World Wide Appeal

Pocket bike racing is a sport that continues to grow in appeal all across the world. While Japan is credited with the first large scale cultural interest and organization of pocket bike racing, this is no longer just a Japanese or Asian phenomenon. Pocket bike racing has increased dramatically in popularity through out the world. While the United States and Australia are two of the most noted places where this sport is growing rapidly, don’t forget Europe!

Switzerland actually holds a championship that is gaining international recognition. Geographically close to Italy, where almost all of the highest quality racing pocket bikes are manufactured now, the Swiss Pocket bike Championship first appeared in 1996. This happened when a pocket bike club (the Gruyere Pocket Bike Club, to be precise) decided to compete against all Swiss pocket bike riders who showed. It has been growing ever since and now the Swiss Championship has grown to become one of the biggest in the world, when compared to the nation's size.

Commonly the competition will now have over 120 competitors, with a few of them coming even from nearby countries like France, Austria and Liechtenstein. There are between 8 to 11 races on 8 to 11 different tracks that are counted for the championship, meaning there are anywhere from 64-121 races. Several categories are awarded based on age and gender of the pilots and on the type of pocket bike (junior, stock or racing prepared).

The growth of this sport in Switzerland and Europe is a continued reflection of worldwide trends. Pocket bike racing has never been more popular in the United States than it is now, and there are no signs of it diminishing. New race circuits, pocket bike stores, and online forums pop up every year, and the devout group of pocket bike junkies grows with that number. Australia has a respectable series of races and a continued growth in the sport, and it is not like pocket bike racing just disappeared in Japan. The sport is still going strong.

The trend continues in pocket bike racing’s rising popularity, and seems to continue unabated. What was once seemingly a strange Japanese sideshow has proven itself to be far more, and with each new race, only further re-enforces its current respect.

Why is my Bike so Slow? How to Rev it Back Up

One of the attractive things about owning a pocket bike is the adrenaline rush that speed can bring on, feeling the wind whip around you whether it is alone on a private track or in the middle of a race. Pocket bikes were built to race, they were built for speed. A pocket bike is a miniature version of a Grand Prix moter bike, so this makes sense. These bikes can be customized to go 50, 60, or even 70 miles per hour!! The current world record, in fact, is at 72 mph. So what happens if you start your bike, and it just won’t hit those speeds you know it should be? What if your pocket bike is going too slow?

There are a few basic steps you can take to try and locate the problem yourself, and a brief explanation of how to go through each one.

1. ((It is important to note that you do this ONLY AFTER the bike has been turned on and warmed up already for a minimum of a few minutes)) Turn the air-intake on to open. You can find this behind the front wheel, close to the engine. This will give the bike more power.
2. Follow all the fuel tubes, and make sure none of them are pinched off anywhere. One single tube that is even slightly pinched can affect your entire performance.
3. Check the throttle cables. If they are too loose, the engine doesn’t get enough gas when you turn the throttle.
4. If this is your first bike, don’t push it. Pocket bikes need to be broken in. Don’t turn the throttle all the way for at least the first two gas tanks, if not three. In the long run, this will lead to better performance and more top notch speed.
5. Note: be very careful if you attempt the following. There is a gold screw, with a spring behind it, near the carburetor. This is the idle control. If you unscrew it by only half of a turn, it can also give you more power. If this screw is tightened too much, the bike will start then immediately switch off. If you make it too loose, the bike will jump and go as soon as you start it. Finding the balance is critical, and this is not recommended for beginners.

If none of these things help, make sure to take your bike to a professional to get it running again at its optimal performance.

What Style of Biker Are You?

From touring to off-road riding to track riding to cyclo-riding to recreational biking—there are almost as many different styles of riding as there are bikes. The following is a discussion of three of the most popular styles of biking today.

Street/Urban Riding

Street/Urban riding is when you bike through urban areas, ride on ledges and other man-made obstacles. Some riders execute tricks as well as stalls and grinds. Hybrid bikes, sometimes called city bikes, are typically used for street/urban riding. Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. Most have front suspension with wide comfortable seats and upright handlebars.

Free Riding

The essence of free riding has it origins on the shores of British Columbia. As some free riders have explained it, free riding is more than just riding, it’s about riding with your friends and doing things on your bike that push the limits of both yourself and your bike. It’s not about being the fastest or coming up with a new trick. Rather, it’s about being totally free on your bike. Free riding is different for everyone. Essentially, when you ride for pure enjoyment, do your own thing, in your own way, that’s free riding--making it more of a mindset than a structured style of riding. For example, you could free ride downhill, cross-country or down the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland.

