Mountain bikes are durable bicycles that can travel on almost any kind of surface. They handle well on dirt, rock and pavement. Mountain bikers often ride on off-road trails that include many surfaces.
Mountain bikes combine the speed of standard road race bicycles with the durability of bicycle motocross (BMX) bikes. They have gear systems much like those of road race bicycles. But they are built with strong frames and wide tires like BMX bikes. Mountain bikes continued to change due to many North American riders who started building their own mountain bikes. Like Fisher, they modified old bikes. They tried different designs. Most designs included strong, durable frames. Some riders added shock absorbers to give a smooth ride.
Mountain bikes continued to change. Major bike manufacturers began making mountain bikes. As mountain bike racing continued to grow, the companies built lighter and stronger bikes.
Inexpensive mountain bikes can cost $100 or less, but most mountain bikes cost more than $300. Professional racers may spend $5,000 or more on a new bike. They may spend thousands of dollars more to change their bikes to fit their needs.
Most mountain bikers ride on off-road trails designed for mountain bikers. Riders can complete some trails in less than an hour. Longer trails may take a day or more to finish. Some riders compete in mountain bike races. Cross-country races are among the most popular. These off-road races often include steep hills and sharp turns. Downhill racing is also popular. Downhill races begin at the top of a steep hill. Riders race one at a time down the hill. The rider with the fastest time wins the race. Some highly skilled riders race professionally. They compete against other professional racers for cash prizes. They also may earn money through endorsements. Riders endorse products by wearing company logos or by using a company’s equipment. They may also appear in advertisements for the company. Some professional riders earn enough in prize money and endorsements to make a living.
Mountain Bikes and Their Riders in Gainesville, FL
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »Gainesville Bike Shops — Some tips for Safe and Fun biking
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »Bicycling is one of those sports that is fun to do as well as the best exercise. It is fun to do because, if did not find a partner to come with us, then we could ride the bike solo. If not, we could enjoy this sport with a partner. In fact, it would be more fun to bike with a group of people. It is the best exercise because, most importantly, all parts of the body all the way from the thigh to the toe is exercised.
While biking, it is important to follow some basic precautions. Always wear an helmet. Wear a flourescent outfit so that you are visible to other motorists. Always use signs while turning, passing and stopping etc. Carry a water bottle with you always so that you do not get dehydrated. If you have goggles, use one, as this might protect you from glaring sunlight. Do not race and do not pass a speeding car. Understand that other people might not see you and so do not go in the middle of the road if possible. Avoid biking in the rain and snow.
Check tire pressure and your brakes periodically. Always carry a mobile phone. If you are stranded, it would come in handy to call for help. Biking could be very addictive. So, do not overdo it.
Avoid highways and chose judiciously trails. Do not ride after sunset or before sunrise. Be confident and do not be scared. Do not use an ipod or a mobile phone while riding the bike.
Do not climb on top of the saddle and ride. This might easily tip you off balance. Wear a comfortable shoe that does not slip. Pick a scenic route to make it more enjoyable. Take Gatorade and other energy drinks with you. Most importantly remember to have fun.
Gainesville Bike Shops Look At Bicycles from Back in the Day
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »I could define my life according to the type of bicycle I rode, at any given age. When I was in the pre-tricycle phase, in the 70s, I absolutely loved my bright yellow banana cycle – it was actually yellow and it looked like a banana! Then, of course, I got a traditional little red tricycle. I have a great picture and good memories of my first “big girl” bike. My mom and dad were quite thrifty, so they bought an old bike frame and dad painted it for me. I got to pick out a cool “banana seat” with blue, yellow and pink sparkles all over it, and he even attached streamers to the ends of the handlebar covers. Next, I moved up to the latest craze of the 80s - the 3-speed bike. It was pale blue, and I felt really tall while I was riding it. I remember that it took a little while to get the hang of changing gears while pedaling. When I was a teenager in the ’80s, I thought my brothers and their biker friends were the coolest! They all had hip BMX bikes, and they would spend hours painting the frames, greasing the chains and creating wooden ramps to jump over . Then, they would blare out the Beastie Boys on the boombox, put on their parachute pants, and spend hours developing their tricks along the sidewalk. I cherished the sharp 10-speed bike I got when I was in high school. It was a metalic blue, with a sleek design; the handlebars were wrapped with blue tape and curved down under the main grip – you held onto the curved portion to work the brakes. Then I grew up and became a mom, and I got one of those cool plastic seats to put my baby on the back of my bike, just like my mom did for me when I was a baby!
