Bikes aren't just for fitness - they're great for getting where you're going too!

Share the road! That's what cyclists have been screaming for years. So with more cities complying by adding designated bike lanes, why are bike-related accidents on the rise?

The New York Times recently reported on a group of Denver doctors who tackled this question after noticing a surprising rise in biking injuries coming into their emergency room. When they looked at the history, they found the severity of these injuries had significantly increased during the last five years. Their theory? Downtown commuters.

With the rising cost of gas, more people are being encouraged to take to the streets on their bikes. It's not uncommon in many cities to see businessmen and women commuting to work on two wheels. As environmentally friendly and heart healthy as this seems, it leaves some wondering if biking is just an accident waiting to happen. Literally.

Photo: RichardBH, Flickr

There are just a few more weeks left of summer, and more and more folks are finding that there are correspondingly few dollars left in their wallets. Fortunately, there are campgrounds all over the country that let you get away for far less than a pricey hotel or resort, and you can bring your bike along for a workout to boot!

Active.com lists seven fantastic bike-friendly campgrounds in coastal areas (though, of course, there are probably many, many more -- we'd love to hear about your favorite in the comments). And you might be surprised at some of the locations!

For example, did you know that there's mountain biking available in South Florida, just minutes from downtown Miami? Or that one state park in East Islip, New York, can provide you with both road and mountain biking opportunities of all lengths -- even century rides? Some, like the Astoria/Seaside KOA in Hammond, Oregon (about 100 miles from Portland), rent bikes, so you don't even have to worry about packing your own.

If biking's just not your thing, don't worry -- there are still loads of ways to get in a workout while camping out. Hiking, trail running, swimming, kayaking -- the list goes on and on. Share your favorite campsites and campground workouts with us in the comments!

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Photo: Courtesy of Nick Irons

This High School All-American and Boston College NCAA Division I swimmer combined his passion for swimming with his wish to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis -- a disease his father lives with -- to swim the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to Baton Rouge. He finished his goal -- a total of 1,550 miles -- in four months and then decided to bike the perimeter of the continental United States. That's Fit had the chance to ask Nick Irons about endurance, not having to count calories and what keeps him motivated to stay active these days.

That's Fit: You trained for 18 months, then swam every day for four months. How did you maintain your enthusiasm, stamina and drive?

Nick Irons: It helped that I was never "just" swimming the Mississippi River. I was swimming the Mississippi River to help my dad. The swim was my way of making a difference, by raising money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS) -- the disease my dad lives with. Whenever I had feeling of quitting, all I had to do was remind myself why I was swimming in the first place. I thought about my dad struggling to walk. I thought about his daily, never-ending fight with MS and realized that he can never say "I've had enough." He can never end his fight with MS by saying "I quit." That was always enough for me to keep swimming.

I thought about that for four long, long months of swimming. And I never quit. We raised more than $150,000 for MS research, and we were able to keep MS in the news for over four months.

Photo: JamieL.WilliamsPhotography/Flickr

Elite bikers are true endurance superstars. Ironman athletes stay in the saddle for 112 miles. Amazing. But it's a mere drop in the hat when you consider the Tour de France goes for over 2,000 miles (over approximately 23 days). All of the hours spent training and racing may give male competitors some of the most awesome legs around -- but they don't do the bikers any favors in the fertility department.

According to recent research, sperm quality drops with vigorous biking. Running and swimming don't have a negative impact on sperm quality. But multiple biking factors can cause the littlest swimmers to get a bit shy. Why? Researchers explain that the heat from tight clothing, friction against the bike's saddle and sheer stress on the body from vigorous activity contribute to the reduced sperm quality.

Now for the good news: The most severe fertility issues were seen in athletes who were logging more than 186 miles per week on their bikes. So biking a few days a week for exercise or commuting to work on your bike isn't likely to affect fertility.

