Students Of Success

My family, friends, and I love camping and camp all summer long. I usually end up the one who does most of the cooking. While I love to do this, I have learned some tips that have helped me along the way.


1. Be prepared and have a backup plan for those rainy days.
I learned this lesson on a camping trip where it down poured everyday of our trip. I thought I had done a great job planning every meal. Unfortunately, almost all of my meals included a dish that needed to be cooked. Not to mention we really had no other place to eat but the tent. With the rain and nothing “good” to eat, everyone was miserable.


What I learned from this experience is to always have some food that is already prepared and is easy to eat while sitting in a tent. Some foods that I make sure I am never without while camping include: pop tarts, cheese and crackers, ingredients for sandwiches, fruits and vegetables (either fresh or dried), trail mix, granola bars. For drinking, juice boxes are a nice alternative for children. They are harder to spill while eating in a tent.


2. Cooking and storing chicken is easier if the chicken is parboiled before your trip.


What better way to eat chicken than cooked over a campfire. Sounds good but you need to be careful how you store and cook raw chicken. I have found that it is much easier to bring chicken along when it is parboiled at home. This eliminates the need to store it in a separate cooler. No more drippy raw chicken juices all over the bottom of your ice chest. Also, the chicken only needs to be reheated. No more worrying whether the chicken is cooked thoroughly. From a cook’s point of view, this makes life while camping much more pleasurable.


3. Bring oven mitts or pot holders.


I could not tell you how many times I forgot the potholders and I have the scars to prove it. I went out and bought the silicone oven mitts. Most of the silicone mitts can withstand temperatures up to 550 degrees. These are also great for doing anything around the camp fire: adding wood, roasting marshmallows, and putting out the fire to name a few.


4. Lighters or matches.


I guess this would be a matter of how you are camping or what you prefer. I prefer to use the long handled lighters rather than matches. I find it is easier to light either a fire or your charcoal with a lighter. I can control the lighter better and you don’t have to worry as much about a lighter getting damp.


These were just a few hints and tips that I have gathered over the years. I hope they have helped you make your camping experience a little less stressful and a lot more fun. Happy Camping!!

Pat Hogle is the owner of ACE Camp Gear: http://www.acecampgear.com. Ace Camp Gear is an online store with great camping equipment. Pat has been camping for 25 years and spends much time in the Adirondacks of New York.

It’s a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning any physical activity. The information in this article is not meant to be technical, it’s just a guideline. Use the information as you like.

With that said, let’s talk about running and its benefits.

The wonderful thing about running/jogging is that I can be done just about anywhere in the world. All you really need is a good pair of shoes and some determination.

Running is a great stress outlet and it promotes weight loss and fitness all at the same time. You are probably wondering why it’s not a part of everyone’s everyday life. That is the purpose of this article, to encourage running as a means of physical and mental health.

The challenge of getting out there and pushing yourself is the kicker for most people. When you decide to give it a try you’ll quickly see how enjoyable it really is. Every time you finish a run you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment, this is because you’ve pushed yourself to your limits and you know what you’ve done is good for you.

The mental work out I refer to is the mental training and control it takes to make each stride and to push yourself. When you become tired your mind starts thinking of other things you’d rather be doing that are less strenuous. You tell yourself not to listen and to focus more. So you focus on your breathing and your form. You are training your mind not to give in. When you are focused before you know it you’ve conquered your run for another day. It’s a great sense of accomplishment!

I recommend having 3 or so different places to run, the variety will keep it interesting and more fun. The distance you cover is totally up to you, run distances you feel comfortable with. When you feel that you are ready to add more length to your sessions, then do so, in small increments.

Always remember to stretch out before you begin running, this will prevent injury and ensure your muscles are ready for the work ahead. You should be stretching for at least 4 to 5 minutes before starting. Don’t forget that running uses more than just your legs, so stretch everything, not just your legs. If it’s cold out, it’s a good idea to stretch more than regularly and to go for a quick warm-up walk.

