The Bad News for Cyclists

The common cold is one of the few problems in the western world that we just cannot fix.  We can transplant a heart, grow an ear on a mouse and build mechanical kidneys (dialysis machines), but we cannot cure the common cold; all we can do is avoid it.

Passionate cyclists are well aware of the benefits of cycling gloves, but as the British winter sets in, even the weekend cyclist is starting to recognise the benefits.  Under normal circumstances it is good to wear gloves in the winter due to the fact you are going to get very uncomfortable being outside for extended periods without them.  It comes to a head more when you are cycling because the cold air is rushing over your fingers and knuckles making them cold.  These cold spots are like little cooling systems, moving cold blood into your body, making you more susceptible to a common cold.

The many forms of bacteria and virus that cause the common cold and flu thrive in temperatures just slightly lower than normal body temperature.  This is why people get a fever when they are sick with a cold and flu, because the body knows that the virus and bacteria causing the problems do not like the warm.  The most sensible form of action is to avoid the common cold all together.  Cover your hands with good cycling gloves, cover your ears, cover your nose, and keep the cold off your chest too. 

The good news for cyclists

An avid cyclist, or even a weekend cyclist, will recover from a cold faster than other people.  The link between physical fitness and the recuperation times is well established, and cyclists tend to be physically fit.  You may be surprised to hear, that even overweight people whom cycle on a weekend, are actually slicing in half the time it will take them to recover from the common cold, and other common health issues.  As all cyclists know, to ride a bike regularly you need an awful amount of stamina and endurance.  Riding a bike will increase these two qualities within your own body; the same two qualities that are ideal for ill health recuperation.  So even if you are riding your bike with a pork pie in one hand, with your other hand clutching the handle bars with a bag of crisps, you are still going to recover from a cold faster than if you were not cycling.

So play it safe and wrap up warm.  Cover your extremities, especially when there is cold weather and frost.  A good jacket, head covering and cycling gloves are a must.  You may feel a little silly at first, wrapped up like a Christmas present, but you will look far sillier with a runny nose, seeping eyes and a headache.


Olive Oil from Spain

Apart from the money that tourism brings in, olive oil is one of the main sources of foreign income into the Spanish economy. Anyone who has ever collected their car from car hire in Malaga airport and headed north through the hills, away from the coast cannot fail to have seen the vast swathes of olive groves which cover the hillsides for many miles in all directions. Spain is estimated to have 215 million olive trees covering 5 million acres, and the production accounts for 27% of the world’s olive oil.

Olive oil varies considerably depending on where in the country it is grown, how and when the olives are pressed and what type of olives are used to produce the final blend. The flavour of the oil is most affected by the time of year that the olives are harvested. Olives harvested early in the year will make an oil which is much stronger and sharper in flavour, whereas olives harvested in the autumn produce an oil which is milder and more buttery in flavour. Olive oil is much better for you than fats derived from animals, such as butter.

Once the olives have been harvested they are taken to the mill or processing plant where the process of extracting the oil begins. They are first mashed up to make a thick paste then spun quickly in a centrifuge to separate the liquid oil from the solid remains of the olives. Alternatively, the olives are mashed and then allowed to stand until the oil floats to the top, where it is removed from the solids. Olive oil is then allowed to mature for between three and six months which improves the flavour of the finished product. There are different types of oil available ranging from extra virgin olive oil which comes from the first pressing of the fruit to regular olive oil which is more golden in colour and comes from subsequent pressings of the fruit. Extra virgin oil is generally recommended when flavour is important, such as in a salad dressing, whereas the less expensive oils are more appropriate for cooking and using when flavour is not such a critical factor.

Many of the olive oil producers welcome visitors, and some will even arrange a tour and a tasting of the different oils which they produce, obviously in the hope that you’ll return to car hire Malaga airport with suitcases packed full of different bottles of oil. Although it’s nice to see where and how they are produced, oils are generally no better value in Spain than buying a good quality olive oil at home so by all means buy a small bottle of something special but leave the large 5 litre containers well alone.  


