The Infonian

I have discovered (as many other people have) a way to buy used bikes at a huge discount. Late last summer (Summer of 2008) I found a bike on Craigslist. It was a 2006 model that had barely been used and looked perfect. The MSRP on this bike was $2200 and I bought it for less than half of that price. I have been extremely happy with this bike but I will do a review of this bike at a later date. But I would like to discuss some things you should do before you buy a used bike.

1. Get in touch with the seller and get the Serial Number for the bike. You want to make sure the bike hasn’t been stolen. You can call your local police department and they can do a search to see if the bike has been listed as stolen. But beware most stolen bikes do not come up as stolen when the police do a search so you will have to make your own decision.

2. Make sure you know what size the bike is. Then go to your local bike shop (that sells that brand of bicycle) and talk to them about it. Have them fit you for that exact bike (or as close as your can get to that model) and make sure it is the right size for you. And look up the bike on the internet, there should be reviews of the bike if it is a fairly popular brand and model.

3. Find a bicycle shop close to where the bike is being sold. Tell the seller you want the bike to be looked at before you make the purchase. Most local bike shops will be happy to look at the bike to make sure there are no problem that you might over look for a nominal fee. And let the seller know ahead of time that you want the bike inspected at a bike shop close to them. The more money you are spending the more I would suggest having the bike inspected.

4. Bring a friend with you to look at the bike. Preferably someone who has knowledge about bicycles. Bring someone you trust and has a level head. They can stop you from making a mistake if you get too excited about a bike that may not be a good deal. Plus a second person can help with safety. It is very rare but it might be a trick to get you there under false pretenses.

5. Which leads me to my next suggestion. Don’t bring money with you. Work out a price with the seller and go get the money once you have a price worked out. Not only is this safer but it can help you get a better deal if you don’t have the money in your pocket.

6. Try to get the paper work for the bike. The newer the bike is the more likely the owner will have the paper work. If it is a newer bike (1 to 4 years old) and they don’t have the paper work that could be a red flag that the bike does not belong to the seller.

7. Listen to you gut. If you think the bike is not a good deal don’t be afraid to walk away. If you don’t trust the person selling and they cannot provide enough proof that they own the bike that is a good sign that you should not purchase the bike. If it seems too good to be true it probably is.

I hope you find the suggestions useful and can use them to find the bike of your dreams. Happy hunting!

Dennis Gertgen is an intermediate bicycle rider. He has been Bicycling seriously since the summer of 2007. He rides both road bikes and Mountain bikes as often as he can. And he is sharing some of his experiences with biking, trails and equipment. You can check out this article and his personal blog here: Bicycling Blog

Author: Dennis Gertgen

Most people have heard of the Star Trac exercise bike. All models are built with professional fitness in mind, and are constructed around a sturdy aluminum frame. The patented monitoring system is able to dynamically adjust the pedal resistance, giving the workout the feel of covering a wide range of terrain types. Available in both upright and recumbent models, there is a Star Trac exercise bike for most body shapes and lower body exercise needs.

In consumer exercise bike reviews, it is often touted that the fitness programs built into a Star Trac exercise bike could be improved on, and they are, of course, a far cry from the integration with video games that a Cateye Gamebike achieves. Star Trac is a more professional design, intended for the use of people who are interested in their health, and determined to improve it. It doesn’t pretend to hide the exercise process, because its users are there for the workout.

Star Trac E-UBi upright exercise bike users boast about the adjustable seat and handle grips. They say it is easy to set a Star Trac to fit their body style, and that makes the workout more enjoyable. For dedicated cyclists who are staying in shape, the dynamic pedal resistance will simulate hills and other sloping surfaces, requiring periodic short bursts of higher energy, which builds muscle tone.

Star Trac S-RBx recumbent exercise bike is more comfortable for many, and a requirement in some situations. By changing the direction of leg thrust, strain on the lower back is often reduced, making it a good plan for rebuilding muscle tone in physical therapy situations. The computerized exercise programs aren’t as extensive as you’ll find on some other models, but it provides a decent selection designed for specific training purposes, including off-road and long distance events.

A Star Trac exercise bike is far from perfect. For dedicated enthusiasts and athletes in training, however, it is a great piece of equipment. The ability to simulate terrain types makes it one of the best exercise bikes for competition training, but there are some features that could have made the process more realistic.

