Lately we’ve noticed a lot of people looking to purchase bicycles, helmets, and gear. Naturally, spring and summer are busy for those of us in bike-related industries as more people begin taking advantage of the longer days and warmer evenings to go ride!

If your bike spent the fall and winter months’ stored away collecting dust and cobwebs, be sure to give it a thorough inspection and safety tune-up before pedaling. For those looking to upgrade, choosing the right bicycle for your size, style, and skill level is obviously important, but having the right equipment is equally important. Today’s Fast Facts Friday focuses on some of the best and most affordable bike accessories. We won’t cover everything here, but we hope you find these products to be useful to your cycling experience.

1)      For the city riders out there, consider the Bell Hands Off Bike U-Lock. This indestructible lock will ensure your bike’s safety no matter where it’s parked. Plus, the carrying bracket features a quick release, and the vinyl coating protects your bike from scratches.

2)      The Bell Sports iPulse LED Bike Torch takes night riding to a whole new level. This bike “light” is equipped with high power LED with sculpted lens to produce extreme brightness. The iPulse also boasts up to nine times longer run time than traditional lights. This ultra bright bike “torch” will light your path through the darkest of situations. It will also enable drivers to better see you on the bike, too.

3)      Planning a road trip? Maybe you’ll be attending one of the many bike tours taking place across the country and world this summer? If you’re not riding your bike across the country, you’ll need a way to take your bikes with you … Bell’s Locking Three-Bike Rack allows you to securely take up to three bikes anywhere! This is great for long road trips or for transporting your bikes across town. A strong 6′ locking 8mm key cable promotes safe transport; the hitch-free design with 6 durable straps offers a stable fit to almost any car. This sturdy unit folds in one simple step and boasts red reflective end-caps to enhance visibility and safety.

4)      For most bike riders, cyclists especially, sunglasses are a key accessory. There’s nothing worse than catching a blinding sun ray travelling at high speeds. One of Bell’s sister companies, Giro, has more than ten styles in their sunglass collection for men, women and all bikers. One of Giro’s technical features is the Pop Top™ Lens System that allows you to change lenses in seconds without stress or hassles. Pictured is the Havik 2 Compact, winner of Bicycling Magazine’s 2010 Editor’s Choice Award!

5)      Of course it wouldn’t be right for us to leave the most important bicycle accessory off of this list: the helmet! We’ve discussed – in depth – the importance and, for some, requirement of wearing a helmet when riding a bike or participating in other action sports. So when you’re out shopping for new cycling accessories, consider a Bell True Fit model with its patented design that makes the proper fit, literally, a snap.

What bicycle accessory are you planning to pick up this year? Would you like to know more about any of the products described here? Let us know by leaving a comment or shoot us a note on twitter @BellTrueFit.

Bicycle fashion. These two words evoke images of bright spandex, stiff-soled shoes with pedal clips, Livestrong bracelets, and of course helmets. It is important to note, however, that bicycle fashion has evolved over time and by activity. The outfits we wear today differ greatly from those of 100 years ago. Similarly, differences in geographic region greatly affect the fashion and styles of bicycle riders. No matter what your style, it’s always in vogue to wear a helmet whenever and wherever you’re riding. Bell makes the safest, and in our opinion, most fashionable bike helmets in the world. Here are some fast facts on bicycle fashion from around the world:

1) In Copenhagen 37% of the population ride their bikes every day. Bicycle riding is an inherent feature of Danish culture and reportedly 1.1 MILLION km are bicycled in Copenhagen EVERY DAY! CopenHagenCycleChic.com details the best of Danish bicycle street style. Personalizing your bicycle is all the rage with bouquets of flowers, painted frames, interesting bells and horns, decorated skirt and chain guards and much more. We recommend checking out their multi-part Cycle Chic Guide including #2 Buying Cycling Clothes and #3 Cycling in Skirts and Dresses.  Follow them on twitter: @_Cycle_Chic.  (Wikipedia.com/Copenhagen)

2) Riding a bicycle to work in a suit and tie is the norm for the people of Shanghai, as China is the nation with the largest fleet of bicycles in the world. (ImperialTours.net)

3) In New York City, “beautiful bicycle girls” are good and plenty, according to The New York Observer. Fashion designers, models, graphic designers, and high-profile celebrities like Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, Gisele Bundchen, and Chloë Sevigny have all “championed the green life in this most public and only incidentally calorie-burning way.” (Observer.com)

Bicycle Helmet slip-on cover. (Photo courtesy RidingPretty.com)

4) In the San Francisco bay area bicycle fashion is also alive and well. Check out Riding Pretty – Cycle Chic California for some great photos of bicycle fashion from the Golden State. Another popular Bay Area fashion blogger is Velo Vogue. It’s “where the bike lane meets the runway” as photoblogger Lilia takes photos of stylish cyclists she sees in San Francisco. For women looking to spice up the look of their helmet, Riding Pretty features helmet slip-on covers, offering a stylish look on top of safety.

5) We think it’s safe to say that women are to thank for the bicycle fashion revolution. In 1878, the first bicycles were manufactured in America. Very quickly, women began to experiment with riding the new personal vehicles. And just as quickly, “fashion and medical experts found that bicycle riding was a bad idea for women.” The voluminous, ankle-covering skirts that were fashionable at that time made it not very safe for women to ride bicycles. Women would not stand by and let so-called “experts” push the myth that “it was not healthy for delicate, fragile womankind to trust herself to a mechanical device.” And so came a bicycle and fashion revolution. By the 1890’s bicycles became a way of life for all Americans, and women wore so-called “bicycle costumes” which allowed them to basically buckle the skirts around their legs while riding! It was a small step for womankind, but an important one to the extension of basic freedoms and women’s suffrage. (About.com)

What kind of bicycle fashion do you find most appealing? Is there something that you wear to set yourself apart from the rest of the cycling crowd? Have you seen a cyclist that caught your eye, positively or negatively? Let us know by leaving a comment here or on twitter @BellTrueFit.

