Several Health Benefits of Cycling

Being physically active helps you to be fit and healthy. It also protects you from serious diseases such as heart disease, obesity, mental illness, cancer, arthritis and diabetes. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle is through cycling.

Here are some health benefits associated with cycling:

One of the easiest ways to exercise

Most of us know how to cycle and once you have learned, you don’t forget. With a bike, you can exercise almost anywhere at any time without spending a fortune.

It improves cardio-vascular fitness

Your cardiovascular capacity relates to your body's ability to provide oxygen and fresh blood to the muscles during exercise. The more you train your body during cardio exercise such as cycling, the better your body becomes at maintaining high levels of oxygen in your bloodstream, ready for use by your straining muscles.

It builds strength and muscle tone

As most of you may think of, cycling not only involves the legs, it also builds strength in a holistic manner since every single part of the body is involve in this kind of exercise. Cycling is basically an endurance sport typified by high numbers of repetitions with low resistance. This type of activity improves general muscle function gradually. It has also little risk of over exercise or strain. Doing it regularly strengthens leg muscles and is great for the mobility of hip and knee joints. Specifically, you’ll see an improvement in the muscle tone of your legs, thighs, rear end and hips.

It eats up calories

Cycling also helps you achieve your weight loss goals as it burn calories by increasing your heart rate. Depending on your weight and exertion level, it will help you lose weight by burning off between 75-670 extra calories within a half-hour session. And since it helps build muscle, it also boosts your metabolic rate even after you’ve finished your ride.

It builds stamina

Stamina refers to your body's ability to endure extended periods of exercise. Riding a bike is one way to build stamina if you combine longer ride sessions with set training programs. By doing it regularly, it will make your body used to drawing on energy stores for a long time without getting too fatigued. It is very effective because people enjoy cycling and that they wouldn’t really notice that they have gone farther the last time they went cycling.

It reduces stress

Whatever your reasons for cycling, one thing’s for sure – it can be as good for your state of mind as it is for your body. Cycling is one of the most effective treatments for stress and in many cases has been proven to be as effective as medication. This kind of exercise forces you to regulate your breathing, as well as to breathe deeper to expel any lingering CO2, which are both key methods used to alleviate stress in non-riders. Thus, you are practicing proven clinical techniques while cycling. Moreover, any regular exercise can reduce stress and depression and improve well-being and self-esteem.

Bicycling, along with being the most efficient mode of human locomotion, is also one of the best all-around activities for improving our health. So, why not take advantage of the healthy benefits of cycling? From head to toes, cycling’s health benefits are hard to beat.

Mark V's Shredhead Review

This pedal deserves a review not only because it is one of the best Marshall-sounding pedals out there but also because its maker is a Filipino, Mark V. It is already gaining popularity not only in the Philippines but internationally as well.

Mark V's Shredhead Specifications:
• Hand built, numbered and signed by the builder
• High visibility indicator Blue LED
• True-bypass switching
• Cleans up nicely for the volume knob player
• Responsive & boutique quality Alpha potentiometers
• Made in Japan input & output jacks
• Metal Film capacitors to preserve original tone of guitar and amp, & for quiet operation
• 9 to 18v operation
• 9v battery operated
• Equipped with reverse polarity protection
• Lifetime warranty

Ease of Use:
Just tweak its four knobs: volume, gain, tone, and presence, in order to get the sound you want. The overall size is good as it is pretty easy to carry around, making it ideal for gigs.

Sound: 
Its maker, Mark V describes it as a "Marshall in a box.” The pedal can really produce neat Marshall Drive tones. The pedal can still be quiet even at high gain settings. The Tone and Presence knobs make the pedal very versatile. The Drive knob offers nice control of the amount of distortion (from simple crunch to high gain). The distortion, on the other hand, seems a bit too "sharp" (aggressive in terms of treble), and may sometimes need a booster like an Overdrive pedal or an EQ to make it thicker. It is good for searing classic lead solos.

Reliability & Durability:
This pedal is very durable with its tough metal case and the components are high grade.

