World Wide Appeal

Pocket bike racing is a sport that continues to grow in appeal all across the world.  While Japan is credited with the first large scale cultural interest and organization of pocket bike racing, this is no longer just a Japanese or Asian phenomenon.  Pocket bike racing has increased dramatically in popularity through out the world.  While the United States and Australia are two of the most noted places where this sport is growing rapidly, don’t forget Europe!

Switzerland actually holds a championship that is gaining international recognition.  Geographically close to Italy, where almost all of the highest quality racing pocket bikes are manufactured now, the Swiss Pocket bike Championship first appeared in 1996.  This happened when a pocket bike club (the Gruyere Pocket Bike Club, to be precise) decided to compete against all Swiss pocket bike riders who showed.  It has been growing ever since and now the Swiss Championship has grown to become one of the biggest in the world, when compared to the nation's size. 

Commonly the competition will now have over 120 competitors, with a few of them coming even from nearby countries like France, Austria and Liechtenstein.  There are between 8 to 11 races on 8 to 11 different tracks that are counted for the championship, meaning there are anywhere from 64-121 races.  Several categories are awarded based on age and gender of the pilots and on the type of pocket bike (junior, stock or racing prepared).

The growth of this sport in Switzerland and Europe is a continued reflection of worldwide trends.  Pocket bike racing has never been more popular in the United States than it is now, and there are no signs of it diminishing.  New race circuits, pocket bike stores, and online forums pop up every year, and the devout group of pocket bike junkies grows with that number.  Australia has a respectable series of races and a continued growth in the sport, and it is not like pocket bike racing just disappeared in Japan.  The sport is still going strong.

The trend continues in pocket bike racing’s rising popularity, and seems to continue unabated.  What was once seemingly a strange Japanese sideshow has proven itself to be far more, and with each new race, only further re-enforces its current respect.

Why is my Bike so Slow? How to Rev it Back Up

One of the attractive things about owning a pocket bike is the adrenaline rush that speed can bring on, feeling the wind whip around you whether it is alone on a private track or in the middle of a race.  Pocket bikes were built to race, they were built for speed.  A pocket bike is a miniature version of a Grand Prix moter bike, so this makes sense.  These bikes can be customized to go 50, 60, or even 70 miles per hour!!  The current world record, in fact, is at 72 mph.  So what happens if you start your bike, and it just won’t hit those speeds you know it should be?  What if your pocket bike is going too slow?

There are a few basic steps you can take to try and locate the problem yourself, and a brief explanation of how to go through each one.

1.    ((It is important to note that you do this ONLY AFTER the bike has been turned on and warmed up already for a minimum of a few minutes))  Turn the air-intake on to open.  You can find this behind the front wheel, close to the engine.  This will give the bike more power.
2.    Follow all the fuel tubes, and make sure none of them are pinched off anywhere.  One single tube that is even slightly pinched can affect your entire performance.
3.    Check the throttle cables.  If they are too loose, the engine doesn’t get enough gas when you turn the throttle.
4.    If this is your first bike, don’t push it.  Pocket bikes need to be broken in.  Don’t turn the throttle all the way for at least the first two gas tanks, if not three.  In the long run, this will lead to better performance and more top notch speed.
5.    Note: be very careful if you attempt the following.  There is a gold screw, with a spring behind it, near the carburetor.  This is the idle control.  If you unscrew it by only half of a turn, it can also give you more power.  If this screw is tightened too much, the bike will start then immediately switch off.  If you make it too loose, the bike will jump and go as soon as you start it.  Finding the balance is critical, and this is not recommended for beginners.

If none of these things help, make sure to take your bike to a professional to get it running again at its optimal performance.

What Style of Biker Are You?

From touring to off-road riding to track riding to cyclo-riding to recreational biking—there are almost as many different styles of riding as there are bikes. The following is a discussion of three of the most popular styles of biking today.

Street/Urban Riding

Street/Urban riding is when you bike through urban areas, ride on ledges and other man-made obstacles. Some riders execute tricks as well as stalls and grinds. Hybrid bikes, sometimes called city bikes, are typically used for street/urban riding. Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. Most have front suspension with wide comfortable seats and upright handlebars.

Free Riding

The essence of free riding has it origins on the shores of British Columbia. As some free riders have explained it, free riding is more than just riding, it’s about riding with your friends and doing things on your bike that push the limits of both yourself and your bike. It’s not about being the fastest or coming up with a new trick. Rather, it’s about being totally free on your bike. Free riding is different for everyone. Essentially, when you ride for pure enjoyment, do your own thing, in your own way, that’s free riding--making it more of a mindset than a structured style of riding. For example, you could free ride downhill, cross-country or down the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland.

