Tag Archives: cycling

Cardio Crushers: The Best Exercises For Heart Health

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Strengthening your heart is one of the best things you can do to live a long and healthy life. As you probably already know, your heart is a vital organ that supplies oxygen and essential nutrients to all parts of your body, which is why keeping it in tip top condition should be on everyone’s priority list. Leading a healthy lifestyle, keeping active and eating a nutritious diet all contribute to good cardiovascular health, and today we’ll be focusing on 6 of the best exercises that you can engage in to strengthen your heart. Read on to find out more! 

  1. Cycling 

 

Cardiovascular exercises don’t have to keep you constricted within the four walls of a gym or slaving it out on a treadmill. Cycling outdoors or in a park is one of the best examples of this! Cycling has been long known to be one of the best heart healthy exercises that aid in reducing the chances of high blood pressure and heart disease. Just a 30 minute hop on your bike 2-3 times a week is enough to elevate your heart rate and significantly strengthen your heart muscles. Furthermore, the average person can burn up to 300 calories in 30 minutes of cycling, resulting in weight loss that can also lighten the burden on your heart should you be a few kilos over your ideal weight. 

 

  1. Swimming

 

Swimming is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise and is also the perfect option for anyone who is suffering from joint problems which make running, cycling or walking difficult. The buoyancy water allows you to move your limbs and joints more easily through their normal range of motion and can assist in reducing the impact and stress placed on your legs, knees and arms. And of course, enrolling yourself in a water aerobics class or simply swimming laps a few times a week can offer you a full-body workout that will strengthen not only your body, but your heart. 

 

  1. Strength Training

 

Strength training has been steadily gaining popularity over the last few years and although it is often assumed to be the antithesis of cardiovascular exercises, you’ll be surprised at how beneficial it can be for your heart. Building up the other muscles in your body is a fantastic way to strengthen the heart and research has shown that those who engaged in an hour of weight training per week had a 40%-70% lower risk of heart attacks. If picking up weights isn’t your thing, fret not. One of the most effective forms of strength training is when you utilise your own body weight with exercises such as push-ups, squats and pull-ups. 

 

  1. Jumping Rope

 

Jumping rope isn’t just for kids on the playground…in fact, there is a reason that professional boxers all over the world include a jump rope in their exercise routine and training regimen. This simple yet effective exercise that can be done in the comfort and privacy of your own home is cheap, easy to do and will also give your heart a great workout. Jumping raises the heart rate up to 3 times faster than other exercises, thus providing cardiovascular benefits in a much shorter time compared to most other exercises. You learn something new everyday! 

 

  1. Interval Training

 

Interval training is a form of exercise that switches between short bursts of high intensity exercise with longer periods of recovery. This is a favourite amongst many gym goers as it is a great way of fitting in a full workout in a very short span of time. An example of interval training could be as simple as running for 1 minute, walking for 3 minutes and then repeating this pattern/cycle another 3-4 times. You don’t need any fancy equipment to engage in interval training, and the best part is it raises and lowers your heart rate  to burn calories and improve the overall function of your blood vessels.

 

  1. Walking

 

We get it, some people just don’t like sports or exercising, so if you’re one of those people, you’ll be pleased to know that the simple act of walking is a great way to boost your heart health. Most experts recommend getting in at least 10,000 steps per day which isn’t too difficult if you’re out and about most of the day. Walking can quickly raise your heart rate and is much easier on your joints than other types of exercise. The great thing is that you can do it anywhere and anytime, making it one of the most practical forms of cardiovascular exercise that anyone can think of!

 

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Whether you choose to hit the local swimming pool a couple of times a week, go walking with a loved one or simply engage in some heart pumping high intensity workouts, regular exercise is essential to maintaining a strong and healthy heart. As always, don’t forget to consult your doctor before embarking on any new exercise routines and cheers to good health!

 

2017 National Road Championships Recap

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There was plenty of action for cycling fans to enjoy at the recent 2017 British Cycling National Road Championships, as road bikes stockist Leisure Lakes Bikes has found when looking back at the thrilling June event that took place across the Isle of Man…

2017’s winners

This year’s National Road Championships got underway with the time trial championships on Thursday June 22nd. Three short days later on Sunday June 25th, there were more events to take in courtesy of the road race championships.

