Riding bikes for good causes

Your chance to be a DIVA!

 After having a few falls off of a bike when I was in my late teens, I decided that cycling probably wasn’t the sport for me!

 However, being married to a cycle enthusiast I have slowly been re-introduced into the activity, with a new bike (hooray) and I am pleased to write, only a few falls (even bigger hooray!) . The thing I like about cycling is it can be enjoyed with others or if you need a little personal head space, then what better place than in the park on your bike? 

The other thing is that it can be for everyone!

Davina McCall will once again don her cycling shorts and helmet for the third women-only Action DIVA Sussex bike ride, which sets out from the East Sussex National in Uckfield, on Saturday 11th May.

 Davina says “What better way to motivate yourself to get and stay fit than to sign up for this brilliant bike ride. By doing so, you lovely ladies will be able to raise some dosh for the most amazing charity – thank you.”

 The children’s charity, Action Medical Research, uses the money from these event days to fund work around Down syndrome, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, diabetes and some rare conditions that severely effect children.

 The ride is being sponsored by leading bike brand, Trek and cyclists get to ride a “beautiful route through some of the most amazing parts of Sussex countryside” says Davina.

 Riders will be provided with plenty of rest stops, a fully-serviced lunch along with staff riders, first aiders and even massage therapists! If that’s not incentive enough, I don’t know what is! It will cost you £28 to sign up for the event and you will also need to raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorships.

For more information and to sign up then go to www.action.org.uk/diva.

 You may not be able to make the ride this year, but getting out and exercising is still important and it may even spur you on to get involved next year for this great cause.

 In the words of Davina “don’t be scared ladies, it’s amazing what you can do on a bike!”

Tara Wilkins

Britain's Olympic Year

 Four months after the Olympic opening ceremony and Britain has never looked back on such a successful fortnight. And with 14 million people tuning in to the BBC Sports Personality of the year awards, Britain's unsung heroes now have their spotlight.

 The Olympics has seen a staggering increase in the amount of people taking part in sport which would normally be last on their mind. Generally people would prefer to join Football, Rugby or Cricket clubs, but many different sports have seen an increase in participation.

Cold Water May Not Be Effective

Typically, after a sports match, especially with professional sportsmen, you'd tend to rest in a cold bath, to rest the muscles. However, scientists at the University of Portsmouth have shown in recent studies that ice baths  can do 'more harm than good'.

Geranium dope banned from sports shops

A popular sports supplement was banned in the UK this week because it contains unlicensed medicines.

Jack3D uses a substance called DMAA, which is extracted from the geranium plant.

The substance is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and is an unlicensed medicinal product, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said.

The chemical is said to raise the heart rate and narrow the arteries and has been linked to at least one death globally, the MHRA said.

David Carter, of the MHRA, said: "People need to be aware when choosing their sports supplements. These products may claim to increase performance but contain powerful ingredients which can have serious side-effects.

"We recommend that people only use approved products and speak to a qualified medical practitioner if they have any concerns about any supplements they may be taking."

Graham Arthur, of UK Anti-Doping, welcomed the move as a "significant step forward."

He said: "Athletes who use sports supplements need to choose reputable manufacturers who can justify their claims with scientific evidence, and have their products screened to minimise the risk of testing positive for a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List."

Sporting heroes beating asthma

 Many people do not like to participate in sport because of problems with asthma. However, the example of many of Britain's Olympic heroes - including Tour de France winner and Gold Medalist Bradley Wiggins, have managed to get by and succeed even with the diagnosis.

David Beckham is among celebrity sportsmen and women who suffer from asthma

Get fit quick products banned

As many as 84 sports supplements have been banned from the shelves of British shops because they contained illegal drugs, regulators announced yesterday.

Regulators say they expect to find more as manufacturers seek to exploit Olympic fever to sell get-fit-quick products.

As well as drugs such as steroids and hormones investigators are searching for dangerous herbal extracts such as ephedrine, synephrine and yohimbine.

Banned products include energy and muscle gain products.
One substance called Celtic Dragon put two men in hospital with severe jaundice and liver damage. It contained adulterated steroids.

Why Britain Should Encourage Sport

Britain faces increasing obesity levels - and that's not good for future generations. More and more people are sitting down in an office or at home for their jobs, which is no good for their health or fitness. Spending 6 hours a day sitting down doing work, can have a dramatic effect on your metabolic rate, meaning that it will make it harder for you to lose weight, and keep fit.

So how can we encourage sport, especially in children? There are plenty of opportunities in every city/town to get a place in a Sunday League football team, no matter how good or bad you are. However, people can be discouraged by that from either the fact that they aren't very good at the sport so barely get to play anyway, or do not get on very well with many of their team mates, so get bored.

Is Great Britain's football squad a good idea?

Will Great Britain's football team overshadow
Britain's athletic hero's?

 It has been 40 years since Britain had a Team GB football team training, but it's a controversial issue. For many years people have objected to Britain having an Olympic Football team, largely because football fans already concentrate on doing well in major tournaments more or less every two years.

 People feel that if the football team were to succeed in the Olympics, their success would overshadow any other athletes in Britain.

Does age matter in sport?

 Nowadays, the sporting world overlooks older sportsmen, and they are never considered to be as good as in their 'heyday'. However, many sportsmen and women have achieved success, despite any age disadvantage. There have been plenty of good examples, for example Roger Federer recently regaining his 7th Wimbledon title, even though he's 31 years of age.

Swimmer Janet Evans

 And a four time Olympic gold medalist, has gone out of retirement to help the United States bid for Olympic glory. At the tender age of 40, Janet Evans has qualified for the US' 400 and 800 metre freestyle teams, bidding to win her 5th and 6th Olympic gold medals, but will face fierce competition of British European and Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington.

Public Reaction to the Olympics

 Check out our video on the public reaction to the Olympics, which will start later this month. Will the Olympics inspire people to get fit? #Olympics