Price:
As of this writing, Mark V is selling the Shredhead at 3.5k pesos. That's a reasonable price for a really good-sounding pedal.

Overall Impression:
Although Mark V's Shredhead is very versatile, it is well-suited for metal or hard rock types of sound. The tone and sustain are there. But it could get pretty muddy around the low-mid frequency and a bit "reverberated." But overall, it is a great warm high gain pedal that cleans up well with rich harmonics and yet transparent for your guitar tone to shine thru.

Here’s a demo of Mark V's Shredhead:

Mark V's Shredhead Gold Limited Edition

Here are some pedalboards with Mark V's Shredhead:

You can also visit its Facebook Page for inquiries and more sound clips and demos at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MV-Electronics-Shredhead/116129548423797

Note:      All photos were taken from Mark V's Shredhead official Facebook page.

How to Setup Your Electric Guitar

Having your guitar properly setup is an important prerequisite in order to get the most out of your instrument. It not only gives you a great feel of the instrument but it also keeps you in tune when pressing strings anywhere on the fretboard. A standard guitar setup generally includes adjustments for action, intonation, and string buzzing.

Performing a guitar setup might be a trial and error skill, but it is not very hard to learn and it only requires a few basic tools. Once you get the hang of it, you will be rewarded with a noticeable difference in the playability of the instrument.

Step One - Neck Adjustment
Tools required:
       Truss-rod Wrench (or sometimes a screwdriver, nut driver, or Allen Key)

First, check whether the neck of your guitar is straight or not. If it is not, adjust it via the truss rod. Most of the neck of guitars has what is known as a truss rod. It is either a one- or two-piece adjustable metal rod running through the center of the neck.

You can access the truss rod through a nut located at one end. The location of the nut depends on what type of guitar it is. Usually, you can adjust it from the top of the neck (i.e., where the headstock meets the neck). However, some guitar models can be adjusted from the base of the neck (i.e., you have to remove the neck in order to make your adjustments).

To adjust the truss rod, you will need a truss-rod wrench or Allen key. Most guitars come with their own particular truss-rod wrench. If you don’t have one for your guitar, you may find a replacement at a local guitar store first or you can get in touch with the manufacturer.

Your adjustment of the truss rod depends on which way the neck bows. Please be reminded that twisting your truss rod too much can damage the neck and/or body of your guitar. So, to be safe, just turn the nut a quarter turn at a time and constantly check your progress. This also enables the neck to adjust after each turn.

If the neck bows outward between the 7th and 12th frets, tighten the truss rod by turning the nut in a clockwise direction (as you are facing the nut). An outward bow of the neck may create a large gap that makes pressing down the strings difficult.

On the other hand, if the neck bows inward between the 7th and 12th frets, loosen the truss rod by turning it counterclockwise. An inward bow may cause the strings to buzz and fret out (i.e., come in contact with frets as they’re not supposed to when you press down the strings).

The result should give you a straight neck as opposed to a banana shape. But this doesn’t always mean dead straight as some guitars play at their best with some relief (i.e., a slight dip). So, try to experiment a little bit and find that sweet spot where the action feels just right for you.

After doing all the steps above and still you can’t correct the problem with your guitar, then, stop. You may need a qualified repairperson to do it.

Here’s a video on how to adjust the truss rod of a guitar:

Step Two – Adjusting the String Height
Tools required:
       Capo
       Ruler
       Screwdrivers
       Allen Key

After adjusting your guitar’s neck, the next step is to check the action of the guitar strings. The ‘action of a guitar’ refers to the height of the strings off the fretboard. A lower action is recommended for players with a light touch. Meanwhile, heavy players may need more height in order to prevent rattling strings. What’s important here is that the string height is comfortable for you without having any fret buzz.

To setup the string height, place a Capo on the 1st fret. Then, use a ruler to measure the gap between the strings and the frets at 12th fret. While the string height may depend on the preference of the player, the widely accepted measurement is 1.2mm - 1.6mm gap from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string.

The string height can be adjusted via the saddles on a Fender style bridge while for a Gibson style bridge, you have to adjust the entire bridge itself.

     

Here's a video tutorial on how to adjust the string height of a guitar:

Step Three – Fine Tune for Intonation
Tools required:
       Screwdriver
       Guitar Tuner

The final step is to fine tune for intonation. What actually you’re going to do here is to adjust the length of each string by moving the saddles on the guitar bridge backwards or forwards. This will ensure that your guitar will play in tune all the way up the neck. So, you’ll need a tuner and some small screwdrivers (i.e., flat tip or Phillips depending on the bridge of your guitar) for this job.

With a tuner, tune your guitar accurately. This is important to get the correct pitch when played open. You can start with the low E string. Play the open E string with a pick and make sure it is in tune. Then, fret the string at the 12th fret. Pick the string and check the tuning. It should also show an E in tune.

If the note that you played at the 12th fret is in tune with that of the open string, then the string is properly intonated. However, if the note you played at the 12th fret is flat (below E), take your screwdriver and move the saddle toward the pickups (shortening the string). If it was sharp (above E), move the saddle away from the pickups (lengthening the string).

Continue the process by adjusting the saddles until the open string and that same string fretted at the 12th fret are in perfect tune with each other. Then, do all of the above-mentioned process for all the strings, and keep going back and check the settings for each one.

See the vid below on how to adjust for guitar intonation:

Once you have successfully completed all the steps required for a basic guitar setup, you will now notice that your instrument is a hundred times better than its previous state. A good guitar setup will increase comfort for the player by decreasing pressure on his finger tips, eliminate or decrease buzzing, improve sustain and tone, and improve intonation.

If you have some other questions, this video might help.

Mooer Pure Boost Review

Lately, many guitar players are fascinated by the Chinese manufacturer Mooer Audio as it offers a range of clones of well-known effect pedals. One of these is the Mooer PureBoost which is a clone of the Xotic RC Booster. It is great for boosting your guitar effect pedals, giving you more volume for solos or for driving your tube amp into its natural overdrive.

Specifications:

    20db+ clean boost with ±15db 2 band EQ, nice embellishing of original tone

    Full metal shell

    Very small and exquisite

    True bypass

    Input: 1/4” monaural jack (impedance: 1M Ohms)

    Output: 1/4” monaural jack (impedance: 10k Ohms)

    Power Requirements: AC adapter 9V DC (center minus plug)

    Current Draw: 6 mA

    Dimensions: 93.5mm (D) × 42mm (W) × 52mm (H)

    Weight: 160g
                                                                                                                  

 

It has a small metal enclosure with four control knobs: Gain, Volume, Treble, and Bass. It produces 20 db of a clean boost. Although it needs some EQ adjustments to keep your original signal unaltered though, it is still perfectly transparent. For boost, the recommended setting is 2 o'clock volume and the gain on 0. Even at 0 gain, you still have enough volume to amplify your solos. For extra push over the cliff and some grit on your amp, turn the gain level up. The treble and bass controls work as a +/- 15 db EQ to help your guitar cut through the mix.

Here’s the demo video of Mooer Pure Boost Pedal.

On the other hand, the video below shows the capability of Mooer Pure Boost to sound as close as possible to its more expensive counterpart, the Xotic RC Booster.

Look how small it is compared to other effect pedals. It is definitely a space-saver on your pedalboard.

Some Filipino Exotic Foods You Might Want to Try

When it comes to food, taste and diet are relative. It varies especially from one country to another. Here in the Philippines, we have a number of exotic foods that may not be to everyone’s tastes and may seem like an extreme dining to some, but we consider as delicious delicacies and quite normal to eat. Here are some Filipino exotic foods that you might want to give it a try:

Balut

This one is already considered a tasty afternoon threat in the Philippines. Balut is a boiled fertilized duck egg which is either 16 or 18 days old. It is eaten with salt or vinegar. You can see the almost-fully-formed duckling inside the egg, which gives a slimy texture. The half-formed head, guts, beak, and bones of the poor duckling can be off-putting to some especially the foreigners.