Drinking water will keep you hydrated and help you go the distance. I like to drink 3 tall glasses of water before I go for a run and roughly the same amount immediately after I finish the run. You can even take water with you and drink it while running, keep in mind that you’ll need something to hold the water unless you don’t mind having the bottle/container in your hand.

Some key elements to think about and remember while on your run are good pace and proper form. These 2 factors will hugely affect your ability “keep going”. If you push yourself to much off the get go, you won’t have any energy left for the middle or end of your run. If you ever get the feeling that you NEED to stop, DON’T!. What I recommend is, slowing down your pace to almost walking speed, but keep the running form. Soon enough you’ll have your breath back and you can pick up the pace again. The importance of form is related to efficient use of your energy. You should try to keep your back reasonably straight, to keep from hunching over; this also helps in proper respiration. Also don’t move your arms excessively, this is a common mistake and it’s easily fixed. Try to keep your arms reasonably limber and if you move them while taking strides, try to move them in a forward-to-backward motion. Moving your arms side to side causes you to waste energy, keep your momentum going in the direction you want - forward.

When you’re finished, make sure you cool down properly. This will keep away muscle cramps and it’s all around easier on your body. Walk for a few minutes and remember to stretch well when you’re done. And remember you can never have too much water after a long run!

See you out there!

About The Author

Ryan Campbell

http://www.self-improvement-information.com

http://www.parenting-info.net

The first parachute jump in history is a bit debatable. While many seem to think that an extreme sport like parachuting has its roots in recent history, it has, in fact, been around for centuries.

In 852 A.D., Arman Firman, a Muslim holy man, jumped from a tower in Cordoba, Spain. At the time, he was wearing a billowy, large cloak. While in theory this should have slowed him down and allowed him to float gently to the earth (he also believed this to be true), it did little to help his jump. He crashed to the earth at a frightening speed, but lived to tell the tale of the first parachute jump.

A cloak, however, is not a true parachute. Most give credit to Leonardo Da Vinci for creating the first designs of parachutes. Da Vinci spent years studying birds. He truly believed human flight was possible. He, therefore, spent an extensive amount of time trying to create a vehicle that might help man fly. While Da Vinci never tried any of his ideas, he left behind sketches and instructional texts dealing with the first parachute jump.

Over the course of the next few hundred years, others tried to create the first parachute jump, but none succeeded. All were unrecorded events. Andre Jacques Garnerin, in 1797, jumped from a hot air balloon with a chute made of silk. It looked as if he were following Da Vinci’s designs. The first parachute jump was a success, but there was little use for the parachute. It was considered only for show.

However, with the creation of airplanes, parachutes became more useful vehicles. By World War II, they were standard issue equipment for pilots as life saving devices. Today, hundreds of people make their first parachute jump each day. Parachuting has become an extreme sport of magnificent popularity. First timers take several hours of training to complete the first parachute jump. They are trained in everything they need to know to make the jump safe including what equipment is used during a jump, how to leave the plane they’ll be jumping from, how to us a reserve chute in case the first doesn’t open, and how to land.Historically, the first parachute jump is in question, but thousands make their first parachute jump each year.

John Ewing is the author and editor of many reviews published at parachuting guide, an online magazine with information on skydiving, including equipment such as clothes and powered parachutes. Ewing used to add interesting skydiving equipment articles and powered parachutes reviews.

The NFL admits that Pete Morelli made a mistake of reversing the interception made my Troy Polamalu. This coming from Mike Pereira, the league’s vice president of officiating.

According to the official, the rule of having to make a football move to establish a catch is only in effect if contact is made with a defensive player. Nobody had touched Troy Polamalu and there was a long enough amount of time established to call it an interception.

I say the NFL is not doing enough. There were several other plays that the officials should admit to wrongdoing. The false start play where both teams were drawn offsides and no call was made. The Steelers player twitched and therefore a false start should have been called on the Steelers but the officials did not see a false start on the Steelers. If this was the case, then they should have called the Colts offsides. But they did not, they blew the call.

