Category Archives: Benefits

Senior citizen bikers

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21% percent of Europeans are more than 65 and similar high figures present developed countries. It is a non-deniable fact that they represent an important part to such societies. Thus, it is necessary to analyze how we adapt to an ageing society. A lot of times proposals which foment “dependency” instead of “independence” implement actions to take. So, we need to change our viewpoint as it comes to sustainable mobility and particularly bicycles. Against the misconception of disabled people should buy a car to be independent, the reality shows that it promotes dependency on fuels, less physical activity compared with bikes and the need to adapt it to their disability.

Ageing or some disabling disease or accident can diminish our abilities and maintaining independence is fundamental for instance to go to the doctor or to movies. Indeed, Karel Dolekens (accessibility technician at the Breda council) affirms that there are no disabled people, the surroundings make disabled people. Building segregated bike lines, bike parking and promote their physical maintenance help making bicycles for everybody. Even in some cases people on crutches can use a cargobike, a tricycle or an e-bike. In The Netherlands, people over 65 use bicycles in the 30% of their daily movements.

The tourists impact

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As more and more tourists visit interesting cities and places, more impacts cause on them such as environmental impacts, water consumption increment which can cause dryness and water wells depletion, a boom in the price of houses as many touristic cities are suffering or fights against local inhabitants when drunks. Some reasons for such increment in tourism are social nets and the low cost flights. Indeed, there is the word touristification to describe the negatives consequences that cause an excessive number of tourists.

On the other hand, bicycles can be part of the solution. Take for example the EuroVelo 8 which goes through Turkey, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Spain and Cyprus, and 23 world heritage cities. As the ciclotourism becomes more popular, pollution is reduced similarly as traffic problems, and strenghen links with local communities. Reaching this target is basic for a sustainable tourism and planning should be made thoroughly. Public administration should plan bike-friendly paths in order to connect cities and interesting places in advance, whereas ciclotourists should think previously where they will want to pedal on and which resources they will need in their trips.

Blind cyclers

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Suffering a vision impairment or becoming blind can change your live. Your plans and future projects can be disrupted, but new doors can be opened. Blind cyclers are not allowed to drive a car or a motorbike because of security purposes. However, they can continue practicing cycling with the help of a driver. Such a person comprises a key point in promoting biking thanks to their big heart.

Blindness has not stopped brave women and men to compete and win medals in Paralympic games. In such cases drivers are essential for them. Thanks to their solidarity and good hearts, tandems ride without envying not-blinded bikers. They act as their eyes, guiding them throughout the race track under a previously agreed, specific language so that the impeded person knows what to do all the time, if they need to turn to right or left, the soil they ride on and so on.

Such a challenged purpose requires drivers to be sportspersons, better if they are previously riders, if the partner wants to compete. A lot of visually impeded persons claim that practicing a sport is a fundamental tool to feel integration in society, even if it constitutes an important effort.

You know, experiencing a vision impairment is a shock at the beginning, but once the period of mourning is passed, bike gives a lot of fun and pleasure.

Bike and food

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Riding a bike means practicing sport even if it is a relaxing pedaling. Although most of bikers are not considered professional ones like those who participate in the Tour of France, the Giro of Italy or the Vuelta of Spain, we should consider suitable food to eat before starting pedaling. Cycling, as well as every aerobic exercise, causes a reduction in the simple carbohydrates content of your body and it can diminish your fat proportion. This fact appears after sugars provide energy to your muscles. Thus, if you want to reduce brown fat, practice aerobic exercises.

Eaten food before pedaling can produce two effects in your body. First, eating energy-rich food (with lots of complex carbohydrates or fats) helps you exercising at least until this extra energy is burned. In fact, bikers who practice high-intensive, competitive exercises such as riding in the Tour, Giro o Vuelta, eat within stages to re-energize them. It is important that food provides complex carbohydrates. This way, body takes longer time to absorb it, so energy levels are higher when starting pedaling. Otherwise cyclers who eat simple carbohydrates would have much less energy because they eat one or more hours before starting exercising.

Second, eating too much can cause problems when cycling since body needs energy and blood to digest food. In other words, if you eat too much then your muscles and digestive tract compete with each other. The more energy and blood to muscle, the worse digestion. And the better digestion, the worse cycling.

Hence, take into account that food is an important issue to ride your bike.

Solid tires

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Some years ago, a new generation of tires for bicycles appeared in the market. Its main innovation consisted in being solid. This issue is widespread in other markets such as motorbikes or scooters. As far as I know, Tannus and few other companies sell them. The first firm sells solid, patented tires. Although they still present a low introduction in the bike market, those who have tested them offer interesting points in favor and against them.

On the one hand, the most positive issue is say goodbye to punctures and flat tires. Since it has no air, they can not get a puncture. Additionally, solid tires last for more time and kilometers in comparison with traditional tires. Versatility is also a good point at least in the Tannus catalog since other companies offer a reduced stock. Not only proposes this firm several tire colors, but also different sizes and surface patterns. Moreover, the impact of weather on them is reduced as a result of the specific chemical compounds (Either in the case of the Tannus tires) these tires are made of. What is more, at least in this case the material is environmentally safe.

On the other hand, such tires present disadvantages. They are more expensive and slightly outweigh the traditional tires. However, Tannus affirms that if you take into account the tools to repair a puncture, then their tires weight less than the air ones. Furthermore, and at least with the Tannus tires, the mounting process is peculiar. I am not saying that it is difficult or impossible, rather it is challenging and laborious, and you need to be strong enough specially in the mounting step. And the fact of no allowing adjusting air pressure based on terrain could be a problem if you ride on different surfaces.

A third option appeared in the marked consisting in the hybrid solution. I mean considering an air and solid tire. It has two zones. The inner one is similar to the traditional tire and full of air, whereas the outer area is exclusively solid. This way bikers gain extra resistance against punctures and they can adjust air pressure.

Cycling is time-effective

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Cycling saves time is one of the advantages of using your bike to go to work, study or buy. Pieces of news and research television documentaries have demonstrated it. If you have not noticed it, think about it or just do the following to check it:

– Determine your start and end points

– Make the comparison between these three alternatives:

  • Get in the car, sit in traffic, queue to get into the car park, pay to park, park your car, and arrive to the end point
  • Walk to the bus stop, wait for it, get on bus (pay), watch the roads throughout the window, leave the bus, walk to the end point
  • Get on your bike, filter past traffic, lock your bike, walk to the end point

I promise you if you do the three experiences, you will discover that using your bike is the fastest ,specially in cities, as well as cheaper. Moreover, you will fight against climate change and practice sport. Furthermore, cycling contributes to reduce obesity and protects your body and your mind.