Top 5 Entry Level Road Bikes | $500 and Under

Finding Decent, Affordable Entry Level Road Bicycles

Riding a road bicycle is one of the best and most exhilarating exercises you can find. It's a wonderful combination of endurance, speed and agility. If you're new to riding, or are hoping to get into it, finding a good entry level road bike at an affordable price is really i

mportant. I know a lot of people who have invested a large sum in a bike only to find out they don't actually like riding all that much. A beginner road bicycle lets you get into the sport without sinking a fortune into it

There is a lot on the market and it can be confusing. A good entry level quality road bike will have some specific features. They need to have efficient components that will ensure the ride is smooth and quick. They need to have a light frame and a good geometry to let the rider pedal comfortably. Since the price tag is lower there will almost always be some compromise on components, but those components must still do a decent job.

This article will take a look at five of my favorite entry level road bikes, giving a brief review of each one and offering my opinion on why you might consider it. We'll also talk briefly about some specific things you might want to avoid on an inexpensive road bicycle, to steer you away from a dud. Let's get started.

Things To Avoid On Beginner Level Road Bikes

Obviously an entry level quality road bike comes with a lower price tag. With that comes lower value components, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, you should know what you're getting into. Here are a few tips to help you avoid riding around on a two wheeled lemon.

Stick with well known, proven brands:

A good rule of thumb is to stick with a brand you're familiar with. There's a reason they are successful, and if nothing else you have a large company to turn to in the case of a failed component. Some of the best entry level road bikes for beginners are available from bigger brands like Schwinn and Diamondback. They have the buying power to get discounts on decent components, which saves you money in the long run, so check them out.

Avoid plastic components:

I'm not a bike snob. I know that plastic has its place, but I still think it should be avoided on primary components. That means that a good entry level road bicycle should avoid fully plastic brakes, shifters and especially derailleurs. They just don't have the resilience that steel and aluminum alloy boast. They bent, snap and wear out much more quickly. A good road bike for beginners doesn't have to skimp on component quality.

Set it up properly:

Sometimes a bike doesn't feel right, and it's not the bicycle's fault at all. Make sure that you set up your ride properly. There are some great online guides on standover height, handlebar position and things like that. If you're not comfortable, look here first before blaming your bicycle. Even cheaper entry level road bikes can benefit from adjustments like this.

Source: Giordano

Giordano Libero 1.6 White/Red Men's Road Bike-700c (20-Inch Frame)

Amazon Price: $377.99
List Price: $549.99

Giordano Libero: An Entry Level Road Bike for Beginners

The Giordano Libero is a great road bike that gives the rider a taste of higher end components, luxury and construction. Based around a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame, it's an entry style road bicycle that will please even experienced, seasoned riders. The Vitesse alloy 700c wheelset is light and spins really well for the price, and the Shimano 2300 shifters and derailleurs are quite smooth as well.

It's available in multiple frame sizes depending on your size, and all of them are light and agile platforms, quick to start and fast on long straightaways. Personally, I think they are very attractive bicycles too, with a subtle, race inspired look and oversized tubing. It's also a breeze to upgrade components if you find yourself outgrowing them. One of the better entry level road bikes on the market.

Beginner Level Road Bicycle by Vilano

Source: Vilano

Vilano Aluminum Road Bike 21 Speed Shimano, Black, 54cm Medium

Amazon Price: $329.00
List Price: $500.00

Vilano Beginner Level Road Bicycle: Aluminum Frame

Vilano isn't necessary a name you'll recognize, but they boast some of the best entry level road bikes in the business right now. Their prices are very affordable despite have a decent set of components. This aluminum framed road bike is a prime example of what Vilano has to offer. Don't let the name confuse you, these bikes are not Italian, but they're solid with brand name components and good construction. I always like to go by customer reviews, and this one has had a great response.

