Mountain Bikes Buying Guide

by: Alastair Hamilton

How to choose a mountain bike depends on what you are going to do with it, if all you want your new mountain bike for is going for a nice leisurely ride on the canal path or a ride in the woods with the dog, well you wont need a full suspension downhill machine with 4 inch travel on the forks and a fully articulated rear end with damping and rebound control.

+ Where to Start From.

If you do want to go for an easy ride in the park you don’t need to spend too much, if you think you will do any off-road riding then big tread tires maybe all you need, but if you think you might try some rough stuff then you will need suspension. Gears will probably be Shimano, brakes must be V-brakes, but could be made by a few different manufacturers, all the rest of the MTB components will depend on how much you can spend. If you go to your local bike shop or big sports store and see what they’ve got to offer, then buy it or have look on the Internet and maybe you’ll find the same thing at a better price.

+ The Next Step Up.

So maybe you want to be a bit more adventurous, more off-road, more forest tracks and dry boulder river beds, then you’ll need something a little lighter, with suspension forks. All this will cost you more money, but will be worth it for the extra enjoyment and adventure. With a better mountain bike it will have a sportier handling and because it is lighter, it will be easier to struggle up the hills before you come flying down the other side. The components will again be Shimano and the quality will depend on how much money you can spend. V-brakes and Rapid-fire gear shifters, along with Shimano chain set, bottom bracket and headset. Handle bars, stem and seat pin should be alloy and along with a comfortable saddle you’ll be set to take to the hills.

+ More Money, More Bike.

The next rung up on the mountain bike ladder would be good enough to race on. There are many to choose from, get on the net and surf the bike manufacturers sites and all the shop sites along with the magazines for juicy photos of the bikes. The top manufacturers in this price range, I would say are: - Trek, Giant, Specialized and Cannondale, these companies make the nicest frames with the best mountain bike parts available at the price, gears will be either Shimano or SRAM, brakes could be V-brakes or cable disc brakes, both are very good and light, most of the other MTB parts, of course will be Shimano and as usual get the best you can afford. There are many combinations of hubs and rims to make up your wheels; hubs from Shimano and rims form Mavic are the usual mix. Then you have to choose which suspension forks to put on you bike, you may not get a choice, depending on which bike you buy, the main ones are Suntour, Marzocchi, Manitou, Fox, RockShox and RST, buy any of these and you wont go far wrong.

+ Top Bikes…. Top Money.

If you want what the professionals ride you will have to pay a lot of money a professional MTB. As with road bike at the top of the range, you can specify what you want to build up your dream bike. Top bikes frames to spend your money on could be Klien, Scott, Rocky Mountain, Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz and K2; these are some of the most sought after bike frames in the world and would be the envy of your friends. Probably the best forks to put on your frame would be RockShox SID’s these are light and do all the things you need with control of all functions, there are many other to also to consider, look at how much travel they have and the rebound and damping systems. Gears again will be either SRAM or Shimano Rapid fire, XT or XTR, more money could be spent on carbon or very light alloy cranks, the brakes should be hydraulic discs from Hayes, Pace or Magura or stick to the trusted V-bakes. Wheels from Shimano or Mavic or some fancy carbon wheels, but remember they will have to take a lot of punishment, so maybe better to go for reliability over light weight expense. Carbon handle bars, stem and seat pin and a light weight race saddle and Time or Shimano SPD clipless pedals, then your choice of tires will depend on what terrain and ground conditions you are going to ride on.

+ And Downhilling?

Downhill bikes are very different, more like a cross country motor bike, but without the engine, low center of gravity and a lot of travel on the suspension on the forks and the rear end, disc brakes, wide rims and fat tires, gears are only at the back as usually a single chain set is used. Unless your going to do a lot of downhill racing then there isn’t much point in buying one as you have to get up the hill first before you can come down and as light weight is not an issue with downhill bikes, they are very heavy to get up hill with out the use of a tow rope or a ski lift.

Kenneth Kelzer: Mountain biking a poor fit for a school sport

THE DEBATE and furor over mountain biking has come to a boil in Marin for many reasons. The conflict also has been building for years.

I am a 35-year resident and my wife and I hike on Marin trails almost every weekend. I ride a mountain bike three to four times a week for my aerobic exercise, but I ride only on paved streets and designated fire roads.

The letters and Marin Voice articles in the April 2 IJ should be a cause for alarm for all who love the beautiful open spaces of Marin. I am concerned when I read the following: that mountain biking has become a sport sponsored in our high schools; that almost all nine high schools in Marin have mountain bike teams; that the members of these teams are using public open space as practice grounds for their sport; that the spokespersons for these teams use the word "training" and do not use the word "competitive" in describing their activities; and that they are calling for the county Open Space District to provide additional trails for their sport.

