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Pedal Choices – Part two

By Mary Paterson

MOUNTAIN BIKE PEDALS

Shimano Pedal M324

With many different models, Shimano SPD pedals are one of the most popular pedal choices today. They have between 5 and 6 degrees of float, are dual-sided and are easy to get in and out of.  But beware! do not buy imitation SPD pedals.

Read more . . . Pedal Choices – Part two

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Pedal Choice: Clipless Pedals?

By Mary Paterson

What Are Clipless Pedals?

Choosing pedals can be overwhelming and confusing. The purpose of any pedal is to transfer power to the bike. Should I try clipless pedals and if so which type? To start with, the name “clipless” pedals makes no sense at all because we ARE clipped into

Read more . . . Pedal Choice: Clipless Pedals?

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Cycling Shouldn’t be a Pain in the Neck—or Shoulders

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

If after cycling 50 km (30 miles) your shoulders and neck start to stiffen up and hurt, and by 70 km (40 miles) you’re screaming “uncle,” it’s a sign that something is wrong. A long bike ride shouldn’t be an ordeal. Here’s how to get comfortable:

Make

Read more . . . Cycling Shouldn’t be a Pain in the Neck—or Shoulders

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Try a Rotating Pace Line

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

If you’re planning any long rides or charity tours this spring, learning to ride in a pace line will save you a lot of energy. [If you’re not familiar with pace lines, read this article first.] Drafting behind another cyclist can reduce your effort by as

Read more . . . Try a Rotating Pace Line

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Cycling in a Pace Line

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

While cycling in a group is fun, it can also be challenging. Earlier this summer, a group I ride with had a close call because of one rider, new to the sport, who was cycling in a pace line for the first time. His erratic speed—shooting out in front of the

Read more . . . Cycling in a Pace Line

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Banishing White-Knuckle Cycling

By Sheila Ascroft

For the first few years of cycling, fear sat on the nape of my neck. I hated the noise of cars whizzing by and tensed up every time a driver zoomed passed me. It wasn’t that I was afraid of falling off my bike; it was that something might knock me

Read more . . . Banishing White-Knuckle Cycling

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Five Steps to Pedal Power

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Most of us learn how to pedal a bike when we’re tots, but the up and down strokes that work on a tricycle won’t cut it on a road bike. To maximize your pedal efficiency, think circles and clocks, not pistons.

Pedal Through the Dead Spots (These instructions are for

Read more . . . Five Steps to Pedal Power

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Road Cycling: Cornering

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

It doesn’t matter where you live–whether it’s in the mountains or down on the plains–you’re going to encounter curves in the road. The essence of good cornering is maintaining your speed, safely. To do that you have to carefully choose your line through the turn, determine the appropriate speed, be aware

Read more . . . Road Cycling: Cornering

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Eat & Drink Safely on Your Bicycle

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Many cyclists make pit stops to hydrate and refuel but that’s not always possible if you’re riding in a fast group. You may be so focused on hanging on to the pack that you don’t realize you haven’t been sipping from your water bottle or eaten the calories that you need

Read more . . . Eat & Drink Safely on Your Bicycle

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Hill Climbs on Your Bike

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Hill climbs are challenging for all cyclists and can be intimidating for beginners. Hills are where inexperienced riders often get dropped from the pack. But finding the right gear, cadence and technique can turn the most grueling climb into an enjoyable ride.

Climbing is all about conserving energy, and how you

Read more . . . Hill Climbs on Your Bike

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Awesome Land: Women of Dirt

ShortHills Cycling Club presented Niagara’s premiere viewing of the movie Awesome Land: Women of Dirt on April 28th, 2010 at The Funky Monkey Bar & Grill, 129 Main Street West, Port Colborne, ON.

The sport of mountain biking has long been a male dominated sport and until recently all forms

Read more . . . Awesome Land: Women of Dirt

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Shifting To Clip-in Pedals

By Jacqui Snyder

Recently a reader enquired about different types of clip-in pedals and how to make the switch from standard pedals to clip-ins. I thought it was a great topic that many people would be interested in.

With clip-in pedals, cycling becomes much more efficient. You can take advantage of many different leg muscles, thereby getting more

Read more . . . Shifting To Clip-in Pedals

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Cornering On A Bike

By Sheila Ascroft

If you’re comfortable with the basics of pedalling, let’s talk about cornering. How do you go around a street corner with a bit of speed or handle an unexpected turn in the road without panicking? Always keep the inside pedal up.

//

Where your pedals are located in a turn matter. If it is

Read more . . . Cornering On A Bike

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Proper Pedalling Means Going In Circles

By Sheila Ascroft

I know it sounds stupid to say “pedal in circles.” I mean, what else can you do on a bike when your feet go round and round?

Well, I used to think that too . . . but after 15 years of serious riding, I’ve learned the cycling experts are right. There’s more to

Read more . . . Proper Pedalling Means Going In Circles

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Shifting Gears Makes For Better Bicycling

By Sheila Ascroft

Do you suffer from bicycle gear phobia? The overt signs are:

struggling up hills because you leave the gears in one position no matter what.
pedalling like crazy on downhills because you leave the gears in one position no matter what!
feeling totally confused by the 12 or 27 or gazillion gear options on your fancy

Read more . . . Shifting Gears Makes For Better Bicycling

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Climbing Clinic

By Laurel-Lea Shannon

This summer I cycled with a couple of clubs two evenings a week — and loved it. As well as having the social and safety benefits of cycling buddies, I learned helpful tips along the way. 

Cycling with more experienced riders improved my overall strength and speed. For the most part, I hung onto the group and benefited from drafting,

Read more . . . Climbing Clinic

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