Time trials for the women and under-23 men’s competitions were the first action that fans gathered at the Isle of Man had the chance to enjoy — with both events covering the same routes and distances. Starting and finishing at Tynwald Hill, in St John’s, entrants worked their way around one lap of a 13.8-mile loop. The lap goes clockwise up to Kirk Michael, before turning and going south to Ballig (it’s the same route as the Isle of Man TT course), and then back towards St John’s. While the men’s race took place on the exact same route as the other time trial events, they needed to complete two laps in order to get a time and so were required to race for 27.6 miles. Team Wiggins’ Scott Davies won the under-23 men’s race in a time of 28:20:33, while Claire Rose of Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling claimed the women’s time trial title in a time of 32:11:32, and Stephen Cummings of Team Dimension Data the men’s time trial crown in a time of 57:18:66.

Three days later, and the action continued with the road races, beginning with the women’s race that set off from Douglas’ TT Grandstand. From there, riders completed a lap of the 37.7-mile-long Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain Course — the Snaefell mountain road climb was a part of this route that entrants needed to pay particular attention to. There were then six laps of a 4.5-mile clockwise finishing circuit to undertake once back in Douglas, before crossing the finish line that was set out alongside the start line at the TT Grandstand.

Those who caught the women’s race would have been familiar with the men’s race route, seeing as though the two shared many similarities except that the men’s event included two more laps of the main circuit and an additional ten laps around the finish circuit. As such, the men’s race encompassed 120.6 miles of tarmac, while those in the women’s race were tasked with completing 64.45 miles for their event. Boels Dolmans Cycling Team’s Elizabeth Deignan won the women’s road race in a time of 2:44:18, while Stephen Cummings completed a prestigious double at the 2017 National Road Championships by winning the men’s road race in a time of 4:28:49.

Prestigious winners of the National Road Championships over the years

By chalking up a victory in at least one of the races at the 2017 National Road Championships, Claire Rose, Elizabeth Deignan, Scott Davies and Stephen Cummings have joined very esteemed company. This is because the following Olympians are all former champions at the prestigious competition:

 

Mango Bikes Launch: The Ladies Classic

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MANGO BIKES LAUNCH- THE LADIES CLASSIC1classic

Frost is all for people getting, and keeping fit, and as a keen cyclist I drool over bikes – I once cycled far too many miles around and about Israel, on and off road, for charity on a mountain bike, and have always longed for a road bike.

 

I was thrilled, therefore, to see that leading British bicycle brand Mango Bikes are introducing their new elegant Ladies Classic style. It is a traditional British bike which couples simplicity with elegance to produce a lean mean – comfortable – cycling machine that ticks all the boxes – and at an unbelievable price.

MANGO BIKES LAUNCH- THE LADIES CLASSIC2

 

Mango Bikes was founded by two university housemates who felt that it didn’t seem right that you could buy a car exactly to spec, or shoes, to your design, but bikes were only available in a few dull, pre-selected colours. 

They remedied the situation, and Mango Bikes was born. Now they’ve taken the next step and are building a full range of bikes for all levels of cyclists, focusing on great quality, great customer service and unbeatable prices. Not forgetting, keeping the whole brand experience as fun as possible. 

This Mango Bike is for those of us who require reliability, comfort and of course style. Focusing on the intermediate lifestyle and urban road bikes market, Mango Bikes are a refreshing alternative to the daunting high street bike shop. 

MANGO BIKES LAUNCH- THE LADIES CLASSIC3

 

It is comfortable and beautiful and has a padded sprung saddle – the bliss.

The bike arrives with an easy to use seven-speed gear system from the world’s leading component brand, Shimano. 

The Mango Bikes Ladies Classic RRP is £299.99. This style is available in five beautiful colours (cream, green, blue, raspberry and black) with matching pannier and chain guard as standard and an optional wicker basket. 

For more information, or to buy, go to www.mangobikes.co.uk.

 

 

Top 3 Gadgets For Christmas

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For the adventurer…Griffin Survivor iPhone Cases

griffin griffinsurviror griffinsurvivor griffinsurvivoriphonecase griffintech

Griffin Technology Survivor Summit and Survivor Journey. Designed and tested to meet military standards, both Summit and Journey offer ‘ready for anything’ protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Key features:

  • Survives 10-foot (3-metre) drops onto concrete
  • Sealed, weather-proof design to withstand rain, dirt, dust, mud, snow and splash damage
  • Impact Dispersion System makes Summit rugged enough to withstand extreme drops, yet slim enough to easily slide into pockets
  • New system suspends and cushions the phone within the rigid case and absorbs impact forces to prevent drop damage
  • Screen shield which slides on to keep the phone’s touchscreen, home button and Touch ID safe from damage and dirt
  • Rotating holster-style clip that keeps the phone safe and secure and functions as a stand.
  • Survivor Summit is available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
  • Colours: Black/Blue, Black/Clear, Black, and Pink/Grey
  • Price: £34.99-£44.99.

