Hair grows in recurring cycles, with each cycle composed of three phases – anagen, catagen and telogen. The anagen phase is also referred to as the growth phase. About 85 to 90% of all the hairs in our heads are in this phase at one time. This part of the growth cycle lasts from 2 to 6 years and can continue for up to 8 years.

Once the hair reaches its maximum length in the anagen phase, the catagen phase of the growth cycle begins. This is a short phase, lasting only about 1 to 2 weeks. The catagen phase is also referred to as the transitional phase, when the cycle reaches the regressive stage and hair growth slows down. The follicle shrinks in size and the base begins to break down.

The telogen phase of the growth cycle is also known as the resting phase, when growth stops completely. This is the part where the follicle becomes degraded. This cycle lasts for about 6 weeks. Some hair may fall out but some stay in the follicle. Near the end of the telogen phase, new hair begins to form and grow. If the old hair is still attached, it is forced out and falls off the head. About 10% of our hair are in the telogen phase.

Hair growth cycle and hair loss

To understand hair loss, it is important that we know the nature of the cycle of hair growth. It is normal for people to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. When this happens, you are probably in the telogen phase. You’ll probably find these lost strands in your brush, comb or on your shower floor. This is normal and there is no need to worry because they will be replaced by new growth.

It is only when you’re losing more and are noticing rapid thinning that you should be concerned. These are signs that your hair growth is not fast enough to replace lost strands and there is a possibility that your normal hair cycle has been disrupted.

Hair grows from the follicles which are found in the top layer (epidermis) of the skin. It is made of keratin, a form of protein, the same component of the epidermis, fingernails and toe nails. At the base of the follicles, a papilla is found, which is made of blood vessels and nerves. These ensure that the growth cycle runs uninterrupted.

Factors that can affect hair growth

Barring any obstacle, the hair growth cycle will continue unabated. It is only when some factors are applied that the cycle is disrupted or stopped. These factors can lead to temporary hair loss. Or if not, they can cause alopecia, which is more permanent. These can include hormones, nutritional deficiencies, diseases of the thyroid gland, chemotherapy and radiation. The cycle may also be affected by skin diseases of the scalp, trauma or stress.

Certain drugs can also disrupt normal growth, including anti-depressants, hypertension drugs, retinoids and birth control pills. The birth of a baby may also contribute to hair loss, along with diseases such as lupus, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Men and women with eating disorders or undergoing severe dieting are also susceptible to this condition.

It is interesting to note that hair growth is not indicated in the human embryo in its initial stages. Hair growth only becomes apparent when hair follicles begin to appear in the early stages of the embryo’s development, before it assumes a human form in the mother’s womb. Evidence of hair growth begins to appear when the fetus is approximately 9 weeks old. By 9 months, the human fetus already has every hair follicle he/she will ever have.

I was introduced to cycling when I was about 14. A friend of mine got me involved. He took me to a race he and his Dad were riding in. From that point on I was hooked on cycling.

Once I was hooked on cycling and wanted to get a bike. My friend got me in touch with a man that wanted to sell his old bike. The two knew each other due to their participation in a cycling club.

At an early period in my cycling experience I learned the value of a cycling club.

Cycling clubs are a great support group! They also present an opportunity to be with like minded people and have fun together. A cycling club lets those involved network together and provide a source of getting rid of excess gear or bikes.

Some clubs foster a family type of atmosphere by having picnics and other family oriented activities.

Some of you might be asking: how could I find a club to join. Even in this internet age, to find a local club you might have to actually call up your local bike shop and ask them if they sponsor any. Another way to find them would be to ask any of your present cycling friends. I have found that the internet is not the best way to find local cycling clubs.

Clubs present another good opportunity and that is in finding people that have the same ambitions as you do in cycling. If your present friends aren’t as ambitious as you then clubs let you find others that could be.

I have yet to find a club where anyone could not fit into in some regard or another. No matter if you are a man, woman or child. I have met some really good cyclist in clubs and I have made some good friends.

If you are looking for some place to have some interaction with other cyclists go find a local club to belong to! They are there you just might have to look a little to find one you like.

When debating what the differences are between a tubular or clincher tire the more knowledgeable person may reply that there is a right time for everything. Knowing which one to choose is the question.

Fundamentally, the way a clincher tire is secured to the rim of a bike is by using air pressure. This is how the wheel gets the name of “clincher” by pneumatically sealing the tire between the outer rim bead and inner tube. The tube itself is completely separate from the tire. The largest example of a clincher tire is a drag radial as used by fuel cars.

Fueler teams have known for many years that for ease of maintenance and safety at high speed, it’s difficult to beat a tube that is independent of the tread. The main reason that passenger car tires do not have separate inset tubes is that in sustained high-speed, heavy-usage applications, a separate tube can rub on the inside of the outer tire, creating friction and heat-softening the rubber. Bicycles don’t have this problem as they typically run at much higher air pressure, and have a great deal less load to bear than a passenger car does.

A tubular tire is far more similar to a car tire, that is, the air containment chamber and the outer tread of the tire are integral to each other. The differing features between a bike tubular tire and a car tire is that whereas the the car tire is fastened using the same technique as a clincher wheel, the bicycle tire is stuck to the wheel rim using glue. Once the only performance choice for a cyclist was the tubular tire but with the progress in tire and wheel mechanics plus the acceptance of clincher wheels as a performance tire option within the racing community, the clincher wheel has now become the leading tire choice within the world of bike racing.

