Repair and Maintenance Tips for Mountain Bikes

April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When you are looking for a mountain bike you will notice that they don’t come any cheap. Most of them cost an average of $1000 and above. Good ones can be brought for $2000 or $3000. It all depends on the features and comfort you need in your bike. When you are paying such a huge amount of money on a bike it your responsibility to maintain in good condition by avoiding any big problems. Learning some methods to look after you mountain bike will ensure the longevity of you bike. This will also save a huge sum of money. The cost for servicing and repairing a mountain bike can cost you as much as the bike itself.

 

The first and the foremost thing to do is, keep your bike clean. Dirt accumulated in the bike will take its toll on the life of the tire. Dirt can restrict the proper functioning of the chains and the handlebar. All this things clearly shows how much difference it makes while keeping your bike clean and neat. It is really a talent if you can fix a flat tire. It takes a little skill. You should know how to remove the tire and then opening the tube fixing the hole and replacing the tire. Flat tire is a common problem for mountain bike. This is mainly due to the rough terrain in which you are riding your bike. Investing in a puncture repair kit is a very good idea. Then there is the chain tool. Broken and loose chain is a common problem for mountain bikes. Chain tool will help you to remove and replace any broken links in the chain.

 

It will be handy to learn how to adjust the chain rings. This is needed especially for bikes with more than 4 gears. Adjusting the chain ring is to be done whenever the rear tire is removed and replaced. Lubrication is another thing to keep your attention on. Unlubricated parts tend to become damaged easily. The brake and clutch cables should be lubricated regularly. This is one thing you should never forget, especially when riding in a mountain terrain. It is the lubrication which maintains the cables without braking. Then there is the engine oil change, which is to be done as per the need of the vehicle. This will sustain the life of the motorcycle engine for a longer time.

 

As a rider, you should be well connected with your mountain bike. You should be able to distinguish between the various sounds produced by your vehicle. Any irregular sounds or noises should be attended as soon as possible and should give the proper repair that it needs. Most common noticeable change in sounds is from the chain. A loose chain can damage the chain socket and will make you spend some money to get it replaced. Then there may be sounds from the brake pads rubbing with the tires and making unwanted noises. These are just some of the tips you should know for yourselves. This does not mean that you should never take your bike to a service center.

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Mountain lions in the backcountry

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I want to upgrade my current bike to front suspension but the geometry is all I have ridden bicycles in the backcountry since 1972. My father started backcountry bike touring in the mid-60′s. Several of my friends and acquaintences have been taking backcountry bike camping trips for more than ten years. There are many equipment manufacturers who have been making paniers and trailers for backcountry bicyclists for years, and the business seems to be growing, not shrinking. Suffice it to say that backcountry biking is alive and well, though you may have rarely if ever witnessed it. Kinda like mountain lions in the backcountry, if you will–just because you don’t see them (often) doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

 

As for the history of bicycling discussions in rec.backcountry, those have gone on for years, too. Some of the most long running threads turned into shoot-outs between bicyclists, equestrians, and opponents of either or both of those two groups of backcountry travelers. I can understand your frustration with Vandeman’s penchant for broadcasting his rants to a variety of newsgroups where few if any readers are interested in his posts, but that is an issue to take up with him, or his ISP; it is not an excuse for insisting that a backcountry user group with which you have apparently little experience be banned from rec.backcountry discusssion wrong and it will not take the very straight forks as there would be insufficient clearance for the front wheel.

 

Therefore I am looking for a new bike. My problem is that I am 4’10″ tall and need probably an extra small version. I want something as light and well spec’d as possible – full suspension is not necessary. It seems that few companies produce really small frames. Can anyone suggest something suitable? Probably your best bet would be to go for a custom built frame, and move all your equipment off your old bike. You could try local frame builders, the FAQ has a few in there. Islabikes specialise in bikes for the smaller female, but I don’t have any phone numbers, or anything. Does anyone else know where they are?

