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Cycling is a recreation, a sport and a means of transport across land involving the riding of bicycles, unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles and ...

Biking
Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking Augusta Ga
Discount Travel Mountain Biking

Mountain bikers arrive for first guided holidays of the season
After a monster day yesterday, the mountain bikers were still surprisingly up for some more punishment. I thought that by going to the Animal Park and then maybe Nose Breaker it would give him the option of bailing out if they were too battered. A tough road climb later, all with the rather nice view that you see here, and it was lunch. After lunch and a rather fine lesson in Alpine descending he decided they weren't done for the day so off it was to the beast of a fire road to nose breaker. A rather tired Jean-Marc got to the top of the climb and readied himself for the descent. A good job the old boy had some body armour on, he luckily didn't reinforce the name of the trail but after his riding, it could be renamed, 'rolling around in stingers not knowing why you fell off trail', but it doesn't quite roll off the tongue though! Cake and coke soon revitalised him back at the chalet, that combined with a sauna had him looking forward to the next mountain bike ride on Thursday.
Mountain bike holiday fun in the week of the exploding bike tyres
The start of week two started off with a big bang. Well three in fact, Robins Stans No Tube set up was giving him some problems after the plane journey so he slapped a couple of tubes into his wheels instead. Bang one was before we left the chalet, his tyre exploding, showering him with latex sealant, nice. Fifteen minutes into the ride and it was the turn of bang two, leaving his inner tube in shreads. That fixed ten seconds later and his other tyre blew off the rim, nearly giving one of the local OAPs a heart attack! Deciding to bail at this point, Robin and Leighann went home and contemplate the complex structures of air retaining structures. Steve, Simon, John and myself continued on the valley ride with the Brevent extension, a cheeky little loop that adds... (Continued on the website).
The big bike trails come out to battle the freeride boys
It was the return of the freeriding boys this week minus the freeride bikes and body armour, so normal mountain bikers then. With only three days of proper riding with work was calling them all back on Thursday it was time to get the big guns out. The Possette, Miage and Trient were all on the cards as all of the guys wanted to ride some trails that they hadn't before. Half of us went up the front climb of Le Tour and the other far less foolish members went up in the bubble car. Bright red faces and complaints of sickness and dehydration at the top only goes to show that granny ring climbs on loose fire roads in 100 degree heat is not a good thing to inflict upon ones body. Salt sachets consumed and it was off to the Possette. After a brief lunch stop the superb descent was soon lapped up, with Jerry and Carl taking especially impressive trail detours! ... (Continued on the website).
Ryan makes a splash on his mountain bike
A welcome return to the hard riding and hard drinking posse of Liam, Len, Jez, Bo and John with guest star Ryan from the Lakes. A pretty heavy night down at the MBC upon arrival was all that was needed to start the first ride off on Sunday. Heavy heads soon cleared as the top of the Col du Possette made itself known taking the best way to travel, the bubble from Le Tour. A heavy duty first time descent for John and Bo who had not been out before awaited amongst the roots and switchbacks of just about everybodys favourite trail, The Possette. Suitably impressed with everyones descending prowess it was time to inflict a little Alpine pain into everyones legs with a trip top see the Miage Glacier the following day. Ryan even though he had been training in the hilliest of hilly places, ... (Continued on the website).
Road Bike Tour Du Mont Blanc
I must say I was pretty surprised that myself and a select few were to do the first road bike Tour du Mont Blanc. Mountain biking has always been "The" sport for me, but slowly and surely I had gotten into the whole road bike thang and the prospect of riding the TMB in three rather than five days was all of the encouragement I needed to get it organised. With fresh shaved legs and jersey pockets full of gels, me, Nick, Stevie and Andy set off from Chamonix to the first col of the trip the Montet. An easy few hundred metres of climbing later and the col was in the bag and with Switzerland beckoning and the ridiculously fast descent down to Martigny very much on our minds, we flew up the Col de Forclaz to our first refueling stop. The descent to Martigny was an absolute blast, braking hard into the bends and then sprinting back out of them was pretty close to the thrill of riding some choice singletrack. I know there will be some people that would disagree but fast push bikes + two inches of rubber on the ground + mental French and Swiss drivers = a pretty exhilarating ride. Next up it was the steep... (Continued on the website).

