How to carry basketball on bike

LeBron James on cycling — #velonation

“It's a special journey,” says the world's greatest basketball player. “If you have a bike, then there is a way to relax and be free.” Text: Jason Gay, WSJ.

I talked to LeBron James about bikes on Friday. It was just hours before President Trump ventured out on Twitter and publicly questioned James' intelligence. The level of absurdity here is difficult to overestimate. It is clear that James is not a fan of Trump - and this is still delicately said. But the absurdity was that in parallel LeBron did good. Trump's tweet came just the week the NBA superplayer was attending the opening of a school for troubled teens in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. In the same place, he promised to pay for education at the University of Akron to everyone who graduated from this school.

I think we can talk about Trump's tweet for a long time, but there are better things to do. Let's talk about bicycles, do we have a right to this?

I've been wanting to talk to James about this for a long time. Regular readers of my column know that I'm a bike freak. And I was aware that the three-time NBA champion himself loves to skate. James has been spotted more than once arriving at games on a mountain bike. In the summer, he usually hosts a bikoton in Ohio ( is a form of charity rides, - approx. lane .) and at some point even tried himself as the owner of a line of a fairly well-known bike manufacturer Cannondale.

But at the opening of the school last week, it finally became clear what bikes really mean to LeBron James. In the launch of I Promise — which will take 240 third and fourth graders and will expand until grades 1 through 8 are introduced — an important milestone was announced: The James Family Foundation has promised to provide a free bike and helmet to everyone in school.

It was an impressive gesture, obviously very personal. And I wanted to know more about it.

“Everything I do is related to my childhood. With the way I grew up and what I feel is part of my personal success,” James tells me over the phone. “For me, the bike was the only way to get around the city. If I wanted to meet friends or just go for a ride, if I wanted to go to school or play basketball, only a bicycle could help me to do it all.”

But that's only part of the picture. According to James, the bike represented freedom for him. “When my friends and I got on bikes, we just rode aimlessly,” he recalls. “Sometimes we could even get lost because we went far, far away. But on the trip we were always accompanied by a feeling of joy and comfort. It felt like nothing could stop us. We felt like we were on top of the world in the saddle.”

“This is a special way. If you have a bike, then there is a way to relax and be free.”

James doesn't remember exactly how he got his first bike. It is known that he got it from his mother - Gloria. “It would be nice to remember,” he says. “In general, I liked Mongoose bikes with pegs. We loved riding them. And then there was the 10-speed Huffy. By that time I could already afford to change different bikes. We used to race through the hills in Akron all the time. We especially liked the one called North Hill. It was just hefty, and if you didn't have any transportation, climbing to the top of it would take a long time."

James says that as he got older he used his bike to keep fit. And he continued to do so throughout his 16 NBA seasons.

You may remember a series of photos of James cycling through the streets of Miami on his way to the American Airlines Arena, where his team of those years played home matches. Along with his Heat partner Dwyane Wade, LeBron took part in a local version of the Critical Mass run, when hundreds of cyclists took to the road and showed unity. “We loved Critical Mass,” James says of the event, which spans cities not just in America, but around the world. It was always the last Friday of the month.

I'm sure my bike addict friends want to know what kind of bike park James has. Alas, unlike basketball, it does not yet demonstrate conquering abilities in this regard. James still has the same burgundy mountain bike he got from Cannondale when he first made the playoffs with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also says that he has another Cannondale, a hybrid that is equally good on the road and on rough terrain. "He's good for anything," LeBron says. (That's a good start, LeBron. Sounds like you've probably also used a road bike, cyclocross, and also gravel, singlespeed, folding, and probably racing. It's important to start here, and then everything will follow. Every cyclist knows that There must be more than one bike.

More news: James has nothing against spandex - he calls them "drawstrings". He has yet to discover contact pedals for himself. Come on, come on, LeBron! “Yes, I know,” he says almost regretfully. - Friends told me how cool it is and how much easier it is to pedal. But I never used them. Not even exercise bikes.”

James says that he now has a new love for cycling. Now the basketball player has moved to Los Angeles, where he will play for the Lakers next season. (This was the biggest story of the year in the basketball world if you didn't already know). Generally speaking, Los Angeles doesn't have a very good reputation in terms of cyclists, but it does have some places to ride, and there are plenty of high-class cyclists as well. "I've seen a few bike lanes around Los Angeles," says James. “And I know Santa Monica has an incredible bike path right on the beach. I want to try it."

Is he considering cycling to home games at the Staples Center? “For heaven's sake,” James says. - It's quite outrageous. I would have to, I think, cut through traffic jams on the highway. Another thing to consider is that he is LeBron James, one of the most famous people on the planet. Of course, I couldn't help but wonder if he could get on a bike and just go for a drive without turning it into a theatrical media show? “I can,” he says. “Sometimes it turns into a performance, but to a greater extent I get pleasure from driving. I inhale the air, lean back in the saddle and remember those times when I was much younger and it was quieter around than now. In those days, my friends were just around.”

