This is the Beijing guidebook other Beijing guidebooks wish they could be. We tell you what's happening right here, right now, all over Beijing, because ... we live here. So do our 40 specialist contributors. With this book, you'll learn which songs will melt hearts in a Beijing karaoke bar, who has the best deal on antique furniture, how to take your landlord to court, and what Mandarin language program is for you. Along with all this wisdom goes the wit that has become the trademark of the Insider's Guide to Beijing over the years. Fully updated for the countdown to the 2008 Olympics, crammed with listings of hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants, lavishly illustrated with more than 750 full color photos by the capital city's best photographers, the Insider's Guide to Beijing is indispensable for residents and tourists alike. This edition also comes packaged with an up-to-date, fully bilingual pullout map of Beijing and its Olympic venues, printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper stock. Stop looking for the key to the city. You are holding it in your hand.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Olympic 2008 Tickets
The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee publicized in early August 2006 that it will sell over 7 million tickets for various sporting events and ceremonies to the general public.[13] The chief of the committee expressed her hopes that all Chinese people would have a chance to come to the games. The committee has, therefore, set low ticket prices so as to encourage the Chinese people to become more involved in the Olympics.
On April 14, 2007, tickets to the general public went on sale through the Beijing Organizing Committee for domestic tickets (which will account for 75% of the sales) and through each nation's NOC for overseas ticket sales.[14] By June 2007, 2.2 million tickets—about a third of the supply volume—had already been sold.[15]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympics
Selecting The Right Mountain Bike Frame
A good mountain biker is one who knows has the right knowledge of the sport as well as the bike he is riding. This knowledge helps him throughout his career, right from purchasing the vehicle to being the best in the game. Here we learn about the important factors origin of the sport and the construction process in brief.
How To Select The Right Mountain Bike Frames
A variety of bicycles are available in the market, and they are constructed specifically for different purposes. E.g. ordinary cycles are meant for short travels and leisure rides whereas, racing bicycles are made for competitive racing, they are comparatively lighter and have thin tires and multiple gears for better performance.
The most important factor that distinguishes between bicycles is the frame of the cycle. If a customer wants a bike for mountain biking, he has to specifically purchase a Mountain Bike. The mountain bikes are subjected to a lot of rugged terrain and hence the frame has to be really strong, and at the same time it has to be light for better maneuverable.
To help you understand this process, a through knowledge of the sport of mountain bicycling, the variety of bicycle frames available in the market and the cost is very important.
The sport of Mountain Bicycling
The sport of Mountain bicycling has gained popularity since its origin in the 70’s. It is the ultimate sport for those who love cycling and exploring the rugged outdoors. One can take up mountain bicycling just to enjoy the thrills of riding on a rugged countryside area or participate in formal competitions, or simply enjoy it as a good form of exercise.
Range of Mountain Bicycle Frames available.
Mountain bicycles are manufactured specially to withstand the pounding of the harsh terrain. They are fitted with special accessories for better performance. Often these bicycles are fitted with gears system to facilitates easy ascending and descending on the slopes of the mountains, modified lightweight hand brakes are fitted to ensure better grip and instant braking and the balloon type tires ensure a relatively smoother ride.
The frame of the bike plays a very important when it comes to purchasing a mountain bike, it has to be extremely strong and at the same time it has to be relatively light for easy maneuverability. The basic structure of all frames is same, the only thing that makes them different is the material used to construct them. Generally frames are made either of carbon fiber, titanium or steel, the favorite being steel, as it is light yet very strong and is found in abundance.
Although difficult to work with, Titanium and carbon fiber have also been used for construction of the mountain bike frame. Basically Titanium is similar to steel and aluminum but is comparatively lighter, and is scratch resistant and rust proof.
Carbon fiber is a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber. A mixture of both is dipped in glue and is molded in tubular form and these tubes are used to construct the frames.
Cost
The cost of the bicycle plays a very important role when it comes to purchasing a good mountain bicycle. Basically, the price of the bike depends on the material used for its construction. The most expensive bikes are the once with Titanium and carbon fiber frames, once made of steel are relatively cheaper.
