Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Food
Raw or cooked: Have a cooked dinner with fresh vegies thrown into the pot. It is easier to digest cooked food, and after a day's cycling this matters. Also, it's relaxing to watch a billy boil.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Food
Budget Tour Tip #1: If you like cafes, ask for a cup of hot water, then secretly whack in your own tea-bag or coffee. Then leave a small tip or a nice comment in the guest-book.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Food
Budget Tour Tip #2: Carry electrolyte powder in a ziplock bag, to mix later, instead of buying ready-made drinks.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Food
Budget Tour Tip #3: Stop for a break in an attractive public park near to others. You can learn a bit from the locals, exchange tips with other tourists, offer some of your food, and might get an interesting change to your diet.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Food
Budget Tour Tip #4: Add about 300 calories per hour of exercise to your basic daily quota. But more exercise = more body repair = more calories = $$$ = more stress = shorter tour.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Tourism
Interesting things to see that don't cost much: museums, art galleries, gardens, conservation parks, swimming or fishing at a lake or seaside.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Tourism
Aim to go at an easy pace, to be most aware of everything you experience. Imagine you're unmoving and the world moves.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Health
Stretches keep your muscles flexible. It's also a relaxing way to start and end a ride.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Health
Shift the body around while cycling to prevent stiffness. For example, try different hand-positions on the handlebars, stand up while coasting (stand on the horizontal cranks, closer to the axle, not out on the pedals), and shake the legs out while sitting.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Health
Prevent saddlesores: wear two pairs of cycling knicks on longer rides, and stand in the saddle while freewheeling.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Health
Core strength: imagine the area around the spine as either a wide, porous, flabby sponge, or as a tightly contracted cylindrical mesh. Suck in the stomach as if squeezing sideways through a tight doorway. Tuck the shoulder blades in, close to the spine. This core strength helps support the weight of the body.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Tourism
One always leaves some kind of trace of having been somewhere. Try to leave traces that benefit others, like being free of greediness, stress, or anger. Try to be 'Nature incognito'.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Keeping loose cannot be stressed enough. This looseness in the arms, shoulders and trunk, provides a great deal of the spring and power in a golf swing. Think of your arms as being like strings as opposed to tree trunks. Don't think you need to keep your arms stiff in order to keep them extended: if your arms are loose, the speed of the clubhead, and the centrifugal force, will keep your arms stretched out.
The muscles in your arms should only come into play as you contact with the ball, releasing all the energy stored in your arms.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Putting
Looseness is just as important in the putt as it is for other golf strokes. The putting stroke should both feel and look effortless and comfortable.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Putting
Percentages: For very long putts, I like to leave myself a short uphill putt to finish if possible. For shorter putts, if I'm going to miss, it is better to miss on the upper side of the hole, as there's more chance the ball will fall in.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Tennis
Think only about your shots. If you start hitting the ball tentatively, then you are probably thinking about the score instead of your shots. You need to develop confidence in your regular shots.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Swimming
Swimming can be made more enjoyable with the following tips:
- Wear a top if you are cold and can't warm up.
- Wear goggles, and demist them if necessary with demisting fluid. (or detergent/shampoo)
- Shaded goggles are best if you are swimming outside in the summer.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Swimming
Breathing is the most important thing to get right if you want to enjoy swimming. If you don't get it right then you will quickly become short of breath. The trick is to be very relaxed, and to exhale fully, underwater, before inhaling. You need to clear out all of the carbon dioxide from your lungs before each breath. You start by exhaling slowly, and then give a bigger exhalation, just before you take your next breath. Your lungs need to be fully empty so that you can get a full breath of fresh air. It makes a big difference. When you get this right you can swim continuously and comfortably, without having to stop and catch your breath.
When breathing, don't just take a huge gasp, but let your lungs naturally breathe as much air as they want to, effortlessly. Each breathe will be different, and will be dictated by the natural needs of the body. If you force air into your lungs in a mechanical way your breathing will go out of balance.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mountain-biking
If you get a very cheap mountain bike, do not go over jumps much higher than a few centimetres. Cheap new mountain bikes have very flimsy rims. I went over a jump and when I landed with over 90kg in bodyweight, the entire front wheel buckled to the point where I hit the ground and lost a lot of skin. Six weeks later I still have bruises and could not walk properly for three days initially. The bike could not even be pushed it was so heavily buckled and the replacement rim (which was the cheapest they had but double walled) cost me more than the bike did originally. A positive spinoff is that the new rim made a return to the track a more enjoyable ride.
myxlfidian (150)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Tools
Allen Keys: Virtually everything on a bike can be tightened with Allen Keys. But most people buy the standard length ones, which provide little leverage. When you buy a set, spend a fraction more for the really long handled ones. They are much easier to make a bolt tight with, and to loosen them.
myxlfidian (150)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Late wrist release: The later you can keep your wrists from releasing on the downswing, the more clubhead speed you will generate. Top players keep their wrists cocked till the very last moment before contact with the ball.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Squash
Most important: Keep your eyes on the ball at all times.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Squash
The flick: This is crucial to good squash. Flick the racquet at the last moment before hitting the ball. The ball's velocity increases dramatically, and this in turn increases the number of positions you can send the ball. It also increases the difficulty for the opponent, since there is less time for thinking and moving.
