Tour De France Blog

I have been bike riding everyday and was wondering if anyone has done that same and if so, how much weight did you lose?

Thanks

114 miles per pound

wle.

I dont want bikers legs, but legs like Adriana Lima or Miranda Kerr.
How much bike riding a day would I need to do?

A LOT!!!! Riding a bike is mostly for cardio, do some leg excersises like calf raises, squats, leg press, etc

I will be in Paris on that day, July 26th. I would like to attend the special Tour de France event. What can I expect as far as crowds and security?
Thanks, John C!
Thanks, Rachel!

If you want to see anything get to the Champs De Lysses the day before with a couple bottles of Pastis and cheese rolls.

The place goes off and you queue for hours any other way.

I’d like to start riding a bike for fitness. How do I go about purchasing a bike? I’d like to stay under $200 for now, and used is fine. I’m 5’3 and will be riding on pavement. I’ve been searching craigslist for bikes, but I have no clue about what size wheels I need, or what speed is ideal.

Thanks!

Hum…

For most bikes, wheel size is less of an issue than what type of bicycle riding you want to do.

If you want to ride paved roads, you’ll want a road bike or possibly a hybrid. Road and hybrids bikes usually come with 700c wheels. The primary difference is that road bikes are built purely for speed. They are light and have dropped handlebars for better aerodynamics. A hybrid will usually have flat handlebars that allow you to sit more upright. Road and hybrid bikes will usually have either 2 or 3 chain rings in front and from 7 to 10 cogs in back. If you are doing a lot of riding in hilly areas, I’d recommend you get a bike with 3 chain rings in front. Higher end bikes will tend to have more cogs in back.

For off-road usage, you’ll want a mountain bike. Most mountain bikes have 26" wheels. Nearly all mountain bikes have 3 chain rings in front and 7-9 cogs in back.

There is no such thing as standard sizes in the biking industry. At 5-3" you’ll probably need a "small." At the very least, make sure you can comfortably stand over the bike with an inch or two of room to spare. Fit of a bike can be customized by replacing the handlebar stem and adjusting seat height and position. Your local bike shop will be happy to help you get the bike dialled in.

When contacting people on Craigslist, I’d recommend asking how tall the rider of the bike is. If they are approximately your size, you should at least be in the right ball park.

Hope this helps.