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Dirt Biking In Cambodia - Take A Spin On The Wild Side!
By Basil Murdoch, Mon Dec 26th

Dirt in Cambodia - Take a Spin on the Wild Side! Ifyou're thinking of hiring a dirt bike and heading out into theCambodian sticks, here are a few tips for the most serious - andnot so serious - off-road adventurers. Before you go * If you'retaking your own bike, get it fully serviced before long trips.Check your tyres, brake pads, oil, cables and suspension,especially if you're heading deep into remote areas. The lastthing you need is a breakdown in the middle of nowhere! * Makesure you know basic bike maintenance and repair. It's pointlessto have a perfect toolkit if you don't know how to use it!

What to take * Wear a helmet. There, I've said it. Wear ahelmet! If you do wipe out it's going to be the only thingbetween your skull and the ground. Bike shops provide these withrentals, so try on a few until you get a good fit. * If you haveone, a medium size Camelback is perfect. You don't want amassive back-pack weighing down your back tyre, so try to packas minimally as possible. Russian market sells a wide range ofday-packs perfect for riding, and most guesthouses andhotels can take care of other baggage for you. A bum-bag(fanny-pack) is perfect for carrying spare parts, tools andother small items. * Jeans or combat pants and a long-sleevedT-shirt are the best clothes for riding, and a sturdy pair offootwear is a good idea for protection. As boots are hardto come by in Cambodia, most people use tough shoes orcomfortable army boots. You can pick up a pair of army boots forabout $7 at the army surplus market on Pochentong Road. * Don'tbring too many clothes with you- just a set of clothes forriding and a few changes for evenings or around town. Laundry ischeap and quick so you can get your things cleaned along theway. Save a little space for a hammock & mosquito net if you'llbe camping out or staying in a village. * Dry season can getvery dusty, so wear some eye protection. If you don't haveriding goggles you can pick up clear plastic safety glasses atCentral Market for a few dollars. You'll need them at dusk aswell when all the bugs come out. * Main routes usually havesmall bike repair shops that can deal with flat tyres and minorproblems, but if you're heading far off the beaten track, adecent first aid kit and toolkit is advisable. A good toolkitwould include a puncture repair kit, pump, a set of Allen keys,tyre levers and electrician's tape. * Dirt-bike parts might behard to find in the provinces, so as a bare minimum take a spareinner tube, spare cables and levers for your clutch and brake, afew chain link and brake pads. You'll need a few extra sets ofbrake pads in the rainy season as they will wear out quickly. Agood oil-spray will keep your chain slick. * When heading intothe countryside, it's best to carry a combination of localcurrency (riel) and low/medium denomination dollar bills. Fadedor torn higher denomination bills are useless so don't acceptthem from anyone. On the Road * Try to get an early start onrides, the earlier the better. The weather will be cooler andthe roads leaving Phnom Penh less hectic. If heading into remoteareas, this will also give you more time for rough stretches,rest stops and possible breakdowns. * Cover up and use sunscreenwhen riding; don't be deceived by the wind in your ears, it'sHOT out there! A krama (Cambodian scarf) is cheap and willprotect the back of your neck. * Drink plenty of water (that'swhere the Camelback comes in!). Buy some 'Royal D' rehydrationsalts and add them to your drinking water at rest stops; mostpharmacies in Phnom Penh carry them for a few hundred riel. Heatexhaustion won't hit you until the evening, and the last thingyou want is to feel groggy when you should be relaxing. * We allhate them but mosquitoes are here to stay. Use a good repellentto keep them off you, and try to cover up around sunset whenthey're at their hungriest. Guesthouses willnearly always provide mosquito nets if necessary; make sure youtuck them under your mattress before sleeping. Naturaldeterrents include citronella spray, and Vitamin B12 or garlicsupplements. * Repellent may also deter leeches in jungle areas,but check your ankles and arms if you've been riding in the wetor through slow-moving water. * Don't tempt fate by leaving anopen invitation for people to steal things. When parking up andexploring, make sure you lock up your bike and remove the keys.You'll probably want to take your bags with you as well forpeace of mind. * If you're not sure of the best path around anobstacle, a flooded pothole

