Day 1: Cancellara wins first Tour de France stage, July 4

July 4, 4:10 PMAtlanta Teachable Moments ExaminerCarol Aitken

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Atlanta Teachable Moments Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Maurice Garin, Tour champion, 1903.

"Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong went out early and put up a solid time in the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, then was upstaged by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. Cancellara finished the 9.6-mile time trial in 19 minutes, 32 seconds, beating 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador by 18 seconds to capture the yellow jersey." Read the whole story at Associated Press.

"The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine."  ~ John Howard, U.S. Olympic cyclist

History of Tour de France
"The line between insanity and genius is said to be a fine one, and in early 20th century France, anyone envisaging a near-2,500-km-long cycle race across the country would have been widely viewed as unhinged. But that didn't stop Géo Lefèvre, a journalist with L'Auto magazine at the time, from proceeding with his inspired plan. His editor, Henri Desgrange, was bold enough to believe in the idea and to throw his backing behind the Tour de France. And so it was that, on 1 July 1903, 60 pioneers set out on their bicycles from Montgeron. After six mammoth stages (Nantes - Paris, 471 km!), only 21 "routiers", led by Maurice Garin, arrived at the end of this first epic."   ~ LeTour 

Tour de France Routes -- Info includes maps, locations, distances, stage, and real time race results.

Cyclist Spotlight on Lance Armstrong 
How many times has Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France?  Seven, in a row.    

Visit Live Strong.com for coverage on Lance Armstrong and all the cyclists in Tour de France. 

(c) ChrisBrewer62

Cycling for Fitness
Source: University of California, Berkeley, Foundation of Wellness 

Riding a bicycle is one of the best forms of exercise -- it gives the heart and circulatory system a good workout, it puts little stress on joints (except maybe the knees), and it can burn 400 - 700 calories an hour. Here are some tips to help improve the comfort and enjoyment of cycling:

• Make sure your bike fits. You have to start with the right size frame, but everything else can be adjusted: handlebars, saddle, wheels, gears, and brakes.
• Position the saddle right to protect your knees. Your knee should be bent only slightly at the bottom of your pedal stroke. If the seat is too low, your knee is bent too much, which will strain your knees. If your knee locks at the bottom of the stroke, then your seat is too high, which can also cause stress.
• Position the handlebars correctly. They should be one inch lower than the top of the seat. Drop handlebars are preferable, since they allow you to change your riding position; they should be about as wide as your shoulders.
• Get the right seat to avoid "saddle soreness." You can get anatomically designed saddles that are wider and cushioned at the back. Gel-filled saddles or pads or sheepskin pads can ease the pressure and friction.
• Change your hand and body position frequently. Doing so will change the angle of your back, neck, and arms, so that different muscles are used and pressure is put on different nerves.
• Shift gears while going uphill to maintain normal cadence. On a long hill, conserve energy by staying in your seat.
• Brake right. Brake with your hands at the ends of the levers for optimal pressure. If you must stop quickly, slide your buttocks to the very back of the saddle as your press the brakes firmly. This will keep the rear of the bike down so that you don't flip over the handlebars.
• Don't ride your brakes on a long downhill. Doing so may overheat the tire's rim and could cause a blowout. It's safer to tap thebrakes, applying intermittent pressure. This is wise in wet weather, too.
• Don't coast downhill without pedaling after a long uphill ride. As you climb the hill, lactic acid builds up in your leg muscles and can contribute to muscle soreness. Pedaling lightly but constantly while coasting downhill will help remove the lactic acid.
• Don't pedal in high gear for long periods. This can increase the pressure on your knees. Instead, shift to lower gears and faster revolutions to get more exercise with less stress on your knees.
• Keep your arms relaxed, and don't lock your elbows. This helps you absorb bumps from the road better. 

Bicycle Chain Links
Find a bike trail near you at Bike Trail.com.
Easy steps to properly fit a bicycle helmet.  English   Spanish

Kids Books on Bikes 
A Crash Course for Molly by Eva Eriksson
Bicycle Race by Donald Crews
Bicycle Safety (Heinemann First Library) by Peggy Pancella
Colliding with Chris by Dan Harder
Duck On A Bike by David Shannon
Franklin Rides a Bike by Paulette Bourgeois
Go Fly a Bike! The Ultimate Book of Bicycle Fun, Freedom, and Science by Bill Haduch

Visit the Atlanta Educational Travel Examiner home page for unbearably interesting (and sometimes random) information about family-friendly destinations and events in Atlanta, around Georgia, throughout the southeast, and elsewhere. Have a destination idea?  ATLeduTravlXmnr@gmail.com.  You can subscribe to receive email alerts at the top of any Atlanta Educational Travel Examiner page. Your address will never be shared with others... because Examiner.com won't even let me see it.