How to Keep Your Bike in Good Shape

Learn how to maintain your bike.

Riding a bike whether as a mean of transportation, as exercise, or simply just for fun is great. Bikes are a great way to stay in shape, get around, and be conscious of the environment by creating the least impact on it. One of the main benefits of using a bicycle is its low cost in maintenance. It stands to reason that a bike is much simpler and easier to give basic care than something like a car.

The curious thing about this is that most people take their bikes for granted and forget to give them the proper care they need. It’s a shame because it’s something that is quite easy to do. It doesn’t take much time or money, so why not learn how to do it properly? With that in mind, here are four basic tips on how to keep your bike in good shape:

1. Keep your bike dry: Humidity and water are your bicycle’s worst enemies. Water creates corrosion and oxidation, which is like cancer for bikes. So, remember to always keep your bike in dry spaces and protected from the elements. If it get wet when you’re using it, don’t forget to dry it thoroughly with a cloth after you get home.

2. Keep your bike clean: Use a wet cloth to clean your bike at least once a week. If you happen to go through an especially dusty or muddy area, remember to clean it right away! Dust and mud can get into the cogs and gears and cause them to lose mobility and may cause you to invest more money than you should in repairs. Avoid using high-pressure water because it can get in places hard to dry up after cleaning. Try using a garden hose instead to get rid of dirt.

3. Lubricate pedals and chain weekly: These parts tend to grind against each other, which can cause deterioration and severe damage to your bicycle over time. Bike shops sell special lubricants for bikes and they’re not too expensive. It takes 15 minutes top to do this. Avoid lubricating the breaks and the parts of the pedals where you set your feet.

4. Check air pressure in the tires: There’s nothing worse than having a flat tire on your bike. It makes riding it extremely hard and tedious. To prevent this, just check the air pressure of the tire at least once a week. If they need air, you can go to any service station. Remember that air is free! You can also get a pump, they’re not too expensive.

Keeping your bike in good shape is crucial when it is your main mean of transportation or tool for exercising. If you like to go biking at night, we recommend you to get your bicycle at Lightbug Sports, where all of their products are made with special light reflecting materials designed to keep you safe even in low light situations. Of course, light can’t bounce off these bikes if they’re covered in dirt and mud. So it might be in your best interest to keep it clean.

Giving maintenance to a bike is way cheaper than a car.

Lightbug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/

The Best Cities for Runners in the USA

Which are the most runner-friendly cities in the USA?

Running, as a form of exercise, is a worldwide phenomenon that has taken the whole world. Many countries and cities around the world now have adapted their infrastructure to accommodate runners. Some of these cities come with a natural advantage due to geographic location, history, or simply due to their significance in global culture.

The United States is a country known for setting trends in many aspects of people’s lifestyle. It is a nation known for its diverse culture and thriving cities; many of which are ideal for anyone wanting to go out for a jog. So, with that in mind, here are the top five runner-friendly cities in the United States.

1.    Chicago, IL. The first in our list is the Windy City. Known for its pizza and history, Chicago is surprisingly friendly towards runners. It has a lot of parks and wide streets where people can enjoy a good run. It has over 18 miles of paved ways right next to the beautiful Lake Michigan. It offers cool breezes during the summer, and an amazing view in the colder months.

2.    New York, NY. The Big Apple. New York is the definition of a concrete jungle. The capital of the western world is another paradise for runners. It is estimated that over 50.000 New Yorkers run as a form or regular exercise. It has the iconic six-mile loop around Central Park and that’s only going around it. New York City is home to one of the most famous marathons in the country and it is no surprise to see runners training all year long.

3.    Boulder, CO. Most cities in Colorado offer an extra benefit to runners. While most other cities are relatively low over sea level, Boulder is particularly high. This means that the air in Boulder is a little thinner than in the rest of the country, and even a short and easy jog will develop your lung capacity faster than any other city. The altitude plus its mixed terrain make Boulder the idea place for training.

4.    San Francisco, CA. A city known for its steep hills may not be the first thing to come to your mind when you think of jogging. But San Francisco actually offers many flat spots where runners can have a go like the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gates Bridge.

