Wanna know Bicycles?

           Riding a bicycle is a great way to get around. Bicycles are quiet, fun to ride, and you don’t need gas or electricity to make them go. You just use the power of your legs!Bicycles have two wheels. One wheel is in front of the other. You swing your leg over the bike, sit down, and start pedaling.
Bicycle, vehicle usually consisting of two wheels fixed to a frame, steered by handlebars, and propelled by an arrangement of pedals and gears that are driven by the feet. Different types of bicycle are tailored for different kinds of riding. The term bicycle is sometimes extended to include rider-propelled three-wheeled tricycles, which are favored by young children and others, such as some senior citizens, who lack the balance needed to operate a two-wheeled bicycle.

II.	TYPES OF BICYCLES

All bicycles fall into one of six general categories: touring, mountain, hybrid (sometimes called cross), utility, racing, or specialty. Components on each type are specially selected to suit the uses for which the bicycle is designed.

Road bicycles are designed to be ridden fast on smooth pavement. They have smooth, skinny tires and "drop" handlebars, and can be used for on-road racing. They are usually lighter than other types of bicycles. They can be ridden on paved trails, but most people find them uncomfortable and unstable on unpaved trails. Most road bikes are not capable of carrying heavy loads.

Touring bicycles are another special type of road bike. They are designed to be ridden on pavement, but are more durable for use on self-supported long-distance riding. They have all of the necessary mounting bolts for cargo racks and fenders, and although they still have a drop handlebar, they usually have a more relaxed frame design so that the rider is more upright, for more comfort when riding long distances for multiple days at a time. They have a lower gear range compared to regular road bikes, to allow for carrying heavy loads up steep hills. They also make good commuter bicycles, because of their durability and ability to carry heavy loads.

Triathlon/Time Trial Bicycles are road bikes with a special design that maximizes their aerodynamic properties. The handlebars are also a special aerodynamic design that allows you to crouch forward while riding, to minimize the wind resistance against your body. Triathlon/time trial races usually have staggered starts, where each racer starts on his/her own; these bicycles are usually not allowed to be used in mass-start races.

Track/Fixed-Gear Bicycles or fixies are designed to be ridden on a velodrome, which is a banked oval track specifically for bicycle racing. Some commuters prefer track bikes, however, due to their simple design, which makes them easy to maintain. They have a single gear that does not provide the ability to coast, so if the bike is moving, your feet must be pedaling. For even more simplicity, some riders prefer to not have brakes, since the fixed-gear mechanism can act as a brake. Most track bikes have drop handlebars, but some riders outfit theirs with flat or upright handlebars.

Mountain Bicycles are design for riding rough off-road trails. They have flat or upright handlebars, and a very low gear range for pedaling up steep trails. Most mountain bikes have some type of shock absorbers or suspension. Mountain bikes with front suspension only are called hardtails; mountain bikes with both front and rear suspension are called full-suspension bikes or duallies. Mountain bikes with no suspension are called rigid. Mountain bikes can be outfitted for use as touring or commuting bikes, although they would not be as light or efficient as traditional touring or commuting bikes.

City Bikes

The term "city bike" doesn't really refer to a specific category of bikes; it's more of a general descriptive term. They might also be called "commuter" or "urban" bikes, although any of the bikes listed on this page can be used quite well for riding and commuting in a city. However, there is a certain type of bike that most people have in mind when they use the term "city bike." This bike has characteristics of both a hybrid bike and a cruiser bike--usually the upright riding position of a cruiser, but the wheel size of a hybrid bike.

BMX Bikes are popular with kids because of their small size, but they are used by adults and kids alike for various styles of trick and stunt riding.

Folding Bicycles are ideal for those who need to travel with their bike, want a bike to keep on their boat or plane, or who live in small apartments and don't have a lot of storage space. They're also good for commuters who need to take their bike on a bus or train for part of their commute, or who don't have a safe place to park their bike at work. Most folding bikes have smaller wheels, which makes the bike a little less efficient and trickier to handle than a standard bike, but most folding bike fans feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

REFERENCE: http://centurycycles.com/buyers-guides/bicycle-types-how-to-pick-the-best-bike-for-you-pg9.htm

                        :Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

Psychology Facts

Did you know?

"The more homework that a child receives, the more likely that child is to suffer from depression."

"The happier you are, the less sleep you require to function in everyday life. Sadness increases the urge to sleep more."

"A brain gets in good shape by memorizing a song."

"Not having enough sleep per day leads to a desire for sex, depression and alcoholism."

"95% of people have dropped their phones on their face while texting in bed."

"Alexithymia describes a person who has a difficult time expressing their feelings to others."

"Women are more influenced by how a man smells rather than how he looks."

"Brushing your teeth will keep your heart healthier. People with gum disease have a 25–50% higher chance of getting cardiovascular disease."

"Anger triggers the region of the brain associated with honesty, which is when the truth comes out."

"If you feel tears coming on and need to hold them back, relax your jaw and refrain from blinking."

"Someone who suffers from “misophonia” will often be made angry by very small things – Such as a person who eats or breathes too loudly."

"In Ancient Greece, throwing an apple to a woman was considered a marriage proposal."

"Having negative friends is linked to depression, lowered self esteem, insomnia and anxiety. Positive friends promote good overall health."

"Napping for just 6 minutes can help to improve your memory."

"Sarcasm makes you mentally stronger. Which is very effective when dealing with emotional stress and frustration."

"Pineapple juice is 5 times more effective than cough syrup. It also prevents colds and the flu."