There was also a pass interference penalty that should have been called against the Colts but was not. The NFL officials cost the Steelers 3 points on that play.

There is too much precedence of failure on the part of their officials that they need to start making changes.

If you are looking to get a little bit of action on the games, then check out our sportsbook reviews for details on the safest places to wager online.

You can search the Internet or the newsstands in June and July, and you’ll find a wealth of information about fantasy football and fantasy football leagues. Most of it is statistics. Miles and miles of statistics. And most sites and magazines claim to offer more than all the others. What few offer, though, is sound advice on how to be successful every year. So, visit all the sites and magazines for your stats, but search no more for the secret to winning, because here it is.

I have played in extremely competitive fantasy football leagues for 15 years. I’ve missed the playoffs only twice, and I’ve been to three fantasy bowls. I won more games and scored more points than any other team in my league’s history. Now, I’ll give you my strategy, and it won’t cost you a dime. Here is the three-step formula for winning in fantasy football year in and year out.

The first step is to draft for depth. It sounds easy enough, but many people in my league focus on getting their starters, and the rest of the draft is nothing more than throwing darts at names on a stat sheet. I’ve selected players beyond the seventh round (we have 14 rounds) who have led my team in scoring. I didn’t even have them targeted as starters; I just saw the potential, through all of the research I’d done. For example, take special notice of second and third-year wide receivers. They often go overlooked, because their numbers are not spectacular. Receivers take a year or two, before they adjust to the NFL. Chad Johnson is a great example. Also, watch for rookies who may explode late in the season, once they’ve grasped a system. Lee Evans was a star after week nine this past season.

Step two is to manage your team every week, down to the most minor details. If you’ve drafted for depth, you’ll have lineup decisions every week, because you’ll have a team full of players scoring points. Check their histories against weekly opponents (a vastly overlooked strategy by novices). Some players simply flourish against particular teams, just as some teams tend to score differently against certain defenses. This can definitely affect your weekly lineup decisions.

The third step is to watch the waiver wire and make two key trades. No matter how well you’ve drafted, near the end of the season, you’ll need to make changes. It’s time to trade away your depth for stars. Also, watch for available players to pick up — even if they may only help you for one week. I drafted both Domanick Davis and Chad Johnson last season. Later, I traded both, so I could acquire LaDanian Tomlinson. This simplified my weekly lineup decisions, while giving me a player who would score at least one TD every week.

If you stick to this simple formula, no matter what type of league you play in, you’ll make the playoffs 85 to 90 percent of the time. That’s not bad in any league.

Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. Learn more about this suspense thriller and Mark’s other work at http://www.sportsnovels.com

Steve Mariucci was fired last week week as coach of the Detroit Lions. While this was clearly a panic move by a cluesless Matt Millen, Mooch was just the first of several Head Coaches that will not survive the aftermath of the 2005 season. That in mind, lets take a look at some current NFL HC’s that should be updating their resumes and how it relates to handicapping the final four games of the season.

Mike Mularkey: Buffalo Bills

Zooms to number one with a bullet after Buffalo’s unbelievable fourth-quarter meltdown at Miami. Mularkey had been given a vote of confidence by Bill ownership during the week but that probably went south with each of the Dolphin’s three scores in th final 11:35 at Pro Player Stadium.

Mularkey certainly deserves some latitude as he was forced to play JP Losman at quarterback when the second year man from Tulane was clearly not ready. The Bills defense has been hit hard by injuries and seemingly has been unable to make a stop since Takeo Spikes wnt down.

Buffalo has been a horrendous road team of late which until this year was attributed to drew Bledsoe’s lack of production away from Ralph Wilson Stadium. Prior to Sunday, the Bills were 0-5 on the road, losing by an average of 18.4 pp. The Dolphin loss is clearly on Mularkey as the Bills final eleven Buffalo possessions resulted in ten punts and a pick. A division loss of this magnitude at this time of the year is unforgiveable.