The biking and infertility link is simply a case of "too much of a good thing." And it's a reminder to all of us that you should shake up your workout from time to time. Adding variety to your workout is good for many reasons -- it keeps things interesting, and it presents ever-changing challenges for your body. Even when training for a distance race, it's a good idea to incorporate complementary activities into your your training routine.

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Is biking the best way to blast belly fat? I'm not sure. I know it's a great way to get fit. I just don't know if I'd target my tummy troubles with a trek on two wheels. But I'm no expert. Let see what Oprah's Dr. Oz and pal Dr. Roizen have to say about the topic.

"Any physical activity helps you reduce belly fat," they say. But it must be pretty strenuous to have maximum benefit. Try this: Work up to 30 minutes of solid biking (if you stop at a crosswalk, subtract that time), then add about 10 percent more time each week. Keep in mind that one minute of intense biking equals about one minute of intense running. Note the word "intense," say the docs, who have two general tips for those starting out on the bike.

• Wear a pedometer all day. Put it on your lower leg while biking -- every time it goes around, you'll get a step count. Once you hit 10,000 "steps" a day -- including all the walking and biking you do -- you'll be headed for thin.
• Get a heart-rate monitor. Compare how fast your heart beats when you bike to how fast it beats when you walk. If you get the same number of beats per minute, you're probably getting the same level of activity. In this case, pump up the pedaling for tip-top belly benefits.
  

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There are many attachments you can hook to your bike so your little ones can come along for the fitness ride. Obviously, safety is the number one concern when looking at rolling devices for your kids. A different type of bike carrier hit Fit Pregnancy's Top 9 products of the year for its safety and versatility.

Rather than attaching to your regular bicycle, the Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle is an all-in-one system. It can be a standard bike, you can use just the ChildPod as a jogging/walking stroller, or use the bike while carting your child safely in front.

What's more, the bicycle has added safety features, like the rear window that allows parents to view their child(ren) at all times and the front bumper crumple zone. While nifty, the bike doesn't come at a small price. It's priced at $1349 -- an awful hefty sum. But if you're an avid biker, it might be worth the investment.

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I love my English Bulldog. I really do. But a walk around the neighborhood is the most I can expect of him. And if I go too far, I run the risk of him plopping down on the sidewalk and refusing to go any further. But I know a lot of people have the opposite problem -- dogs with more energy than their owners know what to do with.

Taking your dog with you while you're biking is a great way to get some of that excess energy out of your dog, which leads to a happier (and hopefully less destructive) dog at home. Plus, you're getting some exercise and you're both having a great time. It's a win-win situation for you and man's best friend.

You have to keep safety in mind with biking with your dog. Just holding your dog's leash while biking isn't safe for either of you. Bike attachments like the WalkyDog let you keep both hands on the handlebars while keeping your dog at a safe distance from your bike.

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I'm a child of the 80's, so Patrick Dempsey will forever be the nerdy kid from Can't Buy Me Love. The adult version of Patrick Dempsey is anything but nerdy ... he's downright hot. In fact, he landed in People's 2007 round-up of the Sexiest Men Alive.

So how did he shed his scrawny teen body and turn it into the sexy star you see today? Dempsey gives biking a thumbs up. Dempsey says "I have to look good, but I don't need to be ripped. I'm not trying to be McSteamy."

Ripped or not, your plan is working, Patrick. Just don't ever cut that hair.

Actors That Went From Dweeby to Dreamy(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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New Year's Eve is fast approaching. When the numbers 2-0-0-9 light up Times Square, they'll have been powered not by traditional energy, but by human-powered energy.

Duracell set up a "Power Lodge" in Times Square where people can come and ride a stationary bike to generate energy that will be stored and used during the New Year's celebration. And while many average Joes and Janes are surely contributing to the 230 hours of bike riding needed, some famous faces (and legs) have stopped by as well. Just think -- not only is the Duracell Power Station generating green energy, it's also helping New Yorkers shed some extra calories; 230 hours of bike riding has burned roughly 131,560 calories from the combined volunteers. That's not too shabby!

