The Management Consulting Group

When it comes to motorcycles, the top known brand is Harley Davidson. Harleys are distinctive in design and attract a loyal following. Bikers who are not fans contend that the bikes are badly engineered, under-powered and under-performing. But in reality Harleys are designed for long, low-speed cruising on flat, straight roads. And Harley is a name that smacks of prestige and success and tradition and longevity and power. And sound! There’s the unique sound of a Harley that speaks volumes about the name.

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company was officially founded on August 28, 1903 by, strangely enough, two guys named Harley and Davidson (plus Davidson’s two brothers). Production started in Milwaukee, where it in fact continues today. Incidentally, a few years ago Harley celebrated their 100th anniversary, quite an accomplishment. And nowhere was the celebration bigger than in hometown Milwaukee, where thousands of motorists congregated for the celebration over Labor Day weekend.

Harley grew by leaps and bounds. They were the motorcycles of choice for police forces in the US and abroad. Harleys were used extensively in combat in World War I. By 1920, Harley-Davidson was officially the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. And they were only one of two American cycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression in 1929.

In the 70s, the Japanese had developed motorcycles that were far superior to the Harleys. As a result, Harley-Davidson very nearly declared bankruptcy. However, Harleys improved their quality and craftsmanship, exploited the “retro” appeal of the machines, and eventually turned themselves around to being once again among the leaders in motorcycle mania everywhere,

Jim Dooleyman writes articles about motorcycles for http://www.EZHarley.com

The previous article looked at postural issues and possible muscles imbalances involved with cycling. Now that we have an understanding of the imbalances that arise from a prolonged cycling position, we can develop an effective program for correcting those postural distortions.

The first part of the program is stretching the muscles that were identified as tight in the previous article (calves, quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, pectorals, trapezius, and neck flexors). Stretching returns muscles to their proper length-tension relationship. As stated in the previous article, tight muscles alter joint positions which in turn affect the opposing muscles ability to function properly. Each stretch should be held at least 20-30 seconds.

The next component is five minutes of light cardiovascular activity to increase blood flow to the active muscles and increase the efficiency of the kinetic chain. Treadmill or elliptical are great choices.

Core stabilization training is next. Stabilization training involves improving the ability of the transverse abdominis, internal obliques and the pelvic floor muscles too effectively stabilize the spine and pelvis during cycling. Stabilization exercises involve little to no movement through the lower back, hips, and pelvis. Exercises include a progression of teaching the lower abdominals and pelvic floor muscles to stabilize the spine correctly. Exercises include abdominal bracing (aka “drawing-in” maneuver), bridges, the DOG (quadruped) series of exercises, and planks. These exercises should be performed with 12-20 reps with a slow controlled movement.

Balance is a requirement during any type of riding, (endurance, tempo, sprints, climbing, etc) and involves a series of coordinated actions involving the muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems (aka , the kinetic chain). Balance training is designed to improve the body’s kinetic chain efficiency. Performing simple exercises like balancing on one leg force the muscles surrounding the hip, knee, and ankle to stabilize their respective joints. As you become more balanced, you can gradually add slow controlled movements like single leg reaches and/or single leg squats.

The strength training portion of the program is designed to improve dynamic joint stabilization by performing exercises that are slow and controlled with higher repetitions. The strength exercises are performed using stability balls, dumbbells, and incorporating balance. Each exercise should be performed with 2-3 sets, 12-20 reps and can be performed in a circuit fashion. The speed should be 4-2-2, meaning, 4 seconds down, 2 seconds hold, 2 seconds up. This slow speed allows the muscles to stabilize the joints and increases force production and force reduction. Exercises focus on the major muscles of body (chest, back, shoulders, legs).

Dave Radin, CSCS, NASM-CPT, is a personal trainer with Precision Fitness. Precision Fitness is located in the Lake Norman area. Check out their website at http://www.lakenormanfitness.com. You can contact Dave at 704-662-8664, or by email at davefradin@netzero.net.

Whether you’re shopping for a bike or just admiring them, the first part you notice is probably the bicycle frame.The frame is the heart of a bicycle, as well as its art.Including the basically triangular core structure that supports both seat and handlebars and the extensions that attach to the wheels, the color and the geometry of the bicycle frame not only affects the beauty of the bike, but its strength and speed as well.The pleasure and success you derive from bicycle riding will be strongly impacted by having the right frame for your physique and your purposes.