Griffin Survivor Summit Case for iPhone 6/6S is available here.

 

 Survivor Journey’s patent pending, ultra-thin, ultra-tough, design offers drop protection with style for city slickers.

Key features:

  • Built to withstand 6.6 foot (2-metre) drops onto concrete
  • One piece, snap-on shell design
  • Features Griffin’s Impact Dispersion System that deflects and absorbs impacts wherever it is
  • Multiple layers for one tough case which cushions and cradles the phone inside a rigid, shatterproof shell
  • Outer layer that’s easy to grip and slides effortlessly into pockets.
  • Survivor Journey is available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
  • Colours: Black/Blue, Black/White, Black/Gray, and Pink/Gray
  • Price: £24.99-£34.99.

 

These are brilliant iPhone cases which keep iPhones safe. A perfect gift for any adventurer. They just work. 

Griffin Survivor Journey Case for iPhone 6/6S -is available here.

 

For the cyclist…Mio Cyclo 200 – £149.99

cyclo-mio Mio Cyclo 200 Mio Cyclo 200navigationcycling

  • Easy and user friendly navigation – large control buttons and simple menu structure
  • OpenStreetMaps pre-installed – ready to go right out of the box
  • Surprise Me™ feature – just choose time or distance and the Mio Cyclo™ will offer three surprise routes to choose from
  • Turn-by-turn instructions – clear guidance with a sound alert to indicate every instruction
  • Where am I – displays the user’s exact location. In case of emergency, this function shows current address, along with longitude and latitude
  • Desktop application – one tool to easily manage the device, download new routes and share experiences
  • Long-life rechargeable batteries – up to 10 hours performance
  • Water resistant (IPX5) – find your way in every weather

This is an amazing gadget for any cyclists. We tested it and it really works. Never get lost cycling again. A perfect gift for any cyclists in your life. It will keep them safe and happy. 

MIO Cyclo 200 GPS is available here.

 

For the driver…Mio MiVue 618

Mio MiVue 618 Mio MiVaue 618

MiVue 618 – £99,99

  • Extreme HD recording – 2304 x 1296 at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size
  • Safety camera warnings – free safety camera data with monthly updates for the lifetime of your device
  • GPS tracking – automatically records your driving information, including speed, altitude, longitude, latitude and heading
  • Wide viewing angle – 140° wide-angle lens
  • F1.8 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions
  • 3-Axis G-Sensor – records direction and force, including impact, turns and acceleration
  • Rotating mount design – mount is easily rotated to any desired angle
  • Parking mode – motion detection activates and records from a parked car with no driver present.

 

A really great gift for motorists. The HD recording is really high quality, it keeps you safer, has GPS tracking and even has a parking mode. A truly awesome gift. Perfect for Christmas. 

Mio MiVue 618 is available here.

 

 

Pitchup.com Launches Interactive Tour de France Map

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cyclingFollow the Tour de France route and stay in holiday parks and campsites along the way using Pitchup.com’s new interactive route planner
Outdoor accommodation specialist Pitchup.com is gearing up for this year’s Tour de France with a new interactive Tour route planner on its website. The planner details the 2,000-mile route the Tour de France will take, as well as a comprehensive list of bookable campsites, holiday parks and lodges for every stage of the race.

 

The route planner covers all 20 stages of the Tour, beginning with the Grand Départ in North Yorkshire, on Saturday July 5, right through to the finish at Périgueux, on Saturday, July 26.

 

The interactive planner is in the form of a map, with the Tour route stages clearly marked. Users can click the map anywhere along the route to find details of each stage, the dates they take place, the nearby towns and the route itself. Clicking on the map will also give details of up to 10 nearby holiday parks and campsites along the way, which can be booked on Pitchup.com.
Users simply need to click the name to go to its listing page, add in the dates they want to stay, pick their accommodation and book – all done!
The map also has a ‘Find out more’ section for a lowdown of other attractions in the vicinity.
Stage No 1: Leeds/Harrogate. Saturday July 5

Campsite directly on the route – £12 per person per night

 

Spen House is a family-run site in the village of Minskip, two miles from Boroughbridge, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire and is directly on the Tour de France route. Bookings are coming in quick, but there is still plenty of space on the farm’s second field, for caravans, motorhomes and tents not requiring electricity. The owners will charge batteries at no cost. Dogs are welcome and there’s an off-lead exercise area. There is a combined shower/toilet block with hairdryer and shaver sockets, ladies-only shower, separate washing-up area with hot water and a fridge/freezer for campers’ use.

