March is upon us, and while Punxsutawney Phil, the only true weather forecasting groundhog in the business, saw his shadow back in February predicting  another six weeks of winter, we are already looking forward to the green of Spring. Daylight Savings begins on March 14, St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17 and fun bike rides and tours are popping up across the country.

In today’s edition of Fast Facts Friday we’re discussing some of the upcoming bike rides and tours taking place across the country, with a focus on some of the the more interesting and obscure events. If you know of or are participating in any interesting bike rides or tours coming up, let us know! Just leave a comment below, and maybe we’ll feature you in a future Bell True Fit blog post!

1. The Muddy Buddy Ride is coming to a city near you! From California to Virginia, down to Florida and up to Oregon, the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series is a must for the adventurous. Muddy Buddy is all about having fun (and getting muddy of course) with a friend, family member, partner or co-worker. Teams of two traverse a 6-7 mile off-road course and five obstacles. “At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course,” according to the Web site. Funds raised through this meaningful program, benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and allow people with physical challenges to live an active lifestyle. So go get dirty, challenge yourself, support a great cause, get some exercise and get to know someone really well! Visit Muddy-Buddy.Competitor.com to get the “the dirt” on this awesome event.

2. Maybe getting sweaty and muddy with a boss or new girlfriend isn’t your cup of tea … maybe you’d prefer a glass of wine? Geared towards the novice rider, with an epicurean/vinophile bent Napa Valley Bike Tours offers a variety of scenic bike rides through rustic wine country. Since 1987 they’ve been offering single and multi-day guided bike tours, self-guided bike tours, bike rentals and bicycling vacation packages that include accommodations and dining. Sample and purchase wines, wine and dine at some of the best wineries and restaurants, and enjoy an “invigorating sensory experience” as you roll through scenic Napa Valley past rows of vineyards. Visit Napa Valley Bike Tours or become a fan on Facebook to start planning your trip today.

3. Register’s Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) always takes place in the summer, during the last full week of July. Sponsored by The Des Moines Register, this annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, and is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world.  RAGBRAI is heading into its 38th year in 2010. A week-long rider fee is $140 and includes baggage transportation, camping accommodations, emergency medical services, daily route maps, entries into drawings for a free bike, and much more. Meals, concerts, parties and events along the way make this scenic ride all the more worth it at the end of every day (after you’ve ridden 75+ miles!). Hurry though, because the entry postmark deadline is April 1, 2009. Visit RAGBRAI.com for more information and check out their blog for interesting updates.

4. Not interested in being confined to the borders of one state? Cycle America offers Cross-State Tours and a Coast-to-Coast journey from June to August. Go from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA crossing over 13 states and one Canadian Province in 64 days. The ride will take you 4,200 miles, averaging 65-86 miles per day through “the lush mountains and forests of the West, across the grasslands of the Great Plains, to the lakes and farms of the Great Lake states and the quaint towns of New England.” The cost is $6,685, and is all inclusive. If a three month bike ride across the country doesn’t quite fit into your calendar or your bank account, you can opt to ride one of the nine cross-state tours for much cheaper (roughly $800 per event). For more information or to reserve a spot visit CycleAmerica.com.

5. Looking for something closer to home, maybe not as long? Then check out The World Wide Bicycle Tour Directory (BicycleTour.com) – a comprehensive directory of bicycle tours and events for both road cycling and mountain biking. They have an easy-to-use menu to help you find bike tours based on country, state, month, duration, and type.

Whichever tour you participate in, be sure to wear your helmet! And be on the lookout for Bell helmets along the way, as many of our models are considered the best. ConsumerSearch.com says the Bell Vela is the best bike helmet for women, the Bell Citi is the best bike helmet for commuters, the Bell Boomerang is the best bike helmet for toddlers, and the Bell Trigger is the best youth bike helmet.