Job Status: History

Norv Turner: Oakland Raiders

The Raider’s overall pathetic effort in front of a National TV audience pretty much sealed the deal for this offensive “Guru”. Even a win over the hated Broncos and Mike Shanahan (no shot) would give this lifetime offensive coordinator a reprieve.

Turner should never have been a head coach to begin with never mind getting a second go around in Oakland. Turner was never Davis’ choice to begin and was hired solely to save face after their first three choices, most notably Cowboy QB coach and Parcell disciple Sean Payton, turned down the job.

It’s been two years of the old same ‘ole, same ‘ole in Oakland. The Raider offense has been addressed over the past two years with little effect. Robert Gallery, the franchise 15 year left tackle from Iowa taken second overall, has been hurt from the outset. Lamont Jordan has produced when given the opportunity but Oakland has been slow to incorperate him in the offense at all never mind giving hime the ball 30 times a game. The games biggest offseason acquisition Randy Moss has also been hurt and veteran QB Kerry Collins is having his worst year as a professional under Turner.

Like the swallows in Capistrano, the vultures of Finley , and the lemmings of wherever - the Raiders are once again in the top three in the NFL in penalties.

Job Status: Toast

Dom Capers: Houston Texans

Last week Houston gave up ten points in the final 26 seconds before finally losing to the Rams on overtime. Capers called it the worse loss in all his years in football. Sunday, the Texans were actually decent for 58 minutes annd 52 seconds. Then they let Kyle Boller drive 67 yards in 1:02 to set up a Matt Sover winning FG with six seconds left.

As part of the management team that put the franchise together, Capers clearly desrves the axe. Tony Boselli was damaged goods from the git and not only cost the Texans not only the first pick in the expansion draft but also more than 20 million in bonus and cap money. Only one player from the initial expansion draft was still on the roster in the Texans third year.

David Carr has not progressed to the next level. Well yeah, he gets stapled to stadium turf six to eight times a week every Sunday and has probably lost 20 years of his life expectancy from the punishment. Unless deficiencies in the offensive line are addressed, Matt Lineart and Reggie Bush together won’t make any difference in the Texan’s future.

Several difficult decision’s need to be made in the off-season. One of them won’t be whether or not to keep Dom Capers

Job Status: Footnote in next year’s opening day program

On Wednesday and Friday I will post Coaches on the Hotseat Parts II and III featuring Dick Juaron, Mike Martz, Mike Sherman, Brian Billick, Mike Tice, Joe Gibbs, and Jim Haslett. Don’t miss them.

Jeff Allen is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Jeff_Allen.htm

Golf equipment, especially golf clubs, has come a long way since
golf was invented. A lot of this advancement has to do with the
materials that golf clubs, shafts, and heads are made from. Take
the Taylor made, Aldila shafts. These are some of the most
advanced shafts on the market.

It’s important to know what kind of materials you have in your
golf clubs, whether you’re buying new shafts, customized golf
clubs, or a used set like Callaway preowned ladies golf clubs.
Your golf equipment, and the material that it is made from, goes
a long way in determining how you perform on the golf course.

Clubs Throughout Time-How Club Shafts Have Progressed Over
The Years

Even at the start of golf history, when clubs and shafts were
made from basic ingredients like wood, golfers always measured
how a club and its shaft performed. They measured the shaft’s
stiffness, the shaft flex, and the shaft’s frequency.

Now, though, shaft and club technology has completely changed
how engineers and players look at their clubs. About ten years
ago in golf history, a steel shaft came out on the market that
revolutionized how clubs were designed.

These steel shafts helped golfers with a tighter flex and more
responsiveness. On the golf course, this shaft technology
translated into a longer distance golf shot, better accuracy,
and more consistent performance.

Even more recently, shaft technology has progressed club design
even further. The goal of golf club designers is to create clubs
that best transmit the energy from the golfer’s body, through
the club, to the golf ball. Of course, like any technology, we
can only await better and better golf clubs in the future.