5.    Boston, MA. Home to the most prestigious marathon in the country. Even if you don’t plan on running this competition, Boston offers the most beautiful scenes for runners. You can choose from following the red bricked Freedom Trail downtown, running along the Charles River, through the Boston Common, or go up Chestnut Hill Reservoir to Beacon Street. There are plenty of options in this beautiful city.

All of these cities offer both day and night time options for runners. In most places, there’s plenty of light for people to go out at night, but we’d still recommend that you take the extra precaution of wearing light reflective clothes so oncoming traffic can see you from up to a hundred feet away.

That’s what all the products of Lightbug Sports are all about. They have the best sports gear for all your athletic needs, from shoes to shirts and even accessories. Plus, all of their products are made from light-reflecting materials designed to keep you safe and visible even in low light situations.

Find the best cities for runners.

Lightbug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/

The Benefits of Using a Bicycle as a Mean of Transportation

Riding a bicycle is not only good for you, it's also good for the environment!

What’s your main method of transportation? Many Americans tend to ride their own vehicles or public transportation as their way of getting around. Depending on where you live and where you have to go, the ways you move from one place to another can vary. Most big cities in the United States have a pretty good system of public transportation, but they usually have a very big traffic problem. The opposite happens in small towns where traffic isn’t much of an issue, but public transportation isn’t as good. Many people have taken riding a bicycle these days, especially in big cities, as most of them have incorporated a special lane for them in the streets.

Riding a bike is very beneficial not only for people but for the environment too. Today, we are going to talk about some of the pros of choosing bicycles as your main method of transportation.

·         First of all it is good for the environment. Bikes don’t need fuel or gas to work, they move thanks to human power. Riding a bike reduces significantly the amount of CO2 released into the air which is the main cause of the greenhouse effect that causes these types of gases to be stuck in the atmosphere and in turn causes global warming.

·         You get to save the money that you’d otherwise spend on gas and fuel. Think how expensive filling your car’s gas tank is, and how often do you have to fill it up. Once a week? Riding a bike means you can save all that money and use it on something else.

·         A bicycle requires a lot less money to maintain. No more oil changes, no more expensive parts that need to be fixed. None of that is a problem with bicycles! The simple mechanism of a bike means you only need to fill the tires with air from time to time and make sure that the chain is well greased.

·         It is easier to park a bike than a car. There are designated spots all around the city where you can simply chain up your bike without paying any tolls.

·         Riding a bike is great for your health. It’s an amazing aerobic exercise that improves your muscle tissue, respiratory system, and stimulates blood flow. When you ride a bike you don’t need to set a time aside from your daily routine to work out as riding gives you all the exercise you need.

·         Waving through cars and traffic means you can get places way faster. A bike may not be as fast as a car but its smaller size means that you can simply phase through traffic with no problem.

These are some of the benefits or riding a bike but there are also some safety issues that you need to be aware of. In a bike you’re much more exposed to possible accidents so you want to gear up properly. Using a helmet is a must to avoid head injuries. Don’t do anything reckless like running into traffic and always go through the designated lanes.

Also if you’re going out at night with your bike you should get a headlight for your bike so you can see where you’re going, and you should also put on some reflective clothes so other people and cars can see you clearly.

Staying healthy and safe is what Lightbug Sports is all about. They have the best sports gear for all your athletic needs, from shoes to shirts and even accessories. Plus, all of their products are made from light-reflecting materials designed to keep you safe and visible even in low light situations.

Bicycles are a cheap and healthy mean of transportation.

Lightbug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/

Sportswear: Style or Functionality?

Do you need to sacrifice style for functionality with sportswear?

Who said that function needs to outrun style? When it comes to getting the proper sport equipment some people put functionality over style and aesthetics while others do the exact opposite. It all comes down to what matters the most to you and what you actually need depending on the type of exercise you’re about to do.

If you’re going to ride a bicycle, for example, you need to wear tight clothes in order to reduce the wind resistance and be able to go faster. Not everybody looks good wearing tights but they are the proper gear. Depending on where you are and your local climate you may have to wear more clothes than usual to protect yourself from the temperature.