There’s something enriching about watching an Olympic athlete stand on the podium and receive their medal. After years of practice, relentless dedication and an unwavering desire to be the best in the world, these athletes glow with a sense of fulfillment when they take the podium to receive their medal. Even the most hardened of competitors are affected, in some way or another, by the medal ceremony, as it enshrines the winners’ name in Olympic history. Today’s Fast Facts Friday touches on Olympic medals and medal winners.

1) The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of gold were awarded in 1912. The Olympic medals are designed especially for each individual Olympic Games by the host city’s organizing committee. Each medal must be at least three millimeters thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. Also, the gold and silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 percent silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams of gold. Let’s start with some figures: there are roughly 2,500 volunteers at the games, there are more than 10,000 media members at the games, and there are about 5,000 officials and athletes participating. (About.com)

2) Bob Richards, two-time Olympic pole vault champion became the spokesman for Wheaties cereal in 1958, and since the 1960s hundreds of athletes (Olympic medalists and other professional athletes) have been shown and promoted on Wheaties boxes. (Wikipedia)

3) As of Friday, February 19, 2010 the United States is leading the medal count in the 2010 Winter Olympics with six gold, five silver, and seven bronze for a total of 18 medals. Germany has four gold, four silver, and three bronze for a total of 11 medals. And Norway is in third place with three gold and silver each, and two bronze for a total of eight medals. (Vancouver2010.com)

4) The all-time medal leader for all Olympic Games from 1896 to 2008, including Summer Olympic Games and  Winter Olympic Games is the United States with 2,511 medals. To put this number into perspective, the second and third place countries in the all-time medal count are (the former) Soviet Union and Great Britain with 1,204 and 736, respectively. (Wikipedia)

5) UPDATE: Easton-Bell sponsored, two-time Olympian Natalie Darwitz, who is serving as the captain of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, moved into the record books on Thursday when she broke the U.S. women’s record for most points in an Olympic hockey tournament. Darwitz is now at 11 points (four goals, seven assists) through three games. Next up for Darwitz and the Americans is the medal round, beginning Monday against Sweden in the semifinals. Records are great, Darwitz says, but these next two games will define her tournament more than any statistic. (USAHockey.com)

Do you have an all-time favorite Olympic athlete? Was there a moment, medal ceremony or otherwise, during the Olympics that moved you? Let us know by leaving a comment below! And don’t forget to enter our giveaway contest for your chance to win a Bell Hawk Helmet AND Tony Hawk: RIDE for X-Box 360 – contest ends 02/23/10! Check it out here.

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21^st Winter Olympics, kicked off this morning in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The games run from February 12–28, 2010, and more than 80 nations are competing in 15 winter sports events. At least 10 of these sports require participants to wear helmets, including ski jumping, snowboarding, speed skating, luge, and bobsled. Canadians, Olympics groupies and winter sports enthusiasts alike have been anticipating today and the next two weeks since 2003 – when Vancouver was announced as the host city. If you are unable to make the trek to the Pacific Northwest to cheer on your country’s athletes, we’ve assembled a few facts and resources to help you stay up to date on the games from the comfort of your home.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bicycle riders are a dedicated bunch. They ride to work and school in the rain and cold – over bridges, through tunnels and down freeways (where legal). Some choose to ride for the health benefit, while other’s ride for the environment’s benefit. Many ride for the sheer pleasure, and others ride out of necessity. At Bell Sports, we are inspired by those who bike long distances to get where they need (or want) to go. Today’s Fast Facts Friday is in honor of those who take their bikes on busses, trains and other transit options. So without further adieu, here are some transit-related bicycle facts from around North America:

1) Bike riders in New Jersey are thankful there is no extra charge for bicycles brought aboard NJ Transit vehicles, and no permit is required. NJ TRANSIT provides free parking capacity for about 2,300 bicycles at stations and park/rides, and bikes are allowed on NJ Transit trains, busses and light rail. Be sure to check the schedule though, because bicycles like BART, bicycles are not allowed at all times. (NJTransit.com)

