Buying A Mountain Bike

It can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming

when you buy a mountain bike. Below, you'll find

some tips and things to be aware of before you lay

down the cash and buy a mountain bike.

Determining your price

There is really no limit as to how much money you can

spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your

spending under control, you should figure out what

your price range is and how much your willing to pay

for a new bike. When you buy, you shouldn't buy from

mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart. You should

instead support your local bike shop and get a much

better bike and much better service.

Finding your style

All mountain bikes are designed with several different

riding styles and terrain types in mind. You'll need

to figure out what type of riding you will be doing

the most. Smooth riding, cross country racing,

mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is

something you need to figure out. Make sure that

the bike you select fits your personal style and not

that of the sale's staff.

Full suspension or hard tail

If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain

bike is always worth the purchase. A hard tail,

without rear suspension, is much lighter weight

and pedal more efficiently, although full suspensions

offer more comfort and overall better control. You'll

want to make that decision based on your price range,

riding style, and the type of terrain you'll be

riding on the most.

Finding your favorites

Comparing mountain bikes component to component is

nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations

available. The best way to go about doing this is

finding a few components that are the most important

to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall

within your price range. You can start with the fork

then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

Sales and seasons

During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can

fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the

main buying season. If you can wait until the right

price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can

save a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will

also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy

from them.

Finding a good dealer

Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding

the best price. You should always find a dealer that

cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you

a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair

shop and give you the impression that you can really

trust them.

Test ride

You should test ride as many bikes as you can within

your price range and riding style. You'll find that

some bikes will feel right, while others won't. The more

bikes you can test drive, you better you'll understand

what works and what doesn't.

Doing the research

Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best

ways to find out about a mountain bikes reliability and

overall performance. You should always look at what

other owners and reviews think about a bike before you

make that final purchase.

Cross Country Mountain Biking

Cross country mountain biking is cross country at

its finest. Where free riders and downhill bikers

use four wheel bikes and ski lifts to get them to

their destination, cross country bikers get to

the top of the mountain by the ride. Though free

riding is very popular, the life vein of the sport

has always been cross country biking.

Just as cross country riders are a different breed,

the bikes they ride are as well. The cross country

bike is completely different in many ways from other

types of mountain riding bikes. The premise for

cross country riders is speed. Everything about

their bikes revolve with the idea of making the

bikes faster and faster.

Bikes used in cross country mountain biking can

be fully rigid frame, hardtails, or even full

suspension frames. Through the years, the cross

over to full suspension has become very popular.

The weight difference between free ride bikes and

cross country bikes are considerable. You'll be

extremely hard pressed to find a bike that weighs

more than 24 pounds, and even that weight can be

heavy. Free ride bkes weigh close to 40 pounds,

which makes the difference in weight pretty close.

If you've never tried cross country mountain biking,

you'll probably find it to be a break from the

ordinary. Even though this type of biking involves

trails, it's normally the type of terrain that

beginners wouldn't want to ride. Involving hills

and rough terrain, cross country biking offers

quite the rush.

For mountain bikers everywhere, cross country is

the way to go. It offers you a new assortment of

bikes, new areas to bike, and a new twist to

mountain biking as you know it. If you've been

looking for a mountain biking rush, cross country

mountain biking is what you need to be experiencing.

Different Types of Mountain Bikes

With mountain biking being a very popular sport,

there are many bikes to choose from. Depending

on what type of riding you like, the style of

bikes you can choose from will vary. Below, you'll

find tips on the different types of bikes available.

1. Cross country

Almost all mountain bikes will fit into this category.

Cross country mountain bikes are light weight, making

them easy to ride over most terrains, even up and

down hills. This is the most common mountain bike

and it can be used with ease for riding on the path

or even commuting.

2. Downhill

These types of bikes are for serious bikers who

crave the ultimate adventure. Downhill bikes have

front and rear suspension, strong parts, and disc

brakes. Rarely available off the shelf, most riders

like to custom build their own.

