Fitness Plus Multisports ENC-360 Exercise Bike Yellow

The Multisports ENC 360 Enduro-Cycle Belt Driven Training Exercise Bike is a belt driven upgrade to the economical, high quality ENC-200. It is as quiet and smooth as the ENC-600 without all of the options. Constructed of a heavy duty steel frame, it features a 45 lb. solid steel flywheel for super smooth riding. This cycle features a belt driven mechanism for a smooth and quiet workout as well as a five star design crank for extra endurance. Multisports Cardiovascular Equipment is made with only high quality components to create smooth, quiet, and durable exercise machines. Heat treated components, sealed self-lubricating bearings, and high density foam upholstery provide smooth motion, long lasting comfort and durability.Manufacturer's Warranty: Home Use Limited lifetime on frame and welds 1 year on moving parts (cables, pulleys) Light Commercial Use 2 years on frame and welds 6 months on moving parts (cables, pulleys) Dimensions: 41" L x 20" W x 41" H Weight: 110 lbs.

Bicycle tube punctures are a real downer. While all the rest of your crew are off playing, youre sitting there fiddling with your pump and patch kit on the side of the trail. This is not really how you envisioned the days ride, so you cant help but wonder about all the ways that you could protect your bicycle tubes from flats. There are at least 7 things you could do to help keep you riding, including using a puncture proof Kevlar bicycle road tire.

First and foremost though, you need to understand the various types of flats that can stop you dead in your tracks. Slow leaks, pinch flats and plain old holes each have their own cause and cure. To make matters worse its important to understand as well that there are always tradeoffs. Any solution usually suggests money and weight in a reverse relationship. The more money you spent the lighter the solution and the better the protection. First heres a general discussion of the various types of flats.

Slow Leaks:
Slow leaks can be caused by a number of problems. The most common is from tiny pin holes in your tire. But if you have purchased a natural rubber tube this is what to expect. Although natural rubber tubes have many advantages, their key disadvantage is that they are somewhat porous and dont hold air as effectively as their synthetic cousin. Weekly top ups are essential and common. Assuming you have the more traditional butyl rubber bicycle tube, slow leaks can also be caused by a faulty tube stem.

Pinch Flats:
Pinch Flats are affectionately called a snake bite because of their characteristic double elongated slices in the tube, that are similar in appearance to the marks left by the fangs of a snake. They are caused by the tube getting squeezed and pinched between the tire rim and the tread of the wheel, typical off a hard landing when the tire rolls over on its side. There are a number of options to avoid pinch flats other than toning down your ride style.

Bike Tube Puncture Wounds:
This is your plain jane hole! It can be caused by various forms of road and trail debris from thistles to nails and glass. It will be specific to the geography of your ride and always requires you to patch your bicycle tube.

It is important to understand that the type of puncture that you tend to most often experience will determine the correct solution, or at least where you can get the best bang for the buck. The solution for flats caused by roadway debris can be quite different then the action you might have to take for avoiding pinch flats. So when youre fixing a flat make sure that you take an extra minute to understand what type of flat you seem to be experiencing the most, as the first step in avoiding it in the future.

Since my typical flat is caused by sharp items on the roadways associated with city riding, my biggest concern is eliminating puncture wounds. Cleaning the tire thoroughly when you do get a flat is probably the best advice I can offer. Youd be surprised how many times a thistle or nail is still caught in the tire tread and causes almost immediately a second flat. Calk the tire where the tube valve lines up and then when you identify the location of the hole in your tube you can line it up with the tire and identify the area you should inspect more carefully.

Tire Liners, some with strange names like Mr. Tuffy, Slime Liners and Flat-Away Kevlar Tape offer a great solution for standard puncture wounds as well. Tire liners are thin strips of various materials that fit between the bike tube and the inside crown of the tire. Some are peel and stick and others you just must fiddle with to align correctly when you replace your tube, either way their purpose is to deflect sharp objects before they reach your tube. The tougher the tire liner the more it can deflect. Tire Liners are a good example of price and weight in a reverse relationship, pay more and they are definitely lighter and tougher, leading to better overall protection.

There are many other means to reduce your risk of a bicycle tube failure, including even a puncture proof Kelvar road bicycle tire we suggested earlier and self-sealing slime tubes. For a more complete discussion on all 7 secrets of puncture prevention, and how bicycle tube and bicycle tire selection can help, visit our website: mywheelsandmore.com

Luc Lacasse is an avid cyclist with 10 years of racing motocross and mountain biking under his belt. He is the author behind myWheelsAndMore.com a website designed to share his knowledge gained as a bicycle enthusiast and mechanical engineering student.

Consumer Review On Recumbent Exercise Bikes

MultiSports ENC-200 Endurocycle Exercise Bike Black

The Multisports ENC-200 Endurocycle features heat-treated metal components for extended life, a telescoping stem for easy adjustablity and bottle holder. Because of its light construction and simple design, the Multisports ENC-200 Endurocycle is perfect for beginners who want to enjoy the excitement of cycling in the privacy of their own home. The brake-block resistance with an emergency push brake lever and a chain drive system make it easy to increase the tension during your ride. The flywheel weighs 42 pounds and always provides the right amount of resistance for your ride. Front mounted casters allow you to easily move your bike around the home or gym.

If your passion is your bike, Italy is the place to holiday and taking your own bike is even better. That poses a few challenges though! It is best to plan ahead and go through this check list of all the possible problems you may have before you get to the airport.

But before we go through the baggage check list you may first want to think about the decision to take your own bike. Italy can offer trails that will challenge the most sophisticated cyclist and others suitable for the Sunday afternoon cruise. Where do you fit in?

For easy thirty or forty kilometer daily runs through the rolling Tuscan hills or the coastal trails along the beautiful island of Elba Id probably suggest making rental arrangements with a quality bike shop in one of the larger Italian commercial centers.

On the other hand, if you are going to bike Italy as a personal cycling challenge then Id definitely suggest taking the extra risk and cost to package and ship your own bike. You already have a relationship with this bike. Saddle sores have been developed in the right places and you know the sweet spots on the gear shifter, both critical features if your intent is to climb mountains and push your personal limits.

These days though airlines are not always so accommodating and make numerous stipulations if you wish to ship a bike. Italy is serviced by a number of international airlines, each with their own requirements but it is pretty well assured that they will all make you sign a waiver to release them from any and all liability if your bike arrives damaged.

Heres a minimum set of requirements:

• A box or bag is usually required; some carriers even demand a hard shell case, so ask!
• Bicycle Handlebars must be turned parallel to the bike frame.
• Front wheel must be removed and taped to frame.
• Pedals must be removed.
• One Bicycle per person.
• Some airlines can refuse anything that is pressurized. Think bike tubes and gas filled shocks! Dont know the answer here but be aware of it as a possible issue.

Historically airlines counted a bicycle as one of the two pieces of luggage that you were allowed on international flights. Today they are not so lenient, and typically charge between fifty and one hundred dollars per flight. They expect you to notify them at the time of your ticket purchase, and check in earlier if you intend to fly with a bicycle.

As an alternative you may want to check out the amazing Ciclismo Classico self guided bike tours, Italy centered tour operators that offer quality, bike inclusive cycling tours of Italy, as an alternative to the hassle and risk associated with taking your own toy.

Luc Lacasse is an avid cyclist with 10 years of racing motocross and mountain biking under his belt. He is the author behind myWheelsAndMore.com a website designed to share his knowledge gained as a bicycle enthusiast and mechanical engineering student.

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