Myrtle Beach is the best of both worlds for every golfer, QUALITY and QUANTITY. The Grand Strand has over 120 courses designed by the best in the game: Dye, Jones, Nicklaus, Palmer, and Fazio to name a few. Over 1 Million golfers played there in 2004. You will find the largest assortment of quality courses to test your game, both mentally and physically.

Ten years ago, our group of relatives, friends, and friends of friends, began our now yearly trek to this golf capital of the world. Although our line-up of players and courses alters slightly from year to year, one constant remains, that is the great golf bargains we have found in this golf mecca. Planning for the next years trip begins even before we putt out on the 18th hole of our final day. We don’t want it to end, and we can’t wait for the next trip to begin.

Living in the northeast, we play some great courses in PA, MD, and VA throughtout the year. But to us, it is all is just a warm-up to our late August mini-tour of this South Carolina beach town. With most of us approaching our late 40’s or early 50’s, it’s the one time of year the wives let us indulge in a week of golf heaven, and we really get to be boys again (it pays to have picked the right mate). Since we have already fulfilled our families’ summer vacation obligations, and the yard work is winding down, late August is the perfect time for our trip to paradise.

Playing Myrtle Beach in late August finds courses 1/2 to 1/3 of their premium peak season rates. Along with the lower hotel fees for this late season visit, we easily justify the trip. Crowds are low, most kids are back in school, and there are times when we are literally the only golfers on the course. Play is fast and cheap, so we have to go 36 holes!

We play combinations of “related” or “sister” courses like True Blue & Caledonia. Or, Tidewater & Grande Dunes. Many combinations like these provide substantional discounts for same day play, some even offer discounts for playing both in the same week. Complexes like the Legends or Wild Wing, have numerous courses on the same property where after a quick shower and lunch at their fantastic facilities, we are well tuned for a second 18 holes. Tee Times are in abundance for most of these top quality courses, we rarely run into a problem getting on a course. These are some of the best courses in the world. Where else can you play a TPC course for a replay rate of only $40-$50? The fee includes the same friendly accommodating staff, cart, practice range, full use of the facilities, locker room, restaurants, bar, and of course, the COURSE! All for a fraction of the peak season rates!

Private Membership courses are available for play as well. For example, stay at the “Caravelle”, and Tee Times are available at “the Dunes” Golf & Beach Club. Newly renovated by Rees Jones, this course is a spectacular play, and former home of the PGA Senior Championship. Play it again the same day and pay less than you would for your regular muni-course back home. Intimidated by the courses? Don’t be, 4 or 5 sets of tees are available on most courses to accomodate almost all levels of play. Still not sure? Call the course. We have found the staff at any of these facilities always willing to help in providing information on any of the courses in the Grand Strand.

Check the local paper daily, as specials and bargains on golf are advertised regularly. Most hotels even have their own golf coordinator to assist you with tee times, course selections, and even transportation.

When you are finished with your golf for the day, you will find the restaraunts and nightly attractions as equally accessible and outstanding as the golf courses.

Lose a few balls? Break a club? Run out of tees? No problem. There is more than an ample supply of quaint little golf shoppes and massive bargain golf stores up and down the Grand Strand.

Three things you need to consider when taking advantage of these great golf bargains this time of year, and we have experienced all of them at one time or another. First, is the heat an humidity. Although it is typically not bad in the morning rounds, we experienced a few afternoon rounds which were quite uncomfortable. Second, it is hurricane season. In the past 10 years we were only pulled off a course once to evacuate. However, most courses were open the next day. Third, the “Dupont Amateur”, one of the largest amateur golf tournaments in the world. There are still more than enough courses, but you may have to avoid a few. The schedule of courses used for this tournament is listed daily in the local paper, (We simply plan our trip one week earlier. Although it really isn’t necessary, we are just anxious to get there and “tee it up”.)

Myrtle Beach in late August is a truly great golf bargain. A large quantity of quality courses to suit every golfers game and budget. We’ll be there!

