Cyclists are a diverse bunch. Coming in all colors, shapes and sizes, two-wheelers and their advocates seem to make headlines more and more each week! This week we feature a “lending library of bicycles” in Minnesota, a 20-year Bicycle Plan in Oregon, and we offer the New York Times’ definition of “bicycle culture,” plus much more.

• April 6, 2010: The most “exciting” transportation efforts being made in Utah’s capital city still involve 10-speeds and spinning spokes, says Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. In his goal to make Salt Lake City one of the most “bikeable” cities in the country, the mayor and his administration are keeping bicycles a priority despite facing substantial budget cuts – possibly as large as $20 million. Way to go Mayor! Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker wants to keep his city “bikeable” (Aaron Falk, Deseret News)
• April 6, 2010: Fargo, ND, Billings, MT, and Albuquerque, NM all made the cut in Fast Company’s list of The Top 50 Bike Friendly Cities in the U.S. Did your city make the list? (Ariel Schwartz, Fast Company)
• April 4, 2010: Funded with a $200,000 federal grant, St. Paul, Minnesota’s Sibley Bike Depot will allow low-income people who need transportation to borrow bikes for up to six months. Talk about charity! Wheeling out a new idea: A lending library of  bicycles (Chris Havens, Star Tribune)
• March 30, 2010: Five New York City cyclists received $5,000 – $30,000 apiece as they won a lawsuit claiming that they were wrongfully detained and arrested during a March 2007 Critical Mass ride. City Pays $98,000 to Critical Mass Cyclists (Anahad O’Connor, NYTimes.com City Room)
• March 30, 2010: Mexico City’s new project, Ecobici, faces an uphill climb as city officials struggle to persuade the citizens to give up driving and take a bike instead. Planners and city officials have placed 1,100 bikes at 85 stations in several busy neighborhoods near downtown and hope that by saturating these mixes residential/business neighborhoods with the three-speed bikes, they can persuade residents to consider making cycling at least part of their daily commute. Ecobici users pay a $24 yearly registration fee which gives them access to the bikes anytime for half-hour intervals. So far 2,600 people have signed up, far from the eventual target of 24,000. Mexico City bicycle program pedals uphill (Ken Ellingwood, LA Times)
• March 30, 2010: The United States Department of Transportation recently described bicycles and pedestrians as “equals” to trains, planes and automobiles and encouraged further development of cycling infrastructure at the state and federal level. As cycling becomes more and more a part of American experience, so does the culture surrounding it.  What exactly is that culture? Transportation Alternatives seeks to answer that question as they convene a “Bike Culture Summit,” on May 6, 2010. What Is Bike Culture? (J. David Goodman, NYTimes.com City Room/Spokes NYT)
  • As a side note, you can follow Mr. Goodman’s urban cycling coverage for the NY Times on Twitter: @SpokesNYT
• March 29, 2010: Portland, Oregon’s recently approved 2030 Bicycle Plan includes a $600 million proposal of 700 miles of new lanes, trails and boulevards for bikes. While the name of the plan might reach 20 years into the future, planners are hopeful to have work underway and many projects completed by 2015. Bicycle goals on table this side of year 2030 (Joseph Rose, OregonLive.com)

 Photo Courtesy BikerTony.org

Have you ever considered dropping everything, strapping on your helmet and just riding your bicycle into the distance? Well many people have, and in today’s edition of Fast Facts Friday we’re delving into the exciting topic of riding around the world on a bicycle! Two Friday’s ago we discussed a few of the many bike rides and tours taking place across the United States, but today we’re expanding our coverage for a global audience. Below you’ll find interesting personalities who have ridden a bicycle around the world, as well as resources and information on global bicycle travel including some of the biggest bicycle related events in 2010. Let us know your thoughts of travelling the planet by bicycle by leaving a comment below. And you can always weigh in on this or any other helmet or bicycle-related topic on twitter @BellTrueFit!