"Drinking cold water will help you lose weight naturally and speeds up your metabolism."

"When a dog sees it's owner, its brain secretes the same substances as ours when we are in love."

"Holding hands with someone you love can alleviate physical pain as well as stress and fear."

"Loneliness is both physically and mentally damaging."

"When you truly believe in what you are doing, it shows. And it pays. Winners in life are those who are excited about where they're going."

"Your eyebrows renew themselves every 64 days."

"Psychology says, you realize you love someone when you want them to be happy, even if its not with you."

"Venustraphobia is the fear of beautiful women."

"Texiety is a condition in which an individual feels anxious after not receiving or sending any text messages."

"Saying "I'm tired" when you're actually just depressed and upset."

"When you stand up too fast and get dizzy, gravity has caused some of your blood to collect in your legs, depriving your brain of oxygen."

"Life becomes more meaningful when you realize the simple fact that you'll never get the same moment twice."

"Drinking grapefruit juice while taking certain medications can cause instant overdose and death."

"When you find yourself looking in the fridge out of boredom, drink a large glass of water. This will stop the impulse hunger."

"Martin Luther King died when he was 39 years old. An autopsy found that he actually had the heart of a 60-year-old from stress."

"People who laugh more are able to tolerate pain better, both physical and emotional."

REFERENCE: https://twitter.com/Factsionary

Skateboards Are Cool!

       Skateboarding, activity that involves riding on a specially designed four-wheeled wooden board. People ride skateboards on pavement or any other surface that gives a relatively smooth ride. Skateboarding first emerged in the 1950s as an offshoot of the sport of surfing. It was originally known as sidewalk surfing but soon established its own identity.

History

The earliest skateboards first appeared in the 1940s and 1950s. Many of the early boards were toy scooters whose handlebars had been removed. Other homemade skateboards were steel-wheeled roller skates nailed onto a piece of wood. The first commercially produced skateboards appeared in the early 1960s, when Makaha Skateboards established a successful business. The Makaha company later developed the tail.

By the 1970s, skateboard design had advanced, and the models produced were much safer than those of earlier years. This was because companies were making wheels, trucks, and other parts specially designed for skateboards. For many years skateboard construction varied among manufacturers, as plastic, fiberglass, metal, and wood were tested as deck materials, but by the late 1970s wood had won out as the optimum material. Decks constructed of seven-ply laminated wood tended to be lighter and stronger than those made of other materials.

The first skateboards started with wooden boxes, or boards, with roller skate wheels attached to the bottom. Crate scooters preceded skateboards, having a wooden crate attached to the nose (front of the board), which formed rudimentary handlebars. The boxes turned into planks, similar to the skateboard decks of today.An American WAC, Betty Magnuson, reported seeing French children in the Montmartre section of Paris riding on boards with roller skate wheels attached to them in late 1944.

SKATEBOARD DECKS

Skateboard decks are the top board part of the skateboard. They are the most important piece of the skateboard. The feel and type of board depends on the type of deck you ride. 

Most skateboard decks are made out of hard rock maple. Using 7 layers of wood pressed together with glue. Maple is hard wood and allows the deck to be strong. Bamboo is a material that makes high quality skateboard desks. Bamboo is not a popular material used by most skateboard companies. It is a good material.

Properties of a Skateboard Deck

Decks are shaped a certain way for a reason. They are the lightest, strongest and most responsive shape that skaters use. Most decks are 32” long x 7½"-8½” wide x ½” thick.

• Length - The right length to allow most people to stand on and reach the nose and tail with their feet.
• Width - The right width to allow most people to stand on and manipulate the board to do tricks.
• Kicks - The nose and tail are the right length to allow you to do stalls and slides. The nose is longer for nose tricks and to let you get used to riding it the same way. The raised angle helps you to pop and scoop tricks.

• Concave - The concave curve that starts at the nose and continues through the of the middle of the deck to the tail provides strength and allows you to grip the board better for many maneuvers.
• Pop - Pop is an often misused term. Pop is how a fresh skateboard deck is much more responsive with new edges and griptape. The shape of the nose and tail allow you to pop an ollie higher and with less effort than an older deck. Not to mention new grippy grip tape. A board with good pop has a feel that makes skating so much easier.

Shapes of Skateboard Decks

There are different shapes of skateboards depending on the type of skateboarding you like to do.

Modern or New School

The almost symmetrical double kick or new school deck is by far the most common. It is the most versatile shape. You can do any type of skateboarding with one.

Old school
This style of skateboard became popular in the late seventies when skaters invented the ollie. The kick on the tail allowed you to pop the board and enter the air. Deck like this are wider so that they are more stable.

Once people realized that you can do tricks on the nose too, the board shapes got closer and closer to what you see today. The holes patterns for the trucks also changed because skaters were grinding through the bolts with the new nose and tail tricks.

The oldschool shape appeals to older and bowl skaters that don't do ollies much and prefer to carve and go fast.

Freestyle
Freestyle boards were used back in the early eighties to do a different type of skateboarding.

The tricks involved flips and poses done on flatland. The boards were more symmetrical and square to allow for these types of tricks.It was this type of skating combining with the old school street skating that made the modern skateboard shape.

Longboard
For those who like to cruise roll stable on a skateboard there are longboards. These boards come in many different shapes and are much longer that the modern deck. They are more stable at high speeds.The longboard culture is different from skateboarding culture. It is often confused by outsiders but we are very different.

REFERENCE: http://www.skateboardhere.com/skateboard-decks.html

                      : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding