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5 Cycling Tips for Night Riders

Singapore may be a heaven for night cyclists because of ridiculously low crime rate and almost non-existence of theft. However, accidents can happen anytime if you care less about your safety when riding around town. To ensure comfort and safety, here are some tips to keep in mind when going for a night ride.

1. Get yourself enough lights
If you intend to routinely commute by bike early in the morning or after sunset, make sure you have appropriate lighting. Check out a local bicycle shop for a LED head light and a big, bright red light for your rear end. A bicycle accessories shop has a selection of bike lights for different bike sizes and price range, so you should be able to choose one suitable for your bike and budget.

2. Wear reflective clothing
While lights are critical for night rides, do not discount the importance of reflective clothing. Bicycle accessories such as a reflective jackets and commuter bags with reflective strips on them may be costly, but they offer as much security as seatbelts and airbags in cars. The reflective materials used in these bicycle accessories make it easier for other motorists to see you on the road at night.

3. Carry enough tools
Fixing a mechanical glitch in the dark is not fun, so one of the first things to secure before a night ride is to ensure you have enough tools on hand. You can find mini multi-repair kits at almost any bicycle shop in Singapore. Since you will be cycling instead of riding a car, look for a kit that is easy to carry around or may even fit in your pocket.

4. Be prepared for whatever weather
Although checking the weather forecast is one of the key essentials when cycling at any time of the day, at most times it’s hard to predict when it might rain. Especially at night, when your vision is reduced, it is even more imperative to be prepared. Dress appropriately by always wearing your reflective waterproof cycling jacket. After-sunset hours are usually cool and windy anyway, so might as well have a jacket with you at all times.

5. Know your route
Whether you’re cycling to get home from work or for your daily dose of fitness, make sure to use a familiar route before setting off. During the day, it may be easy to detect which turn to take or stop and check your map for your progress. However, at night, visibility can make it difficult to see the end of the street. Even if you have Google Maps to help you, seasoned cyclists still suggest sticking to familiar routes for your safety.

For avid cyclists, a day or night ride may not have much of a difference. However, for casual commuters, a night cycle may impose some risks if you are not equipped with the right gear and knowledge. Picking up some essentials, such as lighting and reflective clothing, from a bicycle shop would already make a great difference in ensuring your safety on the road at night.

How to Groom Different Dog Coat Types Properly

There is no shortage of pet grooming services in Singapore, that is why it is important to ask for recommendations and to develop a rapport with a groomer before deciding to groom pet.

 

Types of Dog Coats

Most of the experienced pet groomers in Singapore should be able not just to deal with dog behavior and temperament, but also be able to work with different breeds and dog coats. Getting the wrong pet grooming services for your dog can have disastrous consequences if the groomer does not understand what your dog specifically needs.

 

Here are the types of dog coats that any reputable pet grooming shop should be familiar with.

 

  • Smooth Coat. This type of coat is characterized by a short, single coat close to the body and does not shed heavily. Ideally, bathing should be done only once every twelve weeks with warm water and an all-purpose shampoo. Next, towel dry the coat before using a hand dryer set at a warm temperature and high speed. The groomer can use either just the hands or a bristle brush while drying the hair. After brushing, the groomer should use a rubber grooming glove to massage the body. A sheen brush may be used if there is a need to make the coat shiny.

 

  • Double Coat. Double-coated dogs need special care when grooming because they shed their undercoats at least twice a year. At the pet grooming shop, the groomer will first spray mist of the coat before brushing with a slicker brush or a mat breaker. A finishing comb is used on smaller mats on the coat, while the mats in the ears are loosened using an undercoat rake. Washing is recommended once every 12 weeks, but more frequently when the dog is molting. Towel-dry the coat before using a hair dryer and a slicker brush.

 

  • Wire Coat. Wire-coated dogs have a soft undercoat and wiry hair that require regular trimming depending on the breed. An expert pet grooming in Singapore service should be familiar with the specific needs of various breeds, because this is a high-maintenance coat. Bathing is recommended once every twelve weeks with warm water and an all-purpose shampoo. Towel-dry the coat before using a dryer to remove the loose hair. The groomer should inspect the areas near the tail and trim any excess in the area above and below the anus. When combing while the coat is dry, an anti-static spray is required to make the process smoother.