Reduced weight is the only real advantage of tubular wheels over clincher wheels because this type of tire does not require a thick rim to enable the seal. However, racing cyclists today are happy to use a clincher wheel made of a light alloy and composite material because of the ease of maintenance and greater reliabilty even though there is a small weight difference.

Learn more about bike clincher wheelsets. Stop by Steve James’s site where you can find out all about campagnolo wheelsets and what they can do for your bike.

The Polar watch models that are typically used by cyclists have a special design that straps onto handlebars rather than just strapping around the wrist. There are currently well over 30 different models of Polar heart rate monitors selling on the open market. They are far superior in quality and innovative features when compared with other heart rate monitor brands, which has made Polar the leader when it comes to watches that serve the needs of professional and amateur athletes.

Polar heart rate monitors are equipped with small computers which report a variety of feedback from a cycling session. The forms of feedback typically include speed, distance, heart rate, pacing. For those training for a big cycling race, this type of feedback is absolutely essential to proper training sessions. For those who are using cycling to get in shape and lose unwanted stored fat, this feedback allows them to get in the best workout for fat burning purposes. The compact Polar monitors make workouts more effective for everyone.

This Polar watch range also gives you functions like calorie expenditure calculator, fitness tests and automatic target zone monitoring function, which presents a perfect training gadget for cross-trainers, beginner triathletes and fitness cyclists as well as cyclists who simply wanted to stay in shape.

Taking advantage of these advanced features such as programming in your target heart rate zone can improve performance and help reach goals more efficiently. Some watches can now be programmed in with a computer, transferring a wide range of workout data so cyclists can determine what changes need to be made to their training plan. Some of the factors that can be analyzed now through a PC connection include: heart rate changes, stress levels, recovery levels. The fitness tests that deliver this type of output typically test for continuous heart rate, pedal rev, altitude, power output, ascents and descents, direction of route, and the overall distance of the cycling session.

Polar heart rate monitors can be used no matter what the weather is like outside and they are designed to be very easy to use. This ensures that literally anyone can take advantage of them, regardless of their level of expertise in the market. Interfacing the Polar watch with a computer makes it very simple to analyze the results of fitness tests and even get limited updates for the watch.

Unfortunately, there are also some flaws that come with a Polar brand monitor. Many users find that the speed of transfer into a computer is slower than models that use a USB cord for transfer. Also, professional cyclists who have to stop for traffic or have other pauses in their workouts complain that these monitors do not pause when they have to momentarily stop the workout. This means that the overall heart rate, cadence, and speed reported when they analyze their data later on will reflect those pauses and not just their workout.

There are many great Polar heart rate monitors currently selling specifically for cyclists. One of the more popular is the Polar CS600X, which takes all the great features of a sports heart rate monitor and adds in GPS monitoring and G3 technology. The Polar CS300, CS100 and CS200cad models include body feedback, cycling data, and a wireless cadence sensor. The Polar FT40, FT60 and FT80 all have specific models made for men and women. These models essentially behave like a training partner that knows it all with an advanced computer that stores tons of data. The Polar RS800CX is a limited edition Pro Team monitor which is topped by none in the professional cycling world. The best of the best cyclists train with this monitor.

Hence, Polar heart rate monitors simply designed to adapt to your training requirements to help you stay motivated in improving your fitness and cycling performance.

Author Lance Durden is a fitness expert that has been using Polar Heart Rate Monitors for use in his programs since 1995. Try polar heart rate monitors from the top online retailer, and start improving your workouts.

Whether professional or amateurish, cycling is a hobby and a way of life for some people, and it only goes natural that one feels the need to share personal preoccupations with others who are interested in the field as well. Like any other sports organizations, cycling clubs cover a wide variety of programs, a diversity of opportunities for their members, not to mention the great educational chances for children and teenagers.

Bikers who join cycling clubs are very often common people who took to cycling for health reasons, competition, recreation or simply led by the need for fellowship. Besides news on competitions, opinion exchanges and great tours, many cycling clubs have extended activities and preoccupations that cover a variety of domains; a good case here is the insurance coverage and the support cycling clubs offer to injured members. Though some clubs are organizations to be joined freely without any membership fee required, there are nevertheless some funds collected annually as part of special social events for instance.

This money is often used to assist members in need to cover their insurance for instance in case an accident occurs during a tour organized by the club. Furthermore, it often happens that cycling clubs use funds for the promotion of certain talented members, usually children or youngsters under the form of scholarships or sponsorships for important competitions.

Many people are keeping a close contact with their cycling clubs on the official web pages of the organizations, since this is presently the easiest way to learn the latest news and the planning of special cycling events of great interest. Moreover, mention must be made that one of the best looked-for elements on the web sites of cycling clubs are tips for increasing sports performance. What is the most likely information to find here?

First of all, certain cycling clubs promote a brand name in the business, meaning that at official events, club members will wear special bike apparel from a certain manufacturer. There are plenty of recommendations and words of advice about what kind of cycling clothes to use and on what weather conditions; yet, the informative columns of cycling clubs also refer to other specific cases than clothing.

For instance, some cycling clubs strongly militate for the creation of skills for both hands; since most people have the tendency of using their right hand to grab the water bottle, open a zip or take something from the pocket. The left hand on the handlebars would be the one to access the break in case of an emergency, and what if there is a slower reaction due to the absence of skill?