Even with the arrival of cold weather some cyclists stubbornly refuse to hang up their bike and throw in the towel. And despite the crude comments from motorists, these dedicated cyclists aren’t necessarily crazy. Instead they show that with a little preparation, cold is just a nuisance, not a roadblock. Of course, dressing for cold-weather riding isn’t as simple as throwing on a heavy coat and pants. While your wardrobe may differ depending on the type of ride and distance, layering makes the most sense in any cold-weather situation. … [Read more...]

Even though bicycle design requires some pretty complex geometry, finding the right sized bike doesn’t have to be rocket science. Those careful calculations give a model its unique identity, but consumers sometimes throw caution to the wind when it comes to fit. By visiting a shop that specializes in bikes, you can be sure to find expert guidance to help size up your options and avoid growing pains down the road. While department stores typically carry only a few different sizes of each model, specialty shops will offer more range, for a … [Read more...]

There is a sport that has recently grown in popularity, because it offers everything that a sport should; speed, skill, thrills, the very things which draw us to athletics. This sport is downhill mountain biking and it is exactly what it sounds like – riding your bike down a sloped trail to the finish line. Given its generally flat terrain, Ontario hardly seems like a downhill paradise, but awareness of and participation in the sport is growing; contests in the last few years have been held at Blue Mountain, Horseshoe and Glen Eden1. … [Read more...]

With our children, we’re often disillusioned with the way they can spend hours in front of the TV or the computer, when we ourselves spent the carefree days of our youth outside. This is unhealthy, as we are now burdened with an obesity epidemic never before seen in history. In Canada, 26 per cent of children aged 2-17 are obese1 and that is certainly not a nice statistic. In the past (and to a lesser degree today), we turned to sports. Hockey, Canada’s game, is a fun way to exercise, but it can be cost-prohibitive for many families – … [Read more...]

While people will often bemoan the fact that in our society, we are bombarded with continual plugs for which products to buy and why, still, you have to take some comfort in one simple fact; it is generally better to have too many options than it is to have too few. Obviously, it can become a bit much; do you really need to choose between a zillion kinds of toothpaste? No, you do not, however, for the big purchases; your computer, your car, your home et cetera, a little bit of pre-emptive research (done on the internet, or the old-fashioned … [Read more...]