2) The Seattle and Tacoma, Washington area is conveniently bike friendly, and bicycles and transit are highly encouraged. Bicycles are welcome on all Sound Transit Express buses, Sounder commuter rail, Central Link light rail and Tacoma Link light rail vehicles and stations. Each Central Link Light Rail car has mounting hooks for two bicycles, and the Sounder commuter rail has bike storage areas where riders are encouraged to secure their bikes using tie-downs in the bicycle priority storage area. (SoundTransit.org)

(IndependentStitch.typepad.com)

3) In Washington D.C. the Union Station Bike Transit Station is the first secure bike parking facility of its kind on the East Coast. The station, which  opened on October 2, 2009, was built by Mobis/Bikestation with funding from DDOT and the U.S. Department of Transportation, but local bicycle rental company Bike and Roll is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the transit center. Bike and Roll employees staff the parking area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, providing rentals, repairs, and retail assistance in addition to the daily parking area. Staffers can also help potential members sign-up online in person at the station. Memberships currently cost $96 for a full year, or $12 per month. Membership cards allow users 24/7 access to the parking area. (DCist.com)

4) Regional Transit of Sacramento, California offers bike racks on buses, bikes on trains and bike lockers at 15 light rail stations. This is similar to BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit, which offers a dedicated “bike space” to riders … but remember bikes are never allowed on the first train and are not allowed during peak commute times. Folding bikes are welcome at all times, though! (BikesOnBart)

5) The City of Chicago and the Active Transportation Alliance sponsor numerous bicycle related events throughout the year including Bike the Drive, Boulevard Lakefront Tour, Veggie Bike and Dine, Bike to Work Week, Bike Town Bash, and Chicagoland Car-Free Day. Visit  ActiveTrans,org for a full calendar of events. The CTA, or Chicago Transit Authority has indoor, sheltered bike parking at 83 stations providing security and weather protection. The CTA also has options for travelling to O’Hare and Midway airports with your bicycle. (CityOfChicago.org)

6) And for those who drive, but need  a convenient way to transport your bike(s), Bell offers bike racks for your car! The locking, three-bike rack makes it a cinch for three friends (or family) to drive to their favorite biking destination. (Target.com)

Are there any interesting transit-related bike options in your area? If so, tell us about it with a comment below!

One of the most touching weeks for bicycle news, to date. Our hearts were filled with joy in hearing all that people are doing to promote bicycling – cheaper lunches? A poetic tale of riding through the rain? Helping to heal those ailed by illnesses? Yes, these are all stories that made the news last week. To hear more of the stories that either put a smile on our faces or made us put on our thinking helmets, check out this week’s post of news from around the world.

• January 29, 2010: Want discounts on restaurants just for riding your bicycle? Move to Long Beach (for one day, at least)! To Encourage Bicycle Commuting, Cyclists Get Lunch Deals in Long Beach (Zach Behrens, LAist.com)
• January 29, 2010: Honking In Traffic is a thought provoking story that points out the often forgotten population of people who ride bicycles not necessarily for pleasure, but out of necessity. The Invisible People on Bikes Right in Front of Our Eyes (Sarah Goodyear, Streetsblog.org)
• January 28, 2010: On the same day as President Obama’s State of the Union address, the Alliance for Biking & Walking also spoke out – on the lack of federal and state funding for bikers and walkers. A Bike-Ped State of the Union: 9.6% of Trips, 1.2% of Federal Funding (Elana Schor, DC.Streetsblog.org)
• January 28, 2010: “La Chanson de la Seine” – And the similarities between Tucson and Paris through the eyes of a rainy bicycle ride. Bicycle ride in the rain reminds her of a walk down the Seine (Barbara Russek, Arizona Daily Star)
• January 27, 2010: On Wednesday, India opened a 6,000-square feet building houses over 200 models of the top bicycles from all over the country and the world. India’s first bicycle mall opens in Pune (Staff Writer, Thaindian News)
• January 26, 2010. As shown with the Bell True Fit, a bicycle helmet doesn’t necessarily need to be expensive to keep your noggin safe. Study: Cheap bike helmets offer same protection as expensive ones (Desiree Ferenczi, ConsumerReports.org)
• January 26, 2010: Chinese officials acknowledge the need for bicycling to make a comeback in Beijing. Back to the Future, by Bicycle (Sarah Goodyear, SF.Streetsblog.org)
• January 26, 2010: Pam Emison, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, found strength through bicycling. M.S. slows athlete down – but not much (Josh Wimmer, WhiteBearPress.com)
• January 25, 2010: Professor Jan Helgerud and co-workers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have found several ways to help improve a chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient’s overall fitness and quality of life – through cycling on a stationary bicycle, using one leg at a time. Cycling to Better Health, One Leg at a Time (Staff Writer, ScienceDaily)
• January 25, 2010: Los Angeles police detectives arrested two men last week who were in charge of a Los Angeles bicycle-theft ring and recovered several stolen bicycles and parts, among other things. Detectives Bust Bike-theft Ring Downtown (Staff Writer for the Los Angeles Police Department, Ethiopian Review)