3. Trials

Trail mountain biking involves a great degree of

skill and is classified as the precision riding of

the sport. Similiar to downhill bikes, trial riders

will often build their own bikes rather than purchase

one off a shelf. Generally very light and very

strong, these bikes require a lot of discipline.

4. Jump and slalom

Slalom and jump bikes are very strong and designed

for jumping, street racing, and slalom. They offer

a front suspension and use very strong components

dedicated to what they do. These bikes are very

popular with the sport of mountain biking.

Even if you are new to mountain biking, the sport can

be a lot of fun. There are several bikes to choose

from, all of which depend on your style. If you are

still looking for the best style for you, all you

have to do is try out several bikes and see which one

How Mountain Bike Gears Work

The gears in mountain bikes just keep getting more

and more intricate. The bikes of today have as many

as 27 gear ratios. A mountain bike will use a

combination of three different sized sprockets in

front and nine in the back to produce gear ratios.

The idea behind all these gears is to allow the

rider to crank the pedals at a constant pace no

matter what kind of slope the bike is on. You can

understand this better by picturing a bike with

just a single gear. Each time you rotate the pedals

one turn, the rear wheel would rotate one turn

as well (1:1 gear ratio).

If the rear wheel is 26 inches in diameter, then

with 1:1 gearing, one full twist on the pedals

would result in the wheel covering 81.6 inches of

ground. If you are pedaling at a speed of 50 RPM,

this means that the bike can cover over 340 feet of

ground per minute. This is only 3.8 MPH, which

is the equivalence of walking speed. This is ideal

for climbing a steep hill, although bad for ground

or going downhill.

To go faster you'll need a different ratio. To

ride downhill at 25 MPH with a 50 RPM cadence at the

pedals, you'll need a 5.6:1 gear ratio. A bike

with a lot of gears will give you a large number

of increments between a 1:1 gear ratio and a 6.5:1

gear ratio so that you can always pedal at 50 RPM,

no matter how fast you are actually going.

On a normal 27 speed mountain bike, six of the gear

ratios are so close to each other that you can't

notice any difference between them.

With actual use, bike riders tend to choose a front

sprocket suitable for the slope they are riding on

and stick with it, although the front sprocket can

be difficult to shift under heavy load. It's much

easier to shit between the gears on the rear.

If you are cranking up a hill, it's best to choose

the smallest sprocket on the front then shift

between the nine gears available on the rear. The

more speeds you have on the back sprocket, the

bigger advantage you'll have.

All in all, gears are very important to mountain

bikes as they dictate your overall speed. Without

gears you wouldn't be able to build speed nor would

you be able to pound pedals. The gears will move

the pedals and help you build up speed.

There are all types of gears available in mountain

bikes, all of which will help you build up a lot

of momentum if you use them the right way.

How To Lube Your Mountain Bike

A mountain bike is a lot of fun although it does

require some maintenance. You should always lube

your bike 15 hours or so before riding, as quick

jobs right before you take off normally doesn't

get everything lubed. Some lube jobs will last

for more rides, although if things get loud or

shifting gets sticky, it's time to lube.

Here is how to lube your bike:

1. The chain

Apply a generous amount of mountain bike lube to

your chain as you move the pedals around backwards.

It also helps to find a spot to steady your hand

such as the frame while you move the pedals around

and around. Make sure you watch out for the cranks

and chain rings as they move around.

2. Front Deraileur

On the front defaileur, lube the pivots. Use a

spot of lube everywhere you can see movement when

you move the shift lever.

3. Rear deraileur

Just like the front deraileur, lube the pivots.

4. Pedals

There are some types of clipless pedals that will

need to have the release mechanism lubed. You

should only lube this mechanism if you have this

type of pedal.

5. Everything into motion

Pedal around, shift your gears, and bounce your

bike around. If you hear anything squeak, there's

a moving part there are it should be lubed

immediately.

6. Wipe it all clean

Once you've lubed everything and wiped it all

around, simply wipe it all back off. Use a rag

to wipe away all the lube you used, including all

the lube off the chain. Wiping it away will leave

the lube in between the parts but clean it away

from everywhere it isn't needed. This will keep

your bike from collecting dirt while you ride.