Gisele Bundchen did her part. She said her efforts were "in support of the Agua Limpa Project which was started by my father and provides clean drinking water to people in regions of Brazil." Good for you, Gisele -- but are you engaged or aren't you?. Other celebs who have hopped on the bike include Katie Couric, Nick Lachey, Natasha Bedingfield and Christian Siriano.

[via Tonic]

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Do you have people in your life who just aren't satisfied with a jog around the neighborhood? You can foster your loved ones' adventurous spirits with holiday gifts that are as rugged as they are.

You can find adventure sport gear or accessories that fit any budget. Do keep in mind that certain items -- especially wearables such as helmets -- require a certain fit, so be sure to purchase items that can be easily exchanged if they don't fit correctly. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

Do you spend your summer seeking outdoor adventures? Mountain biking on rugged trails or scaling the face of a rocky mountain? While opportunities for your favorite outdoor adventures may not be so numerous in winter, you can still get your adrenaline rush indoors.

Men's Health shares four amazing indoor adventure sports centers across the country. But you may be able to find something a little closer to home. For example, in my neck of the woods there's an awesome rock climbing wall at the community center, a rowing pool at a local rowing club, and an indoor skating/biking facility just a couple hours away.

And don't forget about all the incredible adventure sports -- such as snowboarding and skiing -- winter has to offer as well. AOL Health has 11 fun winter fitness activities to try.

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Kaley Cuoco, who shot to fame on 8 Simple Rules and currently stars in The Big Bang Theory, gets fit in the saddle.

After she's done working, Cuoco heads to the stables to ride her horse, Falcon. It gives her a chance to escape from the stresses of her day and to get a great workout at the same time. Cuoco says: "It's the perfect combination of a mental and physical workout. After an hour, I'm exhausted. I work muscles I don't use otherwise: My legs, butt, core -- everything is sore."

For a change in routine, Cuoco finds fitness in another type of saddle. She loves taking spinning classes at her gym. She says, "Doing something I really enjoy has made a huge difference in my motivation level."

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It's time to decide -- is this a healthy habit that can be realistically worked into day-to-day life?

• Piece of cake! I can definitely work this into my daily routine.
• Not my cup of tea. This is harder than I imagined. Still, I plan to stick with it and do my best.
• Nuts! This seems nearly impossible to keep up. But I'll definitely do it whenever possible.

It's a tie! And here's why: I really enjoyed my week of walking everywhere. I got plenty of fresh air and sunshine, lots of extra exercise, and I saved on fuel and did my share to protect the environment. But I also realize that walking or biking everywhere just isn't practical 100% of the time. We had really great weather all week long, but the cold, rain, and snow are on their way, for one thing.

We also made some sacrifices this week, a few that I'm not willing to make every day. For instance, instead of taking my three-year-old to a tiny tumblers class in a neighboring community, I took her to our neighborhood park instead. Sure, she still had fun and got some exercise, but she also missed out on an opportunity to socialize with other kids her age.

So here's my compromise: WalkScore said our neighborhood was 60% walkable, so 60% of the time (or more), I'm going to do my best to walk or bike. We'll keep walking to school, to neighborhood activities, and to use the nearby business district to fill as many of our needs as possible. That way, when we do climb into our van for something that's a little farther away, I can feel good about the fact we're using it far less than we used to.

I don't eat red meat, sweets, or junk food, and I don't drink alcohol. I aim for low-fat and low-sugar, and I load up on fruits and veggies. I eat lean meats, whole grains, and nuts. And I exercise a lot. I run one day, strength train the next day, run again, strength train, and so on. I mix in walking, biking, and swimming too. In a nutshell, give or take a few good and bad habits, that's my routine. And on days like yesterday, it hits me that I'm on the right path.