Naturally, your bicycle frame will take into dramatic account whether you ride primarily on roads or off-road.Not only are so-called mountain bike frames made of noticeably bigger “tubes,” they are made of more shock resistant materials, with stronger weldings. Road bike frames have a smaller triangular geometry and the main consideration in their material is its weight.Everything on a road bike is designed to keep the rider’s resistance to a minimum in order to promote fluency and speed, while a mountain bike is designed with the primary goal of shock absorption and maneuverability in mind alongside speed-influencing factors.

Even among these two main divisions, you will find major differences in bicycle frames.Road bikes used primarily for touring or recreational riding will have frames with a more relaxed geometry and more total horizontal spread front to back, while racing bikes will tighten that structure for a shorter front to back bike length.A tighter triangle and less distance between the bicycle frame and the tires acts to decrease the resistance of wind and road for a racer, as well as to increase the bike’s ability to respond to the quick, minute maneuverings road racing requires.

In addition, your unique body shape and weight will also affect what kind of bicycle frame is best for your comfort and accomplishment.Standard frame measurements, made along the seat tube of a frame, take into account the length of your legs, but the relationship of your torso length and arm length to the length of your legs is also extremely important to comfort on a bicycle, and the length of the top tube of the bicycle frame must also be examined.Two riders of identical height may need completely different bicycle frames.The best thing you can do is to shop at a bicycle store where knowledgeable riders earn their living and where you are allowed to try out a bicycle before buying it.

Alastair Hamilton is a successful writer who offers a truly unique depth of experience in competitive cycling. Reach further articles on bicycle frames at http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com, the hub of cycling information.

Initially I was blind sided by Alpine daisies and Digitalis (foxglove) passing themselves off as wildflowers, much less the other fabulous scenery on the North Cascades Highway, and then they showed up again. I turned the tables on them though and made a pass. I don’t commonly make passes at bikers, but in this case, it was a must. I went around them. Bikers. The non-motorized kind.

I hit the brake often for resting bicyclers and continued searching, as I drove, for the perfect shot of wildflowers. My “kill two birds with one stone” mentality needed Ross Lake as a backdrop.

I ducked out of traffic last spring when I got off the ferry and dipped onto South Chuckanut Drive. For approximately twenty-five miles I was in another world with narrow, winding roads under a canopy of trees and there I wanted to stay. I passed under Highway 5 near exit 231, hung a right onto Burlington Boulevard and left on Avon Avenue (Highway 20), headed east, back to Colorado. No traffic, feeling a bit lost even with a map, another sixty miles and I slowed down even more. I was in the Cascades.

My mind filled with a flash of Concretia from the Flintstones movie along the way, when I passed through the town of Concrete. There is not much to it but history, folklore and a garish cement stack with bold lettering no one can miss. Concrete sits below Baker Dam and the base of Lake Shannon. The bikers were beginning to add up as I passed more and drove another twenty-six miles, through Marblemount, climbing, climbing. Gorge Dam and its long, narrow Gorge Lake, then Diablo Dam created more than fifty-years ago, and Diablo Lake, and further on and above, Ross Lake, all a sparkle of deep blue.

A labor of love goes into building our roadways so travelers like me can see the grandeur of our country. North Cascades Highway was completed in1972 after twelve years. Down one particularly steep grade around a switchback the view of Ross Lake takes your breath away. It spans into Canada for a mile and a half. Access is only available on the U.S. side.

Six passes on and around this route reach elevations between 4,000 to 5,500 feet. Sherman Pass is the highest, followed by North Cascade, Loup Loup, Wauconda, Rainy, and Washington. Passes are monitored for weather changes, but expect Loup Loup Pass to remain open year round. Like Ross Lake, Loup Loup Pass goes into Canada. From Marblemount to the end of the Cascades on this highway fifty-six more miles awaited as I continued to dodge bikers.

I recommend springtime travel, more tourists and travelers flock here in the summer. Mid-April through late June is the time to reduce distractions, catch craggy peaks, and glimpses of passing wildflowers, but watch the road, too. Bicycling is a springtime fancy that brings hoards of them into the mountains. They do what they do for more than exercise and health. Funding good causes comes into play.