It's the kind of bike you'll want to see up close. The paint is excellent, and it has a low key appearance that's not too flashy. With Shimano A050 handlebar mounted shifters and a 6061 aluminum frame, it's light and responsive. (24 pounds, compare that against more expensive models!) The caliper brakes actually stop better than many disc varieties out there. The double-walled alloy rims make the bike look great and keep weight respectable. It's one of my favorite inexpensive entry level road bicycles out there today, definitely give this one a look.

Source: Schwinn

Schwinn Men's Prelude Bicycle (BBWhite)

Amazon Price: $263.99
List Price: $319.99

Schwinn Men's Prelude Entry Level Road Bicycle

Schwinn is a very well established and recognized brand, and they've gotten there by putting out a consistently excellent product. The Prelude is a respectable platform and an excellent value, and it's definitely one of my picks for the best road bike for entry level riders. Like many of the competitors in this bracket, this bike uses a lightweight and strong 6061 aluminum frame, and many of the other components are Schwinn's proprietary brands, including the rims, tires and stem.

The shifters are Shimano A050 road bar style, so they're easy to shift, and they're paired with Shimano derailleurs, and the cranks are all alloy making them light and strong enough to last. The bike is a 55cm frame, which is medium sized by most standards and with the adjustable seatpost, it's good for anyone between 5'5 and 5'11.

Source: Schwinn

Schwinn Men's Phocus 1400 700C Drop Bar Road Bicycle, Black, 18-Inch

Amazon Price: $262.46
List Price: $359.99

Schwinn Men's Phocus Road Bicycle for Beginners

I'm not finished with Schwinn just yet! I've spent a lot of time building and repairing Schwinns, and they consistently impress me, being well built and crafted. The Phocus is a great example of an entry level road bicycle that will impress. It has a gorgeous, arched aluminum frame with oversized tubing for extra strength and rigidity. This is a snappy bike that you'll love zipping around town on. With Shimano A050 shifters and derailleurs, you have 14 speeds, which is more than enough for most situations.

The brakes are alloy caliper, which actually operate a lot better than the disc brakes that more expensive cycles come with. The frame is 18 inches, which is a medium frame good for someone around 5'6 to 5'11, and the seatpost is adjustable depending on your exact height. The wheels are quick release, so be sure to pick up a cable lock to keep them safe too. It's a good road bicycle for beginners that's not a huge investment, but will probably last you for years to come.

Source: Nashbar

Nashbar AL-1 Road Bike - 51 CM

Amazon Price: $499.99

Nashbar AL-1 Entry Level Bike for Road Riding

Nashbar is another brand that's less well known, but it's gaining notoriety by producing an excellent quality bicycle with great components for a decent price. They're primarily makers of cyclocross, mountain and road bikes. The AL-1 is one of the best entry level road bikes, albeit a bit more expensive than the others listed here.

This bike has a full aluminum frame that's lightweight and extremely responsive. Shimano Sora derailleurs and shifters are a cut above what you'll usually find at this price point, and shifting is a breeze. It has dual pivot caliper brakes that stop you on a dime. It comes in silver or matte black / blue, I've listed both models for you below. I encourage you to research Nashbar a bit to get to know the brand. The AL-1 is among the best road bikes for entry level riding on the market.

Considering a different beginner road bicycle? Here are some quality indicators.

If you're considering an entry level road bicycle that's outside of these selections, I want to encourage you to use this 'check list' to make sure the bike is a decent buy. This isn't a surefire way to determine quality, but it can definitely help.

• Check where the bike is made: if it's made in a factory in China, it probably isn't as high quality as one made by hand somewhere else. That said, some Chinese factory bikes are really decent, especially if the manufacturer controls the quality.
• Check the brand. Some bikes are 'brandless', and that's a risky thing. Many less popular brands are just rebadged versions of more popular bikes. A big brand is an indicator of quality control, and something to look for.
• Make a list of the components, and then research those brands. If most of the components are 'no-name', the bike is probably not as good as one carrying lots of brand name parts. If you're not sure of a component brand, post a comment below and I can let you know if it's any good.
• Customer reviews are key. There are a lot of enthusiastic bicycle fans like myself that buy, ride, build and review bicycles from all over. Read blog reviews and forum posts for a better understanding of the bike you're looking into. Also, if you're buying from a big online retailer, be sure to read the customer reviews and blurbs for a better understanding.
• Check the frame material. Steel is generally the cheapest material, followed by aluminum and chromoly, and then carbon fiber and titanium. At this price point if you're able to find aluminum or chromoly it's probably a great deal.