That's the whole point of the story, folks. LeBron James is the greatest basketball player on the planet, but in general he is just like us. A person who has a bicycle.

Translation by Alexander Kondukov.

Liked this:

Like Loading...

5 ways, tools and tips for transporting your four-legged friend

Summary of the article:

• How to carry a dog on a bicycle?
• How not to transport a dog on a bicycle
• How to ride a bike with a dog?
• Tips for transporting dogs on a bike
• What to do if a dog is afraid of a bicycle?
• Video: features of cycling with a dog

Sometimes it becomes necessary to transport a dog on a bicycle for a rather long distance. For example, you need to go to the vet, and there are big traffic jams on the roads just at that time. Or you just don't want to leave your pet at home. Therefore, you need to figure out how to place your pet on two-wheeled vehicles so that he feels comfortable and at the same time does not create interference when driving a bicycle.

There are several ways to ride safely and comfortably with your pet:

1. Dog bike basket . The optimal solution for owners of small breeds . All models are necessarily equipped with a grille that closes while driving. This ensures the safety of the dog so that it does not accidentally fall out. If a bicycle basket with a partially closed top is purchased, then there must be a carabiner inside, to which the animal's collar is attached. It is best to buy products that are mounted on the steering wheel, and not on the trunk. This will keep your pet in sight at all times. In addition, the dog itself is much more interesting to watch the road when it sits in front. For a larger animal, it is worth buying a bike basket for the trunk, as its weight will significantly interfere with the control of the bike. Particular attention is paid to the strength of fastening. It is important that they securely hold the bike basket, otherwise, when riding, it will dangle slightly from side to side, and this will annoy both the driver and the pet. Fastenings are both metal and in the form of belts. There is no particular difference between him. The baskets themselves are usually made of plastic or wooden rods. If you want to buy a plastic bike basket, then it is better to choose a product of a dark shade. The fact is that on white plastic, the claw marks that a dog is likely to leave will be more noticeable. Most models have a soft interior lining for a more comfortable ride over long distances;

2. Bicycle bag . Like bicycle baskets, they are designed for small dogs weighing up to 10 kg and are attached to the handlebars or trunk. A bike bag is a more practical product. It is made of synthetic fabric that is resistant to abrasion and animal claws. Such a bag for transporting a dog is itself soft, so it does not need to be placed inside a soft bedding. It is lighter than a bike basket, easy to remove and wash. Many models have pockets that can fit a small portion of pet food, a bottle of water and other useful little things. But most importantly, if necessary, the bike bag can be removed and worn on the shoulder like a regular dog carrier;

3. Bicycle trailer . It is a trailer for transporting large dogs, which is attached to the rear of the bike. For an animal, this is a convenient "home on wheels", it is made of a metal frame, on which wear-resistant fabric is stretched. The windows have a mesh to ensure air circulation.

How not to transport your dog on a bicycle

Some people think that you can transport your pet in a regular bicycle basket. But is a bad idea . Ordinary baskets are needed to transport inanimate things that do not care about comfort.

The dog will feel uncomfortable in such a basket. In addition, in many products the bottom is made in the form of a solid mesh, which can easily injure paws. Even if you cover the mesh with a soft cloth, it will still not give the animal proper comfort.

Conventional bike baskets are not suitable for another reason. They do not have protective grille . Even a calm pet can get naughty and fall out of the basket during a trip.

The worst option is to put the dog on your knees and hold it with one hand. This creates a double danger. A pet in this position is unlikely to sit still. Plus, the owner will be forced to drive the bike with one hand, which can cause inaccurate turns and falls from vehicles at full speed.

How to ride a bike with a dog?

If your dog likes active walks and not boring sitting in a basket, it is better to teach him to run next to a bicycle. So that she does not run far from the owner, seeing her relative or cat, you should purchase a special leash - bicycle springer .

At one end of the bike springer there is a metal bar with a shock absorber that is fixed to the bike. At the other end there is a carabiner attached to the pet's collar.

The Velospringer allows you to keep your hands free and the leash does not get tangled in the protruding parts of the bike. In this case, the dog feels the tension on the leash and tries to run alongside.

However, sometimes the pet will suddenly stop or run forward, causing the risk of the owner falling off the bike. Therefore, you should teach him special walking commands. For example, on the command “Bicycle!” the dog should start running nearby, and at the word "Stand!" she stops.

Tips for transporting dogs on a bike

Cycling with your pet will be no problem if you follow a few tips:

• When installing a bike basket or bike bag, you need to take into account the preferences of the dog
  0
  Some feel calmer behind the owner. The more curious prefer to be near the helm. If the pet did not like the first bike ride, then another time it is worth changing the position of the bike basket;
• When you have to go somewhere for a short time with your dog, then regular shoulder backpack made of soft fabric will do. But it is not suitable for long trips. The dog is cramped in it, as she has to sit close to the back of the owner without the ability to move her paws normally;
• If your bike rides are frequent and long, it is better to purchase the bike basket or bike bag with a water-repellent rain cover.