Headsweats Blog

There are few things worse than having a mishap while cycling and not being prepared enough to handle it yourself and get back on the trail. Remaining able to deal with issues that may come up, like a flat tire, is key in enjoying any bike ride. Here are a few items that every cyclist should always carry along.

• Spare bike tube and tire levels – The most common problem that cyclists face is a flat tire. Make sure you have the gear to replace your tube and of course, one to take its place. Tire levels are essential as they slide under the tire and help you pull it off the rim in order to replace the tube. Triple check to make sure that the tube is the correct size for your bike.
• Patch kit -In order to help other cyclists on the trail and to make sure you are doubly-covered when your spare tube gets punctured too, a patch kit should always be kept on hand.
• Bike pump – Obviously if you need to change or repair a tire during a ride you’ll need air to put into it. Get one that is lightweight and will clamp to your bike but has enough power to not exhaust your energy on filling up a tube.
• Multi-tool – With every type of tool bunched into one convenient and portable package, a multi-tool can help with a variety of unexpected bike and equipment adjustments or tweaks.
• Cycling cap – A cycling cap can help both insulate your head in colder weather and protect your head in warmer weather. Worn under your helmet, cycling hats by Headsweats, are thin enough to be comfortable, and include a Coolmax® terry sweatband to absorb perspiration and help you avoid sweat blindness.
• Other necessities – Identification, money, insurance card and a cell phone are all important personal items to carry with you on every ride, especially when riding alone. If you should have a serious accident, these items are essential in making sure that you get the proper care.

What items do you include on every ride with you? We’d like to hear from you if you have anything you would add to this list.

Yes, riding a bike is an American rite of passage for most kids throughout our country and therefore, almost all of us jump on a bike, even as adults from time to time. But there are some of us who look at cycling more passionately; and seriously enough to actually prepare for rides that are longer than around the neighborhood. The number of us that take our sport seriously enough to buy gear for it are growing year after year however, and we find it important to extend some helpful tips to our newbie friends.

• Protect your head. Regardless of your state’s helmet laws and whether they are required, wear a helmet every time you ride. Sixty percent of cycling deaths in the US are caused by head injuries. Do not add to that statistic.
• Make sure to use your senses. Make sure that your vision is not blocked in any way and never wear headphones. Being unable to hear approaching cars or emergency vehicles can place you in a precarious situation and is downright dangerous.
• Get your bike properly fit. Make riding much easier and reduce strain and risk of injury to certain body types by making sure that your bike fits your body measurements.
• Make sure to use your gears. Try to keep your cadence at a consistent rate between 70 to 90 rpms. Always staying in higher gears can strain your knees. Use varying gears for different elevation gains can help alleviate that stress.
• Your seat is your friend. Make sure that you ride with a proper saddle that will be comfortable enough for long rides. Don’t assume that the cushier the seat, the better. Try out a few different styles before making a decision.

Remaining comfortable during a ride is important for both endurance and overall enjoyment. Headsweats cycling caps and hats are manufactured from fabrics that help you perform your best throughout your ride. Perfect for fit under your helmet, our Headsweats cycling hats include a terry sweatband helping to keep sweat out of your eyes. Browse our entire line of cycling caps and hats and get out and enjoy this coming riding season.

Maybe its because the majority of us have had a bike, or have been riding one since early childhood or maybe its because, regardless of skill level, most of us can simply just jump on a bike and ride that very few of us consider getting our bike truly fitted to our body. We often do, just jump on and go. Many bike riders think that the only stipulation for fitting is if they can comfortably stand over the bike with enough clearance between their crotch and the bar. Personalizing your bike to fit you and your body can help with rider fatigue and pain, allowing you extended endurance and more enjoyment. Though a professional fitting can be expensive, it can be very much worth it. If you’ve experienced leg pain, swelling or numbness in your hands, or upper body fatigue during or after just a moderate ride, a bike fit performed by someone who knows how to do it, is worth every dime.

Obviously if you purchased a new bike its a good time for a fitting. However, if you’ve been riding somewhat seriously for the past couple of years, it may be time for a fit simply because your riding style and your level of fitness has probably changed. Also, the reverse is true: if it’s been a couple of years since you’ve ridden with any consistency a bike fit may be needed in order to avoid any issues.

Remaining comfortable during a ride is important for both endurance and overall enjoyment. Headsweats cycling caps and hats are manufactured from fabrics that help you perform your best throughout your ride. Perfect for fit under your helmet, our Headsweats cycling hats include a terry sweatband helping to keep sweat out of your eyes. Browse our entire line of cycling caps and hats and get out and enjoy this coming riding season.

Now that Spring is officially here, cyclists in most parts of the country are grabbing their gear and getting ready for a long cycling season. Before you just hop on and go though, there are few tips that will keep you riding injury-free and your bike in tip-top shape.

1. Get a bike fit. Making sure that your bike is set to your physical specifications can increase your endurance, reduce your chance of injury and add to your overall enjoyment of the ride. Bikers of all levels, with varying cycling goals and regardless of how long they’ve owned the bike, can benefit from a professional bike fitting. Because your skill or fitness levels change, an annual or bi-annual bike fitting is recommended.

2. Now get your bike fit. Make sure to tune up your bike. If you have experience in tuning up a bike, this can be done at home. However, if you have no working knowledge of a bicycle’s parts and how they work, make sure to take it to your local bike shop. Inspection, cleaning, replacement or repair should be comprehensive and include tires and tubes, brakes, cables and pedals and even the seat.

3. Make sure to appropriately train for your first ride of the season. Even if you’ve kept up with cross training or strength training over the winter, much can improve with cycling training. Hit the key components of pedaling and cycling economy, cadence, power building, upper body strength (to fight fatigue) and endurance increase.

4. Make sure to protect yourself on your first rides of the Spring too. Though weather is still mild, the uv strength of the early Spring sun can be stronger than what you would expect with milder temperatures, make sure to wear a cycling hat or cycling cap under that helmet to keep the suns rays from hitting your scalp. A Headsweats cycling cap or hat also keeps your sweat from running into your eyes, allowing you to retain proper vision while cycling.