Cycling Around Singapore - What You Need to Know About Cycling
Cycling offers a variety of benefits for enthusiasts. Cycling Around Singapore can be employed for transportation means, a pleasurable hobby, exercise and competition, or to provide a service (as with couriers and police).
The first bicycles were developed early in the 19th century, fashioned with a wooden frame and without pedals. It was more of a “pushbike” than anything like modern day bicycles. The next phase involved wheels of different sizes and balance troubles. Today’s bicycles are engineered depending on the purpose for their intended use.
Cycles used for exercise and competitive riding are crafted with aerodynamics in mind; making them lightweight, durable, and made with the latest in design innovations.
Cycling has become hugely popular over the last few decades with more attention drawn to health and fitness. Competitions take place all over the world with people of all backgrounds and abilities participating. The following article explores different aspects of the world of cycling:
- The Wheel
History experts have placed the origin of the wheel in Mesopotamia around the year 3500 BC. It is speculated that there were no marathons taking place that early, but the wheel was utilized via animal-powered carts to haul people and materials. The late 19th century afforded the technology and insight to assemble the bicycle with steel frames, spokes, and modern tires. - Gears and Drive
An integral development in modern bicycle design was the chain drive. Older forms of bicycles warranted the rider to be above a large wheel in order for the bicycle to mobilize. With the invention of the chain and gears, the rider could now be placed between two equally sized wheels enabling more efficient pedaling.
The implementation of gears is especially beneficial for uphill cycling and in order to combat headwinds. Anyone with the prior experience of standing up on the pedals to generate more power has an idea of why there is a need for gears. Gears allow the rider to pedal at a level rate without intense strain dedicated to particular portions of the ride. A gear for tackling a steep hill will allow the rider to rotate the pedals several times to turn the wheel just once. For flat or downhill surfaces, a gear can be chosen to turn the wheel many times based on one rotation of the pedals. - Structure and Materials
Within the last two decades, manufacturers have paid close attention to the materials that make a bicycle. Earlier bikes were composed of cast iron and wood which limited durability and speed. Today’s bicycles are structured from titanium, aluminum, and carbon fiber. Bicycles are now made lighter, stronger, and more conducive to the ride than ever before. - Maneuverability
Early bicycles had elementary means of steering and did not have brakes at all. Today’s bicycles are engineered to give the rider great ability in steering and stopping. The first brake system was known as the “plunger.” This system did not greatly differ from the basic concepts of today, but it was made of metal, so it caused a great amount of wear on the tire and was not very effective in wet conditions. Most of us growing up will have had some experience with the second generation of brakes that came after the plunger, known as coaster brakes. Coaster brakes can be employed by pushing the pedals backwards. Applying the coaster brake could also cause considerable wear on the tire and could cause the back tire to “lock up.”
Most brakes for road and mountain biking are now stocked with caliper brakes. The caliper brake is used by pulling on levers that manipulate cables which in turn employs pads or shoes to be pressed against the rim of the front or rear wheel. Caliper brakes do have problems when conditions are wet and when they are in high usage (downhill), so perhaps we will see a more advanced braking system in the near future.
Caliper brakes work much like that of a car’s antilock brake system; it is better to “pump” the brakes to ensure traction is maintained with the ground and that the wheel does not lock. Professional cyclists will tell you that there is experience to be gained in balancing the braking between the front and rear wheels. There is no clear formula and every scenario is different; great caution will come with more time on the road. - Aero-design
Any regular rider will tell you that the engineering of the cycle is not the only issue in riding, but outside factors play a part in the ride as well. Wind resistance plays a major factor in the ease of a rider’s pace. Manufacturers have been playing close attention to improve the state of aerodynamics for both the rider and the cycle.
The more wind a rider encounters the more strenuous the ride becomes to counter the resistance they are met with. Manufacturers with optimal aerodynamics in mind, ideally seek to “streamline” the shape of the rider and cycle in order for them to more easily “cut” through the wind. Scientists pledge that though great power disturbs the wind’s limitations, aerodynamic efficiency will become a bigger advantage to a rider. “Aerodynamic drag” can be divided into air pressure drag and direct friction.
A blunt object will disturb the wind’s direct airflow, so the air must split to move around the object’s surface. Since there will be no air pressure directly behind the object and high pressure in front of it, this will cause the object to literally be pulled backwards.
Direct friction is a result of constant pressure being applied to an object in winds’ way. Since direct friction is involved with air pressure drag, the latter serves as more of an impediment.
Aerodynamic drag accounts for 70% to 90% of strain on straight trails. Only inclines create more of a trial. Frame designers have attempted to lessen aerodynamic drag by altering tube shapes from a circular nature to a more oval and tear-shaped design. Wheels have also undergone reconstruction; wind prone spokes have been exchanged for solid discs. Handle bars have been structured so the riders can position themselves lower on the bike allowing less wind to hit them. Riders also wear clothing that ameliorates the wind’s ability to bypass them more freely. - The Body and Nutrition
Riding enthusiasts need to keep themselves in proper shape, eat right, and stay hydrated during the course of their cycling careers. A cyclist needs to keep a balance of water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Cyclists need to take a few drinks before embarking on a ride and to stay regularly hydrated throughout the process. If a cyclist loses as little as 2% of body fluids due to sweating, it can be harmful to their health. Major helpers in the cycling process are the cyclist’s thighbones and shinbones. The thighbone generates much of the propulsion and will be advantageous if longer than the shinbone. - Cardiovascular Physiology
Cyclists become concerned with their heart rates because it has a direct affect on their health and conditioning. The components of the circulatory system are:
- the heart
- the arteries
- the capillaries
- the veins
With every contraction of the heart, blood is being pushed through a person’s system. The frequency of the contractions is equal to the heart rate. The amount of blood moved to the cells of the body per minute is the product of the heart rate and the amount of blood being pumped by the heart.
Physical activity causes the need for more oxygen, so the circulatory system will produce more output. The amount of blood pumped per heartbeat increases and the efficiency of the exchange process at the capillary level improves. The benefits of a solid cardiovascular workout include:
- a lower resting hear rate
- a lower heart rate for a specific level of exertion
- increased capacity at one’s maximum heart rate
- Training Device
A heart rate monitor can be used to structure and monitor an aerobic training program to achieve optimum results. Some of the advantages in using a heart rate monitor include:
- using it as a motivational tool
- learn to read your body
- practice in conserving and expending energy
- to design and personalize a training program
- to stop overtraining