Posted by Art on Oct 28, 2009 in
Biking
Buying a mountain bike can be time consuming and stressful as there are so many features that you need to think about. Take a look at these tips to help you when you are deciding on which mountain bike to buy.
Determining your price
To help you keep your spending under control, you should figure out what your price range is and how much you’re willing to pay for a new bike. Try to avoid the massive stores with chains across the country. You should instead support your local bike shop and get a much better bike and much better service. If you want alternative ways to pay, enquire after MTB finance which will help you dilute the immediate cost.
Finding your style
All mountain bikes are designed with several different riding styles and terrain types in mind. If you prefer one type of riding over the rest, pick a bike with this purpose. Smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is something you need to figure out. Do not let the sales staff pressure you into a bike that does not fit your riding style.
Sales and seasons
What you will pay for a mountain bike changes from month to month during the year. Spring through summer is the main buying season. If you are not desperate for a new bike in the summer, wait until autumn or winter and you could save yourself two, maybe three hundred pounds. Be cheeky and ask for a discount if you are also buying biking accessories.
Finding a good dealer
Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding the best price. If they try to sell you a bike because it is expensive rather than it suiting you properly, find another seller. A great dealer will have a clean repair shop and give you the impression that you can really trust them.
Doing the research
If you want to know how reliable a bike is or what other riders think of a certain model, do some research and read rider reviews. You should always look at what other owners and reviews think about a bike before you make that final purchase.
Tags: bike finance, Bikes, Cycling, moutain bike finance, MTB finance
Posted by Art on Jun 29, 2009 in
Biking
It can be a bit overwhelming when you first start walk into a bike store to buy your first mountain bike and accessories as there is so much choice.
You can purchase many mountain biking accessories and related products. If you are on a budget then be careful the sales staff don’t sell you unnessassary items, you need to ensure your safety and enjoyment not what’s cool. Accessories need to be chosen carefully so the following infomation is a good guide for when you hit those trails.
Bike Helmet
The bike helmet is the most important mountain biking accessory that you can buy. You should never go biking without a helmet. Serious head injurys can be prevented by wearing a helmet, there have been many people who have been unfortunate enough to have experienced this.
All mountain bike helmets are comfortable and stylish and everyone who rides on the trails wears one.
Mountain Bike Gloves
No matter what season you ride in, your hands can take a beating. Beginners will normally keep a death grip on the handle bars, which can be very brutal for their hands. Everyone crashes at some point and your hands will be the first thing to hit the ground. Your hands will take a huge beating so having mountain bike gloves are a must have accessory
Mountain Bike Shorts
After the first few mountain bike rides you take, you’ll notice that your rear end will be quite uncomfortable. Even though your body will adjust, bike shorts are great to have as they will help keep it at a bare minimum. Shorts are a great addidtion to your mountain bike ride as they make your ride more bearable.
Mountain Bike Shoes
You will need to pick your mountain bike shoes accordingly dependent on the type of pedal and the type of riding
you do.
If your bike has clipless type pedals, you’ll want to get shoes to accept the special cleat for your pedals. When purchasing mountain bike shoes things to take into consideration are their durablility, do they have a stiff sole for better efficiency when pedaling and are they comfortable. Also, you should make sure to get the right shoe for the terrain you’ll be ridingin as well.
Eye Protection
If you get something in your eye, you can run off the trail in a matter of seconds. Sunglasses or clear lense glasses can help protect your eyes from any debris which may kick up from the trail as well as protecting them from the wind. Make sure they are non-breakable when you buy your glasses.
Hydration System
Hydration backpacks or a water bottle are a good thing to take with you. Enusre you bring water with you to drink on the trail so your body stays properly hydrated at all times.
Trail Repair Kit
You can easily get stuck in the woods or on the trails if you forget to bring a repair kit for your bike. To be on the safe side, bring a multi-tool designed for bike repair, tyre levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat tyres.
Tags: bike, Bikes, cycle, Cycling, mountain, Mountain Bike, Trek, trial
Posted by Art on Jun 21, 2009 in
Biking
When it comes to road racing, particularly in time trials, everyone is looking to be a light as they possibly can. Pro cyclists are on very strict diets and watch their weight very carefully, but the racing bikes also need to pretty trim. Time trial bikes have seen the weight drop off them as the years have gone by, in fact by around 10g per year. Most people would consider this not a lot but when it comes to racing every gram counts. So what are the latest developments to come on scene, aimed at shaving another few pounds off?