There are many exercise bike reviews that put a Star Trac exercise bike at the top of the list. Many say that it is a direct competitor with companies such as Reebok, although the Star Trac machines are a lot more functional and dedicated to cardiovascular fitness, where other companies attempt to disguise the workout and minimize the importance of what it is all about.

Author: Robin O’Brien

Are you signed up for an event you’re not ready for? Maybe your buddies are kicking your butt up the hills? Being slow is a common spring problem for riders. Likely you’ve tried to maintain a training schedule but life has got in the way over the winter months.

Your heart and lungs will likely respond better than your legs. Your winter of low activity has caused a reduction of muscle mass. Below we’ll outline a 4 week crash course that will put you in a condition to do some hard riding.

For this training plan to be a success, you’ll need to commit 1 hour a day 5-6 days/week.

We’ll start with a base watt of 200. If you cannot maintain the 200 watts as described please adjust initial wattage to fit your physical ability. At no point in the training should you come close to your max heart rate. If you get close to your max at any point in your training, adjust your work out to keep a 10-15bmp buffer below your max heart rate* or what your doctor has recommended.

Standard Workout
8min light warm up
12min 200 watts at 85-100rpm (or what you can hold constant for 12 min and finish the workout)
2min 100 watts at 85-90rpm
9min 250 watts at 85-100rpm (or 50 watts above 12min interval)
2min 100 watts at 85-90rpm
6min 275 watts at 85-100rpm (or 25 watts above the 9min interval)
2min cool down (just enough to clear your legs, longer is not required)
After ride consume a recovery drink

Extreme Workout
8min light warm up
12min 200 watts at 85-100rpm (or what you can hold constant for 12 min and finish the workout)
2min 100 watts at 85-90rpm
9min 250 watts at 85-100rpm (or 50 watts above 12min interval)
2min 100 watts at 85-90rpm
6min 275 watts at 85-100rpm (or 25 watts above the 9min interval)
2min 100 watts at 85-90rpm
3min 300 watts at 85-100rpm
4-6min cool down (just enough to clear your legs, longer is not required)
After ride consume a recovery drink

The Standard Workout is designed to be done most often and the Extreme Workout done no more than once a week. When the base watt of 200 becomes too easy and it feels like you’re spinning out, add 25 watts to the base and then adjust your jumps according to the pattern stated above.

In 4 weeks you should feel an improvement in your abilities, your legs should be considerably stronger and your lungs/heart in excellent shape.

This work out can be used in conjunction with outdoor riding and/or pleasure rides. It can also be used throughout the winter on a 3-4/day/week basis. Don’t be fooled by the short duration of this work out, you will have the strength and endurance claimed by proponents of base mile training.

*Max Heart Rate = 220 – age (those with heart complications should consult a doctor prior to this work out)

Why have we recommended training on power?

Though heart rate is a good indicator of your physical condition, it is not an indicator of actual work. Watts are consistent from one rider to another, yet heart rate is not. Heart size, complications, diet and condition can all impact your heart rate. Two riders doing the same watts may have two different heart rates. For this reason we feel it best to train with watts.

So use your heart rate monitor to determine if you’re pushing yourself too hard. Remember if your heart/chest hurts you are going too hard, so slow down.

Are you looking for fun, different ways to get good exercise? Tired of running on a treadmill? Here are some great, fresh ideas for exercise.

1: Dance

Dancing can be a great form of exercise, especially more energetic dances like swing, salsa, polka, and cha-cha. If you really want a lot of exercise from dancing, take up English country dancing – dances like the Virginia reel, the snowball reel, or any of the other reels and jigs danced during colonial and Victorian time periods. For many of these dances, you won’t necessarily need a partner.

2: Hiking

Go hike a mountain! It’s great exercise, and you get to enjoy the great outdoors. It’s also a very healthy form of exercise, as you get to be out in the forest, breathing fresh, clean mountain air. Hiking also exercises more muscles than just running on a treadmill – you have to run, hike, walk, climb, descend, and use a variety of muscles. Be sure that you take plenty of water with you. When hiking at higher altitudes, you’ll need a lot more water than you would at lower altitudes.

3: Whitewater Kayaking

If you want a full body exercise wrapped up with adrenaline pumping thrill, go whitewater kayaking. If you find a tour guide that uses inflatable kayaks, you won’t need any experience at all. You can learn as you go. Expect to be sore the next day, though – white water kayaking will work your entire body out as you fight to control, steer, and paddle your kayak through the rapids.