Introduction To Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is a great way to explore the outdoors,

stay in shape, or just have fun. Racing down the side

of a mountain is a lot of fun indeed, although it can

also be quite dangerous. Even though it's dangerous,

if you ride with caution, it can be enjoyed by the

entire family.

Styles of mountain biking

Mountain biking can best be characterized into three

different styles - downhill, free riding, and cross

country. Even though the different styles are similar

in some ways, they still require different skills. The

style that you pick will determine the type of bike you

get.

Locations for mountain biking

The sport can best be thought of as biking on an unpaved

surface. Many areas throughout North America have

specific locations designed for mountain biking. Before

you decide to go down a trail, you should always check

with your local park to get the routes, regulations, and

any rules that they may have.

You can also find groups that have mountain bike rides

and competitions. You can look on the internet or even

in a local paper and see exactly what's available in your

area. You may be able to find groups for the more

advanced riders as well as beginners.

Becoming a great biker

Endurance and stamina are a must for a great mountain

biker. It will also take ambition and practice to succeed

as well as conquer the course. Like all other sports,

it takes time and practice. Those just beginning will

have to get past the bumps and bruises from falling

off the bike.

Selecting your mountain bike

The bike you select is more of a personal choice, and

a big determining factor on the type of riding you will

be doing. Bikes come in all styles, shapes, and prices,

which will make selecting one for yourself very difficult

indeed.

You should use the internet to help you shop for a bike,

even do some price comparisons online as well before you

make a purchase. Before you buy a bike, always ask to

try it out first. A great mountain biker will become

one with his or her own bike. When buying, make sure

you check for comfort, how it fits, even how it is geared.

Staying safe when riding

Mountain bike riding on unpaved roads can be very

dangerous, as mentioned earlier. Anytime you are riding,

you should wear a helmet, along with knee and elbow

pads. If you are following a group or riding in the

woods you should strongly consider a pair of goggles as

well. Safety should be your top priority and never

taken lightly anytime you are mountain biking.

Mountain Bike Anatomy

A mountain bike is the one thing you need before you

go mountain biking. A mountain bike contains many

parts, which will be covered below:

1. Bottom bracket - This attaches the crankset to

the body of a bike.

2. Brake cable - This is the cable that connects the

brake lever to the brake mechanism.

3. Brake lever - The lever on the handlebar to

activate the brakes. The left side is the front brake

and the right side is the rear brake.

4. Chain - The circular set of links that transfer

power from the chain ring to the cogs.

5. Chain ring - The toothed rings that attach to

the crank to hold the chain.

6. Crank - The lever that extends from the bottom

bracket to the pedal, transferring the power to the

chain rings.

7. Derailleur - The mechanism for moving the chain

from one cog to another.

8. Down tube - The section of frame that extends

downward from the stem to the bottom bracket.

9. Front shock - The shock absorber on the front

fork.

10. Handlebar - The horizontal bar attached to the

stem with handgrips on the end.

11. Headset - The mechanism in front of the frame

that connects the front fork to the stem and

handlebars.

12. Hub - The center part of the wheel that the

spokes are attached to.

13. Idler pulley - The bottom pulley of the rear

derailleur that provides spring tension to keep

the chain tight.

14. Nipple - A threaded receptacle that holds

the end of the spoke to the rim.

15. Pedal - The platform to pedal on; attaches to

the crank.

16. Rear shock - The shock absorber for the rear

tire on dual suspension type bikes.

17. Rim - The metal ring that holds the spokes

on the inside and the tire to the outside.

18. Saddle - The seat.

19. Seat post - Offers support for the seat.

20. Skewer - The metal rod that goes through the

hub, attaching the wheel to the dropouts of the

frame.

21. Spindle - The free rotating axle that the

crank arms attach to; also a part of the bottom

bracket.

22. Spokes - The thick wires that join the hub to

the rim.

23. Stem - A piece that attaches the handlebar

to the steering tube.