Soup No. 5

Its main ingredient is bull’s sex organs, considered by many as the “fifth leg” of the animal and that’s where it got its name. Many believe that this exotic food is an aphrodisiac as it gives the physical attributes of a bull to anyone willing to take a sip. In Cebuanos, they call it “lanciao.”

Adobo or Deep-Fried Crickets

Mole crickets or Kamaro is an exotic delicacy in Pampanga. They are usually cooked as adobo or deep fried. The legs, wings, and heads are removed and what’s left is its body which is crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Also, the juice is coming out of its abdomen when eaten.

Dagang Bukid or Farm Rats

These are not just any ordinary rats. These are dagang bukid or rats that are found in rice fields and are assured to be clean because they only feed on rice. It can be cooked as adobo, deep fried, or roasted like chicken.

Tuslob-Buwa

Tuslob-buwa in Cebuano dialect literally means 'to dip in bubbles.' It is made from pork brain and liver cooked with chili, salt, and other spices. As the ingredients are cooked thoroughly, you know that it’s ready to serve when bubbles appear in the surface which then explains its name. Tuslob-buwa is mostly served for free by the street vendors as long as you buy rice ball (which locals call “puso”) from them.

Salagubang or june bug

Salagubang or june bug is known to be protein-rich and is abundant in Nueva Ecija. When fried, it is a common appetizer or pulutan around town. It is also cooked as adobo and eaten with rice.

Adobong Uok

Normally served with rice and tomatoes, this flavorful exotic dish will fill in your hungry stomach once you taste it. Uok is a coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae which can be found in dead coconut logs. It is a popular exotic dish in Angono, Rizal.  

Etag

Etag is considered as Cordillera’s official ham and as foreigners called it, the “Igorot smoked meat.” It is a salted meat from native pigs which is cured and aged underground using earthen jars for weeks. The final product can be foul-smelling, dark, and rotting with maggots. For some natives, they prefer smoking usually for 30 minutes to about 3 hours per day for at least two weeks. This food is not usually served on its own. It is rather a complimentary ingredient that gives a distinct taste to delicacies such as pinikpikan, pinakbet, monggo and other dishes with legumes as the main element.

Kinilaw na tamilok

“Tamilok” is a type of woodworm and is a common delicacy in Palawan. But these are not that the usual worms that you may think of. These woodworms are actually molluscs, which has a taste comparable to that of oyster and a texture like "tulya." The tamilok is served as raw which you can just dip in vinegar with spicy peppers, onions, and calamansi juice before enjoying its taste.

Wondering what the name “tamilok” means? The name came from the words uttered by a foreign visitor in Palawan when he and his companion saw the locals eating raw woodworms with vinegar. He said "Tommy, look!" and since then, the woodworms from mangrove trees have been known as “tamilok.”

Betute tugak or stuffed frogs

Frog dishes are considered a delicacy in the Philippines. But these are the kind of frogs from rice paddies which are much more available that they are being sold in the urban wet markets. The taste of frog meat is comparable to that of chicken. Some common ways of preparing frog is to fry it (prito) or to turn it into adobo (where the frog meat is cooked in garlic, oil, vinegar, and laurel leaves). However, the Province of Pampanga serves another frog dish called “Betute Tugak,” which is a frog stuffed with minced pork and then deep-fried in oil. Betute is just a play of words on a local dialect butete, which means "tadpole" in English.

Abuos

Abuos is a delicacy in Ilocos made of ant eggs. This is usually served as adobo, sauteed with garlic, or just eaten raw.

Street foods

Some common Filipino street foods are innards and other parts of a chicken which are cooked by grilling them over a coal. These include the following:

          Isaw – barbecued chicken intestines.

          Adidas – barbecued chicken feet.

          Betamax – barbecued chicken coagulated blood cubes.

          Helmet – barbecued chicken heads.

Note:     The photos posted above are not mine.