Covered with Douglas fir, many of the surrounding peaks, such as Liberty Bell Mountain, Ruby Mountain, and Early Winters Spires tower in the high 7,000 elevation range. My first time in northwestern Washington and writings stating European images came to light. It is truly awesome. Bicyclists benefit from unobstructed views and find safety quickly even from wild drivers like myself.

The humid side of Washington was about to end when Dry Falls appeared. The eastern leg of northern Washington is dry, flat, agricultural land stirred up by high winds that creates “dust devils”. They are ultra-mini tornadoes that whip the land into some sort of shape. The foreboding look of three or more can be seen at any given time throwing a fit on the horizon blending yellow, brown dust with cerulean blue sky.

According to Washington State Parks, Dry Falls is one of North America’s geological wonders. Dry Falls is a cliff over three miles long and 400 foot high and was once ten times larger than Niagara. The Colombia River used to rush through here.

On one free-fall, in neutral down a steep, winding grade on the North Cascades Highway, there they were. And again, when I rounded a corner at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, and once again before I crossed into Idaho. Still headed eastbound on Highway 20 just leaving Coulee City headed to Spokane, on the flat, dry plains, faces of the bikers were becoming recognizable. I filled up every two hundred miles or so from Washington to Colorado and began to think my speedometer was broken because the same bikers were everywhere I was. Were they following me? My curiosity was piqued, because I just couldn’t shake them all the way through Washington.

I began to hallucinate seeing bikers in Montana, thinking, they were still following me. So, here it was ten o’clock at night, I pulled off at a state campground, plopped ten dollars in an envelope, pitched my tent, and dreamed of bikers.

This link covers a bike tour that lasted 71 days and 4,224 miles starting at Anacortes, Washington and ending in Bar Harbor, Maine.
http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2004/06/10/recreation/rec01.prt

True account of one of the bikers who took the Washington route.
http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/ncascade.html

Interested in biking across the entire United States contact:
http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/bikeaid/welcome.html
http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_WebPages/statebicycletoursRW.html

Washington State only:
http://www.cascade.org/EandR/raw/index.cfm

http://www.redspoke.org/day1.htm

One to Mt. St. Helens?:
http://www.tourdeblast.com/

Linda’s writing appears in From Eulogy to Joy, Beischel, Xlibris Press, 2000, http://www.Bootsnall.com, http://www.scribequill.com, and http://www.ezinearticles.com She loves to travel, write, design, decorate, and paint. Linda studied writing through Long Ridge Writers Group in Connecticut, journalism at MSCD, Denver, and painting at the Art Academy in Loveland, Colorado, USA.

What are dirt bike trails?

While dirt bike racing and motocross is normally done on designated tracks that are set out and predefined, dirt bike trails are the equivalent of free ride. In some areas you can just head off to a decent dirt bike trail and ride how you want and where you want. Obviously there are usually some pretty basic rules to try and encourage safe riding and lower the risks of dangerous accidents but if you see a better route, you can take it.

There are many different difficulties of dirt bike trails; ranging from beginner trails to difficult trails and if you’re new to trailing then you should start at the very beginning and work your way up as you gain more confidence, skill and exposure.

What are trails bikes?

Trails bikes are different to other types of dirt bikes, because they are designed for use both on and off road and while the ride on the road can be quite bumpy the bike gives you the perfect way to get you from one trail to the next. Obviously, this compatibility for both road and track means that the bikes are an all-rounder; they are good for roads and good for tracks but not exceptional at either.

The freedom that trails bikes and trail racing offers means that trail riding has a massive following and many trail bikers will tell you that it’s the only real dirt bike riding there is.

Can anyone try dirt bike trails?

Trails are an easily accessible form of dirt bike riding but in order to ride your trail bike on the road you will, of course, need the same license, tax and certificates as you would with a standard road bike. To ride them on a trail, though, this isn’t necessary although some more organized trails will only consider experienced riders so check before you travel. There are many trails all over the world, and in some areas of the world you don’t have to use the predefined trails, but you should always take care when riding anywhere that there may be unseen obstacles or pedestrians.

