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It’s time to set the record straight about Pee Wee Herman’s bike, the spiffy red Schwinn. It’s not the coolest bike in the whole wide world. Mountain bikes are, with their ruggedness and advanced technology that have fanned the craze for fat tire bikes everywhere. These bikes are every rider’s dream with upright seating on a comfy saddle, longhorn handle bars, plus disc brakes and shock absorbers. And, of course, those forgiving fat tires.

A Rebel and His Bicycle

A city-slicker fat tire bike ($300 to $700) is not what it seems. It’s actually a heavier hybrid of the mountain bike and is less reliable, although fine for the concrete jungle. Its components look similar, but are not designed for rough treatment, and the bike is more likely to break down. For real off-road adventure, look for bikes with frames and components made of strong, durable materials.

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Whether you ride a mountain bike, a road racer or a city hybrid bicycle, chances are you’re health conscious. When you adopt a regime of outdoor biking for both exercise and commuting, you’ve found a life-enhancing solution that will keep you lean, healthy, and happy.

And it can all be done on a bike. Cycling is as good as running and swimming as an aerobic (meaning “with oxygen”) exercise that will elevate your pulse rate and increase your cardio-vascular activity. Sports medicine specialists often prescribe cycling because it causes less wear and tear on the joints and muscles than running, while still building endurance and alleviating stress.

Cycling, both road and mountain, tones many of the same large muscles of the lower body as hiking does. You’re working the quads, hip flexors, and calf muscles when pushing the pedal down; and the hip flexors, hamstrings and calves when pulling the pedal up. But it’s an upper body conditioner as well since the muscles of the torso, as well as the arms and shoulders, are very active while riding. (more…)