and as I make the turn into the park a Jack rabbit hops across my path. This time of year they have already turned completely white but the snow hasn’t fallen yet so they stick out like a sore thumb.

I head down the ridge descending to the river and gaining speed. I before I reach the switchbacks near the river I see a coyote trot across the pathway and into the long grasses to hide, maybe one of those rabbits will make a nice breakfast for him. Into the switchbacks I go heading down to river’s edge and onto the bridge. The Canada geese on the river are gathering together for their big flight south. Many of them actually stay here all year and again I wonder why they don’t leave?

On the other side of the river I turn into the woods and remember my wife telling me that a black bear was spotted in this park further to the west, I hope it hasn’t wandered east! I keep riding through the woods and out to a clearing. The sun is low and bright in the east as I head south and back into the woods. I hit the brakes and slow down after coming out of a turn; a mule deer is off to my left only six feet from the path. I coast by not wanting to spook her, having her jump in front of me would be quite a painful meeting! I can see her breath rising from her nostrils as I pass. Wow, what a morning this has been! This is why I love to cycle to work.

I start making my ascent back out of the river valley; it is quite a grunt getting back up to the top of the ridge. The rest of my ride in is along residential streets so except for the occasional barking dog there is no more wildlife encounters. I get to my office building and start locking my bike up. As I pick up my backpack and head in I hear the chatter of a magpie from the top of a flagpole. I look up and give it a wave, who knows maybe it was the one who saw me eating breakfast.

Kevin Redmond is a senior design supervisor for a large engineering firm in Canada. He loves to cycle to work whenever he can. He also runs a consumers website called http://www.avoidconfusion.com it has some great deals on bicycles and accessories and other deals from A to Z.

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Cycling Success depends on finding the right bicycle for you

Depending on the type of Triathlon you’re interested in competing in, the amount of time spent on your bike will differ. You’ll end up cycling anywhere from 12.4 miles on up to 112 miles in the Ultra.

You can end up spending a lot of money on your specialized bike clothes and accessories. But before you spend any money on your jersey or sunglasses, consider the two pieces that you must have: the helmet and the bike. And of those two, finding the right bike for you is paramount.

Luckily, you have a lot of bikes to choose from

Experts recommend that you either get a bike that is made just for triathlons, a time-trail bike or a road bike. The bike made just for triathlons differs from the other two in that the seat post moves the rider up into a running position and both wheels are smaller, requiring less energy to cycle.

To a new triathlete, a touring or mountain bike might not seem that different than one of the bikes listed above.

It’s important, however, to set aside enough of your budget to get a specialized bike when you compete in triathlons.

A Triathlon Guide for triathlete enthusiasts.

Want to read more on Swimming, Running, Cycling or Triathlon training…

http://www.triathlon-guide.com

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If you’re looking for a good time riding on gravel roads there are a few strategies that can make your experience a whole lot more fun! Always remember to drive in one gear lower than you normally would, as this allows for minor adjustments in your throttle. It will also take over some of the braking duties without your need to change gears all the time. Remember to stay smooth and fluid with your motions. This is especially important when driving on gravel, dirt and uneven roads. If you stand up on your pegs a lot, remember to use your legs as shock absorbers as this will give you the added advantage of lowering the center of gravity directly to the pegs instead of your seat. Don’t paddle walk your bike as this throws it back and forth, and undermines any benefits gained from centrifugal force established through forward motion.

A simple law of science says when a body is in motion it tends to stay in motion. As long as you stay on the throttle your bike will stay up. If you do a bit of a hill climbing, remember to lean forward. This works especially well when you’re standing on the pegs. When going downhill shift your weight backwards towards the rear of the bike.

Remember to shift your body weight when rounding curves as this will help you utilize far more subtle adjustments to your steering. Overall you are going to get a more stable feeling when you apply subtle, smooth adjustments in steering. For your first gravel drive, find a smooth road and you will have more confidence in your skills. Remember there are always roads under construction and using a bit of common sense goes a long way when it comes to gravel road driving!

By Terry Price- Remember to visit http://www.motorcycle-atv-exhaust.com/articles_2.html for other fun articles on motorcycles , motorcycle exhaust, and other performance enhancement products. You will love what White Brothers put into their ATV exhaust systems! http://www.motorcycle-atv-exhaust.com/131-white-brothers-atv-exhaust.html .