Cleaning Your Oven

Whether they are gas or electric cookers, they need regular cleaning to keep them working as well as when they were new. It is not the most glamorous job in the world and many people put it off until it becomes a crisis. The biggest tip for all cooker owners is to clean regularly and the oven won’t be such a mess to clean in the first place.

There are some steps that you can take to make the job easier, more pleasant and effective.

  1. The first step is to purchase a fair amount of baking soda. The soda suds eat through the grime and loosen it from the surfaces that it’s clinging to. Along with the baking soda you will need a spray bottle (approximately 1 pint or 1 litre) to make the mixture of baking soda and water. The mixture consists of 3 heaped teaspoons of baking soda mixed with water. You can fill the bottle with water. Shake it vigorously to make sure that all the baking soda dissolves.

  2. Make sure that you work with a cold oven. Use the spray bottle to spray the top, sides and bottom of the oven. You may have to do this a few time during the day. The spray bottle will help you to evenly distribute the baking soda mixture and to get into those uncomfortable little nooks and crannies.

  3. Let the baking soda dry. If you want to, wipe the grime away from the surfaces, although it is advisable to leave the baking soda to soak in properly before wiping it down with a damp cloth. Alternatively you can just continue using your oven as usual – the carbon will disintegrate in the heat. The baking soda is perfectly safe to consume so don’t worry about it getting into the food.

  4. For extra cleaning power you can add a generous amount of lemon juice with the mixture. Not only will it help break down the carbon deposits, but it will also give your oven a pleasant, fresh smell.

  5. To keep your oven clean, keep on applying the baking soda mixture to prevent further carbon build-up.

This technique works well with both gas as well as electric cookers. It is also more environmentally friendly than the commercial oven cleaners. Of course the secret to success is time and patience. Wait for the baking soda to settle in and eat away at the grime. You’ll notice it slowly sliding to the bottom of the oven. This is when you can wipe it down with a damp cloth. In the meantime use your oven as usual. Don’t let oven grime get you down.


Learn the Ropes with a Canal Boat Subscription

For the absolute beginner to boating, taking out a Canal Boat subscription can open your eyes to what the other boaters have been up to, the places they visited and any problems that they may have encountered on their way. It will also make you aware of any restoration projects that are being undertaken along the canal routes. This will help you decide on your trip and calculate your mooring spots each evening. The calculation is simple. Assume a speed of three miles per hour with twenty minutes needed to navigate each single lock, stepped locks take longer. Add the distance in miles to the number of locks and divide by three to get your journey time in hours.

 

Having decided upon your route and arrange for boat hire, the novice boater should visit the New to boating section of the Canal Boat website. This gives clear, easily understood instructions on how to navigate the journey safely. It covers the following areas.

 

Locks

 

This section describes the principle behind how locks work, complete with an animation. The article discusses the various types of locks and how to operate the mechanisms. It also tells you the correct order to use the various parts of the lock gates when flooding or draining the lock. It points out some obvious but easily overlooked dangers, like what happens if you tie up to the bollards when draining a lock, the proper way to keep the boat in position as it lowers or rises. It also mentions the wisdom of sharing a lock with another boat where possible and reminds you to be aware of boats travelling the opposite direction in stepped locks.

 

Steering

 

This gives you an overview of the different types of steering mechanisms the various boats employ. Steering wheels which behave like a cars, the boat will turn in the same direction you turn the wheel; tillers and rudders, with which the boat will turn in the opposite way to that of the tiller. It also makes you aware of the fact that boats take much longer to change direction and stop than a car.

 

Engines

 

This gives the basic controls available to you in controlling you speed and how to reverse. It also covers speed limits, usually 4 MPH and mentions the damaged caused by exceeding the speed limit, along with river protocol.

 

Mooring

 

This is one of the longer sections that cover where you can moor, both on moorings owned by the Navigation Authority and private landowners. It describes concisely how to manoeuvre correctly into the mooring position, while this sounds simple on paper, it will take some practice before you can do it right every time. After your first trip you will want to renew your Canal Boat subscription so you can plan your next trip..