Venues of Beijing Olympic 2008
Existing Competition Venues
12. Olympic Sports Centre - Football, Modern Pentathlon (running and equestrian)
13. Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium - Handball
14. Workers Stadium - Football
15. Workers Indoor Arena - Boxing
16. Capital Indoor Stadium - Volleyball
17. Fengtai Softball Field - Softball
18. Ying Tung Natatorium - Water Polo, Modern Pentathlon (swimming)
19. Laoshan Mountain Bike Course - Cycling (Mountain Bike)
20. Beijing Shooting Range Clay Target Field - Shooting
21. Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium - Volleyball
22. Beihang University Gymnasium - Weightlifting
Temporary Competition Venues
23. Olympic Green Convention Centre - Fencing preliminaries and finals, and Modern Pentathlon (fencing and shooting)
24. Olympic Green Hockey Field - Hockey
25. Olympic Green Archery Field - Archery
26. Olympic Green Tennis Centre - Tennis
27. Wukesong Baseball Field - Baseball
28. Beach Volleyball Ground - Beach volleyball
29. BMX Field - Cycling (BMX)
30. Triathlon Venue - Triathlon
31. Urban Road Cycling Course - Cycling (road race)
Competition venues outside Beijing
32. Qingdao International Sailing Centre - Sailing
33. Shanghai Stadium - Football Preliminary
34. Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium - Football Preliminary
35. Hong Kong Equestrian Venues - Equestrian
36. Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium - Football Preliminary
37. Shenyang Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Shenyang - Football Preliminary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympic_venues
Cycling Passion In Italy
Cyclotourism is a fresh new way to discover the wonders of Italy- during a hearty bike ride. This latest concept in tourism combines holiday fun and enjoyment together with a healthy sport.
A number of cities throughout Italy are at the heart of the development of cycling activity holidays, attracting those who are passionate about cycling through a vast swathe of events and initiatives.
Several hotels have been opened in order to respond to peaks in demand during the cycling competition season. These Italy Bike Hotels are well known in Italy and throughout Europe. Each one strives to provide guests with a complete range of services including laundry, bike shelters, technical clothing, path maps and everything you could possibly wish for after a hard days’ bike ride, from massages to high energy meals.
Italy Bike Hotels can be found in almost every region of Italy, dotted along a range of bike routes. In Emilia Romagna cyclists will find accommodation along the “Giro del San Giovese”, the “Nine Hills” as well as along a host of inland routes. The “Giro delle Dolomiti” is the most famous path in Trentino. Many others can be found in the Marche and Puglia.
This fantastic combination of routes and appropriately located accommodation services is designed to ensure that tourists can truly see the very best of each region. At Bike Hotels, guests can cycle easy and more challenging routes and they will have the chance to savour local enogastronomic products.
Let us look in more detail at the services provided by bike hotels in Italy, and just what we can expect from a true biking holiday.
Every day at a bike hotel is action packed, and services include:
- Maps of various routes which range in difficulty
- expert guides which accompany guests and athletes along well trodden or undiscovered paths.
- professional bikes for athletes
- technical clothing and equipment
- bike shelter and repair garage
- high energy meals
- gyms, massages and wellness centers in order to reduce muscle tension
Traveling in Italy is truly an excellent way to discover the best of every region. For those who are passionate about cycling, the time has come to experience Italy under a whole new light.
Downhill Mountain Biking – A Dangerous Sport For The Strong Hearted
By: Sports expert
Mountain biking is a thrilling and exciting sport and downhill mountain biking is one such activity which is extremely dangerous and can be life threatening. Downhill Biking enthusiasts who have experienced this activity are well aware of the dangers it involves as well as the joy and high it offers. They also know that safety gears and precautions are the best shields while embarking on a downhill mountain biking course.
The sport of Mountain biking began as an ordinary sport where people living in geographic locations suitable for such races took up this as their pastime and later as their passion. However over the years, this sport has generated a huge fan following and despite of the major challenges and dangers that the sport poses, bikers are not ready to quit. Today this sport is termed as an extreme sport and for justifiable reasons. Mountain biking gives bikers the adrenaline high that they desire and which they experience while doing difficult stunts and races.
Mountain biking – a sport similar to snow skiing
Those who are aware and have experienced the thrill of snow skiing on icy slopes will have a little idea about the excitement of mountain biking. Downhill mountain biking is a popular form of mountain biking activity where the biker rides downhill on his mountain bike. On his way down, the biker gets constantly airborne and has to balance himself and the bike while trailing down the rough trails. However the thought of this high is enough to excite the biker to participate in such extreme downhill races.
Mountain Biking is a dangerous sport.
