Welcome to the first of our Tour de France previews. There’s going to be a few of these over the next few days, before the race starts on July 4th, in the principality of Monaco. Monte Carlo, of course, is known for its casinos and gamblers, which seems apt, given the risks that these riders will take over the coming weeks as they trek up and down mountains, through cities and villages, as they cross the French countryside en route to their final destination in Paris.

We’re going to look at the riders and runners in the coming days, but like it or not, far and away the biggest story of this year’s Tour is the grand return of Lance Armstrong. He’s nearing his thirty-eighth birthday, he hasn’t raced the Tour for four years, but still his name is the one on everyone’s lips. He would become the oldest winner since the Belgian Firmin Lambot won in 1922 at the age of 36.

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Just a quick note on some breaking news here in San Francisco; within the last hour, the MTA (Municipal Transportation Agency) has unanimously approved at least forty five new bike related projects around the city. Most are new bike lanes, or improvements to old ones. This follows a four hour meeting down at the Town Hall, into which were packed numerous representatives from the San Francisco Bike Coalition.

The SFBC has been campaigning for these improvements for a while, and this success represents three years or more of planning and lobbying. It will also double the number of bike lanes in the city, making the streets safer for all of us who ride along them. As someone who was almost doored on Monday night as I road home, I’m pretty happy about this.

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Miley CyrusBiking is a fun, eco-friendly way to travel, get things done, burn some poundage and just be with your friends. It’s a great activity for families, couples, or people who want to be alone. So why don’t all of us do it?

Sadly, most of us lead such chaotic lives that we feel like we may not have time to bike where we need to go. And while many people do use public transportation to help the environment, there are still lots of people who have to commute quite a distance for work and need to use a car.

That said, we can all still find some time to bike for fun! These celebrities do, after all…

Miley Cyrus—With Miley’s quirky “save the environment” YouTube series, you know the girl’s gotta have a thing for biking.

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I’m sure every person who has ever ridden a bicycle for fun can chime in and tell you what the best parts or features or add-ons are for your bike and where to get them. But after working in a bike shop and riding seriously for over 15 years there are few things as important as the three I’m about to tell you about. At least in my opinion, if someone had pointed out the significance of them to me when I was just getting into the sport, I would have had a much easier time understanding and growing with other riders and the technology that everyone is using to get from place to place on two wheels and under their own power.

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With the economy in shambles and many people without a job, it’s no wonder that everyone’s looking to cut costs wherever they can. One great way to cut down on bills and automobile-related costs is to get rid of your car entirely and start riding a bike. For many people this idea is not practical, but for people who live 10 miles or less from their place of employment, it’s a great way to save some money, help the environment, and get into shape for yourself. The following is an example of how riding your bike to work instead of commuting by car can help the average consumer save hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year.

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Rarely do I come across a product that performs so well that it deserves such a one-sided review and recommendation. Mr. Tuffy is one of those products. Made from extruded urethane plastic that’s feathered on one side and reinforced on the other with an even harder rubberized plastic, this product costs about the same as three new inner tubes but will save you a lifetime of headaches from flat tires.

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There are a few quick and easy ways to save weight on your bicycle and lots of ways that are considerably more difficult with smaller returns. While saving weight is certainly a valid concern of many serious cyclists, anyone who rides a bike can benefit from a few pounds (or ounces) saved here or there.

The Frame

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Buying a new or used road bike can be a real hassle. The time and energy that goes into doing the proper research in order to determine what components and frames fit you best can be extremely time-consuming. Hopefully this article will serve to help you with one aspect of your new road bicycle, whether or not to buy a bike with two (known as a double) or three (referred to as a triple) chainrings and the benefits of both setups.

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Sometimes factors like the weather and finding time to ride your bike get in the way of actually riding your bicycle outside. This happens in the winter months especially since the daylight hours are relatively few and after work there can be little or no light left. One great alternative to riding outside that helps to circumvent these problems is a wind trainer. These devices allow a rider to couple their bike to a stationary machine in any room of their home so they can ride indoors in the comfort of their own abode.

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No matter what you’re riding it’s important to understand some basics of bicycle maintenance and upkeep before you decide to ride. There are a few things that can help to decrease rolling resistance and ensure that you’re getting the most for your pedal push and for your wallet. Some of these things are no-brainers, others are tougher to recognize without a visit to your local bike shop.

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