Friday, September 30, 2011
Fixies
Interbike: Fixies from Vegas
By Gary Boulanger, US editor
Big-city bike messengers have always been tragically cool and indifferent to fashion trends, because let's face it, not everyone can pull off Emo pants and 30-pound chains wrapped around the waist while riding a bike in New York City traffic.
But the influence messengers have had on bike spec the past five years has had a large impact on the bike industry as a whole, as seen in the halls of the Sands Convention Center during the recent Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.Steel is still real, although aluminium and carbon are creeping into the scene. Price matters, but in a market where daily hard riding and equipment abuse rivals that of the pro peloton, durability and looks count more. Pioneers Bianchi ushered in the affordable and sexy chrome Pista, and now the same product manager is pulling the levers for Swobo, where fixies are becoming decidely understated in appearance. As Swobo's Sky Yaeger tells it, it's her job to listen to what the customers want, and they want a stark canvas onto which they can create a personal ride that reflects their station in life and among their bicycling brethren.
Kona
The chaps from Vancouver still believe steel is real, and have advanced the early concept of producing fixed-gear bikes for track racing into proper fixies for the road. The Kona Paddy Wagon has a longer wheelbase and room for larger diamter tyres, ideal for streets and commuting. The US$679 model includes all the necessities, plus braze-ons and fittings for mudguards and racks.
Fuji
For some, evil lurks around every alleyway in big cities at night, and at first glance it seems that we stumbled upon Satan's fixie itself with the Fuji League.
Delta CDrive
Belt drives made their debut at last year's Interbike, and with a heavy influx of fixed-gear and internally-geared bikes, it appears belt drives are a legitimate option to the century-old chain. We're curious about the life span of belts, though, and will be testing several bikes in the near future. Delta's CDrive brand is simple, clever and easy on the eyes for the monochromatic crowd.
Masi
With an Italian heritage like Masi's, it's a natural fit to offer several steel fixies. The California-based company has expanded its Speciale Fixed line for 2009.
Giant
Giant has been a private-label manufacturer for several top-name companies, so it's not surprising to see the Taiwan juggernaut expand its own line of fun fixies to include "retro" models from the 1970s and '80s.
Traitor
Hidden among the big boys at Interbike was upstart brand Traitor Cycles, highlighting its Pabst Blue Ribbon special fixie. Cars R Coffins own Hurl Everstone was lingering in their booth, licking his lips and chatting up the owners.
Raleigh
The British marquee has returned to its roots in a big way for 2009, expanding its steel offerings greatly. The American subsidiary is based in Seattle, a community steeped heavily in bicycle culture. The Raleigh Rush Hour has been up-specced for 2009, taking a nod from brands like Swobo with its subtle looks and lack of graphics.
Fixie Inc.
We've reported on these guys in the past because their bikes are smartly specced and a pleasure to look at. The aptly-named Black Jack was on display, looking every inch inspired by the Austro Daimler models made by Puch in the 1970s and '80s.
Felt
The folks at Felt cover all the bases, from Tour de France time trialling and track racing to urban cool and fixies like the Curbside. Talk a bout a cross between mad messenger experimentation and old-school BMX sensibility!
Velocity
The Australian rim makers have upped their game considerably the past two years, adding eye-popping graphics to suit virtually every need among fixed-gear riders looking to make a personal statement.
You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar and on Facebook at facebook.com/BikeRadar.
DJ
Thursday, September 15, 2011
16 Ways to Eat Healthy While Keeping it Cheap
What is Healthy Food? Before we start, let’s define healthy food. It consists of:
Protein. The building blocks of muscles, needed for strength.
Fat. A balanced intake of omega 3, 6 & 9.
Veggies. All kinds, especially green fibrous veggies.
Fruit. Full of vitamins.
Water. 1 liter per 1000 calories you expend.
Whole grain food. Oats, rice, pasta, breads, …
On with the tips.
1. Switch to Water. I drank huge amounts of soda daily for more than 15 years. Then I started Strength Training and switched to water:
It’s healthier
It’s cheaper
Quit the soda & drink water. Take a bottle wherever you go.
2. Consume Tap Water. Check the price of water on your tap water bill. Now check the price of bottled water. Quit a difference, isn’t it? So why are you buying bottled water?
Cleaner? Not necessarily.
Better taste? No, simply a matter of Adaptation.
Bottled water companies get their supply from the same source you do: municipal water systems. It’s like selling ice to Eskimos. If you don’t trust the quality of tap water, filter it yourself. I use a Brita Pitcher. One $7 filter cleans 40 gallons water.
