Beating The Competition With Better SEO Results

Each organisation with a Web site requires to make Search Engine Optimization (SEO) part of their development strategy, working to get their site ranked as high as possible on the significant online search engine. With a little work, a various technique, and these ideas, you can get your site ranked well with the online search engine. For additional help contact -

When using SEO on a page that has images, make certain to make sufficient usage of the tag. Online search engine can not view images and so can not index them. However, if you include appropriate text in the tag, the search engine can base it’s guess about the image on that text and improve your site’s ranking.

Build an extraordinary site. Before you do any SEO to get your site onto the first page of search results page, ask yourself truthfully whether your site truly is one of the very best 5 websites in the world on your selected subject. If you can’t answer that concern favorably with self-confidence, then work on improving your site.

Once you have actually selected the keywords that you will use throughout your site, incorporate them into your page title, too. Due to the fact that your title is going to be prominently displayed to users in search engine outcomes, make certain it is significant and sensible, so users form a beneficial impression of your site. People will click on the link to your site considering that it will fit the user’s search results page.

If you would like to increase your search engine traffic through back links, make use of social networks. Sites like Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook permit users to share your links by themselves page with an easy click of a button. Numerous Twitter and Facebook pages have high page rankings, and being connected to from them can significantly increase the page rank of your own site.

Make sure you hang out optimizing the material on your site. Excellent site material is simple to read by visitors and consistent when compared against both the title and tags listed with the story. Otherwise, online search engine may rank your material badly, making it more difficult for you to discover a following.

Do not title any of your pages with basic info. Even your welcome page must be entitled with something appropriate to your site. Doing this will permit a search engine to direct somebody to your page without difficulty. It also lets the customer know that this is, undoubtedly, the page they were searching for.

Even if your material does not alter daily, take advantage of websites like Twitter, which permit you to publish bits of info to draw the customer in. Online search engine browse Twitter for appropriate info about websites and after that use that to influence your rankings. Make sure to publish a minimum of daily, for both the online search engine and for your customer’s benefit.

Online search engine dislike frames, so if you need to use them make certain to include a noframes tag and to create a full version of your site for the noframes customer. If the online search engine spiders can’t read your site then you are never going to move throughout the ranks. Creating a noframes site will ensure that you can even be indexed in the search engine.

Seo Services

There are a great deal of marketing and SEO services out there that claim that they can work wonders in promoting your site or items, but you need to be really aware of frauds in this area. A service that guarantees to direct a big volume of traffic in a short time period is most likely too great to be true. Always get the viewpoints of others prior to parting with your money.There are a number of great online forums where you can go for guidance.

Search Engine Optimization

When you acquire a domain name and space to house your material, remember that your service provider is as crucial as your domain name. Search engine optimization counts on your service provider being credible. Your site may be jeopardized if your service provider is vulnerable to attack. If your service provider hosts illegal or unsavory material, this may contemplate your organisation.

Seo Company

Before working with an SEO company to represent your organisation, make certain you ask a great deal of questions and what dangers may be involved. Take a couple of days and do your own research study. In broad terms, “shop around” so you get a sense of what sort of outcomes you ought to get out of the company you are to deal with.

Search Engine Optimization Services

Many business use search engine optimization services but in order to discover the one that is ideal for your organisation, you need to do some research study. Contact the company and inquire questions about their experience, the methods they use and the dangers that are involved. Then perform your own research study on business by contacting the Better Business Bureau and seeing what info you can discover about them online.

Seo Experts

If you pick to hire SEO experts to improve your site you should question them carefully on how they get outcomes. The term “black hat” uses to anyone that intentionally does dubious things to increase SERPS. This may help a site out for awhile, but it can also get you punished and your rankings will all of a sudden drop. Once that occurs it takes a great deal of effort, money and time to fix.

Search Engine Optimization Company

When you will hire a search engine optimization company, it is important that you investigate into the company and all of the various techniques the company utilizes. You ought to always ask questions. Some great questions to ask include things that pertain to the dangers of using their company’s service.

Seo Expert

Ask about their work history and experience. Likewise make certain to know what kind of dangers you’re taking, and what could go wrong.

As you can see, you need to increase your site’s traffic in order to get ranked greater. This is possible to anyone who wants to do what it takes. Getting your site ranked with the top online search engine is highly possible, and can be done by anyone who will give it a possibility.