Carbon fiber shoes. When it comes to cycle clothing, strong and light is the key. Firm shoes are vital in order to transfer maximum energy from the legs into the pedals. Traditionally there has been a tossup between using hard materials which were usually heavy or lighter ones that softer and not as effective. New carbon fiber shoes however solve the problem by being very light but also incredibly strong
Lightest spokes. Believe it or not, the weight of your spokes can add up to make a big difference in the overall weight of the bike. Some spokes are now being made out of carbon fiber but they have to be thicker in order to have adequate strength. The preferred option is now titanium spokes Zipp wheels have adopted and can be made to the same size steel ones, but are around half the weight.
Fully carbon bikes. The ultimate in performance racing is the bike made almost completely from carbon fiber. A bike made from this material will not only boast an amazing low weight but being strong enough for any type of racer. Its a very comfortable ride as well according to those lucky enough to have had a go. The only downside to kitting yourself out with all this carbon fiber gear is the expense. It does not come cheap, which is why you’ll only see the top professionals using it for the time being.
Tags: Bikes, carbon fiber, light, racing, speed
Posted by Art on Jun 21, 2009 in
Biking It seems that cycling becomes more popular as a sport every day and new makes of bikes pop up all the time. Most frequently bikes are made from some form of steel but as technology advances, so more materials have become viable options. A very popular alternative at the moment is aluminium, which is even now being used in snowboards and surfboards. Lets take a better look at the qualities of aluminium and see how it compares to steel?
Strength. Because aluminium as a metal has about 50% less tensile strength than steel, lots of people consider its use for aggressive bike riding not suitable. However, due to aluminum being around half as heavy as most steels, the frame width can be a lot larger and this somewhat makes up for its weakness. Having said this, thicker stronger steel is required on some bikes to withstand large amounts of punishment put on them during some forms of bike riding.
Performance. aluminium has about 33% of the stiffness that steel has. You would think this would a provide an easier ride, but actually most cyclists report the opposite. Lots of riders feel that steel frames are more comfortable. In events where weight is of the utmost importance, aluminium frames tend to outperform the heavier steel. However when strength is the main quality required, steel consistently is the preferred choice
Cost. This really does vary on a number of factors, not least the quality of the steel. There are now steel products on the market that are light enough to almost rival aluminum, however the cost for these is often quite large. On the other hand, there are some cheaper thin-framed aluminium bikes on the market now. However, due to the fact steel is more readily available and is the standard for most new and second hand bikes, it is usually cheaper than aluminium.
Tags: aluminium, Bikes, cost, frames, performance, price, strength
Posted by Art on Jun 6, 2009 in
Biking Although cycling dates back centuries, specialist mountain bike production has moved forwards considerably over the past 35 years. Mountain bike frames were originally based on road bikes, but the technology soon had to evolve to meet the unique demands of rough terrain and difficult conditions.
Off road riding is made much easier thanks to the innovations in the bikes design and build. So you can take on more demanding terrain, harder rides and thanks to the advancement in safety equipment take on much more dangerous descents.
Gears
Take as much of the strain away from your legs with up to 27 gears on many mountain bikes.
Suspension
A good quality suspension system is invaluable when off road biking at speed. As a minimum your bike will come fitted with front suspension which is great for bumpy downhill tracks. Full suspension is the best option if you’re riding really rough terrain, but if all your cycling is smooth and leisurely you’ll find you just don’t need it.
Frames
Tough terrain, heavy use and front-and-rear suspension puts a lot of strain on your mountain bike’s frame. This is why super-strong materials and specialised shapes are de rigueur. But it’s no good having an indestructible frame if it’s too heavy to use; it needs to be light enough for you to be able to respond quickly to those last minute detours.
Brakes
Today, disc brakes are commonplace on nearly all mountain bikes. Positioned near the wheels rim they are well away from the tyre and the mud, so are less likely to become clogged up making them more responsive even in the muddiest conditions.