Many free ride bikes closely resemble downhill bikes and weigh as much, although they are usually designed to be easier to pedal. Free ride bikes should be in the 30 to upper 50 pound range, have a steeper angled frame in order to make maneuvering on narrow obstacles possible, and be built from stronger, heavier materials.

Downhill Mountain Biking

If you think downhill biking is all about kicking back, stretching your arms and cruising at a leisurely pace, think again. Even though it’s all downhill, biking down a mountain demands concentration, quick reflexes and bike-handling skills much different than free riding or city riding. It’s also a blast! Downhill mountain biking races involve race courses that are designed for riders to speed down while navigating huge jumps, obstacles and more. It’s very similar to motor cross racing.

While it’s true that all bikes go downhill, bikes that provide the optimum ride for Downhill Mountain Biking have what is called full suspension. This means that the front and rear of the frame are equipped with shock absorbers.

Total Bike Rack Buying Guide

Unfortunately we can’t ride our bikes everywhere. Sometimes we have to transport our bikes from one place to another. In the old days, people would use hodge-podge methods to tie their bikes to vehicles for transport, but those days are long over! With the advent of back racks, it is now possible to transport your bikes safely and securely.

Bike racks come in many different styles and uses. They also come in various prices. You need to do a little investigation to see what fits your needs. You very well sped as much as 300 dollars on a high quality bike rack or pick up one really cheap at bazaars or garage sales. The one you pick will depend on your needs. Be sure to ask yourself the following questions.

1. What vehicle will be used?
You need to know where the bike rack will be going. This is important because you need to know how the rack will attach to your vehicle. Racks use different attachment methods. You will have to choose one that fits your vehicle.

2. How many bikes will you need to transport?
Do you transport two or more bikes? If so, you will want to buy attachments that will allow more than one bike rack.

3. Where do you want them to be racked?
Consider whether you want a roof, rear, or sport rack:

- Roof Racks These racks are attached at the top of a vehicle
- Rear Racks These racks attach to the rear of vehicle
- Sport Trailers These are used to carry many bicycles

4. What shape are your bikes?
You must into consideration the size and shape of your bikes. If you are transporting children’s bikes, for example, you will need racks that will take that size of bicycles.

5. Who will load the bicycles on the rack?
It has to be convenient for the loader. The easier the rack is to load unto the more expensive the rack.

6. How strong should your rack be?
If you are loading heavy bikes, you will need racks that can withstand the weight of the bike. They have to be made of sturdy material. But the sturdier the material, the pricier the rack.

7. Should it be lockable?
If you want added security for your bikes you will want to purchase racks that support locks and other security devices.

8. How often are you likely to use the rack?
You need to know how often you will use the rack so that you can purchase one that can withstand the rigors of travel. If you will not use it often, you will not have to purchase a heavy-duty, high price rack.

9. How much do you want to spend?
Ultimately, everything boils down to your budget. If you can’t afford it, even if you need it, it will have to wait. But don’t be afraid to save up if the cheaper alternatives do not match up to your needs. Try to find a rack that has only the features you need. If it has bells and whistles you don’t need, don't buy it right away. It's fine to take into consideration features and functionality that you might need in the future, for example.

The Perfect Display for Your Achievements

Acrylic Awards,Trophies,Mementoes & Corporate Gifts are to be treasured forever. They could be awarded for certain accomplishments, or a memento of membership, or a souvenir from an event.

Trophies & Mementoes as awards are especially common for scholastic, sporting and office achievements. Academic awards are given in the form of trophies for different classes and subject proficiencies. Trophies for sporting achievements are the most popular. Games like tennis, football, basketball, cricket and golf all have coveted trophies. No one can forget the pictures of sportsmen weeping with joy and clutching their hard-earned trophies.

Trophies are sometimes given for achieving business targets or for attending training programs. They are also given to members of elite clubs and organizations.

Symbol of Appreciation and Encouragement
Even as a kid we loved to be encouraged. No matter what work we did, a pat on the back always pepped us up. Remember those small trophies in school sports events? Or working day in and out to win the science project?

Gitanjali awards can be different in making and designing. Some companies offer custom trophies, which are exclusively designed trophies or particular events, people and occasions. For example, the Oscar is custom-made for the Oscar awards. But,Customization enables one to make a trophy unique and valuable. Often it is not the cost that is important, but the ingenuity of the design.