Gainesville Bike Shops — Biking for AIDS
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »When my long distance running career came to an end in 1995 (out of boredom) after 7 marathons, I decided to take up biking. OK, so the most biking I had ever done as an adult was in the park (flat) with my Dad on my annual and bi-annual visits home. But I was inspired by the creation of a team ride from Philadelphia to Washington, DC to raise money for AIDS-related services.
I went to the neighborhood bike shop and tried out several bikes before purchasing a Trek with hybrid tires. I loved the way the bike felt and the fact that I could ride either straight up, half-way up, or hunched over like the professionals. Little did I know how long I would own this bike or how far it would take me.
I signed up for the first ride, started to raise money, and trained and trained in Rock Creek Park, learning how to shift the gears and how to charge the hills. It was so invigorating that I found myself riding from home to Mount Vernon and back on bike trails (40 miles) with ease, barely having to stop at all for traffic or signal lights. This covered so much more ground than running!
I considered getting organized for the trip as another part of the training. What to take, what clothes to buy, what equipment to have on the bike, these were all part of the details and the prepration that kept me motivated and excited.
A friend drove with me to Philadelphia, my bike on a rack on the back of my little 2-seater convertible. This in itself was a little nerve-wracking as it was difficult so see out of the side and rear view mirrors and I was afraid to go very fast on I-95 for fear that the bike would tear away from the car and crash into the road.
But we made it there safely, spent the night, and awoke very early to start the ride. What a huge thrill it was to pedal with 1,700 riders out of Philadelphia to begin our 3-day journey to DC. Yes it was exhausting to have to pitch your own tent and sleep on the ground after riding 100+ miles each day. Yes, it was grueling in the heat to work up to the top of a mile-long hill. But the food was delicious and I could eat ceaselessly. The spirit of all the riders was infectious. And the night-time camp entertainment was hysterical.
On the last day, we rode into DC over Memorial Bridge to thousands of people lining the streets, thanking us for what we were doing for the AIDS patients and victims in DC and Philadelphia.
The next year, the ride moved its starting point to Raleigh, North Carolina, still ending in DC. I was hooked and rode again, even though the ride increased from three to four days. And for three more years after that, I rode.
This year I gave the bike and all its attachments to a friend. She just used it in a triathlon in Lafayette, Louisiana. It still does my heart good.
Used street bikes for sale in Gainesville, FL
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »Used street bikes is a raising trend and thats why we decided to write about it at mountain bikes review. The current economical situation brings more and more people to look for used street bikes for sale because of two main reasons: The first one is that its cheaper, healthier and much cooler to drive on bikes instead of cars. Now with all those small bike parking lots that lets you park your bikes, change clothes and take a shower before you go to your office its even more easy and convenient to drive your bikes to work. The second reason is that you don’t need to invest so much money in new street bikes when you can get the same bikes in a very good condition for much much less. Many people today need money and so they sell their used street bikes even if the bikes are in a very good condition.
So what do you need to pay attention to when you buy used bikes: you must check the frame which is the most important part of the bikes – does it look ok? Is it broken in different places? Is the paint new or old? That will give you an indication if the previous owner took good care of his bikes or not. If he did then the used street bikes can be even in a better condition than the old ones since that owner probably repaired damages that were created by the manufacture. Some owners even add cool and great gadgets to their bikes with the years and you can enjoy all of these advantages.