3. Eat Eggs. I always have eggs at breakfast:
Full of vitamins
High in proteins
Low in price
Don’t believe the Eggs & Cholesterol myth. Dietary cholesterol is not bound to blood cholesterol. Want to make it cheaper? Buy a chicken.
4. Eat Fatty Meats. Fatty meats are cheaper & more tasty than lean meats. You think it’s not healthy? Check the Fat Myths:
Fat doesn’t make you fat, excess calories do
You need a balanced intake of fats: omega 3, 6 & 9
I’m on the Anabolic Diet, I buy beef chuck instead of sirloin.
5. Get Whey. The cheapest source of protein. 70$ for a 10lbs bag lasting 4 months. Nothing beats that. Use whey in your Post Workout Shake to help recovery.
6. Tuna Cans. Canned tuna is cheap & contains as much protein as meat. Alternate tuna with eggs, meat & whey. You’ll easily get to your daily amount of protein.
7. Buy Frozen Veggies. I mostly buy frozen veggies:
Take less time to prepare
You don’t waste money if not eaten in time
Can be bought in bulk for discounts & stored in your freezer
If you can afford fresh veggies, then do it. I go frozen.
8. Use a Multivitamin. Pesticides lower the vitamin levels of your fruits & veggies. Two solutions:
Buy organic food. Expensive.
Use a multivitamin. $10 a month.
ChooSe what fits your wallet best. I take the multivitamin.
9. Fish Oil. Omega-3 is found in fish oil. Benefits of omega-3 consumption include:
Lowered cholesterol levels
Decreased body fat
Reduced inflammation
You need to eat fatty fish 3 times a week to get these benefits. Time consuming & expensive, I know. Try Carlson‘s Liquid Fish Oil with Lemon flavor. One teaspoon daily. You’ll be ok.
10. Buy Generic Food. The box might be less attractive, it’s certainly more attractive to your wallet. Brand-name food will always be more expensive. You’re paying for the name. Get real. Food is food. Go generic.
11. Buy in Bulk. Think long-term. Buying in bulk is more expensive at the cashier, but cheaper in the long run:
Gets you discounts
Saves time
Saves car fuel
Invest in a big freezer. Buy meats & veggies in bulk and freeze them.
12. Go to One Grocery Store. This grocery store is cheaper for meat, that grocery store is cheaper for veggies, the other grocery store is cheaper for fish… How many grocery stores are you going to, trying to find the cheapest food? Think!
Time is money. Stop losing a day shopping.
Cars don’t run on water. Lower your fuel expenses.
I get all my food in a big grocery store near my place. It hasn’t the cheapest price for all foods, but it saves me time & fuel.
13. Make a Plan. A classic, but worth repeating. Everything starts with a plan.
Make a list of what you need
Eat a solid meal, don’t go hungry
Go the grocery, get what’s on your list & get out
No need to take your partner or kids with you. This is not a recreational activity. Just get your food & get back home.
14. Take Food To Work. Ever counted how much money you throw away buying food at work daily? Start preparing your food for the day on waking up:
Get up earlier
Eat a solid breakfast (like Scrambled Eggs)
Prepare your food for work in the meanwhile
Total time 30 minutes. No stress during the day about what you’ll be eating & you get healthy food while sparing money.
15. Eat Less. This one is obvious. The less you eat, the lower your grocery bill. If you’re overweight, get on a diet. Your health & bank account will thank you.
16. Don’t Buy Junk Food. The last one. Stop buying anything that comes out of a box, it’s
Unhealthy
Expensive
If you actually find junk food that is cheaper than whole food, think long-term. Health implications.
http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm
http://thrive.kp.org/thrive/cooking-eating/index.php?WT.mc_id=101843&WT.seg_1=PF-4-sYLAwBElJ-pcrid-9536938258-healthy%20food-b&WT.srch=1
Figuring out how to eat healthy can seem impossible, especially when you have a hectic schedule. One way to improve your eating habits is to forgo fast food. Challenge yourself to skip fast food and take out for a week. Instead, opt to eat at home or take a packed meal from home. It takes 10 minutes to pack a meal -- probably the same amount of time you would sit in a drive through. Let the one week challenge be your guide for permanently changing your eating habits for the better.-Sunday
Protein. The building blocks of muscles, needed for strength.
Fat. A balanced intake of omega 3, 6 & 9.
Veggies. All kinds, especially green fibrous veggies.
Fruit. Full of vitamins.
Water. 1 liter per 1000 calories you expend.
Whole grain food. Oats, rice, pasta, breads, …
On with the tips.
1. Switch to Water. I drank huge amounts of soda daily for more than 15 years. Then I started Strength Training and switched to water:
It’s healthier
It’s cheaper
Quit the soda & drink water. Take a bottle wherever you go.