If you're still stumped and looking for more indicators, please leave a message and I'll try to help you out.

تابع القراءة Unknown Résuméabuiyad

25 Ways You Can Be More Self Reliant Today

A good supply of wood is a comforting security measure for winter.

Source: marye audet

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Many Ways to Be More Self Reliant

There are a lot more than 25 ways to be more self reliant so use these tips as a creative nudge. Self reliant living has always been an important skill. From the Pilgrims to the generation that lived through the Depression and World War II the ability to survive and thrive during times of intense hardship made the difference between life and death - freedom and slavery.

Sometimes people become self reliant because they want to and sometimes because they have to. Choosing to be self reliant is better than being forced to in difficult circumstances. There is nothing in this world that is guaranteed. Things change rapidly. Stock markets rise and they crash, you may have a job today and yet be unemployed tomorrow. It stands to reason that the more independent you can be the better off you are and the better quality of life you will have overall.

25 Steps to Self Reliance You Can Take Today

Becoming independent is not an overnight thing but everything starts somewhere and this is no different. The small steps you take today can change your life, even save your life, further down the road.

1. Get Out of Debt

Come up with a plan to get out of debt. This really isn't that hard. Put up the credit cards and don't use them. Begin to pay an extra five dollars on your lowest balance, more if you can. When that balance is paid off add the amount you had been paying to your next lowest balance, and so on. When you can pay more by all means DO! Debt costs you money. If you really want to see how much it is costing you add up your finance charges every month. $50? $100? what could you be doing with that money?

2. Learn New Skills

Learn one homemaking skill a month. Sewing, knitting, and crocheting would be my top suggestions and then from their move to soap making and spinning. With these skills you can clothe your family or even make a little money.

3. Choose Simplcity

Make simplicity a habit. When you need to get your nails done, get your hair done, have the newest technology the lack of these things will leave a huge void in your life. If you create a life without things you don't miss them when they are gone! Learn to enjoy an evening board game with the family rather than dvd's or video games.

4. Invest in Books

Invest in books. No matter what happens if you have books available you can find the information you need. If the Internet goes down, if power goes off, you won't be able to get your information from your computer however if you have a good collection of books; reference and good literature, you will always have both entertainment and instruction. You can homeschool your kids pretty thoroughly with only a good set of encyclopedias.

5. Learn to Cook

Learn cooking skills. Bread baking, canning, making sour dough starter, and even making things like wine and vinegar are useful abilities.

6. Invest in reusable Items

Invest in reusable personal items like cloth diapers and cloth feminine hygeine products. Better yet, learn to make these things for yourself.

7. Plant a garden

Plan a vegetable garden. It doesn't have to be extensive. Good things to plant would be:

• green beans
• lettuces
• spinach
• broccoli
• beets
• tomatoes
• peas
• okra
• eggplant
• peppers
• zucchini
• squash
• cucumbers

There are, of course many other vegetables to try but these are the most reliable and prolific for the beginner.

8. Plant Herbs

Plant herbs. Culinary herbs should include basil, oregano, dill, lavender (mixed use), mint (also mixed use), rosemary, sage, and cilantro. But don't stop at culinary herbs, there are many herbs that make important medicinal teas. Lavender is soothing, mint calms a queasy tummy. Alfalfa cleanses the blood stream and lymph system.