Wearing a helmet is the best way to protect your noggin when riding a bicycle, however injuries and accidents are best avoided when the bicycle rider knows his or her surroundings, understands proper bicycle etiquette, and has a finely tuned bike. In today’s edition of Fast Fact’s Friday we’re offering up some nuggets of information on bicycle repair, quality bicycle products and bicycle efficiency.

 1) The most efficient animal on earth in terms of weight transported over distance for energy expended is a human on a bicycle. The most efficient machine on earth in terms of weight transported over distance for energy expended is a human on a bicycle. To keep your bike in efficient condition be sure to give it a tune-up at least once a year, or every few months if you ride every day. (BikeWebsite.com)

2) Long-time cyclist, author and contributor to The New York Times and The New Yorker Robert Sullivan offers four basic, bicycle etiquette tips that every bike rider should adhere to: Stay off the sidewalks, ride in the direction of traffic, use signals and stop at lights. (MotherNatureNetwork.com)

3) An estimated 124 million bicycles were manufactured worldwide in 2007, and the vast majority of all bikes sold worldwide (82 percent) are manufactured in two countries: China (71.8 percent or 89.0 million units) and India (10.0 percent or 12.4 million units). (InterBikeTimes.com)

4) Need a suggestion on purchasing a new mountain bike? According to ConsumerSearch.com the best “entry-level cross country race bike” is the Kona Kula, the best “trail-oriented mountain bike” is the Giant Trance X2, and the best “mountain bike for serious riders” is the Gary Fisher Roscoe 3. (ConsumerSearch.com)

5) Looking for a good bicycle repair shop near you? BicycleRepair.com lets you browse bicycle repair shops by popular cities, by most popular bicycle repair shops, and by the top rated bicycle repair shops. (BicycleRepairUSA.info)

By the way – if you’d like to check out a great video on self-bicycle tuning basics, go to BicycleTutor.com. Do you have a bicycle repair video or tip to share? Post your tip below!

On a seemingly regular, recent Tuesday afternoon the small island country of Haiti was shocked and devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

In the days following the news of the massive quake, stories, images and videos of unimaginable destruction and unbelievable carnage swept across the newswires.

What accompanied these horrific developments was an immediate and unprecedented outpouring of relief aid, money, support and prayer.

Today’s Fast Facts Friday is meant to shine a light on only a few of the many good Samaritans and caring people across the world who have stepped up to help the people of Haiti cope with the devastation and rebuild their lives.