Many free ride bikes closely resemble downhill bikes and weigh as much, although they are usually designed to be easier to pedal. Free ride bikes should be in the 30 to upper 50 pound range, have a steeper angled frame in order to make maneuvering on narrow obstacles possible, and be built from stronger, heavier materials.

Downhill Mountain Biking

If you think downhill biking is all about kicking back, stretching your arms and cruising at a leisurely pace, think again. Even though it’s all downhill, biking down a mountain demands concentration, quick reflexes and bike-handling skills much different than free riding or city riding. It’s also a blast! Downhill mountain biking races involve race courses that are designed for riders to speed down while navigating huge jumps, obstacles and more. It’s very similar to motor cross racing.

While it’s true that all bikes go downhill, bikes that provide the optimum ride for Downhill Mountain Biking have what is called full suspension. This means that the front and rear of the frame are equipped with shock absorbers.

Value Through and Through

Many motorcycle enthusiasts agree that pocket bikes "Motorcycle Works of Art." Pocket bikes are at their best in sports competition, as the increasing number of races has shown. Pocket bikes provide all the thrill of MotoGP racing. Pocket bike racing is also the most affordable motor sport. Some even claim that the very fine riding skills like balance, self-control, agility, and fast reaction time required for pocket bike racing is proving helpfull in learning to use full sized motorcycles on open roads as well.

Transportation is eay since at only 38-47" long and less than 50 lbs, they can be transported without any additional support equipment, even in a car trunk or backseat! Pocket bikes can be raced in parking lot competition or on Go-Kart Tracks, and you won’t be alone since this is one of the fastest growing motor sports in the world.

These bikes are suitable for any age 16 and up, to the 300 lbs adults, though obviously what type of bike you would give each varies greatly. There are smaller pocket bikes designed for younger children, but caution should still be used. Pocket bikes are the thoroughbreds of minimotos and are therefore intended for competition. They are designed for racing and private land only, not for highway use. A helmet, protective gear, gloves and good shoes should be worn at all times during their operation to minimize the chance of injury. Children under 18 should operate these or any other motorized devices only under the strict supervision of an adults.

Several international MotoGP Champions started their careers with Pocket bike racing. The best example is Valentino Rossi. He was Italian Pocketbike Champ twice before becoming 125, 250, 500 and several time 1000cc MotoGP World Champ. Thomas Luethi is the first Swiss Pocketbike Junior Champion that made it into the Moto World Championship. He was followed by others, such as Vincent Braillard. There is no doubt that there will be more Swiss top riders to come, the Swiss Pocketbike Championship being one of the best providers.

Total Bike Rack Buying Guide

Unfortunately we can’t ride our bikes everywhere. Sometimes we have to transport our bikes from one place to another. In the old days, people would use hodge-podge methods to tie their bikes to vehicles for transport, but those days are long over! With the advent of back racks, it is now possible to transport your bikes safely and securely.

Bike racks come in many different styles and uses. They also come in various prices. You need to do a little investigation to see what fits your needs. You very well sped as much as 300 dollars on a high quality bike rack or pick up one really cheap at bazaars or garage sales. The one you pick will depend on your needs. Be sure to ask yourself the following questions.

1. What vehicle will be used?
You need to know where the bike rack will be going. This is important because you need to know how the rack will attach to your vehicle. Racks use different attachment methods. You will have to choose one that fits your vehicle.

2. How many bikes will you need to transport?
Do you transport two or more bikes? If so, you will want to buy attachments that will allow more than one bike rack.

3. Where do you want them to be racked?
Consider whether you want a roof, rear, or sport rack:

- Roof Racks These racks are attached at the top of a vehicle
- Rear Racks These racks attach to the rear of vehicle
- Sport Trailers These are used to carry many bicycles

4. What shape are your bikes?
You must into consideration the size and shape of your bikes. If you are transporting children’s bikes, for example, you will need racks that will take that size of bicycles.

5. Who will load the bicycles on the rack?
It has to be convenient for the loader. The easier the rack is to load unto the more expensive the rack.

6. How strong should your rack be?
If you are loading heavy bikes, you will need racks that can withstand the weight of the bike. They have to be made of sturdy material. But the sturdier the material, the pricier the rack.

7. Should it be lockable?
If you want added security for your bikes you will want to purchase racks that support locks and other security devices.

8. How often are you likely to use the rack?
You need to know how often you will use the rack so that you can purchase one that can withstand the rigors of travel. If you will not use it often, you will not have to purchase a heavy-duty, high price rack.