1. Get started on your bicycle expedition with the help of adventure cyclist Steven D. Williams. Williams has ridden his bicycle around the world, entirely unsupported, across all six inhabited continents. Steve has logged more than 120,000 touring miles in 70 countries bicycling through some of the world’s most remote regions. He is a public speaker willing to share his tips and insights to embarking on such a journey through various speaking and multimedia programs. Check out StevenDWilliams.com/Expeditions for more info. 
2. Tyler Kellen and Tara Allen are also touring the globe on bicycles. The couple started in Glasgow Scotland on April 1, 2009, and hope to reach their final destination of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by 2011. They created the Web site GoingSlowly.com to document their cycling adventure. The site includes an ongoing journal, photos, a route map, a section on accessing the internet in various countries, a section on how they planned and prepared for the trip, and an impressive gear section detailing all of the clothing, electronics, supplies they are carrying and bicycle specifications. If you want to  contribute to their journey you can make a donation via paypal, and you can contact them via email or cell phone here. 
3. Netherlands residents Paul van Roekel and Anja de Graaf have created Cycling Around The World as a source of inspiration and information for “around the world” cyclists.” They have a handy Bike News search feature which includes a blog and photo, a Destinations guide with an detailed map of the world’s biking locales, and a Tips & Advice section with an interactive planning checklist. Oh yeah, be sure to check out their photo slideshow First Impressions for spectacular photos of their bike adventures and a glimpse into the site.
4. Travelling Two is a Web site dedicated to bicycle touring around the world. Andrew & Friedel Grant are two Canadians who set off in 2006 on a bicycle adventure around the world through 30 countries and covering 48,000km, ending in October 2009. They gave notice at work, sold their house, liquidated all their possessions for the sake of making a bicycle trip around the world. Their site is an ongoing project to offer helpful advice on bike touring. Check out their trip-diary for first-hand insight to their travels. Peruse the En-CYCLO-pedia and view a photo gallery of cycle tourists from every walk of like. They also offer a thorough resources section offering info by country, touring basics, bike camping, staying healthy, tools and gear and more.
5. If you do decide to make a bike trip around the world, be sure to make a stop in New York City for the Bicycle Film Festival! Celebrating its 10^th anniversary July 16-20, this five day film festival features of all styles of bikes and biking: Bike Jousting, Track Bikes, BMX, Alleycats, Critical Mass, Bike Polo, Cycling , Recumbent. Film-buff bicyclists fear not! They’ve extended the submission deadline to March 27! The Bicycle Film Festival screens films and videos documenting, depicting, promoting and supporting bike culture in all its forms. Films can be any length, but to be eligible for their shorts programs, films should be less than 10 minutes. (Visit BicycleFilmFestival.com for more information or to submit a film.)

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.

The 82^nd Academy Awards are at 8 ET / 5 PT Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and the glamour will be in full effect. In honor of this year’s Oscars we’d like to recognize those that we consider superstars by setting positive examples of safety by wearing a helmet! This week’s Fast Facts Friday is a collection of photos from around the web of Oscar-related celebs wearing helmets.

Jake Gyllenhaal is best known for his roles in Donnie Darko, Bubble Boy, The Day After Tomorrow, Jarhead, and Brokeback Mountain (in which he was nominated an Oscar for best actor in 2005). He isn’t nominated for an Academy Award this year, but his older sister Maggie Gyllenhaal is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Crazy Heart.

We’re not sure if Maggie rides a bike, but Jake sure does. We’re excited to see him staying safe in a Giro helmet when he’s riding the streets.

Photo courtesy JustJared.BuzzNet.com

 Matthew Broderick is best known for his role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He also starred in the 1999 movie Election which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing. These days he keeps his pant leg rolled up so it won’t get caught in the chain, and wears a Bell helmet for safety.

Photo courtesy Cyclelicio.us

Matt Damon is best known for … ummm, well, he’s been in a TON of popular movies including Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, Rounders, The Bourne series, The Departed, and 2009’s Invictus. He is actually nominated this year for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in Invictus. We’re definitely glad to see he’s staying safe with a Bell Helmet.

Photo courtesy ShowHype.com 

Hugh Jackman is known for his role as the slashing, side-burned X-Man Wolverine. He hosted the 81^st Academy Awards last year to rave reviews. He isn’t nominated for an Oscar this year, and he’s not hosting the awards show either, but when we found photos of him wearing a helmet while riding his mountain bike we had to share.

Photo courtesy DailyMail.co.uk

Carey Mulligan is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in An Education.

Here she is seen sporting a helmet as she rides on the back of a motorcycle with boyfriend Shia LaBeouf, also protecting his valuable head with a helmet.

Photo courtesy DailyMail.co.uk

Have you seen or know of any other celebrities that wear a helmet? Please share with us by leaving a comment below!