1) One electronic form of support brought $30 million in relief funds in a matter of days: text messaging.  Right after the quake, the Red Cross and mobile phone companies announced that they would take donations by cell phone. AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and other major carriers all quickly jumped on the bandwagon, allowing donations over their text messaging network … with no hidden fees! Texting the word HAITI to 20222 will give a $10 donation to the Clinton Foundation. You can give $10 to the International Medical Corps (85944), the Salvation Army (52000), and the American Red Cross (90999) by simply texting the word “HAITI”. (ThePilot.com)

2) While people and communities across the US and the world are mobilizing and giving all they can to aid in the relief effort, governments have also been quickly prompted to action. The Obama administration has pledged $100 million in aid and the deployment of 10,000 troops. (NYTimes.com)

3) Canada’s military has deployed the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to provide “eyes-on” feedback and assistance to the catastrophic situation. The Canadian Forces has named this mission “Operation Helmet” and foresees it as an ongoing mission that will focus on supplying search and rescue teams as well as medical supplies to victims of this devastating earthquake. (MigrationExpert.com)

4) The Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans helped raise more than $34,000 for earthquake relief in Haiti prior to Thursday night’s game against the Washington Capitals. Fans donated more than $17,309, and the organization matched that bringing the grand total of money raised to $34,600. Overall, the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and other professional sports have stepped up in a major way donating millions of dollars, hosting relief drives, and sending countless aid care packages. (ThePittsburghChannel.com and BusinessWeek.com)

5) Finally, after nearly two weeks of sadness, an image of hope has emerged: One of a smiling young boy named Kiki being lifted from the rubble by American rescuers:

 

(DailyMail.co.uk)

Like riding a bicycle, snowboarding, or golfing, skateboarding is a one-(wo)man sport. Sure you can go on a bike ride with friends or hit up the skate park with fellow skaters, but when the wheels hit the ground, you and only you are in complete control. Progressing in a singular sport such as skateboarding may not historically be as monetarily rewarding as golf, but for many there is something fulfilling about learning and mastering a new trick on a skateboard. Today’s Fast Facts Friday will take a look at some of the most daring feats, displays of athleticism, downright crazy stunts, and interesting personalities surrounding the sport of skateboarding.

1) Thrasher Magazine Skater Of The Year for 1991 and 2004 Danny Way made skateboarding history on July 9, 2005, when he jumped over the Great Wall of China on his skateboard. The skateboarding daredevil became the first person to clear the massive wall without motorized aid. (KidzWorld.com)

2) Rodney Mullen, born in 1966, is one of the oldest professional skateboarders and is considered by many to be the most influential skater in the history of the sport. He is credited with inventing at least 39 distinct skateboarding tricks including the Ollie, the Kickflip, the Heelflip, and the 360 Flip. (Wikipedia.org)

3) The youngest person to ever compete in a professional skateboarding event is Davis, California native Nyjah Huston. Now 15 years old, Huston was only 11 when he took second place in the (skate) park competition at the 2006 Dew Tour. (NYTimes.com)

4) Shanghai is the most populous city in China. Fittingly, Shanghai is home to the world’s largest skatepark. SMP Skatepark has an incredible 13,700 m² of skateable space, much of it incorporating local stone and granite. The park has two street skating areas, multiple bowls, a full pipe (video), a 52 m long wooden vert ramp, and a 2000 m² competition area. (GoogleSightSeeing.com)

5) Like baseball rookie cards, vintage skateboards (maintained in mint condition of course) are a hot commodity. Tony Hawk’s first skateboard model on Powell-Peralta from 1982 sold for $6,000 on eBay in 2002. Since that time a few other unskated “rookie” boards for Natas Kaupas (1985), Steve Caballero (1981) and Ray “Bones” Rodriquez (1979) have sold for $7,250, $8000, and $10,000 respectively. (Blogs.WSJ.com)

Skateboarding has become a popular sport and a lucrative business. According to a Wikipedia entry on Skateboarding video games there are at least 33 games about skateboarding! The latest and most interactive skateboarding video game is Tony Hawk: RIDE, which came out in November 2009. In the game, the player uses a skateboard peripheral to simulate the riding of an actual skateboard in the game. And, there are actually a few scenes in the game where the Bell logo pops up!

And in case you didn’t know, Bell offers a helmet specifically designed for skateboarding: the Faction.

My oh my – what a crazy-cool week for bicycling! Last week’s news discussed hot topics such as four-wheeled bicycles, cycling insurance, bike videos, a promotion for female cyclists and tips for how to become a “badass” on your bike. Need we say more?! Check out last week’s bicycling stories that made headlines, below!

• January 4, 2010: What good are two tires when you can have four?! Join My Quadracycle Gang (J.S. Holland, LouisvilleMojo.com)
• January 5, 2010: Did you know that bicycle insurance that is similar to auto insurance already exists in England, Australia, and New Zealand? Bicycle insurance: Coming to America in 2010?, nor sleet, nor gloom of night keeps Marshall cyclist from pedaling to 2 jobs (Lindsay Caron, BikePortland.org)
• January 5, 2010: “Empire,” is a yet-unfinished film about everything that is “fun, scary and exciting” about bicycling in the Big Apple without brakes. Cycling on Camera, in New York and Beyond (J. David Goodman, New York Times)
• January 5, 2010: One city looks at the multiple benefits of this investment in years to come by investing in bicycling. ENVIRONMENT: Cycling can boost the area’s riches (Scott Macrae, Rochester City Newspaper)
• January 5, 2010: What’s this season’s first competition on The Biggest Loser? – A bicycling competition where couples have to ride 26.2 miles on stationary bikes, the same distance as the marathon that finalists ran at the end of the previous “Biggest Loser” season. The Biggest Loser Has Even More to Lose (Cynthia B., Gather)
• January 5, 2010: The Social Bike Business program creates jobs through locally manufactured transportation bicycles for disadvantaged people. Led by One Street, a global bicycle advocacy organization, the program is underway in Prague, Budapest and Los Angeles. Brewery Broadens Social Bike Program (Press Release, PPOL: News)
• January 7, 2010: What are the ‘Three Ps’, you ask? – Priority statements, potential policies & potential programs, of course! The ‘Three Ps’ of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Beverly Majors, Oak Ridger)
• January 8, 2010: Great tips for beefing up your bike status! How to Become a Bicycle Badass (Scott Indrisek, Asylum)
• January 8, 2010: One writer’s opinions and ideas toward women and bicycling. COMMENT: Forget blokes, it’s women we want to get on bikes (Carlton Reid, Bike Biz)
• January 9, 2010: One way to combat trends of peak oil, declining material living standards in America (and much of the rest of the Western world), and global environmental stresses? Bicycling! Guest commentary: Bicycling safely into the future (Robert C. Cluster, Daily Camera)

Bell Sports manufactures bicycle helmets designed and adapted specifically to your riding style. Whether it’s mountain biking, racing, road biking or BMX, Bell offers up head safety with some technologically advanced helmets that exceed standards.

But did you know that Bell also makes helmets for skateboarding, auto racing, snowmobiling, off-road motor sports and motorcycle riding?

Well, now you do!

Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about each of these respective sports.

1) Approximately 100,000 people require some sort of medical treatment for skateboard-related injuries, every year. A majority of these injuries are a result of people not wearing or not using proper safety equipment like helmets and pads. (EZineArticles.com)

2) Richard Petty, who won 200 NASCAR races in his career, including seven stock car championships and seven Daytona wins, is credited with inventing the window net to help keep drivers arms inside the car to avoid injuries during a crash. (HubPages.com)

3) There are approximately 1.69 million registered snowmobiles in the US and 601,000 in Canada. Out of all those snowmobiles, more than 85,000 people have full-time jobs generated by the snowmobile industry in North America. (SnowMobile.com)

4) In the 1960s the first All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV ) made came to production. They had six wheels and were amphibious – meaning they could float! These first ATVs were capable of traversing swamps, ponds and streams as well as dry land (ATV.info)

5) At the 2000 Gravity Games in Providence, RI, professional freestyle motocross racer Carey Hart became the first rider to land a back flip on a motorcycle during a competition. (Wikipedia)