9. How much do you want to spend?
Ultimately, everything boils down to your budget. If you can’t afford it, even if you need it, it will have to wait. But don’t be afraid to save up if the cheaper alternatives do not match up to your needs. Try to find a rack that has only the features you need. If it has bells and whistles you don’t need, don't buy it right away. It's fine to take into consideration features and functionality that you might need in the future, for example.

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Trophies are sometimes given for achieving business targets or for attending training programs. They are also given to members of elite clubs and organizations.



Symbol of Appreciation and Encouragement

Even as a kid we loved to be encouraged. No matter what work we did, a pat on the back always pepped us up. Remember those small trophies in school sports events? Or working day in and out to win the science project?



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Most companies have performance awards in each department like the best sales team for achieving the maximum number of sales, the best tech team and even the employee of the quarter.You can easily get the best custom made trophies made of wood and metal. Your company logo, artwork and any other branding that you are looking for completely laser engraved on the awards.



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Strength Training For Cycling

The research done to date on the effects of weight training on cyclists has brought mixed results. The study done by Ben Hurley at the University of Maryland had 10 healthy men take up strength training (bench presses, hip flexions, knee extensions, knee flexions, press-ups, leg presses, lat pulldowns, arm curls, parallel squats, and bent-knee sit-ups) for 12 weeks, while eight other healthy men served as controls. After 12 weeks, the strength-trained men improved their endurance while cycling at an intensity of 75 per cent V02max by 33 per cent and also lifted lactate threshold (the single best predictor of endurance performance) by 12 per cent.

However, these men were untrained prior to the study and did not carry out regular cycling workouts during the research, so the applicability of these findings to serious athletes is questionable

The study carried out by R. C. Hickson and his colleagues at the University of Illinois at Chicago was considerably more practical. In that investigation, eight experienced cyclists added three days per week of strength training to their regular endurance routines over a 10-week period. The strength training was incredibly simple, focusing on parallel squats (five sets of five reps per workout), knee extensions (three sets of five reps), knee flexions (3 x 5), and toe raises (3 x 25), all with fairly heavy resistance. The only progression utilized in the program involved the amount of resistance, which increased steadily as strength improved.

Nonetheless, the strength training had a profoundly positive impact on cycling performance. After 10 weeks, the cyclists improved their 'short-term endurance' (their ability to continue working at a very high intensity) by about 11 per cent, and they also expanded the amount of time they could pedal at an intensity of 80% V02max from 71 to 85 minutes, about a 20-per cent upgrade.

On the negative side, we have research, carried out by James Home and his colleagues at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, seven endurance cyclists who averaged about 200 kilometers of cycling per week incorporated three strength training sessions into their normal routine. The strength program was relatively unsophisticated, consisting of three sets of up to eight repetitions of hamstring curls, leg presses, and quadriceps extensions using fairly heavy resistance.

After six weeks, the strength training had produced rather impressive gains in strength (the gains averaged a bit more than 20 per cent). However, actual cycling performances were not improved; in fact, they were worse than before the strength training was undertaken! 40-K race times slowed from 59 to 62 minutes, and the strength-trained cyclists complained of feeling 'heavy' and tired during their workouts.

Why did Hickson's study uncover clear advantages associated with strength training for cyclists, while Home's work revealed the reverse?

No one knows for certain, which means it's time for a personal observation. It seems quite likely that the strength training carried out by Hickson's charges improved fatigue resistance in their muscles, permitting them to persist longer both during high-intensity tests of endurance and prolonged efforts at a submaximal (80% V02max) intensity. Meanwhile, it's likely that Home's added strength training sent his athletes into the overtrained - or at least 'stale' - state. The feelings of fatigue which originated shortly after the beginning of strength training suggests that the athletes were simply doing too much work.

Home's cyclists were averaging 124 miles of weekly riding when they started their strength training, while Hickson's athletes were logging considerably fewer miles, so one might be tempted to suggest that strength training can produce major benefits for low-mileage cyclists but does much less for experienced, higher mileage competitors who have already built up considerable strength merely by riding. That certainly wouldn't be an unreasonable thought, but it doesn't explain why strength training per se would actually slow down endurance performances, as it seemed to do for Home's performers (no other study has shown this). It seems very likely that Home's added strength training was simply the straw that broke the camel's back; it wasn't the strength training which slowed the cyclists but the total amount of work they had to complete.

Another issue that was not kept controlled in the studies was nutrition and supplementation which also would have a major impact. It is my personal feeling after three decades in the physical training world that weight training is advantageous in almost all sports when done properly and paired with the correct nutrition.