Finding Storage Space in a Small House

If you are like most people and have been watching home improvement shows on television, you may have noticed that one of the fastest growing trends in real estate around Arlington Heights, IL is smaller homes. People are seeing the benefits of keeping things compact, allowing for a closer relationship with their loved ones, and not allowing space for the things they don’t need. House cleaning is much easier with smaller homes too!

However, if you decide to go that route, what do you do about storage? We all have items that we use seasonally, maybe even once a year, and they need to be put somewhere when not in use. In a small home this can prove to be very difficult. So, what can you do?

Figure Out What You “Need”

One question that many people need to ask themselves when trying to determine where to store their items is, “Do I even need this?” People will come up with excuses as to why they can’t throw something away, but it’s important to be honest with yourself and throw out, recycle, or donate the items they no longer want or need.

After all, the less you have, the less space you need for storage!

Think in Three Dimensions

Once you have figured out what you actually need, you still have to find a place to store them. Some people prefer to use a storage unit, garage, or shed for their items, and that certainly is an option, but it isn’t always practical. Not everyone has a shed or garage, and storage units can be pricey over time. So how do you find the space?

By thinking in three dimensions. Often times, people only see an area they want to store items and think of it in terms of length and width, but they forget about height. Shelving units, rods for hanging clothes, and stackable storage tubs are a great way to get the most out of your space. You will find that you can fit much more than you originally thought by using all three dimensions of your storage area efficiently.

This will lead to less clutter, and make it easier to clean your Arlington Heights home whether you do it yourself or hire a maid service.-

What Are The Benefits Of Singing In A Choir

Every one know the energy and fun time one has when they are singing in a choir but what are the advantages and benefits of singing in a choir?

Here are some of the advantages of singing in a choir:

  1. Presently we’re getting into specialized, breathing and singing resemble opposite sides of a coin. You can’t have both in the meantime. In the event that you don’t ace this crucial toward the starting then you will limp along for quite a while. Breathing encourages you with you things. -
    • Plan ahead to hit those notes, so you can take in little breaths or huge ones.

    • Avoid those uncomfortable silences since you came up short on breath.
  2. Practice, Practice and Practiceâ ¦ its piece of the diversion. The more you hone better you get, it’s as basic as that! however, doing this consistently is exhausting and on the long haul â one has a tendency to lose the concentration and quit singing all together. To stay away from weariness and make singing more fun, you can build up a way of life propensity that will enable you to continue singing regardless of the day of the week. Like for instance you can work on singing every day on your drive to work in your auto or sing for 10 minutes in your shower. It’s as straightforward as that and abstains from being an errand.
  3. Manage You Breathing:

    Presently we’re getting into specialized, breathing and singing resemble opposite sides of a coin. You can’t have both in the meantime. In the event that you don’t ace this crucial toward the starting then you will limp along for quite a while. Breathing encourages you with you things

    • Plan ahead to hit those notes, so you can take in little breaths or huge ones.
    • Avoid those uncomfortable silences since you came up short on breath.
What Does it Cost to Get the Locks Changed on Your Greensboro Home?

How much does it cost to get your locks changed is a question that lots of folks ask frequently.

Some of them may have gotten the solution to it as well due to search results or offers made by the vendors available online.
Some of you might also have visited a local hardware store in a quest to try and see if there was anyone who could provide you with the complete details of the job and the costs associated with it. However, this is highly unlikely. No matter how you tried to answer the question, I want to make the effort to let you know some important things you need to know regarding the costs of getting the locks changed.

Locks are highly important for the security of your home. It is important to get them changed after some time to make sure that they continue to function properly at the top of their performance. Locks are vulnerable to damage and that is why it is very important for the home owners to pay attention to one of the main focal points of their home security.

One of the major reasons that people tend to ignore getting the locks changed is their long life. However, during their life span, they can get weak significantly. Getting a lock changed hinges on the circumstances of the need. For instance, if someone tried to burglarize your home and damaged the lock, you have two options: either change the entire lock or getting it repaired by a professional Greensboro locksmith. However, changing the entire lock system is highly advisable for a simple reason that someone was able to bypass them easily.

Before getting the locks changed completely, you need to ascertain if there is actually some need of making this big investment. If you have just lost your keys, rekeying is the perfect solution that is just a fraction of the amount of changing the locks.
The cost of house locks change depends on a variety of factors, some of which are:

How are the locks going to be replaced?

Discussing the cost to change locks, it highly depends on how they are going to be changed. There are two options available. You can either adopt the DIY approach, take care of them yourself, or you can take advantage of the services of local Greensboro locksmiths. It is important to ascertain what level of security you are seeking for your home or office. The cost also factors in expertise, time, and level of security.

