| ave all see them around the town where you live. A | | | | Your ability to pedal into the wind resistance is what |
| grown man or woman, riding a two wheeled scooter.. | | | | propels you down the road. Many cyclists use a |
| Wearing tight clothing, helmet and gloves, they look | | | | special shoe and pedal combination which helps deliver |
| more alien than human as they ride around in strange | | | | a more efficient pedal stroke to the bike. The shoes |
| attire and what looks to be a most uncomfortable | | | | clip into the pedal via a cleat on the bottom of the |
| position. | | | | shoe that connects firmly onto the pedal mechanism. |
| So what is going on with bikers? Why do they wear | | | | This allows the cyclist to focus more power on the |
| weird looking clothes? Is all that gear they have really | | | | pedal and can both pull up and push down on the |
| necessary? | | | | pedal stroke. |
| A biker is always in a constant struggle against wind | | | | Helmets are necessary due to safety concerns. |
| resistance. It is a battle that can never be won. | | | | However, the shape of most helmets are built so that |
| Everything from the bikers helmet, shorts, shoes and | | | | they are as aerodynamic as possible. The front of the |
| bike are made to make the fight against wind | | | | helmet is rounded toward the side and back. |
| resistance easier. | | | | Numerous air vents are built in to the helmet for |
| A rider's position on the scooter bike is designed to | | | | comfort on hot and humid rides. |
| reduce the area of the body that comes into contact | | | | Motorcycle gloves are worn to help absorb the road |
| with the air. The more aerodynamic the position on the | | | | shock. The gloves have padding built into the palm. |
| bike the less power the cyclist has to produce to | | | | Most bicycling gloves do not fully cover the fingers. |
| maintain, or achieve, a given speed. | | | | The reason for this is it makes it much easier to grasp |
| Motorcycle shorts have always been the brunt of | | | | fully the brakes when needing to slow down or stop. |
| many jokes from those who do not understand the | | | | The gloves do not necessarily help with aerodynamics, |
| function they serve. The shorts are skin-tight to reduce | | | | but they do make the ride more comfortable, which |
| the air resistance and to keep the fabric from rubbing | | | | gives you more energy to ride and fight the air |
| and moving next to the skin which may create a sore | | | | resistance. |
| spot. | | | | Bikers love to ride. They may look different in their |
| Of course, what may be the most desirable feature of | | | | gear, but it is out of necessity that they wear what |
| cycling shorts is the padding which is built into the seat. | | | | they do. The fight is against wind resistance. They look |
| Because the scooter bike is built in such an | | | | no stranger than a football player or race car driver in |
| aerodynamic form, the seat is made to be as slim as | | | | their gear. The difference is a biker has to use the |
| possible. This does not make it very comfortable to sit | | | | gear in public every time they venture out to ride his |
| on which is where the padding in the cycling shorts | | | | bike and wage the battle against air resistance. |
| makes a difference. | | | | |