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 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 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