A ball dying off the back wall: Most back wall shots need the flick, because they are slower, and a slow ball hit high may not reach the front again. Boasting off a side wall is easiest from that position, and it is likely to move the opponent off the T.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Cycling in traffic
Contrary to belief, cycling has nearly the lowest number of fatalities for all transport modes by road (in developed countries). See link : US. link : UK. link : Eur. link : Aus
Panoculus (40)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Cycling in traffic
Help others to notice you by wearing light-coloured clothing, and by positioning yourself on the road intelligently, e.g. out in front, not beside or behind the car.
Panoculus (40)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Cycling in traffic
Choose a route to your destination before you get on the bike. This will ensure you behave more predictably, giving drivers time to slow down where needed.
Panoculus (40)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Building
Wheel-building: The rear wheel needs to be stronger than the front, in most cases. This means the number of spokes is better 36/32 than 36/36. See link
Panoculus (40)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
Take the shuttle early: Since the shuttle slows-down rapidly you should take the shuttle as early as possible — ie, as high as possible, and as close to the net as possible. This will achieve a number of things:- It drastically reduces the amount of time your opponent will have to respond.
- It increases the angles open to you.
- It gives you the advantage of having gravity on your side.
- It gives you the option to delay the shot and use deception.
That's a lot of advantage.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
Doubles tactics: Always try to hit the shuttle downwards. When your partner is hitting the shuttle downwards you should get in the habit of moving forwards to the net and attack the return. If you are are defending, and your opponents are hitting the shuttle downwards, move back, side-by-side with your partner.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
The half-smash: This is a much underrated shot, and has a number of advantages:- It uses much less energy than a full smash.
- If used sparingly it can catch your opponent off-guard.
- It drops more sharply than a full smash, so reaches the ground more quickly than you might think.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
Singles tactics: Your aim should be to conserve your own energy and to exhaust your opponent to the point that they are making errors. Move them to every point of the court while conserving your own energy. Use deception so that your opponent is not able to anticipate your shots, and will use more energy by having to move sharply, with more effort, and off-balance.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
Forehand instead of backhand: The forehand is a stronger shot than the backhand, so you should attempt to move around to make a shot into a forehand rather than a backhand. This will give you more power and more options with your shot.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
Flexibility and speed will give you a big advantage in badminton. There are many exercises to increase your flexibility. And you should watch your weight.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Badminton
Legs: You can often tell the quality of a badminton player by looking at their legs and the way they use them. Work to develop leg strength, and practice your footwork to all areas of the court.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Table tennis
General:- Mix-up your serves with different length and spin. Use deception.
- When receiving serve, focus on your opponent's bat to know what the ball is going to do.
- Turn backhands into forehands if you can, by developing good side-to-side footwork.
- Experiment with different styles of play. Some people cannot play against a close-to-the-table counter-hitting style, other people don't like wickedly curling loops, so if you are able to adapt your style, you can have a big advantage.
- Table-tennis is a game of confidence, and often big egos. You are physically very close to your opponent so you must learn to trust in your own abilities. This requires practice and tournament-experience.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Stretching the rubber band: On the backswing, allow your arms and shoulders to be stretched outwards and upwards, like a rubber band being stretched out. The energy stored in this rubber band is released on the downswing. If your shoulders and arms are too taught, or not relaxed enough, they will not be able to stretch.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf
Food and drink: Take plenty of food and drink with you, such as water, and bananas, when you are playing a round of golf, to give you energy. Sometimes you will need more food or drink than at other times. This is especially important in competitions, where tiredness towards the end of the round can cost you the match.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Swinging an axe: It can help to visualize how one swings an axe, like when chopping firewood, to understand how one can effectively swing a golf club. One holds the axe high above one's head, and then, with the help of gravity, one pulls the club down with one's body (not so much with the arms), generating maximum power at the point where the axe head meets the wood. And so it is with the golf club. The work done by the arms is relatively little compared to the work done by gravity and ones body, shoulders, and hips.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Transporting goods > PABs (Power-assisted bikes)
An efficient PAB has:
- torque applied directly to the rear wheel's hub, not by friction to the tyre or wheel
- the engine inside the hub for better weight distribution
- a good battery (light, compact: <1kg; powerful: 200-400W; smart: fool-proof, long-life, less toxic to the environment)
- a pedal-sensor: assists only when pedalling