Tyres
Mountain bike tyres are thicker and more ‘knobbly’ than on road bikes. This gives extra grip on muddy ground, better shock absorption and makes it easier to get over rough terrain at speed. You can change your tyres to deal with different conditions.
Women-Specific
Women’s bikes are tailored to a woman’s size and shape. That means smaller reach from seat to handlebars, smaller reach on brake handles and seats shaped for greater comfort. Many brands now offer both men and women’s bikes enabling ladies to try both to see which is most comfortable and best suited to their needs.
Tags: bike, Bikes, cycle, Cycling, mountain, Mountain Bike, Trek, trial
Posted by Art on Jun 6, 2009 in
Biking Bikes are made up of hundreds of components, everyone being important in its own right. You wouldn’t be able to ride without pedals, handlebars, a stem or most other bike accessories for that matter. One element that is integral to the movement of the bike and the transition of power from the rider to the wheels is the chain. The amazing piece of metal design work is now used in countries all over the globe and has myriad applications in each. However, chains do break down and malfunction if not looked after properly. Here are the 3 main reasons why you need to give your chain some regular TLC.
Life extension. Because chains are made from metal they are subject to rusting and corrosion. This is especially the case on bikes because they are frequently getting wet and dirty. After every time a bike is ridden the chain should be washed down well and then oil or a suitable lubricate should be applied to it. This will prevent any corrosion taking place and should also prevent the chain from ceasing up. I you get to point that more than a few links are not moving properly, you will be seriously detrimental to the chains potential.
Damage to bike. If you do not look after the chain on your bike it will start to damage other component that are connected to it. Cranksets work in close connection with the chain and if the links are not moving freely or are damaged, this will cause the crankset to be bent out of shape. Another part that can easily suffer harm is the derailleur, which is also in constant contact with the chain. Racing bikes are even more prone to this their mechanisms are very finely tuned.
Harm to you. A chain that is not in a good way will also pose a risk to whomever is riding the bike. If enough links cease up then the chain can jam and sometimes bring the wheels to an abrupt stop. If you are riding at any sort of speed this can cause the rider to be thrown from the bike and receive untold injuries, especially if you are wearing fragile cycle clothing
Tags: Bicycles, Bikes, care, chain, Cycling, Mountain Bikes, oil, racing bikes
Posted by Art on May 28, 2009 in
Biking Going back 15 years you would have found 2-3 bike shops within a 5 mile radius. Nowadays however a great many have shut their doors and ceased trading, leaving only the bigger companies and shops that sell a range of products such as snowboards and climbing gear as well as bikes. So what is it that has been the downfall of the small biking shop, and will the trend continue? Lets take a look at a few factors.
More Cars. Compared to a century ago, the number of cars around has obviously increased dramatically. More people are not only buying cars but also using their cars a lot more. However, does this necessarily mean that bikes are being used less as a result. Halfords, a large chain of shops in the UK that serves both car and bike owners have stated that over the past 10 years there has been a decrease of 10% in the number of commuter, second hand bikes and new mountain bikes sold. This year just gone however has actually seen the first rise in bike purchases, which maybe a result of financial strain on car owners right now.
Internet Shopping. Every day sees an a rise in the amount of purchases happening over the Internet. Even though bikes are classic items that people like to try out first, the amount that are being sold online continues to increase every year. According to the top bike retailer in the UK, sales on the internet account for 10% more of the total sales each year since 2000.
Online Trading sites. The last factor to consider is the increase in online classified sites such as Ebay. Once upon a time people would take their unwanted bikes to the local bike shop and either sell it or trade it in for a new one. Now you get on your computer and advertise your bike in minutes to thousands of people all over the country. There are now even sites set up specifically for trading used surfboard, snowboards and mountain bikes etc, such as Extreme Sports Trader and Bike Magic
Tags: Bicycle, Bikes, Mountain Bikes, riding, shops, Sports
Posted by Art on May 22, 2009 in
Biking This is the top five things to have either on you when cycling on actually on your bike when your out and about. Get those bike pedals ready because here they come.
5.
Energy bar or energy gel.
These are great for before and after events as the put all the carbohydrates your body has lost or is about to lose straight back in making you feel a lot better. There is even a gel that can help build muscles up taking around seven days to work. What's great about using the gel is that you can use it when you are in the middle of cycling.
