Shimano makes a variety of bicycle parts, including the XT rear derailleur. A rear derailleur is a spring-tension mechanism attached to the bike frame near the back wheel. It is part of the drivetrain and is necessary for your bike to shift gears.

A cycling program is a great way to get in good shape and to lose that excess weight. Even a short bike ride such as three miles burns a surprising number of calories. For best results, you should maintain a continuous effort, rather than stopping and starting when doing so isn’t necessary for safety reasons.

Riding a stationary bike at the gym can be an effective form of cardiovascular exercise. While it might not typically burn as many calories as riding a bike outdoors, it is easier on the joints and has the advantage of being accessible in any type of weather.

Cyclists seeking a rough, off-road riding bike may end up deciding between the Trek 4300 or Trek 3900. While the Trek 4300 suits riders who enjoy attacking rugged trails with rocks, logs or other obstacles, the Trek 3900 may appeal to commuters who get in a weekend trail ride.

Cyclists train in many different ways depending on their goals, time restraints and fitness levels. Often this training consists of riding in certain predefined zones that a rider measures based on a power meter, heart rate monitor or perceived exertion.

The loss of sensation in your hands while riding a bike is not necessarily an indication of an illness. Even a healthy bicyclist can experience this problem. For most people, the cause is the positioning of your hands or posture while riding.

A multispeed bike allows you to comfortably ride at different speeds across varying terrain. Each speed on a bike refers to a different combination of gears. By changing the combination of these gears, you can make it more or less difficult to pedal.

If a long bike ride is quite literally a pain in the rear, your bike seat may be to blame. Excess pressure on the tailbone, which is usually caused by a lack of support or poor distribution of weight, can leave you with a sore coccyx after a ride.

Bike riding is a low-impact activity that can help you burn calories. Although the bike works the major muscles of your lower body, that doesn't mean that your legs will get big. In fact, you may actually lose weight and gain a lean appearance by adding biking to your fitness routine.

Competitive cyclists will use their VO2 max as a benchmark to gauge their endurance capacity as well as incorporate the data into a training program. VO2 max measures the amount of oxygen the body can absorb during intense and prolonged exercise. The higher your VO2 level, the better your cardiovascular fitness is.

Riding a bicycle is excellent cardiovascular exercise and a workout that can help you lose weight. At just 10 miles per hour an individual who weighs 200 lbs. burns over 360 calories in an hour of riding. Most people find tracking their exercise helps in achieving exercise goals.

Riding a bike is a low-impact exercise, but knee pain for cycling enthusiasts is common. The health concern that readers of "Bicycling" most frequently write to the magazine about is knees. This could lead you to think that cycling is bad for your knees, but that's not necessarily true.