Price: £72 per pitch for three nights (July 4-7), based on two adults, which works out at £12 per person per night.

 

Stage No 20: Périgueux. Saturday July 26

Holiday lodge with swimming pool and breakfast delivery – from £19 per person per night.

Camping L’Hermitage des 4 Saisons is set in four acres of countryside, surrounded by the forest and farmlands of Périgord Vert in the Dordogne, 13 miles from the Tour de France’s finish town, Périgueux. Accommodation is in two-bedroom holiday lodges, which sleep up to six. There’s a swimming pool, jacuzzi, pétanque court, table tennis, archery and pony rides on site. During high season the owners organise Perigoudin meals, barbecues and local produce tasting sessions. As an added bonus, breakfast is delivered to your door.

Price: Two weeks in a two-bedroom lodge for four people costs £1,069 (£133.75 per person per week/£19 per person per night).

 

Cycling and The Olympic Effect

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It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a whole year since London opened its Olympic curtains to the rest of the world. But just because it’s no longer gracing every one of our TV channels, dominating every piece of radio airtime or appearing in every single shop window, doesn’t mean that the hype is showing any hint of fading. In fact, if anything, it has flourished – thanks to the passion for sport it has reignited with the British public. One of the sports that has done so dramatically is cycling. Thanks to the successes of Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins, Britain now has a serious passion for pedaling – as this great infographic demonstrates:

Compression Sportswear
Compression Sportswear

Thousands descend on streets of London as Hero Ride raises funds for Help for Heroes

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Thousands descend on streets of London as ground-breaking Hero Ride raises crucial funds for Help for Heroes

The biggest cycling show of support for our wounded this country has ever seen concluded today as over 1,300 Hero Ride cyclists crossed the finish line at Horse Guards Parade to fundraise for Help for Heroes.

 

help for heroesMembers of the public and Help for Heroes celebrity Patrons lined The Mall in support of the annual event, which has seen riders from all corners of the country stage fundraising bike rides, meeting en masse in Blackheath this morning before riding together into central London.

 

The 2013 Hero Ride cyclists, led by over 150 wounded veterans and service personnel from the UK, USA and Canada, paused to pay respects at the Monument to the Women of WW2 before riding in formation along The Mall towards Admiralty Arch to reach the finish line at Horse Guards Parade.

 

The 2013 Hero Ride then culminated at Horse Guards Parade with a military celebration including performances from The Games Maker Choir and The State Trumpeters.

 

The participation, public support and fundraising from the 1,300 cyclists is expected to see around £1million raised, with the total to be confirmed over the coming days. The funding will provide direct practical support to those who have suffered injuries in recent conflicts, as well as their families.

 

Hundreds of organised bike rides have taken place in the lead up to today’s finale. The first was the Big Battlefield Bike Ride which saw 300 cyclists ride over 350 miles from Paris to London. The large group of fundraisers were waved off by the Duchess of Cornwall at Les Invalides when they set off on Tuesday 28 May.

 

In another gallant feat, the Dawn Raid cycle challenge saw 250 cyclists leave the Help for Heroes Tedworth House Recovery Centre in the early hours of this morning. The riders pedalled 90 miles through the night, departing at 2am in order to meet with the other cyclists at Blackheath for the final ride in to central London.

 

The 2013 Hero Ride also saw a ride come down from Edinburgh, which included a triple amputee who cycled the 420 mile journey on a handbike. Another ride made up of wounded, injured and sick troops from Help for Heroes run Recovery Centre in Colchester also joined Hero Ride.

 

Bryn Parry, Co-Founder of Help for Heroes who joined the Paris to London leg of the 2013 Hero Ride, said: “This year’s Hero Ride has seen over one-thousand cyclists finish on the streets of London in the biggest national demonstration of support for our wounded heroes.

 

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved with Hero Ride to make this wonderful event take place. The people that deserve the most thanks are the cyclists themselves, who have put in their own time to train and fundraise for this event – all in the name of our wounded heroes.

 

“With the withdrawal from Afghanistan just a year away, it is easy to think the job is over but actually the battle has just begun. Challenges such as Hero Ride, and the many more we will have in the future will allow our support to continue, for life.”

 

Paralympian and Help for Heroes Patron Jon Allan-Butterworth, who was severely injured in a mortar attack whilst serving in Iraq in 2007 and has been supported by the charity since, said: “Help for Heroes is a charity that has supported me so I understand exactly how the public’s support and fundraising is used to help wounded troops – in my case it has literally changed my life and I am immensely grateful.

 

“Today has made me very proud to be British and I want to say a huge thank you and congratulations to everyone that has taken part in Hero Ride, no matter how big or small their participation, every single person has made a difference. All of the effort and the fundraising by every cyclist today will be translated into support for our troops.”