4. Of course it had to be in the top five, the bike helmet
No real cyclist could really get anywhere without one of these. This really is only in the top five as it is so vital for cyclists to own one.The range of helmets out on the market is huge and some are even made to suite different weather climates.
3.The small onboard computer
This is certainly a must have for all riders who take cycling very seriously. Easily attached to the front of the bike they can record nine different pieces of data.
- Current Speed
- Odometer
- Trip Distance
- Elapsed time
- 12/24hr clock
- Average Speed
- Pacer
- Maximum Speed
- Dual Wheel
- Temperature
- Cadence
2. Wheels
At number two simply because I love to change the wheels on my bike. There are thousands of designs to use ranging from the plain wheels that come with every bike or various other ones like zipp wheels.
1.If your going out and forget this then do not bother carrying on, is the reason why this is at number one. Its not exciting, its not brilliant technology.
A simple water bottle comes in first simply because without it you would certainly not be able to carry out long stretches.
Well there you have it, the top five things to take with you and use when using a racing bike.
Bikes shops Sussex is a perfect example, have fun!
Tags: Bikes, charity, charity events, computer, Cycling, fundraising, gadgets, marathon, pedals, racing, Sport, water, Wheels
Posted by Art on May 22, 2009 in
Biking Many people out there (including me) would love to lose a bit of weight ready for those summer holidays.As well as this, if you are like me then I am sure when summer arrives you certainly do not want to be seen as a bit of a pale bloater in swimming shorts. It would be nice to at least get rid of the weight part of the sentence and get rid of the pale skin when I am on holiday. So why not treat yourself to one of those bright shiny racing bikes.
The great thing is riding a bike is a great way to keep fit and even if you do feel great about yourself then you could still use it to tone up pretty much every muscle in the body. I for one live near the South Downs so a bike like this is perfect for me but even if you do not want to compete then there are so many ways you could enjoy a bike like this.
You could take part in various charity events that not only benefit the charity in question but also help yourself to feel good in your fitness and in what you are doing. If you struggle to get out there and meet new people then getting ones of these bikes could seriously improve that. You could be pleasantly surprised on how meeting other people with the same interests as you could give you the confidence boost you may or may not need.
Of course once you have one of these fantastic bikes you are customise it in anyway you want ranging from bike pedals all the way too zipp wheels.
As well as all of this there is no limit on how you can alter the bike so you can have it in exactly the way you want it too peform.
So why not treat yourself this month to a brand new racing bike, their fast, trendy and a lot of fun if you really give it a go.
Tags: Bikes, charity, charity events, Cycling, fundraising, marathon, pedals, racing, Sport, Wheels
Posted by Art on Feb 22, 2009 in
Biking It is very important for a mountain bike to have a proper shock system including a full suspension. This is important as it helps with a smoother ride when going over difficult terrain. You will find that full suspension bikes have both a front and back suspension. If a mountain bike has a solid rear fork and a suspension at the front they are often called hard tailed. If the bike is a lower end bike and relatively inexpensive it probably will not have a suspension at all.
If you are a cross country rider you will need to make sure that your bike has both descending and climbing ability. The movement in the rear suspension system is only about 4 inches so that it does not cause a problem when trying to climb hills. When travelling over different terrain a greater number of gears are require to make it easier to navigate, because of this most cross country mountain bikes have 28 gears.
Trial bikes are a little more robust from your standard mountain bike and they are intended for use by more technical mountain bike riders. The movement in the suspension can be between 4 inches and 7 inches. Uphill pedalling will be more difficult but you will in general get a much smoother ride. Riders of mountain bikes have to weigh up whether they need a smoother ride against decreased pedal efficiency. There is loads of information, news and resources to be found online at Trek Track Bikes.
If you will mainly be using your bike for going downhill you can expect up to 8 inches in suspension movement. It is these type of mountain bikes which are specifically designed for racing downhill. With more travel in the suspension they are easier to control over harsh terrain at high speeds but are more difficult for pedalling uphill.
A dirt jump bike is another version of a mountain bike. These only have a front suspension and are used for flying over jumps. These type of bikes are built for speed and usually come with 16 gears.
Tags: bike, Bikes, cycle, Cycling, mountain, Mountain Bike, Trek, trial