All of these factors, together with the trail damage that adult bikers already have done, can only spell disaster for the beauty of our public lands in the long run. If this trend and attitude of entitlement is allowed to spread, it is only a matter of time before the trails and hillsides of Marin are scarred and violated even further than they are. Teen users are among the most courteous bikers on the trails, but what about the other bikers, including out-of-towners, who consistently abuse the trails?

We need to be realistic. We need to foresee what will happen if we allow this destructive combination of mixing competitive bike racing with public lands. We cannot allow it to continue.
I urge officials in all our public schools to eliminate mountain biking as a school-sponsored sport. They instead should promote activities that teach youth to tread lightly upon the earth and give it the respect it deserves.

In his April 2 letter, Dan Freeman, director of the Drake High mountain bike team, wrote that the "team's purpose is the safe, courteous and legal use of trails."

That is an inherent contradiction. If that is their purpose, why form a "team"? And why form a Norcal league with other schools who have "teams"? Teams compete. Competition stirs up adrenalin, which inevitably leads people to racing down trails as fast as they can to "win." Implicit in his thinking is the assumption that all this should be done on public lands. We absolutely should not, and cannot, allow this to happen.

Competitive mountain biking can be compared to race car driving. In a civilized world, we allow auto racing only on private property and on designated race tracks.

I began to hike the trails of Marin before the mountain bike existed. I know that over the past 20 years, many single-track trails and fire roads have been seriously eroded by bikes. The time has come for Marin residents who care about the environment to form a strong coalition to stop this destruction of public property. We need a coalition of hikers, equestrians, joggers, environmental leaders and public officials to put a stop to the destruction.

How to gain control over a situation that has gotten out of control is the big question. Marin supervisors should pass an ordinance that would fine illegal users of trails a minimum of $1,000 for the first offense, plus confiscation of their mountain bikes. That is a stiff penalty, but the situation is that serious.

"Access for all" is fine in theory. But it has not worked in the past and it will not work in the future. Mountain biking has become an adrenaline sport for many.

Idealistic talk about "compromise" and "working together" will not protect our public lands. Certain activities cannot be reconciled with one another.

The issue is not just that bikers and hikers don't mix. Mountain biking and protecting the environment do not mix, because biking cannot be supervised in the open spaces. And many bikers, with their bullying, aggressive and roughriding mentality, are incapable of supervising themselves. It is unfortunate that the destructive behavior of some bikers (I estimate about 40 percent) has ruined mountain biking for responsible bikers.

If our officials will not act to protect our land, then the citizen coalition that I propose, should, if necessary, bring a lawsuit against the Marin Open Space District. If successful, this would force the district to be in compliance with its own stated purpose and highest priority: the protection of our public land.

Kenneth Kelzer is a Novato resident.

Major Bicycle Parts

by: Alastair Hamilton

Bicycle is one of the oldest vehicles used by man. It consists of a light casing built over two wheels (one following the other, with each of them being pierced with wire), a seat, handlebars (which are counterpart of steering wheel), brakes, and a couple of pedals or a small motor to propel the bicycle. To know and learn about a bicycle, one needs to understand the basic bicycle parts as they work in combination.

Brake – They are used to speed down the bicycle. They can be controlled by brake levers that are mounted on the handlebars (as is the case with disc brakes and rim brakes) or they can be functioned by backward pedaling (as is the case with coaster brakes).

Handlebar – This is the part where a rider places his hands to provide balance to the bike. It can be straight, cylindrical or curved. It has a handle at each end, each of which is fitted with grips to provide firm hold of the bar. It also helps in steering the bike by providing the necessary leverage. Latest handlebars also enable the biker to change body stance during a long ride.

Chain – It provides the propelling action in the bike by transferring power from the pedals to the wheels. Chains have increased biker safety by allowing the manufacturers to cut down on the wheel size. Recently, breakthroughs have been made to have chains that could provide gearing mechanism to the bikes. In order to achieve good speed, one needs to lubricate bicycle chain from time to time, or else they get rusted.

Wheel – Bicycles ride on wheels. The wheel pair consists of an outer rim that is connected to the central focal point using spokes. A nut is used to tighten the spokes at both ends.

Tire – It covers the outer circumference of the bicycle wheel and is inflated with air. Because of its shape (usually circular) and air filled inside, it allows the bike to sail. Right amount of air needs to be filled inside the tire so that it provides optimum friction to the ground, thereby transmitting maximum speed from the pedal to the wheel.