24. Wheel hub - The center of the wheel that the

spokes are attached to.

Mountain Bike Designs

The designs for mountain bikes can be classified in

three categories based on suspension:

1. Hardtail - A frame with no rear suspension,

often containing a front suspension fork.

2. Fully rigid - This is a sub type of hardtail,

with a rigid fork.

3. Dual or full suspension - These bikes offer a

front suspension fork and a rear suspension that

are integrated into the frame.

4. Soft tail - Offers a frame with a small amount

of rear suspension, normally less than a full

suspension frame.

The different designs of bikes in mountain biking

will offer you what you need for your unique style

of riding. You'll want a different bike for

different terrain, such as cross country or

downhill. As the terrain changes, you'll want to

make sure you have the right bike for the job.

Mountain biking is different than any other sport,

offering you plenty of excitement and thrills.

If you are new to mountain biking, you'll find the

different designs to be very enticing yet very

challenging at the same time. Each design serves

a purpose with mountain biking, even some that

excel on the trails.

There are also several other designs which reflect

on the manny challenging disciplines in the sport

of mountain biking. No matter what type of

mountain biking you like to do, there are bikes

for that specific discipline.

If you are new to mountain biking, you'll want

to check out the many designs and types of biking

before you purchase a bike. Mountain biking can

be a lot of fun and excitement, although it can

also be very dangerous if you don't have the

right bike for the terrain. Before you decide to

buy a bike and hit the trails, make sure you

have the right design of mountain bike for the

riding you are planning on doing.

Mountain Biking Accessories

When you first start out with mountain biking, it

can be a bit overwhelming when you walk into a bike

store to buy your first mountain bike and see all

of the available accessories you'll need when you

first start riding.

There are several mountain biking accessories and

related products that you can purchase. Although

the sales staff will try to sell you anything they

can, the real question for those on a budget isn't

what's cool, but what accessories you need to make

your rides more safe and enjoyable. By starting

with these accessories, you'll be just fine when you

hit the trails.

Bike helmet

The bike helmet is the most important mountain biking

accessory that you can buy. No one should ever be

on a bike without a helmet. There have been many

people who have experienced serious head injury, when

it could have prevented by wearing a helmet. All

mountain bike helmets are comfortable and stylish and

everyone who rides on the trails wears one.

Mountain bike gloves

No matter what season you ride in, your hands can

take a beating. Beginners will normally keep a death

grip on the handle bars, which can be very brutal for

their hands. When you crash, your hands will be the

first thing to hit the ground - and everyone crashes

at some point. Mountain bike gloves are a must have

accessory, as they will take the beating for you.

Mountain bike shorts

After the first few mountain bike rides you take, you'll

notice that your rear end will be quite uncomfortable.

Even though your body will adjust, bike shorts are

great to have as they will help keep it at a bare

minimum. You can get shorts that are very comfortable,

making them a great addition to your mountain bike

ride.

Mountain bike shoes

Depending on the type of pedals you have and the type

of riding you do, you'll want to pick your mountain bike

shoes accordingly. If your bike has clipless type

pedals, you'll want to get shoes to accept the special

cleat for your pedals. Good mountain bike shoes are

durable, comfortable, and also a stiff sole for better

efficiency when pedaling. Also, you should make sure

to get the right shoe for the terrain you'll be riding

in as well.

Eye protection

If you get something in your eye, you can run off the

trail in a matter of seconds. Sunglasses or clear lensed

glasses can help keep your eyes safe from debris, as well

as protect them from the wind. When you buy your glasses,

make sure they are non-breakable.

Hydration system

Bringing a water bottle or hydration backpack with you is

always a great idea. It's very easy to get dehydrated so

you should always bring water with you and drink it on

the trail to ensure that your body stays properly hydrated

at all times.

Trail repair kit

It's easy to get stuck in the woods or on the trail if you

don't bring the proper repair kit for your bike. To be

on the safe side, bring a multi-tool designed for bike

repair, tire levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat

Mountain Biking Safety Tips

There are numerous ways that you can improve your

mountain bike safety. Many riders will tell you

that wearing a helmet is the most important step to

staying safe. The second most important step is

that you should always ride in control of your

mountain bike.