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!

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)

We at Bell Sports hold bicycling – and safety – dear to our hearts. We publish these Fast Facts Friday (#FFF) blog posts with the hope of providing you with insightful information, and inspiring you to get out and ride. We also intend to provide you with factual information that encourages you to always wear a helmet when cycling. So, in the spirit of #FFF, today’s installment features some obscure bicycling and helmet facts meant to educate, inspire, and maybe even answer that nagging question that has piqued your curiosity time and again.

1) Despite the requirement for adults to use hand signals when riding in traffic, The American Academy of Pediatrics says Children shouldn’t use hand signals, because signaling may cause them to lose control of their bikes. (AAP.org)

2) Ever wonder why male cyclists shave their legs? Well, according to eHow.com it is it has nothing to do with aerodynamics, and more to do with road rash, massage, hygiene, vanity and tradition. Hairless legs are easier to clean, and it’s less painful to tear bandages off of smooth skin than hairy skin. Plus leg hair gets messy when slathered in massage oils, and it is easier for masseuses to work on bald legs. (eHow.com)

3) In China, bicycles outnumber cars 250 to 1, and in Tokyo, Japan a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes. (Strange-Facts.info)

4) Bell Helmets feature EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam liners. The purpose of the liner is to help prevent or reduce brain injury by absorbing the energy of an impact through its own compression or destruction. (BellSports.com)

5) And our Fast Fact“ee” of honor: At 25 years old Georgia native Fred A. Birchmore circled the globe by bicycle. The entire trip, through Europe, Asia, and the United States, covered forty thousand miles. Over the course of his tour, taken in 1935, he pedaled about 25,000 miles and wore out seven sets of tires. The rest was traveled by boat. And, Fred just celebrated his 98^th birthday this week! Happy belated birthday, Fred! (NationalGeographic.com)

What inspires you? Let us know what type of information gets you out on the road or on the trail spinning those wheels!

Exercise is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as is a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables and more. This week’s Fast Facts Friday is for all the “foodies” out there. What we put into our bodies is just as important as what we do to build muscle, stay toned and increase endurance. We spend hours in the gym, compete in marathons and triathlons, join various sports leagues, and – among partaking in other physical activities – ride bikes! But what good is all the exercise if we don’t eat right? To make you more aware of your diet and help you get in tip-top shape, here are some finger-lickin’-good food facts that pertain to exercise, diet, and bicycling:

1) Football is a demanding sport, and NFL players consume between 5,000-10,000 calories each day during training camp – they’re also burning 2,000-3,000 calories on the field in double-session practices. In the training camp cafeteria each food eaten has a purpose, whether it’s for hydrating, muscle repair, preventing muscle cramping, or to replace nutrients lost through sweat. Oh yeah – empty calories are banned. For example, players eat eggs for muscle-building, immunity and vision, waffles for cardio fuel, chicken breasts for energy and memory, and ice cream as a cool down treat! (Yahoo Health) 

2) The foods eaten before exercise and the timing of your meals or snacks really does matter.  Your body prefers to use carbohydrates as fuel, so your pre-workout meal should include plenty of carbohydrates from bread, pasta, fruits and vegetables. You don’t need to avoid protein and fat, however don’t overdo either of these nutrients if you will be exercising in an hour or two. (About.com) 

3) Your metabolism is determined by gender, age, amount of muscle you have compared to body fat and the amount of exercise you do on a regular basis.  So grab your helmet and get pedaling. (Dietician.com)

 4) There are food delivery cyclists in many cities and towns offering great local products delivered by bicycle. Portland Pedal Power provides promotional services (bike advertising) and delivers an assortment of foods and other products by bicycle throughout Portland. (PortlandPedalPower.com)

 5) Your body can store roughly an hour-and-a-half to two-hours worth of glycogen (muscle fuel). So, if you’re bike riding longer than that, you need to carry food (or stop to purchase it) and consume enough calories to keep from developing a glycogen deficit. (BicycleHabitat.com)

 6) In case you do get hungry while riding your bike, Bell makes the Road Stash Handlebar Bag that makes for a good storage spot for an energy bar or trail mix. (SportsAuthority.com)

Do you have any exercise-conscious recipes for staying healthy? Or maybe you know of a cyclist in your area that people can call for food delivery? If so we’d love to hear about them!