 

Help for Heroes Patron and Hero Ride participant, musician James Blunt, said: “Every single person that got on a bike this week or fundraised for Help for Heroes deserves a very big thank you and a well done. It’s been amazing today to see such a large group of people, from every background, coming together in support of our troops and it is my pleasure to be involved.

 

“I have no doubt that this event will have resulted in large amounts of donations for Help for Heroes and this money will be used to provide crucial support – so thank you.”

 

Help for Heroes Patron Lorraine Kelly said: “Today has been such a wonderful show of support to our wounded. Hero Ride has become even more poignant since the awful events that took place in Woolwich and all of the riders deserve a massive well done for playing their part in fundraising for such an important charity.”

 

Help for Heroes Patron and professional road cyclist Mark Cavendish, who was in London today to support the riders including his fiancé Peta Todd as they crossed the finish line, said: “I definitely know about how much training has to go in to a cycling event like Hero Ride – you have to be dedicated and all of the cyclists taking part today have a great cause in Help for Heroes that they’re fighting for.

 

“Every person involved in Hero Ride deserves a huge congratulations and well done for such a great achievement for a brilliant cause. I’ve seen how Help for Heroes use donations to provide outstanding support for our troops and everyone’s effort here today will only add to this support.”

 

Lord Seb Coe, showing his support for the charity, said: “Help for Heroes is known for the incredible support it gives to our wounded troops and we must all work together to maintain this support for many years to come.

 

“The charity is successfully aiding the recovery of thousands of injured servicemen and women, with ‘sport in recovery’ playing a vital role in this process. Help for Heroes has been able to provide adaptive sports through the recovery process for over 1,500 individuals and this work has led to many injured troops progressing into elite sport and we hope to see many of them competing at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.”

 

Hero Ride activity was not just taking place on the roads, Virgin Active health clubs across the country have been offering the opportunity for members to get involved in their local club’s Hero Ride activity, such as group static cycle events or boot camp training sessions, with all funds raised being donated to Help for Heroes.

 

For anyone wishing to donate to the Hero Ride, text ‘RIDE’ to 70900 to donate £5 to Help for Heroes. You will be charged £5 plus your standard network rate. Mobile Text Telephone helpline: 01494 750 500.

 

To register interest for future Help for Heroes fundraising challenges and the 2014 Hero Ride, please visit: www.helpforheroes.org.uk

 

 

A Raincoat That Let’s You Get On Your Bike.

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If you were to treat yourself to the incomparable, stylish, cycling chic apparel
from The Cambridge Raincoat Company, then there would be no excuse not to
jump on your bike for the daily commute. Look stylish from door to door in this
perfectly practical raincoat.

Having experimented with all sorts of wet weather gear over the years including
waterproof cycling trousers and capes and struggling to overcome the negatives each
of them came with, Sally Guyer saw a niche for stylish yet effective cycle wear that is
appropriate for every stage of your journey and every aspect of daily life. This saw a
period of research, development and Savile Row tailoring to create the signature
raincoat of The Cambridge Raincoat Company.

The feeling that it must be possible to produce a coat long enough to keep the knees
dry, be brightly coloured enough to be noticeable yet still chic enough to be a pleasure
to wear was the motivation for Sally.

All raincoats produced by The Cambridge Raincoat Company are made using either
100% taslan, or 100% Cordura, depending on colour choice, both of which offer
considerable qualities in terms of protection from the elements. The fabrics are
highly water resistant and water will simply bead on the surface. With a soft,
polyester lining, the raincoats are very lightweight and incredibly comfortable to
wear, providing a breathable, windproof and stylish alternative to traditional cycle
wear. Best of all, they are washable.

Sally is a firm believer in Mikael Colville Andersen’s (founder of Copenhagen Cycle
Chic) opinion that ‘It’s about dressing for your destination, not the journey’. As much
as this is at the heart of The Cambridge Raincoat Company’s design, the key selling
point of these raincoats has got to be the practical protection and comfort they offer
for the journey itself.

Appealing to a broad age range and tapping into luxury for the astute commuter, The
Cambridge Raincoat Company are in a niche market all of their own. With Sally’s
dedication, there is no end to the potential of this company, Sally herself says, “I live;
sleep; eat; breathe my business all the time. I’m always thinking about what to do
next, and how to drive it forward.”

The new collection will initially feature one style each for both men and women, with
prices starting at £250.00.

Colour options available include red, yellow, mauve, green and navy.

http://www.cambridgeraincoats.co.uk