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By Adaleya Johnson

Most of us had a bicycle as a child and can remember the enjoyment of riding down the street for the first time. Not only was riding a bicycle a great summertime activity at one time, it was one of the few available to kids. However, times have changed and the bicycle has given way to video games and texting. With more young people spending time indoors, the population has grown more overweight. At this point, many Concord personal training professionals claim we are in the midst of a health epidemic due to a lack of activity in our daily lives. So, it makes sense to look back on our childhood days to the things that helped keep us healthy.

Bicycles have a long history stretching back nearly 150 years. The first were built simply as an amusement; as a way for those in cities to show their status by not having to depend upon horses and carriages to get them from one end of town to the other. As time went by, bicycles became more cost-friendly and by the early 1950s it was rare to see a family home without at least one in the driveway. Bicycling is fun and can be learned fairly quickly by a young child and can be continued easily into adulthood. Its the reason that even today there are bicycle enthusiasts and clubs found across the country.

According to one Concord personal training professional, if you havent cycled in the past few years, there are some things to consider before taking up the routine again. First, are you physically able? If you happen to be considerably overweight, sitting on a standard bicycle seat can be difficult as well as painful. Check with your local bicycle shop to see what options they have for seating. Some seats are built for the larger adult backside and many even have springs to help absorb any shocks experienced during a ride. Also, ask your doctor if you are physically capable of pedaling and riding a bicycle. Those with extreme weight issues may first have to lose some of that weight before hopping on.

Not all bicycles are created equal. Buying a bicycle for $100 at your local retail chain will allow you to save some money, but spending a little more at an actual bicycle shop will allow you contact with professionals who know the products they sell very well. In many instances, such shop employees will be able to give you helpful advice as to the specific type of bicycle you need as well as what gear you may need with it. The downside, including an increase in price, is the fact that they will certainly try to upsell certain products to you. Let the salesperson know you are willing to pay for a good bicycle, but that he or she should stick to what you need, not what you might simply want.

Will you by bicycling on pavement or do you plan to try a little off-road fun? There are different bicycles available depending upon the type of environment you expect. Street bicycles have narrow wheels and fairly smooth tires, allowing for a smooth, quick ride. All-terrain or off-road bicycles are built a little heavier and have wider wheels with dirt-gripping tires. This type of bicycle will allow you the traction and power you need to negotiate the rough terrain. Whichever bicycle you choose, as always, check with your doctor to be certain the type of bicycle riding you plan to do is appropriate to your physical condition.

One Concord personal training professional reminds that the most important thing is to improve your health by enjoying a wonderful American tradition. Get off the couch and get on a bicycle to enjoy the wonderful health benefits associated with this outdoor activity.

About the Author: Adaleya Johnson has the #1

Concord personal training

program and has been helping Concord clients lose weight, get toned and fit into their skinny jeans for over 2 years. Check out his

Concord personal training

studio here.

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By Vincent Platania

Keeping your house clean, both inside and out, is more than a matter of aesthetics. Leaf-choked gutters and grimy buildup can encourage the growth of mold, spores and other allergens that can make your family sick. In addition, they take a toll on the structure of your house, contributing to decay and musty, unhealthy odors. The cost of not doing home maintenance can be trips to the emergency room and calls to contractors to repair leaky pipes, clogged gutters and more.

You can prevent most of that – and have a more comfortable house to live in – by keeping a housekeeping chores list of simple home maintenance tips and checking it off regularly. Here’s a dozen suggestions from professional house cleaners that can help you keep your house in tiptop shape.

Outside Maintenance Housekeeping Chores List

Keep drainage spouts and gutters free of debris and leaves so that water can drain freely. You can use a gutter scoop – a trowel that’s made especially for cleaning out gutters – to scoop out leaves and debris, and finish up with a powerful spray from a garden hose or a small pressure washer. Clean gutters will save your roof, your paint job and your siding. Waterlogged roofs and gutters will cost you big money in the long run.

Clean debris and soil around downspouts and make sure that water is directed away from the foundation. A formed downspout apron of PVC or cement can help make sure that drainage doesn’t settle around the foundation where it can eat away at the cement or leak into your basement.

Acid rain, air pollution and general dirt and dust can eat away at your house’s siding or paint. To keep it in top shape, wash it down in the spring and fall using a pressure washer and a detergent made specifically for washing away outdoor dirt and grit (Pressure Washer Multi-Purpose House Wash)

Make window washing easy on your back with a long handled squeegee and brush combination (Window Brush). The long handle lets you reach all the way to the top of windows without stretching, the brush scrubs away dirt without elbow grease, and the squeegee leaves a clean, streak-free shine.

For the house and siding, choose a similar tool (Dual Surface Scrub Brush) – with a durable foam pad and a scrub brush for those tough stains from acid rain.

Keep all plantings at least 18 inches away from the foundation of the house. Any closer, and you risk roots pushing through the cement and into your basement. Once a month during spring/summer/fall, do a visual inspection of the plantings around your house, and trim away loose branches that might fall and damage property later.

Check the flashings around chimneys, skylights and chimney for leaks in the spring and fall to keep your house watertight. Repairing at the first sign of a leak will save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars you’d end up spending to repair the damage if you let it go.

About the Author: Vincent Platania represents the Fuller Brush Company. Fuller Brush has been in business since 1906, and offers safe, environmentally friendly products for keeping your home and your body clean. Visit fuller-brush-products.com

Source: isnare.com

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