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Here are few of the frequently asked questions about tires:

1. Why are new tires better?

First, new tires are better because it is organic and it decomposes. Second because the older the tire gets, the more it is exposed to outgassing. Outgassing makes the tire brittle.

2. What’s the right tire age?

In essence, the principle is the newer the tire the better. However, to make a tire last longer the tire’s age is of lesser importance. But be careful not to buy tires which are over six or seven years old. You will be able to know their date of manufacturing by searching for the three or four-digit number stamped in the tire’s sidewall. For instance, 2101 stands for 21st week of 2001 - which is its manufacturing date.

3. What are size and pressure?

Run the bike in the recommended tire pressure. It is so simple. You just have to stick to the manufacturers guidelines. That is the safest and the best thing that you can do. Nevertheless, you can have some deviations depending on your desired performance. Moreover, you have to check tire pressure regularly.

4. What will I do in case of a flat tire?

Motorcycle tires swerve from more directions. Unlike car tires, motorcycle tire has only the other tire to prevent it from falling. Thus, the best thing to do in case of a flat tire is to replace it and not just plug it.

5. When is there a need for replacement?

It depends. Front tires may still shot even when there is still ample rubber. In fact, they may still look good even if they have gone through considerable heat cycles. They can also cup or scallop when already having uneven surface. This is the best time to replace them.

6. When to buy a tire?

Buying tires must be made at reputable motorcycle stores. These stores have already established their names and services. You can also order online. But this remedy is a gamble because it will not guarantee that you will be getting newly manufactured tires. When you buy tires personally, you have the opportunity to choose the freshest tire in the store. You also have the chance to compare prices and quality.

Please visit Motorcycle Parts OEM site at www.motorcyclepartsbin.com/list/OEM-Motorcycle-Parts.html for comments and inquiries regarding this article.

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The Giro d’Italia has a fine history behind it, like the Tour de France it was started to publicise a newspaper, just like the Tour de France the organisers made the leaders jersey the same colour as the paper, yellow in France from the L’Auto newspaper and pink in Italy from the La Gazzetta dello Sport. The first Giro was in 1909 and was 2448 kilometres long (the shortest), split into 8 stages and was won by the Italian rider Luigi Ganna, 127 riders started in Milan, but by the finish, also in Milan, there was only 49 left, this was not the worst edition, in 1914 only 8 out of the 81 starters managed the full distance.

The winners.

Just like the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espaa, the Giro d’Italia always has a deserving winner, three riders have won it five times, Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi of Italy and the great Belgian, Eddy Merckx, Merckx of course also won the Tour de France five times and the Vuelta once. There have been many other “stars” who have won the Giro over the years, French heroes Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault and from Spain Miguel Indurain have all one 5 Tours de France and the Giro more than once. The home riders have obviously been the big winners, Felice Gimondi, Gino Bartoli, Ivan Gotti, Gilberto Simoni and Paolo Savoldelli have all shown there winning ways, but the battles between Giuseppe Saronni and Francesco Moser in the 80’s are epic. The strangest rider to have taken part in the Giro d’Italia would be Alfonsina Morini Strada who is the only woman to have ridden the race, and finish!

The race itself.

The Giro has started outside of Italy on eight occasions, the furthest away being either Belgium, Greece or possibly the Dutch town of Groningen, which hosted the opening individual time trial in 2002. When the race is on Italian soil the main difficulties are usually the Alps, Dolomites and the Apennines, the Giro is in May so the big climbs can get dreadful weather, snow, rain and cold temperatures can shape the race and determine the winner.

The future of the Giro d’Italia.

The future of the Giro d’Italia looks good, since the UCI (cycling’s governing body) brought in the Pro-Tour all the top 20 teams have to ride the race, before they would only get all the Italian teams and a few foreign teams with sponsor interests in Italy, now the race is also shown free on television, where as before it could only be seen on a private station. The 2005 edition was one of the best for years, top teams, top riders and a hard course brought the race to life, for years the Giro had become a procession until the last hour, then the sprinters took over. The climbers had some good hard stages and the team leaders would do there work for the overall on the hills or the time trial, and that was it, now its one of the most exciting stage races there is from begging to end.

Alastair Hamilton is a successful writer who offers a truly unique depth of experience in competitive cycling, he also contributes adding technical articles about www.bike-cycling-reviews.com/road-bikes.html to some cycling online magazines. Read further www.bike-cycling-reviews.com

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Being prepared while out on the mountain bike trail is an absolute must and a great rule of thumb is to always pack more mountain biking equipment the farther away from help you plan to be. There are a few important considerations you should also make regardless of the skill level of mountain biking that you plan to partake in.