 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!

The great health-care debate has been raging for months. Politicians in Washington D.C. hope to overhaul America’s health care system with the overarching goal of making affordable care more accessible. While there are major disagreements about the government’s role in regulating  health care, one of the main components of all health-care legislation, from both Democrats and Republicans, is aggressively pursuing preventative care. This means that the government would have a role in educating and urging Americans to exercise, eat healthy, and give up bad habits. Here are a few facts about preventative care, and examples of what you can do to stay healthy.

1) According to the American Heart Association, about half of all deaths from heart disease are sudden and unexpected, so there’s little opportunity for treatment. For people at risk of sudden death, prevention is the key. The AHA believes that more effort must be focused on preventing heart disease by addressing and educating people on the major risk factors, including tobacco smoke, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity. (AmericanHeart.org)

2) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers a Pocket Guide to clinical preventative services which includes recommendations on screening, counseling, and preventive medication topics. Recommendations are organized for quick reference and easy searching. One section matches recommended preventive services to patients—men, women, pregnant women, and children. AHRQ’s Clinical Preventative Services Guide was created (and is continually updated) by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force which is the leading independent panel of private-sector experts in prevention and primary care. (AHRQ.gov)

3) Preventing child obesity has become a focus of first lady Michelle Obama , and she has recently launched Let’s Move – an ambitious initiative to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. Let’s Move will provide healthier food in schools, help kids be more physically active and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of the country, among other things. (LetsMove.gov)

4) SparkPeople.com is a web site dedicated to making healthy living fun and easy with tools, content and a community of like minded people looking to get fit. The site offers great resources, tips, and suggestions on nutrition, fitness, motivation, wellness, and diet, as well as a streaming online video section and recipes section (SparkRecipes.com) with more than 217,000 healthy and delicious recipes. Be sure to check out Health A-Z, a medical reference section created by the faculty of the Harvard Medical School, for information on specific conditions. (SparkPeople.com)

5) According to the Cycling Resource Centre (Australia), the health benefits of cycling have been shown to be a primary reason why many people choose to cycle.  They say that cycling has been shown to significantly reduce the chance of developing obesity, diabetes  and other types of disease. Integrating cycling into everyday life, by using the bike as a form of transport has been shown to be a very sustainable method of regular physical activity. (CyclingResourceCentre.org)

The consensus is in, and an active lifestyle is likely the best way to prevent major health problems. We suggest strapping on a Bell helmet, hopping on a bicycle and pedaling your way towards better fitness.

Looking for products and resources  to compliment your active lifestyle? Be sure to check out Savasa – The Unique Fit. They offer unique women’s fitness products (their Ankle Weights were recently awarded Best Weights for Women), a Tips For Busy Women section, a Savasa Personal Trainer section with quick, 15-minute workouts in audio, video and guide format.

What forms of preventative care do you use to stay healthy? What is your favorite form of exercise? Do you have any useful examples of things you do in your life to stay fit? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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!

Skateboarding and video games go back to the late 1980’s when relatively primitive, yet vastly popular, games for the Atari and Nintendo game consoles were introduced. California Games, Skate or Die!, and Skate Boardin’ all debuted in 1987 to great acclaim and positive reviews. While these were quite popular, none of these were the first skateboarding video game. This title belongs to 720°: The Ultimate Aerial Experience, which debuted in 1986.

720° is an arcade game by Atari Games, notable in that it is the first extreme sports video game, and it has a unique timed structure that requires the player to score points in order to keep the game going. 720° has one button and the joystick only spins in a circle. A fun and challenging game (even today) no doubt, but primitive when compared to all the video games Tony Hawk has put his name on in the two decades since 1990.

As we briefly discussed in a recent Fact Facts Friday post, the latest and most interactive skateboarding video game ever is Activision’s 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. So… STEP ON THE BOARD AND RIDE! 

Tony Hawk: RIDE lets anyone experience the thrill of skateboarding thanks to its new revolutionary motion sensing skateboard controller (above).  Give your thumbs a rest and discover why RIDING is the new way to play!  Be sure to check out BELL PRO Tony Hawk and the sweet Bell Helmets and Gear in the skate shop. 

Tony Hawk: RIDE is available on Nintendo Wii, PS3, and X-Box 360.

And in case you didn’t know, Bell offers helmets specifically designed for skateboarding: such as the Bell  Hawk.  

In celebration of Bell’s presence in this revolutionary game, we are giving away three copies of it along with three Bell Hawk helmets!

We have two X-Box 360 versions of the game and one Wii version, and we’re going to give away one package (which includes a game and helmet) per week for the next three weeks, starting with an X-Box 360 version.

Today through Sunday, Fedbruary 7, 2010 all you have to do is log into your twitter account and retweet (RT) the following message to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win:

“Win Activision’s Tony Hawk: Ride for Xbox AND a Bell Hawk Skateboard Helmet! Visit http://bit.ly/9FqEaT & RT to enter”

The winner will be announced on twitter and the BellTrueFit community site on Monday, February 8, 2010.

We’ll be running a contest to win the Wii version of the game (and a helmet) next week, and in two weeks well be running a contest to win another X-Box 360 version (and a helmet).

Again, for this week’s contest all you have to do is retweet this message:

“Win Activision’s Tony Hawk: Ride for Xbox AND a Bell Hawk Skateboard Helmet! Visit http://bit.ly/9FqEaT & RT to enter”

Good luck! See you on the Backside!