In order to buy and maintain a good bicycle, a person needs to understand what each bicycle part does. Although they might seem trivial when seen separately, but when running in combination, they produce a thrill and experience, one cannot afford to miss.

Bike: Finding The Right One

by: James Brown

It is incredibly important that a person purchases a bike that meets all their wants and needs. First of all you want to decide if there is a specific reason why you are looking to purchase a bike. For example are you going to use your bike to get to work? Perhaps you are planning to do some off road biking or plan on purchasing a bike in order to ride long distances. If you are made well aware of what type of bike is going to meet your personal needs you are going to be able to avoid a common problem faced by many looking to buy a new bike. This dilemma is not being well informed before making a bike purchase and ending up with a style of bicycle that does not meet your needs at all. Bikes are available to consumers in a number of different styles in order to accommodate for different body shapes, a wide assortment of accessories that can be used to mold the bike to your individual needs and a wide range of prices for different styles of bikes.

There are a few different styles of bikes available to consumers and each style has its own features and benefits.

Here is a brief description of each bike.

Road Bike: A Road Bike is very striking and lightweight. Road bikes were outlawed in the year 1934 because they were considered to be too fast. However over the years they began to make a real comeback. The style of a road bike makes it perfect of recreational riding, traveling to work in the city or enjoying a leisurely ride down a country road.

Mountain Bike: Mountain Bikes are made to be able to keep up their power while being lightweight and well built. The simple, straight forward riding position of a Mountain Bike makes it an excellent choice for recreational riding as well as riding on advanced trails lots of rocks and dips along the road.

Touring Bikes: A Touring bike is made for those planning on traveling on more intense terrain. A touring bike is very similar in appearance to a bike built for racing however touring bikes are a bit sturdier. Due to advances in bike building technology, touring bikes are manufactured to be very light in weight while being able to hold up while being ridden over very intense roads.

City/Commuting Bikes: A Commuting bike is built solely for use on the asphalt. A City Bike is ideal for those looking for alternative means of transportation to their job as long as you do not have a lot of items to transport along with you.

Cruiser/Tandem/Comfort: A Cruiser Bike is the perfect choice for those looking for a bike simply to ride along easy terrain. This style of bike is a wonderful choice for families that wish to bike together. A tandem bike is also a fantastic choice for families or even couples that wish to enjoy a bike ride together.

So before you purchase a bike make sure to consider your specific desires. Once you are sure of where you will be going with your bike you will be better informed and able to select the bike that is perfect for you.

Thinking About Buying A Mountain Bike?

by: Luke Cameron
Are you a biking enthusiast? If you are, then you probably know how problematic buying the perfect mountain bike can be. If you are a newbie and wish to buy your very first mountain bike, you have to be prepared for a tough hunt. You should never settle for anything less than satisfactory. If it is anything to go by, you should settle for the best there is in the market. Quality and price do come hand in hand, however, and it is a reality that we all have a specific budget range. But that is of little consequence. There are so many quality mountain bikes that you can afford. It's a matter of looking for the best deals.

First thing to consider when buying a mountain bike is your budget. Do some research on the different price levels of available mountain bikes. You need not go inside every sporting goods store to compare prices. The internet will do just fine, maybe even better, as there are countless of online stores and biking websites from which you may get the information you need. When you have an estimate of how much a mountain bike costs, you can set out and begin looking for the bike that you want. Here's a little tip - try buying from a local community sporting goods or bike shop. The prices are considerably lower than those from mass merchant stores like Wal-Mart.

What is your style? Mountain bikes are manufactured differently from one another. The reason for this is that there are different specifications and requirements on mountain bikes depending on your riding style and the terrain types that you will be conquering. Among the different styles of biking are - smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill. You need to know which of these styles you will be embarking on. This is very important in finding out the right mountain bike for you. Here's another tip - salespeople are in it for the commission. Don't listen to their tiny voices which say you need to buy this or that bike because they are top of the line. Buy according to your needs and style.

There is another very important point that you need to consider when buying a mountain bike. Full suspension or hard tail? To be honest, a full suspension mountain bike is the best choice. That is, if you can afford it. However you can still choose a hard tail. If you opt for the hard tail, which means the bike has no rear suspension, the bike will be much lighter and pedal more efficiently. Full suspensions are of course the most comfortable. However, since there is a satisfactory alternative in the presence of the hard tail, this decision will be based on what you really want and what your budget is.

Don't forget to take the bike for a test ride. Try testing out several different bikes, so you will be sure which one works best for you and with you. Also, try checking out seasonal sales and promos. This way, you will be able to save some money and afford the best possible mountain bike within your price range.