2. Consume Tap Water. Check the price of water on your tap water bill. Now check the price of bottled water. Quit a difference, isn’t it? So why are you buying bottled water?
Cleaner? Not necessarily.
Better taste? No, simply a matter of Adaptation.
Bottled water companies get their supply from the same source you do: municipal water systems. It’s like selling ice to Eskimos. If you don’t trust the quality of tap water, filter it yourself. I use a Brita Pitcher. One $7 filter cleans 40 gallons water.
3. Eat Eggs. I always have eggs at breakfast:
Full of vitamins
High in proteins
Low in price
Don’t believe the Eggs & Cholesterol myth. Dietary cholesterol is not bound to blood cholesterol. Want to make it cheaper? Buy a chicken.
4. Eat Fatty Meats. Fatty meats are cheaper & more tasty than lean meats. You think it’s not healthy? Check the Fat Myths:
Fat doesn’t make you fat, excess calories do
You need a balanced intake of fats: omega 3, 6 & 9
I’m on the Anabolic Diet, I buy beef chuck instead of sirloin.
5. Get Whey. The cheapest source of protein. 70$ for a 10lbs bag lasting 4 months. Nothing beats that. Use whey in your Post Workout Shake to help recovery.
6. Tuna Cans. Canned tuna is cheap & contains as much protein as meat. Alternate tuna with eggs, meat & whey. You’ll easily get to your daily amount of protein.
7. Buy Frozen Veggies. I mostly buy frozen veggies:
Take less time to prepare
You don’t waste money if not eaten in time
Can be bought in bulk for discounts & stored in your freezer
If you can afford fresh veggies, then do it. I go frozen.
8. Use a Multivitamin. Pesticides lower the vitamin levels of your fruits & veggies. Two solutions:
Buy organic food. Expensive.
Use a multivitamin. $10 a month.
ChooSe what fits your wallet best. I take the multivitamin.
9. Fish Oil. Omega-3 is found in fish oil. Benefits of omega-3 consumption include:
Lowered cholesterol levels
Decreased body fat
Reduced inflammation
You need to eat fatty fish 3 times a week to get these benefits. Time consuming & expensive, I know. Try Carlson‘s Liquid Fish Oil with Lemon flavor. One teaspoon daily. You’ll be ok.
10. Buy Generic Food. The box might be less attractive, it’s certainly more attractive to your wallet. Brand-name food will always be more expensive. You’re paying for the name. Get real. Food is food. Go generic.
11. Buy in Bulk. Think long-term. Buying in bulk is more expensive at the cashier, but cheaper in the long run:
Gets you discounts
Saves time
Saves car fuel
Invest in a big freezer. Buy meats & veggies in bulk and freeze them.
12. Go to One Grocery Store. This grocery store is cheaper for meat, that grocery store is cheaper for veggies, the other grocery store is cheaper for fish… How many grocery stores are you going to, trying to find the cheapest food? Think!
Time is money. Stop losing a day shopping.
Cars don’t run on water. Lower your fuel expenses.
I get all my food in a big grocery store near my place. It hasn’t the cheapest price for all foods, but it saves me time & fuel.
13. Make a Plan. A classic, but worth repeating. Everything starts with a plan.
Make a list of what you need
Eat a solid meal, don’t go hungry
Go the grocery, get what’s on your list & get out
No need to take your partner or kids with you. This is not a recreational activity. Just get your food & get back home.
14. Take Food To Work. Ever counted how much money you throw away buying food at work daily? Start preparing your food for the day on waking up:
Get up earlier
Eat a solid breakfast (like Scrambled Eggs)
Prepare your food for work in the meanwhile
Total time 30 minutes. No stress during the day about what you’ll be eating & you get healthy food while sparing money.
15. Eat Less. This one is obvious. The less you eat, the lower your grocery bill. If you’re overweight, get on a diet. Your health & bank account will thank you.
16. Don’t Buy Junk Food. The last one. Stop buying anything that comes out of a box, it’s
Unhealthy
Expensive
If you actually find junk food that is cheaper than whole food, think long-term. Health implications.
http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm
http://thrive.kp.org/thrive/cooking-eating/index.php?WT.mc_id=101843&WT.seg_1=PF-4-sYLAwBElJ-pcrid-9536938258-healthy%20food-b&WT.srch=1
Figuring out how to eat healthy can seem impossible, especially when you have a hectic schedule. One way to improve your eating habits is to forgo fast food. Challenge yourself to skip fast food and take out for a week. Instead, opt to eat at home or take a packed meal from home. It takes 10 minutes to pack a meal -- probably the same amount of time you would sit in a drive through. Let the one week challenge be your guide for permanently changing your eating habits for the better.-Sunday
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