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Ski Areas and mountain bikes

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

had to stop and think about this post for a moment (US, UR, CS, CR)…its been awhile since I had psychology classes (like 15 years!). You probably missed it being in the UK, but there was a great commercial (for one of our lousier beers) where a guy was staring at his neighbor’s 4WD, saying “Automatic transmission…leather seats…they call it a sport utility vehicle, but a real man knows a station wagon when he sees one.

 

The only off-road time that thing will ever see is if he backs it over his neighbor’s flower bed.” Its just more marketing fluff so guys can convince themselves they’re buying this SUV for something besides driving the kids to school. Given the relative dearth of ski areas nearby, you’re going to have to go a little ways. Nashoba and Wachussett, the only MA ski areas I know, do not do this. Some of the NH ski do. I know Gunstock allows biking, but I don’t think they use the lifts. Loon does, I believe. Cannon does not. Others I don’t have any idea.

 

In VT Mount Snow uses the lift, but last I heard they only went partway up the mountain. I don’t know about the rest. I’ve been doing my downhill riding (a couple of days per year) at Plattekill, in NY. That’s a three or four hour trip from MA, I think (I usually go there by way of NYC, which is much longer

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Traveling With Mountain Bikes

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

None that I know of. Get a quality bike case and join IMBA. If you use IMBA’s travel agency, I believe your bike can fly free on certain carriers, just not in the cabin with you. Otherwise, you’re looking at $80 – $120 per round trip in excess baggage charges. Sometimes you’ll luck out and find a new, careless, clueless or stressed out ticket agent who won’t make you pay excess baggage charges. I’ve heard stories of people telling ticket agents that the box contained “promotional materials” or greasing the skycaps to get out of paying, but I’ve not tried these approaches.

 

When I arrive at my destination, I find that I can always make it to baggage claim before the bike case is unloaded because the baggage handlers often set aside the oversized items until they get the rest of the stuff on the belt. Of course, if you’re making a connecting flight, there are more opportunities that your bike could not be routed to your final destination–either accidentally or deliberately.

 

If you want the safest option, use FedEx and have them hold it at a customer location convenient to the destination airport. You’re going to pay more this way because they’ll charge on dimensions and weight and if you’re bike is as nice as you say, you’re also going to pay for extra insurance. You’ll have the piece of mind in knowing that you can track your package and that they won’t release it without verifying your identity and signature. I used to fly MAC and they always let me bring all kinds of large items on board at no extra charge. Only catch there is that you had to be in the US military to fly them

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Used mountain bikes

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s a sad fact that many mountain bikes never see dirt, but there are plenty, like mine, that never see pavement. So if you’re a woosy poser who likes to be seen round town but can’t cut it in the dirt, then get off this newsgroup and go insult someone else. Have you ever thought that no-one here talks about riding on the road ‘cos no-one wants to?

 

And then there are some of us who would love to be able to ride the trails all the time but have a fulltime job, family responsibilites, etc. and we have to ride on the road sometimes. I do ride on the trails at least 1-2 days a week but some days it is impossible. It’s a sad fact that many mountain bikes never see dirt, but there are plenty, like mine, that never see pavement.So if you’re a woosy poser who likes to be seen round town but can’t cut it in the dirt, then get off this newsgroup and go insult someone else. Have you ever thought that no-one here talks about riding on the road ‘cos no-one wants to.

 

Then again there are some of us who ride the asphalt and have to dodge cars which cross the center lane purposely trying to hit you, or those who would love to BUMP you off the road. I’ll bet riding on the streets of Guam would be a lot more challenging than some of those trails. (not to say that there are no other place with STUPID drivers.) I’m just peeved that my bike and I became hood ornaments because some idiot decided he could drive on the wrong side of the street, then I get home and read that I am named a woosy poser. When I get my bike fixed and my digital camera, I’ll show y’all (on my web page) the awesome but somewhat dangerous trails available on guam. By the way, I am looking for a marin rift zone or a cannondale v500 (I think) the 96 model, I believe it runs around $500 – $600? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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Hybrid bikes

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

They are not as fast or agile as a road bike and not as strong as a mountain bike. Hybrids are nothing but a marketing gimmick. Cyclists should decide what type of riding they will do the most and buy that kind of bike. For fast road riding and road racing, a road bike. For city riding and off-road riding, a mountain bike. A good pair of slick, skinny tires will make any mountain bike a better and stronger machine than a hybrid. I can’t speak for the entire industry, but when Bruce Gordon and I built the first Rock ‘n Road, it was to fill a niche that seemed to need filling. I needed a bike that was a good utility bike.

