Biking
Bicycling can be done for leisure or exercise both on or off-road. Generally speaking there are three kinds of bicycling styles - road biking, mountain biking and freestyle. Cycling (road biking) races generally take place on a road or track with varying distances. In road races, which are held for both amateurs and professionals, all contestants start at the same time. Most bikes have as many as 16 gears to help the rider with hills. Road races are further divided into two types: (1) stage races, in which each day there is a new race, or stage, but the overall winner of the race is the person who rides all the stages in the least time and (2) classics which last only one day.
Track races are held on a velodrome which are usually 250-333 meters long and are steeply banked in order to help riders maintain their speed. The bikes used in these races have one gear and no brakes. The five kinds of track races are Match Sprint, Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit, Points Race, and One-Kilometer Timetrial.
Mountain biking is becoming a very popular form of bicycling. The tires are wider and have swept or flat handlebars. A mountain bike is great for riding on loose gravel, dirt or the grass. Mountain bike competitions are generally races - either downhill or cross-country.
Half-pipes and ramps are used in performance bicycling competitions such as BMX.
| Forms |
road, mountain, racing, ramp/trick |
| Time of Activity (minutes) |
30, 180 |
| Ease of Learning |
Easy |
| Level of Commitment Required by Participant |
Low |
| Equipment cost to begin |
$150 - 600 |
| Regular Participation Costs |
$0 - 50 |
| Schedule Flexibility |
High |
| Injury Risk |
Low |
| Endurance Required |
Aerobic/Anaerobic |
| Strength Required |
Low
|
| Skill/Coordination Required |
Low |
| Family/Social Activity |
High |
| Type |
Individual/Team |
| Location |
Field, Grass, Land, Mountain, Street |
| Access to Facility |
Easy |
No Articles Found.