Those who presume downhill mountain biking to be as easy as biking on normal paved roads or riding in cross country biking are completely ignorant. Downhill biking involves high stress levels and the biker has to constantly keep control using his bikes rear and front suspension while simultaneously trying to balance himself and the bike. Bikes used for downhill mountain biking have sturdy frames and are thus heavier with the weights of such bikes ranging from eighty to hundred kilos.
Bikers aiming to participate in downhill mountain biking have to make themselves mentally and physically prepared to face the hardships associated with this activity. This is mainly because the biker has to start the race from the top of the hill and his physical energy is not required to pedal downhill but to maintain his body and bike’s balance on the tricky slope. This is physically demanding and its important that all safety gears and precautions are taken much in advance.
Bikers who have experienced the thrill and high of downhill mountain biking are always game to participate and care less for the risks involved. Downhill mountain biking is dangerous as the downhill trails are difficult, dangerous and the bike can jump almost to forty feet while coming downhill. Difficult trails excite downhill bikers and nothing can stop their eagerness to try such trails, not even the risk of injury or fatalities. However such bikers know the importance of using safety gears like helmet, elbow and knee pads, body suits etc. since these can ensure atleast some amount of safety against fatal falls.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Mountain Bike Training – A Guide
By: Sports expert
Any kind of adventure sports requires to be undertaken under the careful supervision of a trained professional trainer. With a little hard work, determination and with proper guidance from the trainer you can strive to be one of the best in the sport of mountain biking.
A Guide to Mountain Bike Training
Be it mountain bicycling or any other sport, training is an absolute must. It is always advisable to be well trained before heading out on your own. It is absolutely necessary that you be in good shape, emotionally as well as physically, specially when it comes to adventure sport like mountain biking.
Mountain Bike Training
Selecting a good trainer is the very first step. Finding a qualified trainer is quite easy, but your aim should be to find a trainer who is also good company to be with, as your training would want you spend a lot of your time with your trainer.
Mountain bicycling is a very physically demanding sport, it subjects the biker to a lot of physical stress. The result of this stress, and physical changes can be noticed almost immediately. To excel in this sport one has to be in excellent physical condition, so you have to put in a lot of effort from your side. Once your trained rigorously for four to six weeks you can be ready to venture out on your own.
Once you have the basic knowledge about the sport, the next step is to venture out for small trial ride in the nearby woods. Here it is absolutely necessary that you set a limit and not go beyond that limited stretch, as you are not fully trained. At this stage it is advised that you maintain a record of your speed and heart rate at regular intervals, this will help you monitor your progress in the later stages.
Mountain biking requires a lot of stamina and the best way to improve your stamina is to keep upgrading the level of your workouts. Sticking to the same routine will only show physical changes but will not contribute much to your stamina. Once you start increasing the intensity levels of your workout you will definitely get positive results and will experience the change in your stamina and also observe physical changes.
It’s a general misunderstanding that training is not necessary for mountain biking, but it’s not true, except in the case if you are in extremely good physical condition. Its true that being physically fit helps a lot, but training for longer periods and intensifying your workout levels will definitely help you excel in the sport and become on of the best.
Cycling Clothing and Cold Weather
By: Sports expert
Do you ride during the colder months? Do you have the necessary clothing for it? This could mean anything from warmer socks to a long sleeve jersey. It is not fun to ride with out the proper clothing and being cold.
There are a few possibilities of how you can have warmer clothing while using what you probably already have.
You can stay warm while riding by putting on a pair of sweat pants over your cycling shorts.
Make sure the sweats are not baggy. This can cause your pants to get caught in the chain and gears, if the sweats are baggy.
You can also do the same for the top part of your body.
To help keep your feet warm, you can get cycling shoe covers. Or you can get warmer socks. Either method you chose should keep your feet warmer.
If you do not want to wear sweats over the top of your existing cycling clothing. You can always get tights or warmers for your legs. You can also get base layers for the top or a long sleeve jersey. A little bit cheaper method is to get warmers for your arms.
Wearing a long sleeve shirt under your jersey can give the same desired result.
Base layers work wonders on keeping you warm while you ride.
There are also cycling jackets you can wear. Jackets sometimes do more than just block some wind. Some will actually protect you from the rain or snow too.
If you do not have some of the items mentioned you can always improvise with what you already possess. There is always a way if you are willing to do it. It is better to have on too many layers than not enough.
I have had the problem of not enough layers. The ride was not very pleasant and it do not end soon enough either.
Do not be caught on a ride unprepared, as I have been. When you go out on the cold rides you will be glad you have on some warm clothing.