In most cases, people would agree that function overweighs style and the most practical sense they’d be right. But most sportswear manufacturers have begun to take into account the aesthetic aspect of their designs and are now creating items that cover both sides of the arguments. Most brands have created a unique look to their designs in order to give them a special personality and make them stand out from the competition.

The style of shoes made by each major brand can be easily recognizable to the eye of an expert. It has become a phenomenon known by some as sports fashion. A branch of fashion design that focuses on sportswear. They take into consideration both function and style.

The idea is to create articles of clothing and accessories that not only feel good but also looks good. They wish to provide consumers with the possibility to express their tastes and personality at any given moment, even when working out. It’s the perfect balance between usefulness and sheer looks.

Most companies like to incorporate bright colors in their designs. Multiple studies suggest that bright colors create a sense of activity and excitement in people which is what they want to transmit. Some like to contrast bright colors with dark colors; maybe a black shoe with bright green details.

Then there’s people like those in Lightbug Sports that take function to the next level but not forgetting about style. Their products have the advantage of being made from highly reflective materials in order to provide an extra level of safety to their consumers. Athletes that go out at night wearing Lightbug products can be visible from over a hundred feet away by reflecting the light of incoming traffic, thus reducing accidents.

Stay fit and stylish!

LightBug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/

What to eat Before and After Exercising

Find out what you should eat before jogging!

It’s quite simple! The key to a healthy lifestyle is exercising regularly and a good diet. You could work out like crazy and spend entire days locked in a gym using every single machine they have, or you could run 10 kilometers every day. But the things is that unless you eat properly, and accordingly to the amount of physical strain you’re putting on your body, you’re most likely end up doing more damage than good.

Eating is the way our body gets energy. The energy we obtain from food is consumed and burned with our daily activities. Some activities take up more energy than others, of course. Working out is a sure way to burn away the energy we have. But what happens when we take in more energy than we burn out? It gets transformed into fat and stored all around our bodies. And what happens if we consume more energy than we take in? The body starts taking muscle tissue apart in order to obtain more energy, in the long run this deteriorates our bodies. So it is clear why we need to have a good balance between the food we eat and the energy we burn. To remain in shape and healthy it is essential that you know what to eat before and after working out. You might need to put up a little extra energy before or maybe replace what you’ve lost after. In order to know exactly what you need to eat before and after working out you need to think of the type of workout you’re about to do.

For the sake of making things simple, let’s divide the types of workout you could do in three levels of intensity: light, mild, and hard. Each of these levels require different amounts of energy and thus need particular diets. For a light workout, like an easy jog, one you could talk through, you don’t really need to eat much before. As long as your running session doesn’t exceed 45 minutes, all you would need would be a banana or a small granola bar should do the trick.  Afterwards you don’t really need to eat something right away, but try to have a snack or a meal within two hours, otherwise you’ll find yourself craving sugar later on.

A mild workout needs a little more energy. You’re going to need calories for this. Most physicians recommend chomping down 200 or 400 calories before going out. It really depends on your size and weight but a couple of toasts with jelly should be enough. You’ll want to make sure that the calories you take in come from easily digestible carbs like bread. After your session you shouldn’t wait more than 30 minutes before eating. It is crucial that you replenish your energy levels. You need fluids, carbs, and protein.

Finally, for hard workout sessions you need to have a good meal two to three hours before your go out. Try to find a way to adjust your routine and schedule to this. You’re going to need a lot of calories but also keep it easily digestible. Bananas, peanut butter, and calorie shakes are a great option. Afterwards have a good snack right away. A couple of hours later you should sit down for a good meal and continue snaking every two hours or so for the rest of the day.

Eating the right things is only part of the job when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Taking care of your body is also a crucial part of the job, and while you take care of your diet, the people of LightBug Sports take care of providing you with the best sports gear and wear available. All of their products are especially made to endure and protect your body. They’re also made from reflective materials so you can go out and work out at night and be safe all the time.

Eating correctly is half the job of being healthy.

LightBug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/

How to Start Jogging

Follow these tips on how to start jogging.