9. Plant Fruit

Plant fruit. Not everyone has the space for an orchard but there are new varieties of miniature and dwarf trees that stay five feet tall or less and yet produce fruit. Usually you need two varieties of each fruit tree for proper pollination. By planting fruit trees as landscaping you will have s guaranteed supply of fruit in hard times. Strawberries, black berries, and grapes are other good choices.

10. Consider Keeping Bees

Consider bee keeping as a fun hobby and a way to ensure that your sweet tooth gets fed.

11. Dairy Goats for Milk

Consider dairy goats. Depending on where you live you can keep a couple of does for far less than you will pay for milk. If your space is very limited consider Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats. They are about the size of a Golden Retriever or Lab and are sweet tempered with good milk production on minimal feed. You can even use the large Igloo dog houses as shelter for them.

12. Backyard Chickens

Chickens can provide eggs and meat. If you keep a rooster or two you can ensure your ability to continue to produce both eggs and meat as long as necessary by breeding the chickens and allowing them to hatch their eggs. Chickens, if allowed to free range, need little in the way of supplemental foods.

13. Collect Hand Tools

Pick up hand tools and learn to use them. Battery operated and electric drills and saws are great normally but what if the grid goes down and you need to fix something? You can find handsaws,planes, augers, post hole diggers and other tools for pennies at garage sales.

14.Have a Plan

Have a plan. This sounds easy but few people do it. Spend a few minutes thinking about what would happen in a financial crisis, national emergency, or weather related emergency. List some things you would need, plan what steps you would take.

Then discuss the plan with family members. Make sure everyone understands what to do in an emergency.

15. First Aid Kit

Have a first aid kit handy and learn about homeopathics and herbs. These were used for centuries before antibiotics and have a place in home health care today. Colloidal silver can be used as eye drops, nose drops, ear drops, external antibiotic and an internal antibiotic. Keep a medical reference guide where you can get it quickly.

16. Learn to Hunt

Buy a hunting rifle and learn to use it safely. There may come a time when that adorable rabbit that nibbles the clover in your backyard may make an excellent stew.

17. Learn to Forage

Learn to forage for wild foods. Berries, herbs, and other wild edibles abound in most of the United States. get a good reference book for your area.

18. Think Outside of the Box

Change your mentality about money. Working a 9-5 job is only one way to make an income. There are many more from tutoring, selling produce and eggs, to cleaning houses, mowing lawns, and blogging.

19. Create a Reference Library

Start a reference library. Books that have instruction in important survival skills are a great investment.

20. Emergency Rations

Keep some MRIs handy, about 1-2 weeks worth per person. This will give you time, in an emergency, to come up with a plan to feed your family.

21. Wood Stove

Install a wood stove. Whether it is in the den or somewhere else a wood stove will provide heat and cooking surface if need be.

22. Stay Healthy

Exercise. Keeping yourself healthy will enable you to be strong in times of stress.

23. Keep Cash on Hand

Keep some cash at home. 500.00 is a good start. If something happens you have cash to use as you need to.

24. Consider Alternative Energy

Learn about alternative energy and begin moving toward solar power panels.

25. Drill a Well

Have a well drilled that can be utilized without an electric pump.

By doing these things you can feel confident in your ability to lead your family through hard times with a minimal discomfort.

تابع القراءة Unknown Résuméabuiyad

Getting rid of laptop ants

A laptop ants solution.

Have you got laptop ants? Here's a simple, bait free solution. Do this and the ants will simply leave by themselves. I've had the same problem and this fixed it.

Ants in a laptop can be scary. What are they eating? Microchips? Don't panic, just follow these steps and the laptop ants will be gone by morning.

Laptop ants.

What you'll need to remove laptop ants.

Step 1.

1. You'll need a tray which can hold water.
2. You'll need something stable which can sit in the water. If you use a bowl it needs to be heavy or it will float.
3. You'll need a stick or wooden cooking spoon or something about that length which will not slip if you lean it.
4. You'll need a laptop infested with ants. This solution is for serious laptop ants. If you've only got one or two, just brush them off.