or through a very rough patch, lookfor tell-tale tracks from past bikes or carts. * It is verycommon for bridges in Cambodia to be missing a few planks, oreven complete sides. Half-built bridges are rarely closed offand usually have a small, unmarked diversion. Be very cautiouswhen approaching all bridges in rural area; you don't want a10-foot drop at 60 km per hour! * Riding in rural areas bringswith it rural hazards, so always keep your eyes open forchickens, dogs, pigs, cows (and young children!) that might, andusually do, run into the road. Be particularly careful aroundsunset, as rural roads will be full of cows being herded homeand students leaving school on bicycles. Farm animals are one ofthe largest cause of injuries, and getting to a hospitalmay be a matter of hours, if not days. * Use your horn. Soundinga horn is not considered rude or aggressive in Cambodia, and isused by everyone simply to say "I'm here". Use it as much as youlike; going around corners, through towns and passingcyclists/cars etc. * Don't expect other people on the road tolet you know their intentions. Swinging across to the oppositeside of the road without signalling is VERY common, so giveother vehicles a wide berth and watch them carefully for anysudden moves. Again, use your horn to tell them you're there, asthey won't be used to fast-moving vehicles coming up behindthem. * In the rainy season harmless looking puddles can turnout to be deeper than you might expect, sinking your bike,flooding your engine and sending you flying. If in doubt, followold tyre tracks or go around it. * Look out for tree branchessticking up from the middle of the road; these have been placedhere to warn passing vehicles of hazards such as ditches, holesand deep puddles. * Jungle roads and bridges are oftenmaintained by locals working of their own accord. Please showyour appreciation by dropping them a few hundred riel as acontribution for their work; if it wasn't for them many remoteareas would be impassable. * No matter which country you'reriding in, some advice is universal. Use your common sense, keepyour wits about you, and don't hare it around corners or throughvillages. Wherever you go people will be accommodating andfriendly, so don't ruin it for everyone else by beingthoughtless. Considerate riding and respect will ensurevillagers' hospitality is long-lived. Cultural Tips * Many areasyou pass through have seen few foreigners, so don't be surprisedif the residents of a whole village appear out of nowhere whenyou stop for a rest. Be prepared for plenty of stares andperhaps some nose-pulling by the children, and smile! * In anyBuddhist culture, the head is considered sacred, so don't touchanyone on the head, even playfully. Young children are okthough. Another cultural no-no is pointing your feet at someone,especially the sole. * As with most countries in the region,outward shows of anger are considered taboo, and will rarely getthe reaction you expect. In fact a common Khmer reaction to suchconfrontations is to smile or even laugh, which can beinfuriating to outsiders. Keep your cool and don't take itpersonally, it's simply the Cambodian way of trying to placateyou. * Be sure to take your shoes off when entering someone'shome and pagodas. A row of shoes outside is a tell-tale sign. Ifin doubt, have a look around to see what other people are doing.If you're concerned about theft of expensive footwear, carry itwith you. * When visiting pagodas or sacred areas, please removeyour helmet or any other headwear before entering the grounds.Again check to see if people are removing their shoes and followtheir lead. If visiting hill tribe cemeteries, please respecttheir beliefs by not entering 'ghost-houses' or burial areaswithout being invited. Hill tribes believe this would bring badluck and disease to their community. The part you don't want tohear * In the event of an accident, it's amazing how quicklylocals and police appear out of nowhere. If you've hit someoneelse, expect to have compensation demanded from you, whether theaccident was your fault or not. The longer you hang around, themore ridiculous the demands are going to get ($300 for a brokenbike foot-peg is one expat's experience!). Try to settle theproblem as quickly as possible, because if the police getinvolved you'll have to deal with their costs and possible bikeimpounding as well. The best solution? Safe and considerateriding. Prevention is better than cure!

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