 

  • Curly Coat. Curly-coated dogs are prone to tangles if they are not groomed properly by occasional trimming and combing. Ideally, you should only keep the hair length at two inches every six to eight weeks. Before trimming, however, dead hair need to removed using a slicker brush and a wide-toothed comb. When trimming the hair, the groomer starts with the paws, legs, and the underside before moving on to the head and finally, the tail, body, and belly. After a trim, bathing is recommended to rinse off the hair. For this type of coat, towel-drying is the best method, because blow-drying is not recommended. If you are planning to include your dog in shows and competitions, you should invest in pet grooming regularly

 

  • Long Coat. Long-haired dogs need regular brushing daily to remove the tangles and mats. Brushing with soft-bristled brush is also recommended before bathing the dog, so that it is easier to remove the dead hair later. When bathing, the direction of the water should always be downward and start by working your way from the top to bottom. Use your hair to comb through the hair while shampooing, then rinse thoroughly. Towel-dry before using the blow dryer, then inspect the foot pads and claws if they need any trimming.

 

  • Most of the hair is found only on the hair, feet, tails, and ears. Regular oiling and application of sunscreen is required to protect their skin. While, bathing is recommended only once every four weeks with mild shampoo to prevent blackheads from appearing. Towel-dry before using a hand-dryer. Finally, check the hair in between the pads and trim any excess between the claws. Finally, hair is brushed with a pin-brush first, then a wide-toothed comb.

Learning Spin Consistency in Tennis

Consistency of form and technique are the keys to playing great tennis matches, but you also need to be familiar with different types of players to plan how to defend and attack. Tennis coaching will remind you that one way of being able to read opponents effectively is through familiarization of the different spins.

 

Purposes of Spins

A good tennis player should be able to put spins on almost any shot through constant practice. Tennis coaching in Singapore will teach you to control where the to land the ball on the court and give the opponent more difficulty in returning the ball, therefore giving you more control of the game. It will not be an easy feat, because you must judge the spin of the ball when it’s coming towards you to return it, too.

 

Learning the Spins

Before you try putting spins on your ball, you need to know the basic tennis grips, proper form, and the ability to judge the direction and speed of the ball. And, yes, the only way to do this is to keep playing until all the drills in your tennis lessons in Singapore feel natural to you. Once you have mastered the basics, you should start observing the movements of the ball. Being able to control the spin means a basic understanding of the air pressure that affects the ball’s dip and curve. You will also need to observe the changes in the air pressure when the ball makes contact with the racket or the surface of the tennis court.

 

Types of Spins

These are the types of spins your tennis coach in Singapore will teach you once your tennis lessons have progressed to creating spins.

 

  • Once you learn tennis, you will notice that most of the experienced players use top spin when hitting fast balls. The effect is that the ball kicks up once it makes contact with the surface of the court, so that the other player will be forced to stop from going forward.
  • Also called a slice, the backspin can be used against an opponent’s topspin. The tennis coach will advise you to learn this to keep the ball low for a slower rally. The effect will make the other player bend his legs more to scoop up the ball.
  • This technique is used to confuse the opponent with the direction of the ball after it lands. However, sidespin is taught only by a tennis coach to more experienced players because the spin does not create a lot of power.

 

Types of Serves

Most of the spins can also be used during the serves, a crucial part in your tennis lessons.

 

  • Flat Serve. This serve uses the eastern grip or the continental grip so that the arm is swung directly at the ball to create a no-spin. Tennis coaching usually recommends this for power tennis players.
  • Slice Serve. A player is taught the eastern backhand grip or the continental grip to create a slice serve, so that the racket will brush across the right-hand side of the ball to create a spin. The result is a curving ball that will bounce in either the left or right direction depending on which hand is dominant.
  • Kick Serve. The kick serve will brush up and through a ball in either a 1 o’clock or 7 o’clock position. The result is that the ball will tend to bounce toward the opponent.

Underhanded Serve. This serve tosses the ball slightly upwards from the waist and is then hit with an underhand motion.

Mount Pleasant YMCA area and Racine Correctional Problems

PLEASE NOTE: Mount Pleasant YMCA area and Racine Correctional Problems — Our efforts to maintain a stop as close as possible to the Mount Pleasant YMCA and to provide direct service to the Racine Correctional Institute have encountered difficulties. Until Further Notice Route 27 buses will not have a stop on Corporate Drive near Fountain Hills Drive and the closest stop to the West YMCA will be the Aurora Medical Building stop. Direct access to Racine Correctional will not be able to be provided and the closest stop will be Rayne Road. We apologize for any inconvenience and we are working at trying to resolve operational issues with various parties.