Different Types Of Mountain Bikes
March 12, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Mountain Bikes
A mountain bike should always have a proper full suspension system. It is important because it helps absorb the shock when going over rugged terrain and helps to provide a smoother ride. You will find that full suspension bikes have both a front and back suspension. Hard tail mountain bikes have a shock system in place of the front fork and a solid rear fork. Bikes without a suspension at all tend to be fairly lower end mountain bikes.
A cross country rider will need a bike with both descending and climbing ability. The rear suspension will only move about 4 inches so that it doesn’t cause a problem when trying to climb uphill. Cross country bikes have 28 gears as standard which provide a wide greater options for travelling over different terrain.
If you are a more technical mountain bike rider you will probably need a trial bike as they are a little more robust. The movement in the suspension can be between 4 inches and 7 inches. Uphill pedaling will be more difficult but you will in general get a much smoother ride. You will need to decide whether it is worth having a smoother ride against the struggle of pedaling uphill. Trek Track Bikes is a great place to look on the internet for all terrain 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. A downhill bike with more movement in the suspension is easier to control going downhill but a lot more difficult to pedal going uphill.
Another variety of mountain bike would be the dirt jump bikes. A dirt jump bike are used for jumping and only have a front suspension. These type of bikes are built for speed and usually come with 16 gears.
Choosing a Bike for Your Bicycle Vacation Tour
March 3, 2009 by James Brown
Filed under Bicycle Tour Preparation
A bicycle vacation tour can be one of the most fun and exciting vacations in the world, but it is important that you choose the right bicycle for your trip. There are a few things in particular that need to be taken into consideration when buying a bike, which will be discussed in more detail here.
One of the first things to think about when it comes to buying a bike for your bicycle vacation tour, is to determine what your primary riding is going to be. This means deciding where you are going to be riding your bike on your tour.
If you are planning to go on a bicycle vacation tour in the Rockies for instance, you are obviously going to have to get a more durable, more expensive mountain bike than if you were just going biking in Illinois.
When choosing a bike for a bicycle vacation tour, remember that one of the main ways that a mountain bike differs from a regular bike, is they have very strong frames. Their frames are much more powerful than regular bikes so that they can stand up to the wear and tear of the rough terrain.
Keep in mind that downhill and trial bikes are for serious mountain bikers and because they are much more expensive, you will really only want to consider purchasing them if you have a lot of mountain biking experience and have the skill to require a bike like this.
Another important factor to consider when choosing a bike for a bicycle vacation tour, is price. Bicycles of any type will range significantly in price, but keep in mind that the company you shop at will determine how good a deal you are getting. Buying used is also an option, but if you are planning on using the bike often, or using it on rough terrain where you need to be able to depend on a strong and resilient bicycle, then buying used is not the best idea.
Going on a bicycle vacation tour your may be one of the best things that you ever do and will definitely be one experience that you are never going to forget.
