Posted by Art on Sep 10, 2009 in
Biking
Cross Country (XC) Suspension Forks
Light and short travel, XC mtb forks are often single crown due to the mild terrain and to save weight so not to make the bike too heavy to rise.
Historically, XC forks will have been spring loaded however the trend is now moving towards air sprung suspension.
The obvious advantages of such a change of keeping the weight of the fork as low as possible and making them straightforward to adjust this.
Downhill (DH) Suspension Forks
Have you watched the insanity that may be downhill mountain biking? Massive drops, giant opening jumps and terrible terrain over a short prtiod of time. Downhill forks can have large amounts of travel ( ten inches isn’t unhead of ) to allow for the strain a DH bike is put under.
Downhill forks are typically coil spring to take on large hits but are also double crowns ; this is where there are two legs of the fork near the top where the fork joins the handle bar. Double crown forks offer double the suspension of single crown forks.
Dirt Jump (DJ) Suspension Forks
Big airs, giant jumps and big tricks need forks which can take some punishment forks not designed for this purpose are responsible to be damaged, or worse break, causing serious injury to a rider.
A dirt jump ( DJ ) bike will typically be a hardtail and front suspension, though some riders do still prefer stiff forks. Suspension forks will have small travel of 80-100mm and are routinely coil sprung as well as being much heavier due to the increased strength than those designed for other mountain bike disciplines.
Rigid Forks
Though suspension forks are more and more a common sight on mountain bicycles they are by no means the only option left.
For the die hards, those that don’t wish to speculate in costly suspension or those who prefer something lower upkeep there remain a number of quality rigid forks available on the market.
extremely popular in the dirt jump and street MTB scenes as well as singletrack, firm Forks offer a viable and regularly less expensive alternative to suspension.
Tags: cross country, dh, downhill, fork, freeride, moutnain bike, mtb, suspension, xc
Posted by Art on Sep 2, 2009 in
Biking
Most ski resorts had a good winter all round last year. America received some great snow systems last year and many locations in Europe fared even better. Canada however didn’t have the same luck and many of their slopes were lacking snow, although they can’t complain with the great seasons they’ve had in years gone by. Many ski resorts thanked their lucky stars last season as the tightening global recession put them at risk of losing a great deal. But the mere threat that their finances may not be as secure as they once were led many to start considering the possibilities of further monetising the summer season.
America introduced a bill to Congress recently which would make it easier for local ski areas to build summertime amenities. Lots of European resorts are set to follow suit. Currently a successful ski resort might earn around 15% of their money during the summer time. If the facilities could be used for more sports and more organised events then this percentage could dramatically increase. The activity that has generated the most buzz and excitement around introducing it has been mountain biking
There are often mountain bike trails at the base of ski mountains already and shops selling mountain bikes dotted around the areas. This would make the sport very accessible both to locals and visitors alike as they would not be forced to purchase or transport their own gear, just rent it as they would snowboards. The proposed idea however is for mountain biking a little more on the extreme side of things, utilising the ski lifts that are already in place to host downhill mountain biking events and competitions on the steep runs.
Roger Joules who runs one of Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts says “mountain bikers have been looking for some steep and challenging runs and our slopes are perfect for that in the summer. If we charge a small amount for the use of our lifts then it’s a situation where both parties win”. Roger has also said that they are looking into the possibility of building a wave machine on a section of the lake so that people can pitch up with their surfboards and ride some breaks in the summer months. This is still a long way off he points out.
Tags: Mountain Biking, resorts, ski resorts, skiing, snowboarding
Posted by Art on Sep 2, 2009 in
Biking
The kind of tyres you use on your bike is determined by what you are using your bike for. Mountain bikes are used over lots of terrains for different activities that use different skills just as much as different tyres. Get the right mountain bike tyres and they will improve your riding and increase your safety.
Tyres come with either an inner tube that keeps them inflated or they are tubeless, but which one do you choose?
Generally tubeless tyres have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tyres can take a beating over rough terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the downside is that they are more expensive.
The benefits of an airtight seal and a puncture resistant, low pressure, stable performance are outweighed by the high cost. You will need a clean rim and tyre as well to fit it, and a large pump to then inflate it.
Clean conditions are not often available on a trail if a tyre needs to be replaced. And even with a C02 cartridge pump you’ll usually have to use an inner tube to get you home and then repair the tyre later. Also a big hole might mean the tyre is completely written off, eventhough a small hole might be repairable.
Tubeless tyres are also heavier, so if fast start times and riding speeds are required, pick a lighter tyre. Tyres with inner tubes offer greater flexibility and are usually lighter. You can get them in more designs and tread styles, so getting the one you want might be easier also.
