Introduction to Mountain Biking

April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The popularity of mountain bikes has increased tremendously in recent times. Obesity, high blood pressure and other weight related disorders are at an all-time high. As such, more and more people are looking for ways to stay healthy. Bicycling is one of the best ways to achieve this. In addition to being healthy, it is enjoyable as well. Dirt biking, street biking, road biking and mountain biking are some popular forms of biking. Among them, mountain biking is the most popular. Unlike normal bicycles, mountain bikes are used for riding in off road terrains. Hence, their design is slightly different. Since mountain biking ids done in an off road trail, it allows one to enjoy fresh outdoor air. Additionally, it can be enjoyed by the entire family. Most cities have special trails for mountain biking.

 

Those that do not have one are creating artificial trails. Such is the popularity of this sport. Knowing how to ride a bicycle and a good mountain bike are all that is required to enjoy this sport. There are several types of mountain bikes available in the market today. One can make a choice depending on his or her preferences. Some people create their own mountain bikes. Although this is more expensive than purchasing a new one, it makes their bikes unique. A good mountain bike will have horizontal handlebars and a strong frame. The tires will be fat and wide so as to provide additional traction for the dirt trail. Furthermore, wider tires are better adept at absorbing shocks than narrow ones. Mountain bikes are safer and more attractive than normal ones.

 

Hence a lot of people use them to get to office. Bikes do not cause any pollution. Hence a lot of environment conscious offices have special parking slots for bikes. Additionally, one can save a lot of gas money by switching to bikes. These are some of the many reasons why mountain bikes are a rage among office goers. Unpaved topography, water, rocks and mud are common in the mountain biking terrain. Hence the mountain bike should be capable of handling such terrains without any difficulty. Even the best mountain bike will need repairs occasionally. Those who know how to perform maintenance on their mountain bike can save a lot of money.

 

Some basic tools are required to perform maintenance on the bike. A lot of bikes break down during the ride. Hence, it is a good idea to take the tools along for the ride. A lot of issues can be avoided by performing certain basic maintenance methods. The tire pressure of the bike should be checked frequently. Lubricating the chain at regular intervals is a good practice. Brake and gear cables should also be checked from time to time. Worn out tires should not be replaced at the earliest. Brake pads of the mountain bike can get worn out very quickly. Hence they should be checked frequently. Properly aligned brake pads will last longer. All nuts and bolts in the bike should be checked as part of maintenance.

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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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Why can’t I demo mountain bikes?

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’d like to get a new full-suspension mountain bike, but riding one around a parking lot doesn’t allow me to evaluate it properly. Why don’t dealers provide some demo bikes to stores so you can take one out on the trails and see what you think? Does anyone do this? It would seem like they could rent a demo for a few hours at a time, and sell it at the end of the year. While I’m at it, I’m thinking of getting a Rocky Mountain Element T.O. I like cross-country with tough uphills. If you’ve ridden one of these that way, what did you think? Tom Scheer wrote in message …

 

I’d like to get a new full-suspension mountain bike, but riding one around a parking lot doesn’t allow me to evaluate it properly. Why don’t dealers provide some demo bikes to stores so you can take one out on the trails and see what you think? Does anyone do this? It would seem like they could rent a demo for a few hours at a time, and sell it at the end of the year. Many dealers do. Here in the south bay area (of Cal), at least four of the LOB’s I contacted had loaner bikes from Cannondale, Trek, Santa Cruz, and Klein. In addition, Ventana was going to have some sort of “demo day” at a local riding place. I suspect that as more and more people buy bikes via mail order and as used bikes via the internet, LOBs are going to start offering less in the way of “demo” opportunities.

 

Hopefully enough people will support the LOBs that offer such services by *buying* bikes from them. Actually a few companies do have demo bikes. Dan got to try out an Ibis Bow-Ti back in August (at no cost). He took it out to one of the local trails and gave it a serious workout. By the time he finished, the suspension he had described as “squishy” when at the store, had become instead “plush”. Although we had decided that there will be no new bikes this year (he’s got a ’97 XTR Homegrown), he now has major bike lust, and would probably buy a Bow-Ti, given half an excuse and a quarter of an opportunity. Seems to me that it would be to the manufacturer’s benefit to provide demo bikes, because, as Tom said, you can’t properly evaluate any bike, let alone a high-end mountain bike, by riding it around a parking lot.

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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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