Professional Services

If you choose the option of getting the locks replaced by a professional locksmith, the cost may depend on a variety of factors. First, if you have bought the locks before contacting a locksmith, the locksmith will only charge for the services they will provide to you. However, if you are purchasing from the locksmith, add the cost of the locks in the total cost of the job. Moreover, the cost can also vary if some changes are required to accommodate the new locks that you are installing. If the locks are of the same design as before, the cost will be minimal.

DIY (Do it Yourself).

If you take the DIY route, there are chances you may save a few bucks. However, you should not be happy on saving a few bucks as you have to ascertain what you are compromising by not hiring a professional for the job. The DIY costs, certainly, are significantly lower than the costs associated with hiring a professional. However, what really makes the difference is the durability and security factor. No matter how good tutorials you find on the internet, there may remain some sort of bottlenecks in your way of installing the locks. That is the reason why it is advised to seek the services of a professional locksmith.

Are You Willing to Sacrifice Your Security?

This is the second factor that ascertains the costs of getting the locks changed. There are usually three types of locks available in the market. Grade 1 locks are believed to be safer than the Grade 2 and Grade 3 locks not particularly because of their high price but the level of top notch security they offer.

Having said that, the cost to change locks will rise relative to the amount of weight that you place on your security. If you want to simply run down to the hardware store and buy the first lock that you see, you will not pay very much to have your locks changed. This will make your home an easy target for burglars as well. This is the reason why you need to get the best locks. They also have a longer life so you will also gain from them in the longer run.

Besides these two factors, some other factors like changing interior or exterior locks or simple upgrading of the locks also affect the overall cost to a great extent. These factors need to be given importance in order to get the most reliable level of security for your home. As a homeowner, you should realize that not only the security of your home is at stake, but your family is at stake too. If you don’t opt for the best lot of locks and hire a professional locksmith for the job, you are taking a huge risk that you may have to regret in future. It is highly advisable to consult a professional locksmith company like Pop-A-Lock Locksmiths and get your locks changed on house. You will enjoy tons of benefits in the future and save money as well over time.
Also, the professional Greensboro locksmiths at Pop A Lock will be able to quote you the exact price of getting the locks changed at your home.

A Brief History of the Baseball Hall of Fame

Anyone interested in MLB knows that the Baseball Hall of Fame is a treasure trove of interesting and famous memorabilia. Fans of MLB love to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and players and coaches strive to make a lasting impression on the baseball world by being immortalized inside.-

The Importance of Statistics

For 45 years, Henry Chadwick wrote for the Brooklyn Eagle and brought the love of sports statistics into homes nationwide. He was captivated with statistics; all of the ERAs, RBIs, WHIPs, and WARs. He was instrumental in the decision where to build the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the only baseball writer to have his very own plaque hanging serenely on a wall in The Baseball Hall of Fame.

How Did it All Start?

There were several influential names in early baseball. They include Spaulding, Chadwick, and Cartwright. Who started baseball? Well, there was quite the legal battle. First, on December 30th, 1907 a final report gave Abner Doubleday the credit for the creation of baseball in Cooperstown, New York 1839.

Then, historians decided that baseball had only become its own sport after its rules were changed by Cartwright’s New York Knickerbockers in 1845. These rules established included that there was three outs per inning, specific batting line-ups, and the decision to make all bases an equal distance from the last.

The first game using these new rules was held on June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey on the Elysian fields. This is known as the birthplace of baseball as we know it today. Hall of Fame Officials considers Cooperstown, NY as the place that baseball is loved the most.- to see what we mean.

Establishing a Hall of Fame

First, some of Coopertown’s residents decided to buy a lot to establish in their neighborhood. In 1923, Doubleday Field was opened and the dedication included National League president, John A. Heydler. In 1934, Doubleday Field was nationally recognized. That same year, three miles from Cooperstown, an old baseball was found. It was found in an old trunk owned by none other than Abner Doubleday. Stephen C. Clark, a true fan, bought it and displayed it.

But he didn’t stop there. He continued to build his baseball memorabilia collection until he decided to take the idea for a baseball museum to the National League president at the time, Ford Frick.

Frick loved the idea and decided a Hall of Fame addition was needed. A 100th birthday celebration of baseball was planned in Cooperstown, NY in 1936. Clark used his own money and converted the local gym into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Wonders You Will See

At the Baseball Hall of Fame, you can experience amazing treasures such as, ironically, the shoes of Shoeless Joe Jackson and Babe Ruth’s bowling ball.