You can buy kits to convert an inner tube tyre to a tubeless tyre. They combine a latex filling liquid and a rubber rim to seal the inside of the tyre and rim. You may have to top the filler off on occasion but the cost is still loads less than buying a thick wall tubeless tyre.
You still get most of the benefits of a tubeless tyre but with a much broader range of rims and treads to choose from, and only the cost of the kit and latex top ups. They are also lighter but the same kind of repair problems occur sadly.
Whichever sort of tyre you pick it is important to replace your tyres fairly often. A blow out on a trail can cause injury to you or other riders or even cost you a competition. With careful selection and maintenance your tyres will make a huge difference to your riding.
Tags: Mountain Bike Tyres
Posted by Art on Sep 2, 2009 in
Biking Whether you are just getting inquisitive about the game of cycling or have been a keen cycle rider for a bit it’s important that you are supplied with the proper cycling clothing. Cycling clothing won’t only help by keeping you safe and comfy during your cycle ride but as well keep you looking fashionable and at the head of your game. When it comes to cycling clothing, there are some pieces especially which are thought to be as the fundamentals and which any bike rider, noob to complicated, should have in their wardrobe. Initially you could be deterred as you might be worried by the proven fact that you are not in a position to afford the custom cycling jerseys and pro gear that some riders can, but you’ve got to know this isn’t going to have any effect on your performance. While you are selecting the proper pieces, you’ll be able to find just as top quality cycling clothing apart from a more cost effective cost. Cycling jackets and cycling jerseys are truly one of the first things you need to be purchasing.
They may keep the sun from burning your arms when riding in the day and keep you warm during cooler weather. You wish to try to discover a light-weight water-resistant jacket, and when you are out on the marketplace for your jacket you need to look for a cycling cap, bike leg warmers or perhaps some knee heaters to keep you on the trails even if the weather won’t be the nicest.
Helmet Another piece of cycling clothing that is vital is the helmet. It is critical that you wear a helmet when cycling, and you take some time to select the right one. Remember that you only wish to buy helmets that are approved by the acceptable authorities.
You also wish to try on different helmets until you find one that fits your head comfortably. It shouldn’t be too tight or too loose, and should touch the crown, sides, front and back of your head. Also remember that if at any point your helmet ever suffers any damage, the best concept is to just go out and buy a new one instead of trying to fix the one that you have. Helmets are cheap enough this isn’t going to put you out much and it will make sure that you are safe and secure while cycling. The worst mistake that some folk make is assuming that because cycling is a low impact sport that there’s no need to have the right cycling clothing and gear. This is totally wrong, and you can suffer major harm if you aren’t wearing your helmet and other shielding gear.
Article by John Black
Tags: custom cycling jerseys, Cycling, cycling jerseys
Posted by Art on Sep 2, 2009 in
Biking
Mountain Bike Downhill XC Freeride
When you look into the sport of mountain biking, you soon realize that there are quite a few different variations involved. From relaxing scenic mountain trails to challenging cross-country riding and to the more extreme downhill racing; all are popular with thousands of people worldwide. Downhill biking in particular is proving to be popular and there have been many people who have chosen to specialize purely in downhill biking.
There are some criteria that a downhill mountain bike should satisfy. In terms of weight, the bike is around 17 to 25 kg. It usually has a full-suspension design. The frame leans back further than other bikes. Most bikes come with a suspension of around 203 mm. These bikes also feature disc brakes. They are usually 8 inches in diameter.
Downhill bikes are very similar in make to the free ride bikes but the former have much lower frames. They also have slacker head angles that lend them stability at higher speeds and sharp corners. Downhill mountain bikes are priced at around 2000 US dollars for an entry level bike. Top of the line bikes come at about 9000 U.S Dollars.
You set off at the same time as your opponent and you have to race them to the bottom to the finish line. When you race against time you usually take part in the same course twice at least. You see which one is your best time out of the two races and from that you see whether you have qualified to the next round.
No matter which type of downhill racing you do take part in, you should always wear protective gear. This helps to protect you in case you do fall off the bike. However as downhill mountain biking is a potential danger to the whole body, it is not possible to protect every single part of yourself. So there is always the risk of injury even if you have got the right protection on.
Overall as long as you wear the right protection you will have a lesser risk of hurting yourself. However you can never fully guarantee that you won’t get hurt and that is why downhill biking is such an extreme and dangerous sport to take part in
Resource Author Francisco Rodriguez Higueras
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Tags: juegos, Mountain Biking, trabajar, trabajo