I hope that this little guide was able to help you. With the tips given, I am sure that you and your new bike will work together for that ultimate mountain biking adventure

Learn Mountain Biking

by: Christopher Johnson

Riding a mountain bike is pretty much the same as riding any other type of bike. Except for the rocks, the fallen trees, the streams and the occasional mountain. In other words, mountain biking is the extreme version of two-wheeling around the neighbourhood. It can be dangerous, so should be respected and even a little feared. If you want to hit the trails, you need to learn mountain biking skills.

Mountain biking skills involve agility, balance and stamina. Review the following list of exercises, and find a suitable place to practice. These can be don at home, at a school or park, on a bike path and ideally, at a place with a steep hill.

Sit and Spin

In other words, just go for a ride. Get on your bike and cruise around to find the best position for mountain biking. Your arms should be slightly bent. Your legs should be 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal, so it may be necessary to adjust your seat higher or lower.

Get used to keeping your body relaxed because when you're on the trail, your knees and elbows should never be locked.

Feel the Pedal

While on your bike, practice moving your foot away from the pedal. Do this first while sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground, then try releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around. If you have toe clips on your pedals, you'll need to spend a little extra time with this exercise. There will be times on the trail that feet will have to leave the pedals. Make sure you're comfortable with this move, before you have to use your feet to balance yourself over a bumpy path.

Switch Gears

Get used to shifting gears. You'll use them a lot on the trails. Higher gears make the bike go faster, but it's harder to pedal. Lower gears make pedaling easier, so you'll use these gear positions when climbing hills. Be sure to shift to a low gear before you reach the hill, rather than when you're already climbing it.

Drop a Curb

Ride down the sidewalk, and then find a curb that's easily accessible. Approach the curb at moderate speed, stand up and coast right down onto the road (look for cars first!) If you want to learn mountain biking, you need to know how to handle sudden drops. Try this exercise at different speeds until it becomes second nature.

Coast is Clear

Coasting on a bike can feel like flying. Get your bike up to a reasonable speed, stand on your pedals and just cruise without sitting down. Keep your arms bent, don't lock your knees, and try to lean your body towards the rear end of the bike. Mountain biking involves very little sitting, so spend some time coasting to get used to the feeling.

Stand and Pedal

Just like coasting, you'll also spend a great deal of time pedaling while standing. While pedaling, simply lift your body off of the seat. Or, start off standing on the pedals then start cranking them. After you've mastered standing and pedaling on flat ground, practice while climbing a hill in lower gear. It's easy to learn mountain biking. You already know how to ride a bike, so now it's time to master these additional techniques. Once you're comfortable coasting, dropping, standing, pedaling, spinning, and switching gears, you'll be ready to hit the trails, and tackle any challenge along the way.

Mountain Biking Tips

by: Barbara Miller
If you're looking for a truck or SUV to explore the countryside, you're thinking two wheels too many. To get really close to nature, have a blast and keep in shape, grab a mountain bike and head for the hills.

The popular "mountain bike" style was developed, as the name suggests, from bicycles designed for cruising up and down a mountain. Obviously racing down a mountainside can be a real adrenaline rush, but it can also be quite dangerous. Anyone actually considering taking on a mountain pass is advised to invest in a bike designed to accomplish such a task. With the right equipment and some common sense, mountain biking is a fun sport for the entire family.

Find your Style

There are three basic styles of mountain biking: cross-country, freestyle, and downhill. Although the styles vary in many ways, each demands a great deal of skill. Choosing your personal riding style will determine the type of mountain bike you should buy. In other words, don't buy a heavy downhill bike if you plan on busting moves with your buddies. A lighter freestyle model is better suited for trick riding.

Hone your Skills

Every great mountain biker needs endurance and stamina. It takes ambition and, sometimes, courage to be able to conquer nature's courses successfully. Like any sport, mountain biking also involves time and practice. Lots of practice. You can't expect to go from riding your bike around the block, to scaling rocky hills and maneuvering through winding trails. Anticipate getting a few bumps and bruises before you're ready to ride with the big kids.

Location, Location, Location

Thinking of mountain biking as riding an unpaved surface. Your bike is ready to take you virtually anywhere you want to be, and many North American parks offer designated biking locations. Before hitting the trails in a park or conservatory, check for rules and regulations. There may even be trail maps available for you to bring along on your trek. Ask about local mountain biking clubs and group trail rides and competitions. You can easily find this information by asking at a local bike shop, checking the papers or searching online. Beginner to advanced groups are available, so be sure you're joining a club that matches your skill level.

