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

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

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.

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.

Bike Maintenance

By: Sports expert

As the weather is cooling, or going to cool soon, it is time to give your bike some TLC. Are you the type of person who does regular maintenance on their bike? If not here are some things to check out or have checked out.

Regular maintenance can be as easy as lubing you chain and adjusting your brakes. It can go as far as an over haul of the bottom bracket bearings. On newer bikes this is not necessary because they have sealed bearings.

This means the lubricating agent is in constant contact with the bearings. It also means that unless you see something leaking from there you do not need to worry about them. Having them inspected on an annual basis should be sufficient.

This annual check up is just precautionary to ensure they are not overly worn. If they have worn sufficiently have them replaced, thus preventing further damage.

Another good thing to check is your tire wear. This is particularly important for high mile riders. Your tires are just about as important as your chain. With out either you are not going to go very far very fast.

Upon checking your tires if you notice nicks or worn spots change the tire. It is much easier to do it at home then out on the road. Changing a tire is the same as changing a tube. You just add one more step. The added step is taking the tire completely off the rim.

For anything more extensive than this you should take your bike to a shop. They are trained to do such work.

Now is as good at time as any to keep your bike in good working order. So it will be ready when you are, to enjoy the roads of your community.

Article Source: http://www.go-see.info

If you would like more bicycling maintenance related information go to www.mycyclingsource.com/make-your-own-bicycle-repair.html

Biking can make you impotent

By: Sports expert

Riding a bike may sound like a good way to travel. After all, you don’t have to pay for parking fees, vehicle maintenance, gasoline, and insurance among others. Biking is also good for the heart, produces no pollution, is quieter than a car, and doesn’t kill or maim people.

But before you jump into a bike to explore the world, read this first. Researchers say cycling can make you impotent – a condition that currently affects 150 million men worldwide. This depressing news comes from sexual and reproductive health researcher Steven Schrader who studied the effects of bicycle riding in police officers.

Schrader said night time erections were of a poorer quality in biking police officers than in non-biking officers. The quality of erections also decreased as seat pressure increased and the longer the bikers stayed on the saddle.

Schrader is not the lone voice in the wilderness when it comes to cycling and men’s sexual health. Three other studies published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine support his findings. The studies said sitting on a bike saddle puts pressure in the perineum (the area between the scrotum and the anus). This temporarily blocks penile blood flow causing impotence. Over time, the lining vessels of the compressed arteries become damaged leading to permanent artery blockage.

In Brussels, researchers from University Hospital disclosed that male cyclists were twice as likely to suffer from impotence compared to those who stay away from bikes. A thousand cyclists were tested for this study.

“They found that more than 60 percent of men and women reported genital discomfort. Their 'Bicycle Saddle Report' suggests that male cyclists are twice as likely to suffer from virility problems,” reported the BBC News.

Earlier, Austrian doctors arrived at the same conclusion after studying 45 amateur mountain bikers who cycled at least two hours a day, six days a week. In their study published in the British medical journal The Lancet, researchers at University Hospital in Innsbruck said all of the bikers had scrotal abnormalities compared to only 16 percent of non-biking medical students.

The doctors said most of the mountain bikers developed cysts containing sperm. This suggests that the vibration of their bikes over rugged terrain had damaged their testicles and made them impotent. To prevent this, researchers advised the use of padded shorts and padded saddles.

In spite of these findings, researchers pointed out that not all bikers are doomed to suffer from impotence the same way that not all smokers will develop cancer. One study suggests that only five percent of bikers will eventually become impotent. However, while bikers can always hope for the best, they should also expect the worst. It pays to invest in comfortable biking apparel and a good soft saddle.

“Whereas past research emphasized whether or not a relationship existed between bicycle riding on a saddle and erectile dysfunction, Schrader now says that the next step of contemporary research on the subject should focus on intervention. And if that happens, it's possible that we may see some radically redesigned bicycle seats hitting the market in the near future,” said the people at AltPenis.Com.

If your doctor says you’re impotent due to biking or other reasons, don’t give up easily. Remember that impotence can be treated. One popular treatment is Erectasil, a powerful topical lotion that will help men rise to the occasion. Unlike sex pills that have questionable side effects, Erectasil is safe and easy to use.

Article Source: http://www.go-see.info

Jill Stewart is a health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online health news magazine www.healthnfitnesszone.com. For more information on Erectasil, check out erectasil.com.