It is a great way to exercise and, it might be, in some ways, the cheapest and easiest type of physical activity you can get. The benefits of staying physically active are quite substantial and overall good for your general health. You can verify this with any person that jogs regularly. Maybe you’ve thought about taking up the habit of running but maybe you just don’t know how to. Here are a few tips on how to get you hooked on jogging:

1.    Find the right shoes: It doesn’t take much equipment to go jogging but the one thing you can’t do without is a good pair of sport shoes. You need shoes that are cushioned and supportive. Keep in mind that, while you’re jogging, each step you take puts two to three times your body weight on each leg so you need shoes that are able to withstand that kind of pressure so you won’t hurt your feet.

2.    Choose Indoors or Outdoors: You can go out running and enjoy the fresh air or you could go to a gym and run on a treadmill. If you choose outdoors, try to keep your local weather in mind. Maybe you live in a very hot place or a place where it snows. If you choose outdoors, make sure that you gear up accordingly to environmental factors.

3.    Walk: You have to walk before you run. It’s a great way to warm up especially if you’re not used to do much physical activity. Before you start jogging, try walking for half an hour at least 3 times for a couple of weeks.

4.    Stretch: Many people skip this crucial step when they start running. Stretching is important in order to prevent pulling muscles.

5.    Start off Easy: You’re new at this and you can’t expect yourself to be running like you’re the Flash right away. Take it easy at first. Run short distances, don’t go too fast, and if you get tired, stop and rest.

6.    Keep it Up: Once you have started off the hardest thing is going to be keeping up your rhythm. You’ll probably be tempted to stop or skip a day. The best way to avoid this is by setting up a weekly schedule and sticking to it. Eventually, your body will start craving the exercise and going out will become second nature to you. Once you have started and gotten used to running, you will be able to increase the level of difficulty of each session. Try to run longer distances, try to run faster, take it up gradually until you find a pace you’re comfortable with.

The will and attitude you take towards running and exercise are completely up to you and it should come from your desire to live a healthier life. But as for gear and equipment there’s no better choice than LightBug Sports. All of their products are made especially for athletes and can withstand the strain of regular exercise just like you can. They are also made of light-reflecting materials that will make you perfectly visible from over a hundred feet away in low light situations.Don’t put it off any longer and get out there and start running with LightBug!

Take your life and health to the next level!

LightBug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/

Reflective Jackets for Joggers and Why You Need Them

Don't let the cold night stop you from jogging with LightBugSport reflective jackets.

These winter nights feel great for going out for a good run. The air is fresh and cool and who doesn’t love a nice breeze in their faces when they’re out running. If you’re a runner then you would know how great it feels to go outside at night and enjoy some outdoor time. There are few things as satisfying as the sense of running and exercising during a cool night. But there are a few things that you have to consider whenever you decide to go out at night in winter. The cool breeze may feel great against your skin but cold air mixed with sweat in your skin can cause a cold. It’s easy to see the irony of getting sick while trying to get healthy.

Cold season is right around the corner and you need to take precautions to avoid losing your pace during the winter. That’s why it is highly recommended that, whenever you go out jogging during winter, you take a jacket with you. Even if it doesn’t feel as cold as it really is, you’re going to sweat while you run, that’s just a biological function of your body.And if you’re used to go running at night, we urge you to take some extra precautions. Statistically, winter nights are more prone to car accidents. Foggy nights and snow are usually a dreadful combination. Snow plays a key factor on lowering the visibility of cars and that’s what shoots accident rates skywards.

The best way you can prevent being involved in a car accident is by making yourself as visible as possible during the nights you go out running. And the best way for you to do that is by wearing one of LightBug’s reflective jackets.The concept behind the product is simple: These jackets are made of special materials designed to reflect light from over a hundred feet away thus making you perfectly noticeable to incoming traffic. The design is meant to keep you warm and safe during these cold nights so they’re the perfect item for the late night runner. LightBug Sport products, your best choice!

With LightBugSport reflective jackets you can jog even during winter nights.

LightBug Sports

Phone: +1 (877) 586.7425

Email: info@lightbugsport.com

http://www.lightbugsport.com/