Low: Routes of low level are those roads that tend to be flat and with down hills. They are also characterized for having few long and steep slopes.
Medium: In this type of routes you will find at least 10 km of ascent with medium inclinations or 5 km and with high inclinations. You will also find fast descents on roads with loose rocks.
High: The routes considered as high level take place in paths or roads with at least 20 km of ascent with medium slopes or 10 km with high slopes. This routes might have technical descents, very steep, on trails with branches, loose rock and differences in height on the road.
Here we will list the basic adjustments and check-up you need to do to your bike before any trip:
The clothes you are wearing can make your outdoor activity more or less enjoyable. Here we present some tips on how to benefit the most from the outfit you choose for a cycling trip. In cycling and mountain activities you are supposed to wear synthetic fibers, such as polyester, nylon, polypropylene, etc. These fibers do not retain sweat and eliminate it faster than natural fibers, plus they are good for cold climates because they maintain body heat.
Jersey: These are made out of a combination of synthetic and elastic fibers that fit the body tightly while also allowing for perspiration. They can be long- or short-sleeved, depending upon the weather.
Lycra shorts or Pants: These can be short or long and fit the body tightly. They should have padding in the groin area in order to mitigate friction with the bicycle seat.
Socks: These can be of any synthetic fiber found in the market. It is important that they are thicker around the heal and have no seams in areas of friction, in order to avoid chafing.
Shoes: These have special features that attach to the pedal. They usually have a hard sole, which makes it easier to pedal because it distributes the force over the entire foot.
Gloves: These should have a lot of padding in order to reduce impact on the hands in the case of an accident or when cycling over irregular terrain. Gloves without fingertips are better for warm climates and allow for an improved grip of the handlebar and brakes. Gloves with fingertips provide for improved protection and greater warmth.
Arm- and leg-warmers: These clothes are used on cold days or for protection from the sun. They should be of a material that fits tightly to the arms and legs.
Waterproof clothing: It is useful to have at least one waterproof jacket handy. The best is to have outfits that allow for perspiration and have thermo-sealed seams.
Helmet: This is a useful and mandatory device that you should bring along. You can find a variety of options available in the market, depending on the form of cycling you practice. The helmets used for cross country are lighter and allow for greater ventilation. The ones used for downhill offer higher protection, but they are more expensive, heavier, and have little ventilation.
Sunglasses:These help protect your eyes and also help avoid dust, small insects, or even branches, which can get into the eyes. They should be made out of impact-resistant material and should be light and big enough to protect the upper, lower, and lateral areas surrounding the eyes. It is recommended to buy goggles that have light colored lenses, which can be used in areas of low light. The market offers goggles that have different lenses, which you can change depending on the light intensity; these are the best ones to buy.
There are some basic tips that will make your cycling more effective. We will detail the most important ones.
Height of the bicycle seat:The height of the bicycle seat should be in proportion to the slope of the terrain, so that there are at least two different heights. For descents, you can use a low height, in order to have more control and equilibrium during turns and when going over obstacles. When the road is flat and is ascending, you should have a height that allows for your knees to be completely stretched, thus avoiding injury.
How to use the gears:When the gears are used correctly, you save energy by having a constant rhythm throughout your cycling. It is recommended that certain combination of gears be used, depending on the slope of the terrain. The first gear (tu pusiste aqui plato no se si les quieres cambiar) is used for ascents, in combination with pinions one, two and three and even four. The second gear is used for flat roads and not very steep ascents; it can be used in combination with any pinion except the very low or very high ones. The third gear can be used for flat roads and descents, in combination with the last three pinions.
A continuación algunos consejos para superar las cuestas optimizando los recursos.
Halar un poco de los manubrios puede ayudar a sacar esa fuerza extra para trepar, para lo cual existen accesorios que se pueden colocar al final de los manubrios.
Si el terreno está formado de material poco compacto, es necesario utilizar una marcha no tan suave y sentarse para obtener una mejor tracción.
Antes de iniciar una cuesta deberás colocar una marcha adecuada ya que de otro modo perderás viada y equilibrio además de forzar la cadena.
Si la cuesta es muy larga, es mejor ahorrar energía cambiando las marchas progresivamente hasta llegar a un cambio adecuado.
La altura del asiento debe estar regulada de manera que al pedalear las piernas se estiren completamente.
La suspensión no es un requisito indispensable en el ciclismo de montaña sin embargo ayuda a absorber el impacto causado por irregularidades del terreno las cuales absorberá tu cuerpo si tu bicicleta es rígida. Además la suspensión disminuye las posibilidades de caídas por lo que siempre es recomendable si quieres disfrutar mas de un paseo.
You have the option of getting in the car that will be following the group.
Low: They are accessible excursions through simple and slightly steep areas, their maximum duration will be 5 hours and technical equipment will not be needed.
Average: They are excursions that are developed in more difficult and steep lands like sandy grounds, paving and small rock segments. The time considered for the excursion’s progress will be from 5 to 10 hours.
High: High level excursions have similar characteristic to average level ones; nevertheless, their length will be able to exceed 10 hours. They could last a single day or several days. Technical equipment will be possibly needed.