Assembling your laptop ants solution.

Assembling your laptop ants solution.

• Now fill the tray with water. It doesn't need to be full. Just enough to cover the bottom. Put it somewhere where it will not be disturbed.
• Place your stand in the center of the tray. 
• Making sure the laptop is off and unplugged, place it carefully on the stand. Be sure that nothing but the stand underneath is touching the laptop.
• Lean the spoon or stick so that it touches the laptop and the surface that the tray is sitting on.
• Leave the set-up overnight.

Why it works.

Why would the laptop ants leave via your spoon bridge?

Ants have powerful survival instincts. Either the ants are in the laptop eating food you've dropped there or they've moved in. In either case they scout the area at all times. Once they realize the chemical trail which got them there (following other ants) no longer leads home they'll look for an alternative. The spoon will eventually be found and they will eventually all follow it. One trail over water is not acceptable and they will not use it to return.

I grew up in India and my father told me (panicky as I was - I had work to do) of this solution. I didn't believe it would work but it was risk free so I did it. The next morning all the ants were gone.

If you've got laptop ants to get rid of, try it. It works.

If you've tried this solution, you are an entomologist in outrage or have any comments or questions, please leave one below. If you've got a friend with ants everywhere and a laptop tell them about this laptop ants solution!

تابع القراءة Unknown Résuméabuiyad

How to make litmus test strips and how to use litmus paper

Introduction

Welcome! In this guide, we will be teaching you how to make your very own litmus paper and do other experiments. It's fun and easy to make and it can be made using household ingredients. Children would love to make this and it really looks magical.

What is litmus paper?

Litmus paper is an indicator used to test whether a substance is acidic or basic. You simply dip the paper in your substance and it will change colour depending on whether it is acidic or basic. It will go red in an acid and blue in a base. It is a lot of fun to make and is very easy. The kids would love to get stuck in with this

project!

Materials Needed

• Blotting Paper, Cut into strips
• 2 cups Red Cabbage, Chopped
• 10ml Lemon Juice
• 10ml Vinegar
• Soap

Instructions

1. Boil your red cabbage until the water it is boiling in is a red-purple colour from the cabbage. Strain the red cabbage from the solution.
2. Cut your blotting paper into small strips.
3. Put your blotting paper strips into the solution and leave them there to soak.
4. Take them out and leave to dry.
5. Your litmus strips are now ready to use!

Fresh Organic Lemons - 1 Dozen

Amazon Price: $19.99

List Price: $24.99

Dr. Oetker Baking Powder 6 Pack

Amazon Price: $0.01

Wooden Ink Blotter Refill Sheets 10-pack

Amazon Price: $5.00

List Price: $5.95

Where To Buy Blotting Paper

Update: July 2013

An increasing number of people have told me that they couldn't try this experiment out as they couldn't find any blotting paper in the shops. To all of you out there, the very same happened to me and I'm sorry I didn't address this issue earlier. If you cannot find any blotting paper in the shops, you can buy blotting paper on Amazon or on Ebay. Check it out!

Litmus paper dipped in acid turns red (right of strip) and dipped in base turns blue (left of strip).

Experiment Time!

Now that you have your litmus paper strips, it is now time to experiment.

• Dip a strip of litmus paper into the substance.
• If it turns red, that substance is an acid.
• If it turns blue, that substance is a base.
• If it stays the same, that substance is neutral.

Example:

Let's take lemon juice for example. Dip a litmus paper strip into the lemon juice. It will turn red as the lemon juice is acidic.

• Try all the substances below.They will give you some ideas on what to test. You can print the table out and tick off whether each substance is acidic, basic or neutral.

Use your litmus paper to test these substances

Substance	Acidic?	Basic?	Neutral?
Vinegar
Milk of Magnesia
Washing Up Liquid
Fizzy Drinks
Sour milk
Toothpaste
Soapy Water
Lemon Juice
Baking Soda Solution
Black Coffee
Tomato Juice
Orange Juice

It's raining!

