Candy Cranks

How often do you hear people argue that they can’t ride to work because “it would take too long” or “the distance is too far”. Well no more excuses – some folks have measured distances for a healthy person to cycle to the CBD for work within half an hour. This was based on a series of test rides and careful mapping. This is called the No Excuse Zone!

A guy I work with pinned this to our notice board. It sure stirred up the people who live within the zone.

The maps are surprisingly far reaching and provocatively suggest that if a person lives within this zone and works in the CBD, then they should try cycling to work a few days a week and enjoy the benefits

For other cities 

Check out Beau Daniels lovely technical bike illustrations.

Your groin is not designed to carry your weight, say experts concerned by the shape of many traditional bike seats. Major arteries which run through the pelvis can be significantly clamped when sitting on a “dome-shaped” bike seat, says US-based Dr Roger Minkow. A network of nerves also runs from the base of the spine into the genitals, and Dr Minkow says squashing these causes a “numbness” which is familiar to many cyclists.

“Men cannot feel the constriction of the artery but they can feel the numbness of the nerve,” Dr Minkow says.

“The better saddle is one where you sit on top of it instead of sinking into it, which compresses these arteries.”

Dr Minkow is a seat designer for bike manufacturer Specialized, and he visited Sydney this week as part of an effort to raise awareness.He says reduced blood flow could cause scar tissue to develop in these arteries which, over time, could lead to erection problems. Dr Minkow says testing of traditional bike seats had shown some could reduce blood flow during a ride by 90 per cent or more – well over an accepted safe level of 50 per cent.

Most major bicycle manufacturers now offer seat versions with “cut-out” sections designed to reduce blood vessel constriction.

“If you have a dome shaped saddle and it doesn’t have a cut-out then you’ll be losing your blood flow,” Dr Minkow says.

He says both men and women will benefit – and have a more enjoyable ride – if they have a properly fitted seat.Dr Minkow is joined on the tour by fellow US-based cycling expert Dr Andy Pruitt.

“Our groin is not designed to bear weight,” Dr Priutt says. ”A lot of people think crotch soreness is part of the sport – it really shouldn’t be.”

Dr Pruitt says cyclists should also make sure they regularly stand up in their pedals – about every five minutes during a ride – to ensure the blood kept circulating. 

Australians purchased 1.2 million bicycles last year.

Story Yahoo news. Thanks Jewlz!!