(Copyright 2005-ehbvi-www.golfgodz.com)

About the Author

Ernie Horning is a Business Owner and avid golfer, and writes for www.golfgodz.com

The other day, as I watched my daughter take batting practice from her new batting coach, my eyes shifted to another batter that was being coached by another teacher. Her swings were slow, the ball was glancing off her bat and trickling into the batting screen. Her hips were not rotating and there was no power being generated from her swings.

The coach then took some time with her to show her some techniques that would help her in her quest to be a better hitter.. They spoke for about 10 minutes. Or should I say the coach spoke for 10 minutes and the girl listened.

As I gazed back and forth between my daughter and this other girl I realized that after about 20 more minutes of hitting and talking with her coach that this girl ( we will call her this girl ) was smacking the ball. Projectiles were streaming off her bat. That loud crack from her bat was reverberating in the facility.

It dawned on me. That this is why I love this game so much. I loved that crack of the bat. I loved hitting that ball so right. I loved it when the ball whistled in the air. Enjoying the other aspects of the game like base running, fielding, and throwing were great. But, I was deeply passionate about hitting. The supreme challenge was why I started playing this game and why I continue to enjoy watching it today. The anticipation of watching a great batter get ready for the pitch. Awesome.

As I continued to watch my daughter, Manteee, and this other girl hit better and better I could not help but feel an enormous amount pleasure. They were transforming in front of me. Whatever those coaches told them and whatever those two girls absorbed from their coaches was generating solid hit after solid hit.

I could not believe how happy I was for my daughter and the girl I did not know. There is something wonderful about learning and that willingness to be taught. Even though I only watched them I felt as if I was part of what was evolving in front of me.

About the Author

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. His passions have included; playing, watching, reading , evaluating, and coaching the game he adores. Check out his baseball ezine. Do you love inspiring quotes, unusual statistics and most of all, heartwarming baseball stories? If you love baseball you will love his baseball ezine.
http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com/index.php?tag

Part I

It’s inevitable. At some point in the fall you’ll do your first ride in relatively cold weather. For the past six months you’ve been enjoying warm, sunny skies with mild temperatures around 75 to 85 degrees.

But not today. Today the mercury has dropped by 20 or 30 degrees and the sun is nowhere to be found. Today is that day where you remember what it’s like in the cold, but your brain could have used a few cobwebs dusted off first – in other words, you’ll make the same mistakes as you did at this time last year. So I wrote this article to warn you of what will go wrong.

We’re well into winter here in the North East USA. Cold, rain, snow, sleet – anything that affects riding – we’ve had it. If you take the proper precautions, you’ll be fine. But if you’re not prepared, old man winter will get the best of you!

I’ll start off with a little story about my first ride in the cold back in October 2004. It was about 52 degrees and cloudy, which seems nice and warm as I look back on it, but it was a little chilly at the time. Being used to 80 degree weather, today’s ride warranted tights, a thick long sleeve undershirt, and a windbreaker… or so I thought.

Starting out I was a little chilly. And I didn’t like it. But I kept going. And after about three minutes I was burning up – today was not the day for a windbreaker. I had to stop, take it off, roll it up, and then try to stuff it in my jersey pocket without catching it on my Camelbak. Which leads me to…

Lesson #1: It’s not as cold as you think it is. 52 in the spring feels like 70, but in the fall it feels like 30. So in the spring you shed all the layers except your shorts and jersey, even if there’s still snow on the ground. And in the fall you pile on everything you have. But that’s not a good idea.

52 warrants tights and a long sleeve jersey, but that’s about it. If you’re unsure, stash some extra layers in your jersey pockets – you can put them on after 15 minutes if you’re still cold. (Remember, you should be a little chilly for the first few minutes of your ride. Then once you warm up, you should be cozy.)

Once I shed some clothing I felt pretty good. The crisp air was refreshing, too. I really enjoyed the ride for the next hour. But then, knowing I would need some more energy for the next hour, I grabbed the Powerbar out of my jersey pocket. The same thing I had been eating successfully all summer. But it wasn’t the same today. By “wasn’t the same,” I mean it was rock hard! I bit into one end, expecting it to melt right in my mouth, but instead it shocked my whole jaw. I had to check for loose teeth after that!