 

That means the ability to carry things, lights, and perhaps fenders. I live in an area where the fastest route to the grocery store involves going first on a poor county maintained road, then down an abandoned narrow gauge rail bed that 4 wheel drives get stuck on from time to time. The RnR is of course as strong as most good mountain bikes. This may not be true for many other hybrids. It is lighter than most mountain bikes, however. It has a long wheelbase, long stays, low bottom bracket, and sucks on all the knarly single track, dude…. No shit.

 

The RnR is what I jump on to do errands, run around town, or go for a short ride. It is the bike that gets ridden the most, as a result. Other bikes are also good utility bikes as well.(Rivendell et al) Most road bikes will not accept large enough tires to make them that servicable in daily off road use. Most mountain bikes not that hot on the road. Putting skinny,slick tires on a mountain bike seems like teaching a dog to walk on its hind legs. Neat trick, but what is the point? The geometry is still the same, and you have all that suspension stuff adding weight. Dual suspension road bike, now THERE is a stupid concept that the marketing geeks can sink their teeth into. Oh shit, I think the Moultoneers have surrounded my house…

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Mountain bikes vs. hybrids

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am looking into getting into biking. My wife and I plan to ride on paved and crushed rock bike paths. I have been told that hybrids would be perfect. I’ve also been told that hybrids are good for nothing and we’d be much better off putting road tires on a mountaiGet a bike that feels comfortable to each of you. If a hybrid feels best, go for it. If you find a mountain bike that really seems confortable, get that. It doesn’t sound like you will need a bike that is unusually tough or has superior clearance or shock absorbtion, so you aren’t really locked into anything.

 

Even standard road bikes should work quite well for you if you don’t go with especially narrow rims and tires. First, I’ve never driven a hybrid so I don’t really have the feel of one because 2 years ago, I decided to buy the Bridgestone’s BR-2 road bike over their OX-2 hyrid even though I could of had a deal on the Hybrid. Last winter, I bought an entry level MTB at a 30% off sale and then got out the earliest in the spring I ever had, riding through muck, corruption, snow, and I had a great time. Bar ends make them good eneough for road work, as well as being the best for off road and spring conditions.

 

I bought a good mid-range MTB last summer and built 2 new wheels (more for the experience than the necessity) to use road tires on. They only time, I’ll use my road bike now is for riding in a group, or trying more than a 100 miler or something. If you stay on paved and dirt/crushed rock trails a hybrid should do you fine but: 1. you will be much slower than a roade bike and 2. you would be ill advised to try any “real” off road stuff. The Kid and I have road bikes for road work and mountains for off road. The kid is 8 and has smoked hybrids on the road and last fall we rescued a hybrid biker in the woods who had tried trails that neither the bike or he was ready for. (He had seriously smashed goodies.) n bike

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Popularity of Gt mountain bikes

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I ride in an area where I have encountered both horses and rattlesnakes on the trail. It is my practice to yield the trail to both. Following good MTB etiquette, I always shout ahead to the horse riders (still haven’t gotten any response from the rattlesnakes because they can’t hear  to ask if their horses are OK with bikes. The reply has _always_ been: “thanks for asking but my horse is fine with bikes.” I’ve ridden along beside horse riders having a chat with free wheel clicking away and the horse has never mistaken my DX for a rattlesnake. I’ll keep asking, but it is clear that a good horse rider can adapt a horse to bikes. Now if I can just find a longer frame pump that I can use to prod the sunning rattlesnake to get off the trail.

 

This is easy enough for mountain bikers to do, but I think there or other things that can be done that are much more effective. Slow way down and talk with the horse riders. I usually make small talk about the weather or whatever from some distance just so the horse can here my voice and realize that a human is approaching. Once you are close, ask the rider how to safely pass. Most horses in Annadel are just fine, but some people will give you special instructions on things that bother their horse. : Some horses will just freak out at the sound of a : freewheel, and can bolt with the rider.

