Bent’s Cycling and Fitness has been Lakeland’s premier provider of all your cycling needs for 49 years. We proudly offer pro-level Road and Mountain bicycles… as well as afordable cruisers for a more leisurely ride. An expansive bicycle selection, in stock, from the most recognized and trusted names in the industry. We also feature an
incredible array of parts, apparel and
accessories; all designed to make your next ride more secure and enjoyable. Our friendly,
knowledgeable staff will help find the perfect
bike that suits each rider. Bicycles are
meticulously assembled, tuned, double-checked and test-ridden. We personally adjust the fit to you individually, for your comfort and satisfaction. Free Service is provided during the break-in period.
Knee injuries are very common during cycling; especially if an athlete is not taking the precautions he or she needs to before riding. Knee injuries can cause an athlete to experience pain or discomfort, can hinder athletic ability, and can lead to joint problems later in life. Here are three ways that an athlete can prevent some of the most common knee injuries that occur during cycling.One of the easy ways is to heels of her feet to pedal will experience more knee pain, especially if he or she is an avid cyclist. The ligaments in the knee are susceptible to serious strain when an athlete uses his or her heel to pedal, which can lead to ligament tears if the pressure is too great. If an athlete is not sure of what the right foot position is during cycling, he or she should seek the advice of a personal trainer or professional cyclist, in order to help him or her improve technique.
Increase Distance Gradually
An athlete should also make sure that he or she increases his or her distance gradually, which can help him or her reduce knee injuries. If an athlete begins cycling 10 miles right off the bat, then he or she is not giving his or her legs and knees proper time to adjust, which can cause overuse injuries. An athlete never wants to start off with a very intense cycling session either, since this can cause a lot of stress on the joints and muscles surrounding the knee, and could cause the ligaments to tear. It is very important that an athlete increase his or her cycling by 10 minutes each day at the most, which can help the knee joints and muscles become more flexible over time.
Move the Seat Higher
Patellar tendonitis is one of the most
common knee injuries that an athlete could experience during cycling, and this is caused
by too low of a seat. When an athlete sits on a
cycle, his or her back should be straight, with
the hands comfortably resting on the
handlebars, and the feet should be flat on
the pedals. If an athlete is too low to the
ground, his or her legs will become crunched between the pedals and the handlebars,
which can put significant pressure on the
knees. An athlete should make sure that his or
her seat is properly adjusted so that there
is about a 30 degree angle at the knee area.
An athlete should have this angle while the
feet are on the pedals, and the pedals should
be resting parallel to the ground.
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Florida Ironman Event coming soon!
Lance Armstrong, Tour de France winner
and cancer survivor, is coming to Haines City
on May 20 to compete in the Florida Ironman
event. "Ironman is one of the top draws in the
country, really the world. One of the top draws
in the country," said Marc Zimmerman, with
Polk County's Tourism and Sports marketing,
the organization that is bringing the Ironman to
Haines City. "It's going to be interesting to see
the effect because he has a couple more races
before Florida, to see what the increases are
in those races, and how that will impact our race."
Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour de
France, finished second this past weekend in his
first try at a triathlon in Panama. He is also known
for his advocacy against cancer after being
diagnosed with testicular cancer that had
spread to his brain and lungs in 1999.
He returned from the treatment to win his first
Tour de France in 1999, then won the next six
races. Armstrong also created a namesake
foundation to advocate for cancer patients,
and has committed to five Ironman events to
raise $1 million to help the fight against cancer.
The Haines City event is expected to draw
more than 2,000 athletes to Polk County. The
competitors will face a 1.2-mile swim in Lake
Eva, then bike 56 miles almost all the way to
Lake Wales and back, and then run 13.1 miles
in three loops around Lake Eva. There will be a
race for the younger athletes on May 19. Haines City Parks and Recreation Director Kelly
Callihan saw the fan frenzy caused by
Armstrong during his competition in Panama.
"When his name was announced it just put
everything over the top. Really blew it all up.
And everybody was excited," said Callihan.
"Lot of cheering going on. Spectators were
everywhere."
Mark your calendars now for this great event!
Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride
Description: This is a ride for miles
beginning at 8am. Leaves from Starbucks
at Lakeside Village. Difficulty:
*For more information, visit www.centralfloridacycler.com
Tuesday Night Ride
Description: Warm-up leaves from Bent's
Cycling and Fitness at 5:30 pm. Ride starts
at 6:00 pm at the corner of Swindell and
County Line Road. Average 24-27 mph
Sprints in upper 30s and lower 40s.
Approximately 40 miles in distance.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
*The more daylight the longer the ride
Wacky Wednesdays
Description: Meets at Loyce Harpe Park
in Mulberry. Leaves from the Trail head and
the trail is ridden backwards. Starts at 6:00
pm and lights are used as necessary.
Difficulty: Average
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