You’ll find millions of documents, photographs, and autographs, as well as The Baseball Hall of Fame plaques. It’s well worth a visit to see what amazing memorabilia you can find. Please- here.

Asking The Right Questions To Air Conditioning Contractors

If you are building a home or office or have an existing home or building that you want to air condition, working with air conditioning contractors is the best way to go to ensure that you have a professionally installed and trouble free system. Air conditioning contractors are typically well experienced in residential like -, commercial or both types of air conditioning systems and generally work with any type of system that you choose to purchase.

Some air conditioning contractors will recommend or prefer a specific type or model of air conditioner or system based on the space and requirements of the job, however, most are flexible with regards to what specific brand of unit is purchased and installed.

Before selecting or choosing air conditioning contractors to work on your residence or commercial building, the first step is to familiarize yourself with some basic terminology. You will be installing or upgrading either conventional forced air systems or high-velocity air conditioning systems.

In addition, you should also have an idea of the floor space, special aspects of the project such as attached buildings, multiple floor levels or even special areas such as sunrooms or covered decks that are to be included as air-conditioned spaces. In addition, it is important to know your budget and what options you can do without in order to bring the project in within your budget about.

Try to talk to at least 3 air conditioning contractors with regards to your project and keep written records of the answers to your questions. They should also provide a written estimate of the cost of the project. In addition be sure to ask the air conditioning contractors on your list the following questions:

â ¢ What experience do you have with this type of project?

Not only is experience important in providing an accurate estimate but it also can help with regards to potential problems or costly changes that might need to occur with the design. If the project is still in the blueprint stage the air conditioning contractor may make recommendations to the plan that could end up making the air conditioning and heating system more efficient and cost saving.

â ¢ What is the energy rating they typically obtain through their systems?

As the price of home heating and cooling continues to increase dramatically every year, working with air conditioning contractors that are familiar with energy saving features or “green features” that can be implemented to cut down the overall cost of long-term use is essential.

â ¢ Ask what air conditioning unit the contractor recommends, its cost and what the maintenance requirements are for the unit.

Some units are initially lower cost but are higher maintenance over the long run, while others are more expensive initially but have very minimal maintenance costs throughout the life of the unit.

Finally, don’t hesitate to ask the air conditioning contractors for references that you can speak to regarding their workmanship and quality of the service provided. Call- for more information

What Are the World’s Top Bike Races?

Bicycle racing has been around for a long time – since the mid nineteenth century. However, it didn’t take the form it has today until around the beginning of the twentieth. Now, some of the first races that were established for cyclists are still among the most prestigious. In general, the world’s most famous bicycle races include the Grand Tours, races at the Olympics, and professional races under the Union Cycliste Internationale, or UCI. These are road bicycle races. Other types of bike racing that aren’t as well known include mountain bike racing (first recognized in 1990) and cyclo-cross racing (originally developed for road racers in the off season).

Grand Tours

There are three Grand Tours of cycling, of which the most famous is the Tour de France. This multi-stage race takes three weeks, and passes through France, ending up in Paris traditionally. Founded in 1903, this bike race covers almost two thousand miles, and consists of twenty different stages between specific towns. The winner is the person with the shortest times in each stage. The other Grand Tours are the Giro d’Italia (sometimes just Giro), which was founded in 1909, and inspired by the Tour de France. In Spain, a similar race is the Vuelta a Espana.

The Olympics

Cycling has been a part of the Olympics since the 1896 games, in which a 12 hour race was attempted. Many Olympic cycling events of the past have now been forgotten, including 1908’s 660 yard bicycle sprint. Today, bike competitors in the Olympic games compete in track cycling, road cycling, mountain bike races, and BMX or off-road competitions. The races are divided by gender, and in some cases are done in teams.

UCI Races

The UCI ProTour was created in 2005, to replace the older UCI World Cup. The World Cup was made up of only races lasting a single day. The ProTour, however, contains the famous Grand Tours, as well as the Tour de Suisse, Criterium de Dauphine Libere, Paris-Nice, and other well-known multi-day races. It also still contains all the one day races that made up the World Cup: Belgium’s Ronde van Vlaanderen and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races, Italy’s Milan-Sanremo and Giro di Lombardia, France’s Paris-Tours and Paris-Roubaix, the Zuri-Metzgete in Switzerland, Spain’s Clasica de San Sebastian, the HEW Cyclassics in Germany, and the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands. Some races are spring only. Others are held in the fall. In general, cycling is a sport for summer, this definition is often stretched so that the season really begins in early spring, and ends in autumn.