There are groups of people all over the world who travel together to find the best trails and even a cursory glance on the Internet can find a plethora of sites offering details, directions and even rider’s guides to some of the best trails in the world. If you’ve got a bit of money to spare you can sign up to a premium site and get new trails added as and when they are opened or discovered. These have details of some of the more obscure trails in the world sourced by professional die-hard trail bikers.

Dirt Bikes HQ, www.dirtbikeshq.com/, for lots of information about dirt biking.

Mini Motos have been popular for sometime now in the UK with various type of models now available on the market range from the standard mini moto to ones with performance upgrades. These upgrades are things like K&N filter, sports exhausts, body styling and graphics, and some have boost bottles or NOS which really adds power to your mini moto.

As mini motos have developed an interesting myth has started to occur, which is ‘Mark I’ and ‘Mark II Bikes’. The ‘Mark’ of the bike is actually relatively immaterial. All it means is that it is the manufacturer who produce the bikes second generation model of the it; this does not necessarily mean that it is better than other manufacturers MkI’s as they can be the same model as its dependent on the manufacturer. Generally manufacturers who have been in the mini moto business from the beinging are now producing mark II or mark III mini motos.

There are many Manufacturers of Mini Motos and they all buy the bits to produce them from similar companies, so the bikes are generally largely similar in appearance. To get the best bike you should consider the individual mix of parts on the bike not the claimed Mark, as this does not really mean anything.

Daudbikes offer the latest mini motos, mini quads origami minimotos and spare parts see http://www.daudbikes.com for further information.

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.

For more than fifty years, athletes in sports requiring endurance have used a training technique called carbohydrate loading. A recent study from South Africa shows that this technique slows sprint performance of cyclists ( Journal of Applied Physiology , January 2006).

Competitive bicycle racers ate a high fat or high-carbohydrate diet for six days followed by a high-carbohydrate diet for one day and completed time trials on their bikes. Then they ate the opposite diet for six days followed by a high carbohydrate diet for one day and repeated their time trial. Diets did not affect their times or power output for 100 kilometers (62 miles), but the high fat diet slowed their sprint performance over one kilometer (0.6 miles.)

Muscles get their energy from sugar and fat stored in muscles and coming into muscles from the bloodstream. The limiting factor in how fast an endurance athlete can exercise is the time it takes to transport oxygen from the blood in the lungs to the muscle. Muscles require far more oxygen to burn fat than to burn sugar for energy. So when a muscle runs out of its stored sugar, called glycogen, it becomes less efficient, hurts, is difficult to co-ordinate and slows you down. Many previous studies show that it doesn’t make any difference what an trained endurance athlete eats on the week before competition because the muscles of trained athletes store the most glycogen when they reduce training for several days, regardless of what they eat. Any difference in the muscle and fat concentration inside muscles becomes unimportant during endurance competition.

This study shows that a high-fat diet before sprint competition hurts performance. A high fat diet causes muscles to burn a higher percentage of fat. Using fat for energy requires more oxygen than carbohydrates do, and how fast you can sprint 0.6 miles on a bicycle is limited by how rapidly you can deliver oxygen to muscles.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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The Haro mountain bike equals expert dirt riding. Since Haro came on the scene in the 80’s as a BMX company, they’ve been focused on one thing only, and that is performance in dirt riding - on the mountain trails, on the local course, or anywhere for that matter, even on your way to work across town.

Dirt. That is what Haro is good at, and what they’ve been perfecting for decades.

Over the years they’ve developed many different Haro mountain bikes, for a variety of situations and bikers, but always focusing on performance. Bringing the experience of their BMX past into play with each new design, pays off big-time!

A case in point is the Haro Mountain Bike Extreme. With its hydro-formed top tube to support big-hit forks, as well as 5-6 inches of adjustable travel and aggressive disc brakes, the Extreme is a very stout machine. This is the ideal heavy-duty, all-mountain bike.

The Extreme Haro Mountain Bike boasts an extremely strong rear suspension that can handle practically any big hits and hard landings. The frame has enough lateral stiffness to help you always ride in a perfect line.

If you thrive on fast downhills, huge gap jumps and big drops then the Extreme will get you there and back!