By riding in control you'll not only prevent crashes,

but keep others on the trail safe as well. When

riding out of control you loose the ability to

adjust to the terrain as you ride over it. This can

and usually does result in serious injury to yourself

and others.

Follow these helpful guidelines and you'll remain

safe when riding your mountain bike.

Gear

Always make sure that you wear a helmet and other

necessary safety gear for the conditions that you

plan to ride in.

Never ride beyond your control

There is never any shame in walking the areas of

the trail that you don't feel comfortable in riding

and you should never let anyone else tell you that

there is.

Keep your speed under control

Always make sure you keep your speed at a level

where you can quickly adjust to any obstacles or

change in the trail.

Knowing your trail

You should never push the limits on trails that you

aren't familiar with. You should take trails you

aren't familiar with at slow speeds until you learn

them better.

Slow down around blind corners

If you can't see past a corner you should always

slow down, as you never know who or what is around it.

Start small then go big

Work your way up to stunts or obstacles. Practice in

less difficult or dangerous situations before you

move up to something more dangerous.

Playing it smart

If you start to question what your doing, you probably

shouldn't be doing. Always think about what you are

doing and go with your instincts.

Mountain Biking Vacation

Taking a mountain biking vacation is an excellent

way to unwind and explore America. There are several

companies that offer mountain biking tours that go

through scenic routes, and they often arrange any

accomodations for travelers as well. For athletic

couples, these types of vacations offer the perfect

way to relax and enjoy some exercise together.

Each and every region in the United States has some

truly awesome mountain biking trails. It's not just

the major mountain ranges that offer these trails, as

any hilly, scenic, rough trail can provide riders with

the adventure they seek. Some of the best areas to

mountain bike ride in the United States are the Pacific

Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast states such as

North Carolina.

Even though the entire American West area is great for a

mountain biking vacation, the Southwest area is rapidly

becoming a popular area for the sport as well. In the

Southwest, some of the best trails include Pinery

Canyon Road in Arizona, South Boundary Trail in New

Mexico, and Flume Trail in Nevada.

Each and every trail deserves it's reputation as a

tough ride. Each one of these trails is over 20 miles

in length, with Pinery Canyon being the longest, at

over 50 miles! Keep in mind though, just because you

go to a trail it doesn't mean you have to ride the entire

length.

The Pacific Northwest is also a great place for a

mountain biking vacation. The three best trails in

the entire region are Surveyor's Ridge in Oregon, Mount

Tamalpais in California, and the Methow Trial System in

Washington.

A mountain biking vacation is perfect for athletic people

who have the desire to explore regions at their own

pace. These trips are much less expensive than other

trips, yet they can easily be the adventure of a

Sizing Mountain bikes

Along with giving you a better selection and expert

advice, bike shop personnel can you help you get

fitted to the right size bike. You can get the bike

either too big or too small, which will cause your

enjoyment to suffer. Follow the tips below, and

you'll have the perfect fit for your mountain bike.

Standover height

When you check the fitting yourself, the first thing

you want to check is the inseam clearance, or the

standover height. You want to have plenty of room

between yourself and the top tube when you come to

a stop. There should be around four to six inches

of clearance from the top of your inseam to the top

of the top tube.

Leg and feet position

There's a nifty formula for determining the leg

position for riding a mountain bike. When riding

a mountain bike, the terrain constantly changes,

raising you off the seat constantly, sometimes just

slightly, other times completely off.

Therefore, you'll need to sit your saddle slightly

lower than you would on any other type of bike.

Be sure you take this slightly lower seat height

position into effect when you factor the size of

the frame.

Riding compartment

The next thing you'll want to check is the rider

compartment layout (the distance between the saddle

and the handlebars). Once the proper leg extension

has been determined, be sure the handlebar is one

to two inches below the height of the saddle. You

should never have the handlebars higher than the

seat, unless there is some type of upper body

problem.