Lesson #2: When Powerbars get cold, they get hard. Rock hard. They’ll break your teeth if you’re not careful. They’re ok down to 45 or 50 degrees, but you should still be really careful when you bite into them. I suggest switching to Powerbar Harvest or Pria bars in cooler weather. They’re a little lighter, so they don’t freeze as easily. And try to keep them close to your body.

Or go with an energy gel like GU. They get thick in the cold, but it takes a while for them to freeze. Personally, I kind of like them when they’re extra thick! The cold really brings out the full flavor.

That’s about it really. Two lessons. Cool weather isn’t bad. It’s the really cold stuff that you need to watch out for.

Part II

So what didn’t I cover in Part 1? I didn’t cover what to do before your first ride in the freezing cold!

Once the temps hit 25 degrees, it gets a little more complicated.

Now is the time to pile on every piece of gear you have! Well maybe not that extreme, but this weather calls for fleece lined tights, a thick base layer, a windbreaker, a balaclava, thick socks, shoe covers, and big insulated gloves.

But this doesn’t guarantee anything. Climb a hill and you’ll overheat. Get to the top of the hill and it will be 10 degrees cooler. You’ll freeze. Riding outside in sub-20 degree weather should, at least in my opinion, be avoided at all costs.

Ride a trainer. Ride some rollers. Run. Lift weights. Rest. Whatever you need to do. You’ll get a better workout that way.

Lesson #3: Going outside on a freezing cold day won’t help your training. It will be hard to move when you’re weighted down by 10 pounds of restrictive winter gear. And if your body is that cold, it will be hard to move anyway. Your form will be horrible. And then if you get used to it, your form will stay horrible into the spring.

Beyond clothing, you need to carry food and water. But if Powerbars are only good to 40 degrees, what do you do?

Lesson #4: For food, when it’s real cold, just bring gels. No bars. Gels will freeze eventually, but if you keep them next to your body, they should be ok for a while.

Lesson #5: For drink, ditch the water bottles. They’re no good. The lids will freeze shut. You’ll need a Camelbak, which should be kept inside your outer layers. Be sure to keep the tube tucked away too, and sip occasionally to be sure the water in the tube doesn’t freeze.

Replacing water with Gatorade might help, too. All the additives lower the freezing point, so it stays warmer a little longer than plain water does.

Another thing to be aware of is that you need your hands to be able to eat and drink. This means some thick gloves to keep them warm. But thick gloves mean you can’t easily open a gel pack. And some balaclavas block your mouth.

Lesson #6: Eating and drinking in the cold is a pain in the ass! There’s no miracle cure. You have to take off your gloves for a bit, pull down your balaclava, eat, and then bundle up again. Just one more reason you might want to buy some rollers!

What else can happen in the cold? Well, if you wear contacts, they may just fall out! If you have any sense, you’ll be wearing some sort of eye protection in the cold. Sunglasses at the least, and maybe even opting for ski goggles. But even then, your contacts will get cold. And like Powerbars, they’ll get hard. And then they might fall out. But even if they don’t fall out, your vision will probably be quite blurry and they’ll be a very good chance of riding off the road or into oncoming traffic.

When my contacts were about ready to fall out one day, I tried to close my eyes for a while and warm them up. But that didn’t do much, being that my face was so cold that I couldn’t feel it anymore, let alone control my eye lids.

Lesson #7: Get some goggles. It doesn’t matter what you look like, everyone already thinks you’re an idiot for being outside in this weather!

If you still want to ride outside, please follow at least some of my advice. If you enjoy riding in temperatures below zero, though, you may want to get advice from a psychiatrist.

Levi Bloom is the founder and owner of Bloom Bike Shop and the webmaster of http://bloombikeshop.com Check out his site for more good cycling info and bike repair tutorials.