Simple Training Tips For Bike Racing That Will Get You to the Winner’s Circle

Preparing for a bike racing event is absolutely vital to each racers success. It is equal; to if not more important than a racers strategy during the actual race. Here are very important tips to consider before a bike race to improve your performance.

A bike race doesn’t begin when the start gun goes off, it starts much earlier in the form of homework and training sessions. Whether you are a participant of a local street race or major competitive tour event, you need to train yourself adequately to be able to physically and mentally cope with the challenges you will face. The training procedures differ somewhat on the kind of race, but in most cases, the basics are the same.

What is most imperative in any sort of racing is the participant’s cardiovascular endurance. This refers to the rider’s ability to generate energy to the working muscles during hours of intense exercise, day after day.

Having good cardiovascular endurance requires your circulatory and respiratory system to supply energy to your muscles to meet the demands of sustained physical activity.

Therefore, undergoing significant endurance training before a race is a must. You may be practicing for a ‘long distance slow training’ which is the most common form. This involving long biking sessions at regulated pace or ‘tempo training’ consisting of training at a steady, but fairly high intensity slightly higher than “race pace” for a shorter duration, usually 20-30 minutes at a steady pace.

‘Interval training’ of short, repeated and intense physical efforts and ‘circuit training’ of a series of specific exercises performed for short durations and rotated through in quick succession with little or no rest in between are important and will build both strength and stamina that pushes your fatigue and exhaustion limits higher up.

A well-rounded cyclist does need to kick up the pace towards the end of the race. Sprint stamina can be achieved by explosive exercise training routines. One way of increasing the power to deliver the final stint is through weight training exercise. This promotes muscle strength, tone, power, and core strength. Full squat exercise is highly recommended for long distance bikers.

Choice of bike and nutrition are also important.

Apart from choosing the most comfortable bike that fits you well, it’s essential to maintain proper food habits. Balancing of calories and nutrients helps to achieve peak performance. Eat plenty of carbohydrates and proteins that provide ultimate energy and body muscle repair. Maintain a proper diet chart as suggested by a nutritionist. Also adequate fluid intake for athletes is essential to comfort, performance and safety. The longer and more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right kind and amount of fluids.

Due to the repetitive nature of cycling, it is important for cyclists to maintain flexibility and muscle balance.

Cyclists tend to develop muscle tightness in the hamstrings, hip flexors and chest if these muscles aren’t stretched regularly. So, don’t forget to stretch early in your exercise routine and at the end.

To improve your bike handling skills, join a local club or bike racing team that matches your skills and goals. You will sharpen your team strategies and tactics which are a huge part of every bike race.

As a final preparation before starting off, plan a relaxing night before the race and remember to carry all your special clothing. Appropriate jerseys, socks, shoes, gloves, bike helmets play a significant role during a race.

Tips For Successful Mountain Bike Racing

Contrary to popular belief, mountain bike racing is not just a sport for young, adrenaline-crazed muscular macho men in leather jackets. Rather, today’s “adrenaline-crazed” bike rider is as likely to be middle aged as he is young, flabby as he is muscular, and feminine as he is macho. Mountain bike racing is an equal opportunity sport that only requires one thing from its participants-that they have fun.

Before you can enjoy this activity, however, you must learn a few basic rules of the game. Fortunately, learning these rules is almost as enjoyable as competing in the bike race.

Mountain Bike Racing is for Everyone

Unlike other sports, mountain bike racing does not discriminate against gender, age, or particular body types. Because this sport’s focus is on fun rather than competitionit is open to all to participate.

To enable fair competition, however, a number of competition levels, or categories, exist within this sport. There are categories for beginners, categories for different age groups – even a category for those weighting more than 220 pounds (the Clydesdale category.) Thus, do your research and find the category that best suits your particular needs.

But choose carefully. If you overestimate your ability, you might well end up with a bruised ego (and dust on your face) as your competitors cross the finish line way ahead of you. Conversely, if you underestimate your riding ability and choose a category that is not sufficiently challenging, you might be labeled a “sandbagger” (e.g., someone who enters a lower division race simply to increase his/her chances of winning) by your competitors.

Of course, as always, prior to embarking upon this new pursuit, however, it is wise to obtain your doctor’s approval. Mountain bike racing is loosely considered an “extreme sport” for a reason-it can be (and frequently is) quite physically taxing.

Why Choose Mountain Bike Racing?