Dual suspension bikes

With suspension being at both ends, you'll want

your weight more in the middle of the bike so that

your weight is distributed evenly between the front

and rear suspension units, thus allowing the front

and rear suspension to work as a unit.

This can be done quite easily by using either a

higher or shorter stem to raise the hand height,

which will in turn move the upper body up and the

weight towards the rear. The increase in rise

shouldn't be no more than two inches, then the

decrease in reach shouldn't be any more than two

inches.

Test ride

Once you have taken all of these steps into account,

go out and test drive the bike. Make sure you

wear a helmet, even if you are going to be testing

for a brief period of time. Be sure that the tires

are set to the right pressure, and the shop has

adjusted the bike for you properly.

You should have a shop employee observe your body

position and ride height while riding, to determine

is any further adjustments need to be made. Ride

the bike around for a bit to get used to its

handling and new equipment. Start off slowly, then

give the bike a bit of time to present its personality.

After a few minutes, you might notice that something

isn't working correctly or just doesn't feel right

in general. If this happens, go back to the shop

and have the problem corrected before you rule out

the bike.

The more you ride bikes, the easier it will be to

tell the difference in the ride types. Keep in mind,

it may take months and even years to appreciate the

way a bike handles. Talk to those who ride, and

ask them if they ride the bikes they sell. This

way, you'll learn more about the mountain bikes you

Technical Down Hill Mountain Biking

The key to down hilling is relaxing your upper body.

The steeper and rockier the hill is, the more tightly

the rider tends to put a death grip on the handle

bars. Most riders tend to slow down as they approach

obstacles such as rocks, then apply both brakes.

If you don't apply your brakes, the rock will stop

your wheel. This isn't good, as the rock can throw

you off balance and completely kill any type of

momentum you have.

Relaxed riders won't slow down as much. The

combination of extra momentum, no front braking at

crucial moments will allow the wheel to bump over

the rock and continue onward with little effort.

If you are going slow, it's essential to release

your brakes as much as possible when you approach

an obstacle. This may entail going a bit faster,

although the result is much less painful. On

steep hills, going really slow will always make

things much more difficult.

One exception to this is a very tight turn. If a

hop is out of the question, you'll need to slow

down to allow the smallest radius of turning circle.

This kind of thing takes practice, although track

standing isa great way to improve on your balance.

Although down hilling is one of the most extreme

methods of mountain biking, it can also be one of

the most dangerous. If you're new to mountain biking

you shouldn't start out with down hilling, as it

takes a lot of practice.

With a bit of practice and knowing the right

techniques, technical down hilling is something you'll

find fun. It can provide quite a rush and a lot

of excitement for those who seek adventure.

The History Of Mountain Biking

There is a lot of history and information out there

in regards to the history and origins of mountain

biking, with some being recognized and some that

depends on who has the best firm of public relations.

Some say that mountain biking began with the Buffalo

Soldiers, which was a turn of the century infantry

who customized bikes to carry gear over the rough and

tough terrain. They began in August of 1896, over

the course of 800 miles. Their mission was simple -

to test bikes for military use in the toughest of

terrain.

Others say it was the Velo Cross Club of France

that started mountain biking. The club was comprised

of 20 young bikers from Paris, who between 1951 and

1956 developed a sport that resembles present day

mountain biking.

It could have also been John Finley Scott, who was

the first mountain biker in the U.S. In 1953 he

constructed what he called a "Woodsie Bike", using

a diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handle bars,

and cantilever brakes. He was more than 20 years

ahead of his time. Even though he remained an off

road enthusiast, there were many at that time who

didn't share that same passion.

Today, we believe that the history of the mountain

bike is most apparent in Northern California. There

are a few areas that claim to be the first community

for mountain biking, although each and every history

book will tell you Marin County.

The sport of mountain biking has taken many twists

and turns over the last several hundred years. Even

though there are many that say different things about

the history and the beginning, we know one thing

for sure - one thing has led to another and the

sport of mountain biking was born.