Source: Lantash, Wikemedia Commons

Testing Rainwater

Rainwater is generally slightly acidic. This occurs from acid rain. The carbon dioxide that is pumped from the factories, goes out into the air and mingles with the clouds. This causes carbonic acid. Acid rain is very damaging. It can damage limestone monuments and kill fish in the rivers. You can test whether the rainwater in your area is slightly acidic. Here's how:

1. Make a rain gauge out of a bottle or glass jar. Place it outside away from any trees or shelter that may prevent the rain to go in.
2. Place a funnel over your rain gauge.
3. Leave the rain to fill it.
4. Dip your strips of litmus into the rainwater.

Red cabbage indicator

Source: Supermartl,Wikemedia Commons

How does it work?

The red cabbage you used can be used as pH indicator. It is red or pink in acids (pH < 7), purple in neutral solutions and ranges from blue to green to yellow in alkaline solutions (pH > 7).

80 Litmus Strips Full Range PH 1-14 Alkaline / Acid Test Papers

Amazon Price: $0.51

The pH Scale

Knowing whether a substance is acidic or basic is only the first step. Scientists in the laboratory need to know how strong/weak an acid or base really is. Sodium Hydroxide is a very strong base and can burn your skin if you come in contact with it. Therefore, there is a scale called the pH scale which ranges from 1-14.

• Very strong Acids are around 1-2 on the pH Scale.
• Weaker acids are 3-6 on the pH scale.
• Neutral (neither acidic or basic) are 7
• Weak bases are 8-9 on the pH scale
• Very strong bases are 10-12 on the pH scale

To determine how strong/weak an acid or base is and where it is on the pH scale, scientists use universal indicator paper which can be seen on the top right. You dip the paper into the substance of your choice and it will change colour. You can then determine how strong an acid or base is by judging the colour of the paper to the colours on the pH scale. See picture at top.

Neutralisation

There are ways to make a substance neutral (having a pH the same as water). Neutralisation is done when the same amount of an acid is added to a base.

Real-Life Applications:

There are many real life applications to this concept. Let's say that a truck containing a strong acid overturned and the acid spilled everywhere. It would destroy and burn everything. The emergency team will add a base such as lime to the acid. The acid will be neutralised making it virtually harmless. Or let's say you had indigestion. Indigestion is caused by strong acids in your stomach. You might take indigestion tablets to relieve the pain.The indigestion tablets are bases. So, these bases neutralise the acids making them virtually harmless.i

Experiment Two- Neutralisation

1. Add a teaspoon of washing-up liquid into a cup or container.
2. Add the same amount of vinegar into the washing-up liquid.
3. This way the two substances become neutralised.
4. Dip a strip of litmus paper into it. If the strip stays the same colour, it is proven that the two substances have been neutralised. A great way of showing this concept in action.

Acid-Base Titration

Source: Theresa Knott

Acid-Base Titrations

• The topic of neutralisation leads onto another topic. When you neutralise an exact amount of acid with a base, a salt + water is formed. This is known as an acid-base titration.
• The acid goes on top and the base goes on the bottom.
• An indicator such as methyl orange or litmus is put into the base. It turns yellow. Then the acid is put into the base drop by drop until the methyl orange indicator turns orange.
• When the indicator turns orange, you can be sure that the two substances are neutralised. The solution is poured into an evaporating dish and is evaporated off.
• It is noticed that a salt is left.

• Neutral Litmus Paper and How You Can Make Substances Neutral with Vinegar and Soap
  A detailed article on neutral litmus paper, acids and bases, testing for acid rain and how to make acids or bases neutral.

Final Thoughts

I hope you have enjoyed this hub and I think it gives an insight into just how fun science can be.

Thanks for reading and please leave your feedback in the comments below! You probably do not like links but I will give you another high quality article about litmus paper that you will most likely enjoy.

تابع القراءة Unknown Résuméabuiyad