Most companies have performance awards in each department like the best sales team for achieving the maximum number of sales, the best tech team and even the employee of the quarter.You can easily get the best custom made trophies made of wood and metal. Your company logo, artwork and any other branding that you are looking for completely laser engraved on the awards.

But nothing can beat the shine and the sparkle of a metal award. Designs that celebrate youth, which epitomize performance and exuberance, are quite common. The thank you, the star of the quarter and the global icon are some of the popular trophy designs.

Gitanjali awards Creates a Wide Range of Acrylic Awards,Trophies,Mementoes & Corporate Gifts.

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Gitanjali awards Specialize in Executing jobs for various Customers as per their Specific Requirements using the latest cutting edge technologies.For Information logon to http://www.gitanjaliawards.com


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Pocket Bikes – Miniature Form Of Motorbikes

Pocket bikes, also known as mini motors are miniature-sized motorcycles, fueled with either gas or oil and powered with gas-burning engines. The concept of motorbikes had begun in Japan, a country known for miniaturizing full-scale products.

Previously pocket bikes were used only on closed racetracks, private roads and on roads that were not under public traffic laws, so that no big car or truck can run into your minute sized pocket bikes. But these you will often find pocket bikes zinging in and out of the parking lots, up and down the residential streets and occasionally onto the side of the cars.

The pocket bikes usually move at a top speed of 35 mph, but often the speed can be raised further. Another interesting feature of these pocket bikes are their duplicate imitation of normal-sized street motorcycles. The pocket bikes are equipped with handlebars, twist-grip throttles, and chain drives, electronic ignition and disk brakes.

The pocket bikes are not at all safe for the highways or high traffic zone areas. If you are driving a small sports car and someone is driving a mini pocket bike behind you, you will fail to see him or the pocket bike. So it becomes really dangerous to move in a traffic-crowded area, as the rider can be easily run-down by the driver of the bigger truck. The pocket bikes are specially designed to travel only on the racetracks.

There are some safety measures that should be followed while one is driving these pocket bikes. The person driving the bike should be an ace in driving and he should always carry his helmet and pads. If by chance if your kid is riding the pocket bike, then make sure that he/she does not go out of the backyard or the driveway.

The pocket bikes follow hi-tech technology so the snazziest models cost even more than thousands. The smaller models, however, cost around $200 to $800. They basically come from Japan and China and are specially famous amongst the teenagers and people in their early youths. These bikes weigh almost 50 pounds, stand about a foot and half high and can be carried stacked in a corner of the trunk of the car. They have really tiny engines with 47 cc to 49cc displacement, less than 1/20th the size of the bigger motorcycles.

Try out the pocket bikes. If you want something thrilling, something exciting, something enticing to bring a difference to your monotonous days, then pocket bikes are the best alternatives for you.

Pocket Bike Safety Tips

Pocket bikes may look like toys, but they aren't.  They are designed for fun, but they can also be very dangerous if not handled properly.  Never allow unsafe practices to take away the fun from riding pocket bikes.  You can have fun, and still be safe, by following some simple common sense rules.

•    Always wear the right equipment.  Dress as though you were riding a big street bike.  Leather is the best type of clothing, and helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads should be worn at all times.  Eyes can be protected with goggles are safety glasses.  Buckle the chin strap each and every time.  Leather gloves are a great idea to protect your hands.
•    Always inspect your bike before riding.  This should become an automatic habit to check before each ride.  Make sure your air pressure in the tires is right.  Check the tension of the chain.  Check the fuel.  Check the frame of the bike.  Tighten any loose nuts or bolts.  If anything looks or sounds amiss, don't ride!  Most injuries from pocket bikes occur because something is wrong with the bike, and an individual rides it, anyway.
•    Maintenance.  This can not be stressed enough.  Keep every part of your pocket bike well maintained and cared for.  Don't cut corners.
•    Stay off public streets.  Most states don't allow pocket bikes on public streets, and many people have been hurt or even killed because they were hit by drivers who could not see them.
•    Do not ride in undesirable conditions that impair your vision or your ability to control the bike.  Fog, rain, darkness, and snow can be dangerous.  Also, do not ride the pocket bike if you are impaired.  You wouldn't do it with a car, so don't do it with a pocket bike. 
•    Never drive a pocket bike at night.
•    Keep your pocket bike on smooth hard surfaces.  These are not meant for off-road use.
•    Don't "double up."  Pocket bikes were designed for a single rider and should be used as such. 

Follow these tips and your pocket bike will provide hours of safe fun and entertainment, exactly as you had hoped, and without the worry of senseless injury.