Choose your Ride

Once you've narrowed down your mountain biking style--cross-country, freestyle or downhill--the bike you select basically comes down to personal choice. There is a huge variety of makes and models on the market today. Compare styles, shapes and price. Be sure to consider the quality of the bike and the reliability of the manufacture, but don't be fooled into thinking the most expensive models are necessarily the best bikes. The Internet can be a great tool in shopping for a bike, as some compare quality, features and prices for you. When you find a bike you like, ask for a test drive. A great mountain biker needs to feel as one with his or her own bike. Check for a comfortable seat and position, and be sure that the brakes and gears are suited to you.

A mountain bike can be a big investment, so ask around and do your homework before you buy.

Keep it Safe

Mountain biking on unpaved roads and through unexplored territories can be very dangerous. You literally do not know what's lying around the corner. Always wear a helmet, wherever you ride. Elbow and kneepads and riding gloves are also good choices to help keep you safe and comfortable, and goggles should be worn if you're riding in the woods or following a group. Finally, keep a few band-aids in your pack--just in case.

Whether you're riding across the county, or across the country, mountain biking is a great way to see the sights and stay in shape. Wear a helmet, proceed with caution and have fun!

Biking enthusiasts try out Black Rock bike area on tour

BY TIMOTHY ALEX AKIMOFFStatesman Journal
April 22, 2007
Mountain bikers at Black Rock mountain bike area near Falls City should have brought flotation devices Saturday.
A steady downpour dampened everything but spirits as the 2007 Santa Cruz AllRide Tour hit the popular mountain biking area for the first time.
Kirt Voreis, a professional mountain biker from Bend, has been eyeing Black Rock as a site for his tour.
"This one isn't too far from my house, and I've heard tons about it," Voreis said about Black Rock. "This is definitely a treat, lot of stuff out here."
The tour hits bike dealers and mountain biking areas all around North America and promotes riding by allowing people to try out the bikes. With the Santa Cruz tour, the riders are promoting Santa Cruz bikes, which can sell for thousands of dollars.
"A lot of people, if they're buying a $3,000 to $5,000 bike, they want to size them up you know, see what they're getting," Voreis said.
Black Rock Mountain Biking Association president Rich Bontrager said the Santa Cruz AllRide Tour isn't the only one to hit the area, but the cache of the brand name shows that interest in the area is growing.
Melissa Flick of Sonora, Calif., stopped by Santiam Bicycles in Salem to look for something that has been elusive -- a bike frame that fits her 6-foot, 2-inch frame.
So the guys at Santiam told her to check out the 2007 AllRide Tour.
"Yeah, it's like heaven," she said as she perched on top of a Santa Cruz bike that seemed to fit her perfectly.
Adam Treadwell of Salem didn't try out a bike, but he gladly showed up on a day that would keep most people inside.
"It's pretty bad out there," he said shortly after riding down a trail aptly named Brake Check. "But I'm going to ride it again."
Voreis said the rain and mud didn't take away from his objective.
"I want to promote the lifestyle of biking," Voreis said. "That's why I came up with AllRide."

Landis will compete at mountain biking event

04/19/2007 10:11 AM - Tour de France champion Floyd Landis will compete in the Teva Mountain Games next month despite an ongoing doping investigation and hip surgery last year.
VAIL, Colo. -- Tour de France champion Floyd Landis will compete in the Teva Mountain Games next month despite an ongoing doping investigation and hip surgery last year.
Organizers said Landis will participate in the Ultimate Mountain Challenge on June 2-3, which includes road bike, mountain bike, kayak and trail running races.
A spokeswoman for the games did not immediately return a call Thursday.
Landis, 31, tested positive for a high ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone after winning the 2006 Tour and faces the loss of the title and a two-year ban from competition if the doping allegations are upheld.
Landis has denied the allegations.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is awaiting the results of tests by France's anti-doping laboratory on Landis' "B" urine sample.
Landis underwent surgery on his right hip in San Diego in September.
At the Teva Mountain Games, Landis will compete as a member of Team Athletes for a Cure, raising money for prostate cancer research.
Landis also plans to compete in Colorado's Leadville Trail 100, a 100-mile mountain-bike race in August.

Bike: All Weather Vehicle

Heavy rain poured greater Jakarta in the last 2 weeks. Most part of the city were inundated. Almost every modern mode of transportation could not work properly. The only solution was bike. This is somekind of blessing in disguise. People should consider to use bike for their daily activities. No worry whether it is dry season or rainy season. So, let's get back to bike!