The Werx Haro Mountain Bikes are the speed-monsters of the range. Tested and proven to be winners by the Haro/Lee Dungarees team, these black beauties are born to race and win. With names like Manitou, Shimano, and Saint used in the making, they have to be exceptional!

The Haro mountain bike range also offers the V3, a basic, bare-bones hardtail model for the beginner biker to get a first experience of the mountains, or even to commute across town.

Haro mountain bikes always seem to anticipate the needs of their riders. This is evident in this bike with its lightweight aluminum frame with replaceable derailleur hanger, and tabs for disc brakes for possible upgrading. The sloping top tube offers good stand-over clearance, which is welcome in many kinds of riding conditions.

Haro has also managed to come up with an extremely heavy duty bike that is aimed at those heavy and rough riders who like to drive their bikes - and themselves - to the extremes of endurance. The Haro Mountain Bike Escape 8.2 has a frame made of huge aluminum tubes, with strategically placed reinforcing gussets.

For extra protection against direct hits and bumps the Marzocchi EXR Pro Coil suspension fork of the Escape offers 105mm of travel. This Haro mountain bike is also supplied with extra-fat 2.35-inch Kenda tires. With all that protection, the Escape is unfortunately not a lightweight bike!

The Escape is supplied with three front chainwheels and nine rear cogs, but in place of the third (large) chainwheel, the bike sports a rugged bash guard to protect the drivetrain components from rocks and logs - and heavy duty dirt…

Yes, dealing with dirt. That is what every Haro mountain bike was born to do!

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.

Mini Motos have been around in the UK for around ten years now. The first bikes we’re cobbled together with parts that were already available. Small 2 stroke engines, mainly from garden machinery, were used. This type of engine is still used today for a few models and is referred to as an ‘industrial’ engine. But now the mini moto has been given an overhaul and has taken off in popularity.

Mini Motos are true miniatures of their larger Super bike cousins. All of the details that go into the high performance motorcycles of today are scaled down. The slick tires, the race replica bodywork and the “super bike” colours are all present. Although usually only 15 to 18 inches in height and weighing 35 to 55 pounds, it can be difficult to tell they’re not full size when looking at them from a distance. The exactness of detail adds to their ‘coolness’ and is most certainly what has raised them to such heights of popularity.

Although beautiful, Mini Motos go well beyond being mere exquisite scale models. Advanced engineering has catapulted them to high-performance levels at only slightly outrageous prices. European companies like Blata and Polini sell units for £1200-£2000 but less expensive and arguably less reliable ones are made by Chinese manufacturers and cost £180-£400. Most models have two-stroke, 47cc engines, which run on a combination of petrol and two stroke oil. Despite the awkward-looking position it takes to mount one, they are a sheer joy to ride. The short wheelbase and overall low weight give them a lightning-fast turn and the thrill of riding so fast and so close to the terra firma is indeed intoxicating.
Safety measures are a must when riding Mini Motos. Gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, a leather suit and a helmet should all be worn for each and every ride. Without them, road rash is quite likely and worse injuries are possible.

Despite the size of these little wonders adults are getting them for their kids but more commonly, for themselves. Normal models can regularly go 35mph, all though parents can set them to max out at much slower speeds or … modify them to go faster. Moreover, models with more powerful engines are available. A GRC RX with 15hp 50cc engine by GRC Moto can be purchased for a mere £1999.

The Mini Moto explosion shows no signs of ending anytime soon and MM racing leagues have been in practice in the UK for around seven years now.

The Mini Moto Racing Association offers the following categories for you to test your Mini Moto.

Junior Lights (4.2 hp) Age 6 - 15 up to 35.9 Kg
Junior Cadets (4.2 hp) Age 6 - 15 over 36 Kg
Junior Production Age 9 - 15 no weight limits
Lightweight Production Age 16 + up to 74.9 Kg
Senior Production Age 16 + over 75 Kg
4.2 Senior Age 16 + no weight limits
Supers Age 16 + no weight limits

Race meeting are held around to the country at Go Kart and Mini Moto Tracks. There are also many ‘Arrive and Drive’ practice sessions hosted by tracks around the UK.

Matt Tong owns and maintains the website http://www.minimotosandmore.com/ he has been riding and importing Mini Motos in to the UK for two years and can offer help and advice for newcomers to the sport.