The first consideration, for anyone planning on being active outdoors regardless of mountain biking or not, should be to have a well stocked first aid kit. You can purchase biker specific first aid kits, that are purposefully designed to fit nicely in a small pack, under the seat or even in saddlebags. A well stocked first aid kit will contain antiseptic, pain reliever, tensor bandages, band-aids, moleskin, and tweezers.

The second necessity is to have a mountain bike specific tool kit and there many options available as to the type of bike you have and the tools you want it to contain. The very basic tool kit should have the required tools needed to repair a flat tire and will fit nicely under your seat or in a saddlebag. Other tools to look for are an Allan key or small wrench, a chain breaker, a tire gauge, a Swiss army knife, and some strong tape.

Another highly recommended piece of mountain biking equipment to include is a spare mountain bike chain. Any experienced bikers know all to well how easy it is to bust a chain on the trail and the headache it can cause. Often a broken chain can be repaired but do not take the risk of being left without one.

Last but definitely not least is a portable air pump. These pumps come in numerous shapes and sizes and can be purchased specifically to fit your bike. Most can fit under the seat or in saddlebags, and often the repair kit includes one.

All these pieces of equipment are designed to be light weight and easily stored on your bike. Never risk traveling far from help without then because being prepared with the right mountain biking equipment can save you many hours of frustration.

Mountain Biking Equipment, Mountain Biking Gear and Accessories at http://www.SportsAndOutdoorStore.com

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One thing that not a lot of people talk about during the massive hurricanes seasons that we have been experiencing is that those who ride bicycles and a cycle competitively have a tough time in hurricanes devastated regions continue in their training. For instance in Florida often after a hurricane or a large tropical storm comes through there is so much debris on the road that it is very hard to ride the bicycle at any high rates of speed or for a long distance without having problems with your rims or popping a tire.

I recently talked to one competitive cycler and he told me all the problems and said that last year alone he had already been through six rims. It is true that the 2005 Atlantic tropical hurricane season was indeed one of the worst we’ve ever had if not the words into history of recording hurricanes.

Nevertheless the 2006 Atlantic tropical hurricane season will be on its way shortly and for those who are in cycling training they will have issues. Some may wish to go to areas where there are no hurricanes in order to complete their cycling training. It is an unfortunate event when you have to leave the city that you are in just to complete the training you need to continue to stay at a competitive level.

One thing a cycler can do is to move to Denver in the summertime and training at higher altitudes and then when you come back to lower levels you will be surprised at how well your body does. Consider this 2006.

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Motorcyclists are always evaluating the use of motorcycle helmets. Is this simply a matter of preference or are there significant issues to be considered?

A friend of mine (Bill) has chosen to ride with a helmet, or at times without a helmet. He says it depends upon riding conditions for him. One day he was on a two lane road, traveling about 50mph when a tractor trailer truck pulled out from the right side of the street to go the same direction. His thought was to maintain his speed and simply pass the truck. [Which, most likely could be done.] Unfortunately the truck driver did not have enough room for the turn, and stopped dead still, crossing both lanes. Bill was now approaching the truck too fast and too close to stop safely. He tried breaking hard but immediately knew he was facing the side of the trailer head-on. With quick thinking he laid his Harley on the side and slid under the trailer and on down the road a couple hundred feet. Relaying his story to me, he was flat on his back, feet first, with his arms spread out and his head bopping on the highway. When all was finished he gave credit to God for helping him and praised his destroyed helmet for saving his life. [Plus, the leather jacket and gloves that had taken the tears in place of him.] My friend only suffered from some sore muscles and hurt pride. But, it brings up the subject of helmet safety.

In the KSL-TV News of South Jordan, the Police Chief (Dan Pearson) is likewise teaching people that motorcycle helmets save lives, after losing three friends to motorcycle accidents in two years. All three suffered from head injuries and none were wearing motorcycle helmets. Then, the police chief himself was involved in an accident on highway 89 North of Afton, Wyoming. A truck towing a horse trailer had passed him and pulled in front of him, hitting the front of his motorcycle with the spare tire mounted on the back. Dan was thrown off his bike, landing headfirst. He says, “This injury would have been a fatal blow if I hadn’t had the helmet on.” Dan suffered from bruises and a few broken bones.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motorcyclists survive a crash and receive less serious injuries when wearing a helmet. They report that at least 600 people are saved each year.

