“I’m committed to riding for the best guy”, Armstrong said, acknowledging his taxing ride schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role for Alberto Contador or other talented riders.

“We’ll abide by the same code that I do: cycling is a team sport, while we’d all like to win”, Armstrong told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

This will be the first time ever Armstrong will participate in both the Tour and Giro d’Italia in the same year.

Conventional Wisdom

When asked, many cyclists would naturally assume that the fastest way to come to a stop is by using both brakes, and that the safest way is to use the rear brake only.

Both assumptions are wrong. Using both brakes at the same time can cause fishtailing, and using the rear brake alone takes twice as long as the front brake alone to come to a stop.

The answer to safer braking is using the front brake alone.

Flying Over The Bars

When asked to use the front brake alone, many would immediately think of the possibility of flying over the handlebars. This happens, but usually only when one, in moments of danger, grabs hard on the unfamiliar front brake. The key is modulating the braking.

Try it in a park or carpark. Use only your front brake by tapping on it lightly. You will immediately notice the greater braking power compared to the rear brake. Gradually, learn to use only the front brake to stop or slow down, and you will notice how you can now brake better than ever.

Emergency Braking

What about situations where you have to come to a stop immediately? It is important to understand why one flies over the bars at all when emergency braking. It happens when the bike comes to a sudden stop, but the rider continues to move forward due to inertia, until the weight of the rider shifts forward so much that the bike no longer supports the rider and flips.

Hence, to decrease the chances of flying over the bars, use your arms to brace against the deceleration, keeping your weight where it is supposed to be. Find a safe place, put on a helmet, and practice emergency braking at increasing speed to get the feel for it.

Practice!

Nothing prepares you better than actual practice and experience. So go out there, embrace the winds, and practice braking!

Two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans said, “This is a difficult, but interesting route. I think it suits me. Twice I’ve finished just off the top step of the podium, so I have to believe I’ve got a chance.”

The route includes the Mount Ventoux, which had a seven-years absence from the Tour. It is said to be one of the most grueling climbs in the Tour, which claimed the life of British cyclist Tom Simpson, and left Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx on the brink of collapse while winning the stage.

Winner of 2008 Vuelta a Espana, 2008 Giro d’Italia and 2007 Tour de France, Alberto Contador, said, “I think it’s a very interesting course and that it will be decided before the Mont Ventoux. But whoever’s wearing the yellow jersey that day will have huge pressure on his shoulders.”

It will be an exciting race, although it is still unknown if Lance Armstrong will be riding in the Tour.

Here’s what you need:

• Tire levers
• New tube or a patch kit
• A pump

1. Remove the wheel from the bicycle frame.
2. Release the air in the tire.
3. Take a tire lever and insert it into the side of the tire (preferably the opposite of the air valve), then hook it to one of the spokes.
4. Take another tire lever and insert it a couple of inches away from the first, and slide it around the rim to remove the tire.
5. Take out the flat tube from within the tire.
6. Check for foreign objects both inside and outside of the tire, and remove them.
7. Insert a new tube inside the tire. Pump it up a little to make it easier to insert.
8. Tuck the tire back into the rim.
9. Pump up the tire to the specified PSI.
10. Attach the wheel back to the frame. Viola! We are done!

What you need:

• Scissors
• Handlebar tapes
• Electrical tapes

Wrong ways to start a bicycle

Side Mount Method aka Cowboy Mount
This method is done by standing on one side of the bicycle, putting that side of the foot on the pedal, pushing off the bicycle into motion with the other foot, and swinging your leg over when the bicycle gains momentum.

This method puts undue stress on one side of the bicycle as you swing over.

Shuffling Method
This method is done by putting one foot on the pedal while on the saddle, and pushing off against the ground with the other foot trying to get up to maneuvering speed.

This method is extremely slow to get the bike to speed, and you can’t do this uphill.

The proper way to start a bicycle

This video explains the proper method really well:

While stationary, lift one pedal up to about 45 degrees from horizontal, then step on the pedal hard to apply force for the bike to pick up speed and to lift yourself up to the saddle. This method allows you to get up to maneuvering speed fast without wobbling or damaging your bike. But, you will need several experiments to understand which gear works for you. Too low a gear can move the bike too fast before you could properly get on the saddle, and too high a gear can make the acceleration too slow to properly balance the bike.

The proper way to stop a bicycle

As shown in the video above, the proper way to stop a bicycle is put one foot down only when the bicycle has pretty much comes to a stop. Avoid putting your foot down to “assist” in the braking as your shoes will very soon wear out.

Also, putting your foot on the ground while the bike is still in motion would cause a weight transfer, making the bike “lighter” than it was, and causing you to come to an abrupt deceleration. The momentum might cause your body to shift forward and hurt yourself.

Conclusion

Habits can be hard to change, but with perseverance it is possible. Keep practicing and it will make you a safer and more effective rider.

Just 150 metres from the finishing line, Cooke stuck on to Marianne Vos’ wheel and overtook her just before the line.

“I think it will take a long time for this achievement to sink in,” said Cooke, who is the first woman to win a world and Olympic road race title in the same year.

“After achieving my main objective of the season in Beijing we started the race very relaxed and today I just tried to do my best.” She added, “At the end of the race I decided I would give everything I had all the way to the finish line, and that’s exactly what I did.”

2008 has been a wonderful year for Nicole Cooke.

Video of the dramatic finish:

The relationship between Contador and Lance Armstrong has been tense ever since Armstrong announced his return from retirement and his joining of the Astana team. Being the winner of the 2007 Tour de France, Contador does not want to risk being dethroned from his leadership position.

“The team has given me assurances that I will be the leader, but I want to be doubly sure,” the Spanish sports daily Marca quoted him as saying. “I want to see exactly how this is going to pan out.” “If I am not satisfied with the way it is going, then I will leave,” he added.

Looks like Johan Bruyneel, manager of Astana, might have some conflicts ahead to resolve.