Cycling Articles - Informative, Interesting, and Entertaining Cycling Articles and Stories

Not all cycling articles and stories fit into a nice neat category and there is just so much biking information here and on the hundreds of other good bike sites on the internet, that I had to create a page for all of the other interesting, informative and sometimes entertaining bike information that we've found.

Here's where you'll find all of the other bike stuff (articles, stories, photos, etc.) that either do not fit into one of the A-B site categories or that just need to be featured somewhere.

The Latest Cycling Articles:

Intense Color Trail and Nature Photo Collection - When you just have to have MORE COLOR on your bike trail and nature pictures see our Intense Color Photo pages. This is a collection of some of the best bike trail (and nature) photos posted on this site with extreme color saturation for a different perspective.

The Tour of Elk Grove - The Tour of Elk Grove bike race is held annually (in August). See our hand description of this local and international event with photos and video.

Bike Rider, Cyclist Gift Ideas - Find great gifts for cyclists - bicycle riders. Gift ideas from Bike Computers and GPS to Bike Bags and Panniers to Cycling Clothing and Indoor Training ideas.

Chicago Bike the Drive, 2012 - They close down 30 miles of Lake Shore Drive (Route 41) to automotive traffic for this event and this scenic road is only open to bike riders for about 5 hours on the Sunday morning of the MB Financial Bike The Drive. See our Chicago Bike the Drive Ride Report and Photo Tour.

Exercise Lessens Fatigue for Cancer Patients - Nothing can take away the pain of a cancer diagnosis, but exercise and fitness, including cycling, can help both the patient and their family.

Bike Riding Nirvana - Read about or review the benefits of bike riding and find out what it takes to achieve Bike Riding Nirvana.

Bike Weather Clothing - Be prepared, dress for bike rides in any weather. A guide on how to dress for bike rides in any weather condition based primarily on the wind speeds and temperatures.

Most popular bike brands in US - WIth so many bicycle manufacturers, bicycle types and popular brand names sold in the US, that it can be difficult to find a comprehensive summary of the top 20 bike most popular bike brands.

Most Common Bike Types - Find out what the most common and most popular bike types are and are and what makes them popular. A summary of bike types and bicycle categories in one well organized article.

The Top 5 Bike Trails north and northwest of Chicago - The Chicagoland area is known for great bike trails but which bike trails are really the best? ...and why? Find the best paved and unpaved trails for a casual bike ride or find trails that will allow you to ride over 100 miles in one day.

Informative

FREE Bike Trail Maps Resource -  Most of the free online bike maps are available through various government, county and municipal sites. Here's a non commercial, true resource for FREE Bike trail maps. The information supplied here can be applied to all locations but the specific links are currently for Illinois and Wisconsin bike trails.

Cycle Computer Features, Functions and Comparisons - An overview of common bicycle computer (bike speedometer) features functions (standard, advanced, wired vs wireless, bike computers with GPS) with price comparisons.

Recumbent Articles:

Bents-Tour-Strada - First hand descriptions and candid comments about Tour EZ and Bacchetta Strada bents. Test rides at a LBS (local bike store).

Bents-Giro-Force5 - First hand descriptions, candid comments and original photos of the Bacchetta Giro and Rans Force 5 le recumbents at a LBS (local bike store).

Entertaining

I was a little hesitant about posting the lyrics below, because it's from a song that I wrote many years ago, the music and production of the song were pretty mediocre at best and I didn't want this to seem like a plug for the song. However, the lyrics are really pretty cool and are very relevant to biking (and life in general).

I wrote this song while riding through a large cemetery by us and contemplating the joy of riding as well as a few thoughts on life and death in general.

Enjoy The Ride - by Rob Chapman

Verse:
I was in tenth gear, riding through the cemetery.
Wind blown, the feeling was extraordinary.
All of this nature, the flowers, and I'm alone.
I stopped to read what was written in the stone.
She was a mother, a daughter in heaven.
I did the math, she was just forty seven.
That's when it hit me..

Chorus:
Just Enjoy the Ride.
I hope it's better on the other side.
That's what they told me, they might a lied.
Forget about it, bye bye, Enjoy the Ride!

Verse:
I better go now, it's getting late the sun is fading
Oh yea, keep the cemetery waiting.
Back on the bike cause the ride is the destination
Feeling alive one more time, it's re-incarnation.
The storm in the distance looks kind of frightening
But I like to ride in the rain and the lightning
Oh yea it's crazy, but...

Chorus: [Repeat]

If you actually want to her the song, you can check it out here: Enjoy The Ride.