One question that is asked, “motorcycle helmets might protect your brain but can it increase your chances of a broken neck?” Dr. Michael Yorgason, a surgeon at Montana Orthopedics and Sport Medicine, states that the findings from medical literature shows: “autopsy studies done after fatal motorcycle accidents have shown that neck injuries and fractures are equally likely, whether you are wearing a helmet or not.” Yet, most medical reports support the use of motorcycle helmets. They believe that the helmet generally decreases the risk of head and brain injury significantly and surmise that wearing them does not increase your risk of neck injury.

An Italian study concluded that a helmet decreased injury by 66%. A Thailand study found that after making motorcycle helmets mandatory, head injuries decreased by 41% in 2 years. Now, in Kentucky, a study revealed that brain injury increased by 4.3 times when not wearing a helmet.

In an article written by Jonathan P. Goldstein, PhD., titled “The Effects of Motorcycle Helmet Use on the Probability of Fatality and the Severity of Head and Neck Injuries.” He concludes that there are a number of variables in a study that puts the study in question. Major differences are held concerning helmet use or non-helmet use. Normal results compare death and injury rates are two and three times greater for non-helmet riders and increases in occurrence rates in repeal years that vary from 19% to 63%. On one side: the helmet verses the non-helmet study fails to consider these two classes of riders. Stating that helmet riders are more cautious by nature. One, they drive slower, thus have slower speeds in crash situations. Two, they are less likely to have an accident. Three, helmet wearers are less likely to drink and drive (alcohol or use of drugs). These behavior changes dramatically reduce a riders risk.

On-the-other-hand, factors to consider are: 1-average age of the biker 2-average miles driven each year, per biker 3-average experience of the biker 4-the size of the motorcycle driven. So, between the size of the bike, potential speed, age, risk taking and alcohol ingestion; simply, cannot realistically prove the effectiveness of helmet use.

The Goldstein study did approach these variables in question. They reported a study that evaluates the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in accident situations. The conclusions are: 1-Motorcycle helmets have no statistically significant effect on the probability of fatality. 2- Helmets reduce the severity of head injuries. 3-Past a critical impact speed of 13 mph, helmets increased the severity of neck injuries. The report then concluded that helmet users face a trade-off between reductions in the severity of head injuries and increases in the severity of neck injuries.

Under these circumstances a mandatory helmet use law cannot be reasoned to be an effective method to stop an individuals death or injury when involved in an accident.

Perhaps other choices need to be considered in providing safety in motorcycle use. Here are three suggestions. One, educate the general driving public (car and truck drivers) in road use with motorcycles. Two, educate inexperienced motorcyclists on accident avoidance (evasive action) and the proper use of these powerful machines. Three, create a strict enforcement of drunk driving laws.

[Some studies show that alcohol consumption is the major factor in deaths and injury.]

Harley-Davidson offers basic and advanced training to 200+ dealerships in 30 states. Honda has four training centers. BMW is considering advanced training but says they tend to attract seasoned riders.

It is believed that training cuts panic. You need to know how to negotiate a curve and resist the urge to brake, etc.

Here are some other factors that need to be considered. Tires should be inflated to the proper level. A riders visibility to be seen. Tests have shown that the plain white motorcycle helmets are the easiest to be seen. Clothing makes a difference between day/night.

For night riding there are reflective vests and lighted vests available. There is GLO GLOV; reflective tape for clothing and cycle; reflective vests and coats. Now back to helmets.

USA Today carried the statistic from the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration, reporting that 24% of the fatal crashes in 2003 involved unlicensed motorcyclists, and that car drivers are responsible in about two-thirds of motorcycle fatalities.

US DOT findings discovered that following the Helmet Law Repeal in Texas and Arkansas from Aug/Sept of 1997 to May 1998, helmet use dropped to 52% in Arkansas and to 66% in Texas. In Arkansas motorcycle fatalities rose 21% following the repeal and head injuries increased 18.5%. Texas fatalities rose 31%.

One court case in California disputed what standards were set for qualifying a helmet as “safe”. For a list of the US Government “Compliance Testing of Motorcycle Helmets” you can check to see if your helmet passed or failed. Check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

When I am on my motorcycle, I know what I am doing. I don’t know what the other driver is doing. So, with the many facets of helmet use and considering the pro/cons, I choose to wear a helmet. You will have to decide for yourself!

Lonny Wolford, website builder, visitwww.toplinemotorcycles.com

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