If you are an avid bike rider (but not a racer) you may be surprised to learn that taking your beloved bike out for an occasional race will actually turn you into a better rider. Experts say that the varied, sometimes dangerous, terrain of a racing course forces the mind to focus on quick solutions for safely traversing unpredictable course. These “split-second” decisions, made with full concentration, enables a rider learn techniques faster than years of casual riding, in addition to sharpening reactions in response to sudden changes in terrain or unexpected conditions.

Tips for Choosing (and Maintaining) Your Bike

A common misconception by those new to this sport is that they have to have a “special” bike. Certainly to compete at the highest level, a bike of a certain quality is required to enable a level playing field. However, the most expensive choice is certainly not a necessity. Rather, the most important aspect of the bike is that it be sturdy and reliable.

While suspension and dual hydraulic disc brakes may be appealing, with respect to off-road racing it is crucial that the bicycle be lightweight. Towards the end of a race every extra pound will begin to feel like fifty. Additionally, excellent quality front shocks will substantially absorb the rocky terrain encountered in mountain bike racing.

Finally, as may be obvious, the essential factor in choosing the right racing bicycle is that it be suitably matched to the racing course. Cross-country mountain bikes are better suited for trails, whereas downhill mountain bikes are clearly designed for enhanced safety for downhill racing.

To ensure that you are able to address repair or maintenance issues, the following items (at minimum) should be carried by the rider: extra tire tubes, toolkit, and a puncture repair kit.

Rules of the Road

In mountain bike racing, the rules of the road depend upon the type of the race. The three most popular types of mountain bike races are cross-country (XC), hillclimb (HC) and downhill (DH).

Cross-country: This is the most common type of mountain bike race. The riders compete directly against one another while riding around a circular track of varied terrain. In instances where there are significant numbers of racers, the group is typically divided into sub-groups by age or ability levels. This is a rigorous form of racing, as riders must jockey for position and understand the mechanics and timing of passing other riders.

Hillclimb: This race pits rider against the mountain as compared to rider against rider. The riders are paced as they climb the hill, individually, a few moments apart. The winner is judged by how fast he, or she, reaches the top of the hill.

Downhill: The riders in this race are timed by the speed with which they navigate the hill. As with the hillclimb, each rider is released downhill individually. The courses in downhill racing frequently involve difficult obstacles for the riders to surmount, thus accounting for the challenge of the this type of race.

Dos and Don’ts of Mountain Bike Racing

Although becoming a skilled mountain bike racer takes training and experience, a few basic dos and don’ts should be noted:

DO:

· Practice. Practice. Practice. To become a skilled mountain bike rider, you must ride-often.

· Cross-train. Mountain bike racing takes strong leg muscles, in particular, and you will be at a disadvantage if your are not physically ready for the challenge.

· Accept the fact that you are embarking in a potentially risky activitym where injuries are not only not uncommon, but even to be expected.

· Research the course before the race. Ensure that you ‘pre-ride’ the course (or one similar)prior to the race day.

· Carry an adequate supply of water with electrolytes.

· Thoroughly inspect your bicycle and ensure that all maintenance appointments are up-to-date.

· Conserve your energy during the race by appropriately pacing yourself.

· Allow other riders to pass you – never try to block a passing attempt.

DON’T:

· Worry about the other riders with the (perhaps) flashier bicycles, gear or outfits. Their ability to buy expensive racing equipment is no indication of their skill level.

· Ride when you should walk. Almost every racecourse has small sections and obstacles that are difficult to traverse. Endeavoring to muscle your way (via the pedals) over such hurdles may seriously tax the remaining energy required to complete the race, and heighten the probability of injury.

· Arrive late. You should arrive at least an hour prior to the start of the race. This will provide sufficient time to enable a 20-minute warm up ride and listen to the pre-race briefing to ensure that there have been no last minute changes to the course.

· Consider the other racers. Doing so will simply increase anxiety levels and inhibit optimal performance. Instead, focus upon the upcoming excitement of the race.

· Don’t pass other riders, during the race, without appropriately notifying them of your intent. A simple “passing on the left” or “passing on the right” is sufficient to prevent collisions and resulting injuries.

The Finish Line

The finish line in mountain bike racing is rarely the finish line. Those who love extreme sports, such as this one, are rarely satisfied by the thrill of just one race. It is likely, therefore, that you will one day look back on dozens of races that consumed every ounce of your energy and tested your stamina.

Whether you won or lost these races is incidental – what you will remember is the fun that you experienced.

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