- an electronic controller: adjustable power, e.g. a grip-shift throttle or pedal sensor
- a battery power gauge: to let you know when the power is running low
Research shows the best PABs currently run for ~70km on a sealed flat road, no wind, and some pedalling.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Snooker/pool
Hitting straight: Before you do anything you have to make sure you can hit the ball straight. Practice hitting the cue ball straight up and down the table, always following through the ball with the cue in a straight line. When you can do that, practice by lining balls up in a straight line and potting them into the pockets. When you are confident with your straight-hitting you will enjoy the game a lot more, and have a basis for more advanced techniques.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Squash
Learning to hit the ball straight: 1. relax the body, letting go of tension. 2. Stand closer to the front wall, reducing effort of chasing off-straight balls on the rebound. 3. Use a less powerful racquet for greater accuracy.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Squash
Practising sessions: Use different racquets, and balls to get a better concept of the dynamics of squash. Racquets differ in weight, size and tension of the strung area. Racquets also differ in their type and location of sweet spots (shock, vibration, and power). Balls differ in 'bounce' - some squash more, so are slower and 'die' faster.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Loose shoulders: For extra distance, make sure that your shoulders are very loose on the backswing. Firstly, this will allow full extension of the clubhead, allowing for a longer swing arc, and therefore more clubhead speed. And secondly, it allows more energy to be stored in your shoulders — particularly your left shoulder. A lot of the power in a swing is delivered as the energy stored in your left shoulder during the backswing is released. If your shoulders are tight, it is like trying to wind up a spring that is too tight, and will not wind. It can be useful to think "lazy left shoulder" until just before you impact the ball.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Tools
Tools/equipment for touring: Do a complete bicycle check several weeks before departure, to reduce the chance of mechanical problems. If cycling unsupported into remote areas, and there is no or very slow postal service, you will need to carry all tools, and spare parts.
Other tools / equipment for longer tours, missing from the first tip on this page: spare brake pads, chain-break tool, chain lubricant, front wheel bearing ring, rear wheel bearing ring, rear derailleur hanger, spare chain, fast-release chain link, spare bottom bracket (sealed), spare cluster.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride
Be relaxed: The more relaxed you are on your bike, the less energy you will burn and the more energy you will have.
thesource (378)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Adverse conditions
"Black" ice: Slow down in cold, wet conditions, where frost or snow is apparent on the verge.
General tips:
— Bridges, overpasses, shadowed areas of the road, and places near water like lakes or springs, may have iced surfaces in winter.
— Studded tyres gain traction in ice, and can be made easily by attaching pop-rivets or short screws, equidistant around the tyre. They shouldn't be placed in the walls of the tyre or the centre where the rubber hits the road. Prevent tubes puncturing by covering the screw-heads with duct tape.
— Slick or normal tread tyres will slide as in mud.
— Do not create any sudden movements, like braking hard, or steering insensitively.
— On starting to slide, turn the front wheel into the slide to regain control over the forward trajectory of the bicycle.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Adverse conditions
Strong headwinds: Treat it as hill climbing.
Don't become stressed at the wind, as this will tense muscles, increase heart-rate, and burn precious energy.
Streamline your profile, including luggage, for less air resistance.
Wear close-fitting clothing.
Take shoes out of cleats in case of falling over.
Keep luggage strapped down and weighted low to help balance.
Wear close-fitting sunglasses to prevent eyes tearing up.
If wind is cold, cover the face with balaclava. Lip balm may also help prevent chapped lips.
Get off and walk, or find shelter, if things get too tough.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Adverse conditions
Heavy rain: Use tested waterproof gear, especially on long rides. Not only a raincoat with a hood that fits under your helmet, but also waterproof pants, waterproof full-finger gloves, and waterproof shoe covers.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Adverse conditions
Cleats and cold feet: Cycling shoes have a metal plate in the sole, which can cause the feet to be cold in wet weather. A couple of solutions are:
- A thin pad under the shoe-liner and over this metal plate (or on top of the thin pad already there)
- Wear two pairs of socks.
- Plastic bags worn over socks, and tucked well under the top elastic band, with a rubber band holding them in place and sealing off any entry to water, may also help keep feet dry and relatively comfortable.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > How to ride > Adverse conditions
Very hot, dry air: It is unwise to cycle in very hot conditions. It is possible to get sun-stroke and/or blackout. If one becomes dizzy, has a variable pulse, and feels strangely tired, seek shade immediately and cool down. Rehydrate and ingest some salt.
If there are no trees or shelters:
If you have a tent, erect it, and get inside. Keep the air-vents open so long as the wind entering is not hot.
Or, turn the bicycle upside-down, and drape clothing over it to create shelter from the sun. Lie in the shade.
Lay a thin damp sheet over the body and face.
N.B. Don't lie on the side of the road looking like an accident victim, unless you wish people to stop.
kellyjones00 (593)
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