The key to dress adequately in the mountain and when you practice cycling is using synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon, polipropilene, etc) articles. These fibers are excellent because they do not retain the sweat and maintain the corporal heat.
Layer dressing system: The order in which you utilize your clothes is very important to control your corporal heat and dampness despite of the external factors as cold weather, wind and rain.
First Layer: The first layer objective is to withdraw from the surface of the skin the humidity produced by the sweat, maintaining the corporal heat. To accomplish with its purpose it must adjust to the body. The election of this undercoat is crucial to obtain an optimal operation of the other two layers.
Second Layer: The second layer retains the heat produced by the body between the air chambers that form among the body and the outside. Consequently, while more air chambers appear in the smaller space, more calorific retention will be attained. The most common materials used in these types of clothes are feathers and polar fibers usually called “fleece”.
Third Layer: The third layer isolates the body of external factors like wind and rain. The basic characteristics that must fulfill well a third layer are to be impermeable and transpirable. Those of better quality bring their seams sealed.
Socks: A foot in activity and inside a boot transpires 200 ml for every 8 hs. For this reason it is necessary to avoid using cotton socks because they accumulate the water. Thin socks made of synthetic fiber will absorb the sweat and will keep the foot dry in hot climates, while in cold climates it is possible to combine them with a second pair that are more comfortable and protect you from the friction.
Trekking boots: Within this category of footwear there are many options with several benefits. However, the basic characteristics that trekking boots must fulfill are light weight, strong gripping soles, and average or high cane. Though if you are planning to hike from media montaña or more, there are boots with more rigid soles and frontal protections with impermeable and transpirable membranes.
Gaiters: Gaiters are very useful for sandy grounds, snow or wet pajonal. In addition, their use increases the boot’s calorific retention and offer more protection against friction.
Hands are one of the first parts of the body are affected by low temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to use a combination of materials to obtain an effective protection. A good election is a fine elastic synthetic fiber glove that helps to retain the corporal and allow finger to move. In lower temperatures, an additional pair made of polar lining or wool can be used and in windy and rainy days you must protect your hands with impermeable gloves.
Up to 40 % of the corporal heat is lost within the head. Depending on the climatic conditions, it will be needed of major or minor protection. A wool or cotton beanie represents the minimal protection in a mountain. Polar lining hatbands turn out to be practical enough as ears protection, offering a great aeration to the rest of the head. The balaclava constitutes the most complete system of isolation from the cold wind. Also, there are very light facial masks that are resistant to the wind and prevent freezing.
The principal benefit is that trekking poles give you 2 additional support points, which reduce weight that legs bear and generates major stability and balance. They are ideal for descents, where your knees hold all your weight and your backpack’s weight too. Trekking poles are a really good investment if you think in the long-term damage that your knees can suffer.
There is a huge variety of backpacks that have been developed for outdoors activities and they are classified according to size or volume. Their capacity comes indicated in liters.
Heavy load backpacks: They are good to haul between 70 and 100 ltrs. This type of backpacks is used generally for long expeditions (more than two days) where you need to camp or special equipment like cords, harnesses, ironworks, etc.
Expedition backpacks: They are able to carry between 45 and 70 ltrs. They are ideal for one or two day’s excursions, where special equipment will not be required. In addition, they are very advisable for women.
Attack or assault backpacks :Within this category there are more technical backpacks with capacity between 30 and 50 ltrs, without external pockets to facilitate the user’s movement and to prevent destabilization. They include systems to carry materials such as accessories to hold the helmet and to keep crampons in more accessible sites. These backpacks turn out to be ideal to climb, to rich a summit from the camping refuge, or to go on a single day’s excursions, where you need equipment and special material. In addition, there are other backpacks that are able to carry between 20 and 30 ltrs, witch are destined for short walks that not require much space.
Packing a backpack correctly will make a difference. The basic issue that you have to take account of is balance; if a backpack is well packed it stand on the ground by itself.
Almost always, the backpack’s bottom is filled with the sleeping bag, extra clothes, or soft articles that you wont need during the excursion.
In the middle part of the backpack you will place the heavier things as water, food or dishes; that way, your back supports the weight and you do not feel imbalanced. Finally on the top and in the pockets you should locate food you will need during the excursion, impermeable clothes, cap, gloves, first aid kit, solar protector, toilet paper, lantern, etc.
The correct use of a backpack:
Los autos se podrán dejar en un parqueadero muy cerca de Tatoo ubicado en la Reina Victoria y Foch esquina. El costo del parqueadero por día es de $5
La salida será 15 min luego de la hora de encuentro y en caso de no asistir se deberá notificar con 48 hrs de anticipación a los organizadores, caso contrario el valor de inscripción no será devuelto. En caso de retrasos luego del tiempo de espera determinado no habrá devolución de la inscripción.
El valor de la inscripción será devuelto por los organizadores en caso de que la salida fuera cancelada o postergada por motivos de fuerza mayor.
La única forma de garantizar un cupo para la salida es inscribiéndote a la misma.