 

I’ll preface my remarks here with a little information about Annadel for those outside Northern California. Annadel is about 6000 acres with about 50 percent of the park boundaries against the growing subdivisions of the city of Santa Rosa. There are many entrances to the park from these subdivisions. Residents, including families with young children regularly ride into the park. There are also a number of older folks who walk in from retirement communities. It is not uncommon to see the founders of local companies like Ibis Cycles and Salsa Cycles riding in the park. Last January, Greg LeMond and some of the other pros here for winter training camps where there riding. In short, it’s a busy place.

 

Not the kind of place to take a horse that freaks out if it hears a freewheel clicking and not the kind of place to ride if your bike training regiment doesn’t allow time to slow down. In my experience, clicking freewheels don’t cause problems with horses, at least not the ones I’ve encountered in Annadel. High speed bikers that lock their tires on the gravel can cause problems, not just with the horses, but with all the other park users. Any horse that is bothered by the sound of a freewheel shouldn’t be in Annadel. After all, real rattlesnakes are an issue up there. The last thing I would want if I was a horse rider is to have my horse pitch me onto a rock next to a startled rattlesnake.

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Report on mountain bikes

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am in the 9th grade and im doing a report on mountain bikes or just bikes in general….this report is about geometry in bikes……it is supposed to be 2-3 pages and i dont know if there is enough information to do a report like this. I know alot about mountain bikes as i ride alot (i have a Mongoose Team SX) but i dont know alot about bike geometry. Could you please tell me where (books, web sites, etc.)

 

I could get some info about this topi am in the 9th grade and im doing a report on mountain bikes or just bikes in general….this report is about geometry in bikes……it is supposed to be 2-3 pages and i dont know if there is enough information to do a report like this. I know alot about mountain bikes as i ride alot (i have a Mongoose Team SX) but i dont know alot about bike geometry. Could you please tell me where (books, web sites, etc.) i could get some info about this topic. thanks in advance. I don’t know any electronic sites but a good start is Chapter 2 (Frames) in _Bicycling Magazine’s Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair_. Most bookstores seem to have it in stock and it wouldn’t surprise me to find it in libraries either. c. thanks in advance.

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Mountain Bikes – Portland

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I hope that someone reading this will be willing to address a question which they have, no doubt, answered countless times before for others. Let me say “Thank you very much” in advance to anyone who takes the time to share their knowledge with me. Here’s the situation. I haven’t bought a bike in 10 years, and now I’d like to get a good mountain bike that will last me a while. Regrettably, I don’t have much money to spend. Basically, I’m looking for trouble-free operation; i.e. good brakes, reliable shifting, etc. I don’t feel that I need anything too fancy or high-performance. So here’s the question.

 

What brands should I look for in my price range (say $200 – $400)? What level of quality can I expect to get for the price? Is there a review of low-end mountain bikes in any of the magazines that I might be able to dig up at the library? Well, that’s actually more than one question, and I still have others. Basically, I would appreciate any information which could help me with the task of picking out a low-end bike. So, once again, with high hopes I throw myself at the mercy of the internet community.Why yes, I got a Proflex 4000 at the end of the ’98 season (september). I got it from the rep for western NY state, he had a bunch he was taking around to races for people to “demo”.

 

I bought one of the slightly used demo bikes with a nice discount. The thing rides great, (once I figured out how to tune the suspension, their website has all the manuals online). I was cleaning the bike about a month ago, and noticed that one of the two screws that hold on the rear derailleur hanger was missing. I went into my LBS, the guy there called somebody at K2. That day, they mailed me 2 replacement screws. I got them in less than a week, for FREE! The bike has held up extremely well, I usually rode it 6 out of 7 days a week this summer, it’s been very good to me. My roommate is a passionate snowboarder and he onwed a K2 snowboard, which broke after 2 days and he told me that a lot of snowboarders complain about quality of the boards and especially the very shitty customer service (that’s what he says). Does anyone have experience with K2 mountainbikes and K2 customer service concerning mountainbikes?

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