Bridgedale Socks - Made for Trekkers

Bridgedale socks are specially made with backpackers and trekkers in mind. These come in a wide range suitable for both men and women. Specially designed for comfort on extended hikes, formulated in WoolFusion these socks allow feet to breathe freely while still keeping your feet warm and dry. Although hiking is commonly associated with the national parks of North America, it is a pastime that has a large following in the UK.

One place that is certain to test out the comfort factor of Bridgedale socks is the highlands of Scotland. Seasoned walkers tend to avoid the period from June to August, since this is when the area gets most of its visitors. The hardened hiker will normally visit in springtime or even winter, but usually before snow is due.

South of the border, a favourite spot for hikers is Cumbria and the Lake District, with the Cumbria Way a popular path for long distance hikers. This stretches through the Lake District from Ulverston in the south to Carlisle in the north. The trail will take you through green lanes and farmland, to higher elevation woodlands and the famous Snake Pass area of the Way. Naturally you will come across some spectacular valleys and lakes.

Another favourite area in the north of England is the Peak District. This is a place that offers a variety of walks that range from hard, Kinder Downfall from Hayfield, through moderate, Higger Tor and Carl Walk to a wide range of easy walks, such as Win Hill from Hope Village. These are only a few of the walks available. Further south, you have Snowdonia in Wales, Exmoor and Cheshire in England as well as the Yorkshire moors. In fact, no matter where you are in the UK, you are never very far away from a place that is suited to hiking through some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain.

Regardless of where you choose to visit, remember that you need to be properly kitted out for hiking. Runners, shorts and tee-shirts are not suitable clothing. Weather can change very quickly, especially on higher ground so your choice of clothing should reflect that. Sturdy boots and Bridgedale socks will keep your feet dry and comfortable, warm trousers and a jumper along with a waterproof jacket will protect the rest of you from the worst of the elements. Ask for the local’s advice before you set out on your hike. These people will know the danger areas; they will also have a good idea of the weather you are likely to encounter at that time of year. Finally, leave details of the route you plan to take as well as a time when you expect to return, or if moving on, an estimated time of arrival at your new destination.


A Training Academy for the Mazda Dealer Network

Mazda is a hot name among auto makers around the world. But in the UK the brand enjoys an exceptionally robust reputation. Perhaps it's the quality of the cars; perhaps it's the customer experience the Mazda Dealer Network provides; perhaps it's a combination of both. But no matter how you look at it, Mazda is not resting on yesterday's successes. The company continues to push the boundaries in new innovations for the auto industry. The Mazda Academy is but one example.

 

The Mazda Academy is a training institute of sorts where dealers can receive all the education and support they require to be successful. Mazda believes what sets their programme apart from that of other manufacturers is their commitment to the principle of shared ideas. The dealers are the men and women on the ground in the UK. If their trainers bring something to the table the dealers believe won't work in the real world, they all to work together on a solution. This approach has combined the best of training theory with real world experience.

 

Another unique aspect of the Mazda Academy is the fact that very little training is done in an actual classroom setting. Rather, most is conducted online using distance learning courses, podcasts, webinars, and interactive solutions. In this manner, the Mazda Dealer Network has full access to all training materials and sessions without having to schedule time away. This keeps dealers at home, near their customers. It also encourages the mind-set that technology is not to be feared; an important concept for remaining competitive in the modern world.

 

While the Mazda Academy focuses training in the area of sales, service, and maintenance, it does not neglect the dealer locations. Academy staff visits the individual dealers, through the Dealer Enhancement Programme, to work with them in managing their daily businesses. Experienced business managers are paired with individual dealers to help them work through issues of customer service, employee relations, team work, efficiency, and accountability. They also are there to make sure the dealers are putting into practice the principles learned in Academy.

 

Academy officials believe their two-pronged approach to dealer training has broken the barriers that have made corporate training such an unwelcome experience in the past. If new dealerships are any indication of satisfaction with Mazda or their Academy, they have a lot to be pleased with. In 2009, Mazda UK saw 20 new dealerships opened.

 

Mazda aims to change the rules of the automotive industry through its Academy. The combination of motivated and well trained dealers is what Mazda believes will build brand loyalty and keep the Mazda Dealer Network ahead of the competition for years to come.