You must also make sure that you can trust the seller, you can ask a few questions about the bikes to see if they are right for you or not. I personally prefer to shop for used street bikes at eBay, that how I know that I am completely covered and have nothing to worry about besides finding the right bikes for the best price.
Vineeth
0vineeth@gmail.com
MTB Types with Characteristics
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »I am going to mention a kind of mountain bikes and its some characteristics in this post.
1) A mountain bike also called MTB is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling, with jumps, and traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines, either on dirt trails, logging roads, or other unpaved environments.
It has several subtypes also like such as cross-country (XC) biking, all-day endurance biking, Freeride-biking, downhill mountain biking and some others.
2) “Trail” Bikes are a cross between XC bikes and AM (all terrain bicycle)bikes. They have geometries slightly slacker than XC bikes, though not as slack as AM bikes. Trek Fuel EX series, the Gary Fisher HiFi, and others.
3) Enduro/all-mountain (AM) bikes bridge the gap between cross-country and freeride bikes, They are designed to be able to ascend mild-to-moderate inclines and descend steep declines. They typically weighing between 30 and 35 pounds (14 to 16 kg).
4) Freeride mountain bikes are similar to downhill bikes components are built from stronger, consequently heavier, materials. They can be ridden uphill, but are inefficient and their moderately slack head tube angles make them difficult to maneuver while angled up a hill or traveling at a low speed.
5) Downhill (DH) bikes typically have seven or more inches (178 mm) of suspension travel. They are built with frames that are strong, yet light, which often requires the use of more expensive alloys. In the past few years, lighter downhill bikes have been getting below the 40lbs mark (18 kg). Due to their typically large or high gears, long, plush travel and slack geometry angles, Downhill bikes are ideal only for riding down dedicated downhill trails and race courses.
6) Single-speed (SS) mountain bikes are fully rigid, steel-framed bikes have one set gear ratio. These are typically ridden by very fit individuals on mild to moderate cross country terrain.
7) Mountain cross or “4-cross racing” (4X) is a relatively new style of riding where four bikers race downhill on a prepared, BMX like, track, simply trying to get down first.
8 ) Dual slalom (DS) is similar to mountain cross. Dual Slalom races originally took place on grass slopes with gates and minimal jumps.
9) Short cross or speed cross (SC) is the newest form of mountain biking. The idea is to ride short, narrow forest paths with rocks and roots, but not necessarily any ramps on them.
10) Indycross (IX) is essentially a Mountain Cross event featuring a wide variety of features run by on Disc brakes.
Bicycling and its uses
October 12th, 2009 by bikes No comments »A bicycle is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a bicyclist.
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide, twice as many as automobiles.They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for such uses as children’s toys, adult fitness, military and police applications, courier services, and competitive sports.
The basic shape and configuration of a typical bicycle has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885.Many details have been improved, especially since the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design. These have allowed for a proliferation of specialized designs for particular types of cycling.
The invention of the bicycle has had an enormous impact on society, both in terms of culture and of advancing modern industrial methods.
A mountain bike is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling, including jumps, and traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines, either on dirt trails, logging roads, or other unpaved environments. Bicycles typically used for mountain biking need to be able to withstand off-road use and the surmounting of obstacles such as logs and rocks.Bicycle wheels used on mountain bikes generally use wide, knobby tires for extra traction and shock absorption. In the current century, front wheel suspension has become the norm and full front and rear suspension has become increasingly common. Some mountain bikes are also fitted with bar ends on the handlebars to give extra leverage for hill-climbing.
Since the development of the sport in the 1970s, many new subtypes of mountain biking have developed, such as cross-country (XC) biking, all-day endurance biking, Freeride-biking, downhill mountain biking, and a variety of track and slalom competitions. Each of these place different demands on the bike requiring different designs to suit them. MTB development has included an increase in gearing, up to 27 speeds, to facilitate climbing and rapid descents. Other developments have included disc instead of cantilever or V-brakes.
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