tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741244181561577962023-11-15T10:57:41.898-08:00MountainBikesI recently bought a mountain bike and now I am trying to gather all useful information together here. Also will add my own experience articles. All comments and new information are highly appriciated :)Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-16662101913876502622011-04-04T17:38:00.000-07:002011-05-04T23:39:02.422-07:00Interesting bycicle facts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">If one was to review the history and development of the bicycle, they would encounter a number of interesting and unexpected facts. Most people would be amazed to learn that the first bicycles didn't even have pedals. Instead, they required the rider to run along with their feet, and use the wheels for propulsion.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The word bicycle is actually a French word, and didn't appear to almost 50 years after the bicycle was invented. It was originally called a Draisine, and invented in Germany around 1817. The Draisine was also known as a velocipede, and required the rider to balance on its wooden frame and propel themselves along the road. It didn't take long for an improved version to appear in Britain, but riders found their boots wearing out rapidly. It took a French metalworker to solve the issue, when he added pedals to the design.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Another flaw in the original design resulted in the riders experiencing quite a rough ride. The ride was so bad that Americans and Britons would commonly refer to bicycles as "Bone-Shakers". The addition of solid rubber tyres went a great way towards improving the quality of the ride, and the Bone-Shaker tag disappeared into history.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Riding a bicycle was originally reserved for the daring young men in society. Bicycles were quite dangerous to ride, especially the high-wheeled versions, such as the Penny-Farthing. Although the high wheels allowed the rider to travel at greater speeds, it unfortunately meant that an accident could result in more serious injuries than a low wheeled bicycle. It wasn't until the late 1800's that cycling became a viable transport alternative for the masses, when the introduction of the "safety bicycle" making cycling a safe travel method.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">From that period, until the early 1900's became known as the "Golden Age of Bicycles". New bike designs now had equal sized wheels, and in addition to that, the front wheel was made steerable. The improved design and safety of bicycles was met with better performance features. A rear wheel drive chain allowed the bikes to go at greater speeds, while pneumatic tyres made the ride more comfortable. Mass production forced down costs, and cycling became popular throughout Europe and America for both transport and leisure.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">With its new found popularity in the early 20th century, the bicycle is considered by many to be one of the main reasons behind the changing dress standards of women. Their large dresses were too impractical and cumbersome for riding bicycles. The need to use bicycles for transport paved the way for a new line of less restrictive clothing, taking women from the old-style dresses, all the way to the <a href="http://www.seightcustom.com.au/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">team cycling clothes</a> of today.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.seightcustom.com.au/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">Team cycling clothing</a> hasn't been the only evolution over the last century, with the bicycles themselves eventually adopting features such as gears and advanced braking. Now models are made to suit different conditions, with BMX and mountain bikes being a couple of options off-road, with racing bikes customised for high speed on-road use. Considering the early bicycles had no pedals, it has certainly been an interesting progression over the years.</div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adam_C_Williams" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_C_Williams</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-92127132663865922262011-03-21T13:36:00.000-07:002011-05-04T23:37:08.285-07:00Bikes Continue to Outsell Cars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The new millennium has started off being the millennium of the bicycles in Australia. The first decade saw bikes outsell cars by over 2 million, with 2010 being no exception to the decade of dominance. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"></div><a name='more'></a>It wasn't just an overall win for bicycles in the bikes vs. cars war, but bicycles actually managed to outsell cars in each and every year since the calendar cracked 2000.<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Over 11.5 million bikes were sold in the first decade of the new millennium, and the 2010 figures were very close to the yearly average, with 1.3 million bikes being sold in Australia. This was a 12% increase over the previous year, and a massive 67% increase from the 2001 bicycle sale figures.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Figures released by the Australian government account for the increase in bike sales, which many observers believe will challenge the record bike sale levels seen back in 2007. The government report shows that 32% more people are choosing to ride a bike from the same time last year, which is welcome news for the Australian Bicycle Industry.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Even more positive is the wide range of reasons why people are choosing to get into cycling, with increasing numbers seen for categories such as fitness, recreation, transport, general health and sport. The decision to jump on a bike is also broadly based across the entire population, with cycling not being limited to the fast, fit or sporty type people.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">These figures are undoubtedly pleasing to the Australian government, who have been facing a crisis of sorts in regards to key transport issues. Back in 2005, it was estimated that $9 billion per year was the cost for lost productivity due to transport congestion, with it forecasted to reach $20 billion per year by the year 2020. Considering this, increased bike sales are definitely going to help the Australian economy, and some <a href="http://www.seightcustom.com.au/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">cheap cycle clothes</a> wouldn't go astray either.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The other immediate crisis facing the government is the obesity crisis, and and uptake in cycling by the general population would certainly help to tackle that problem. With bicycles having increasing benefits on the Australian economy, regardless of whether they are used for transport or fitness, the government is sure to continue its support of cycling initiatives.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The recent release of the National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016 by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport shows that it is the perfect time for the federal government to commit more funding to achieve its objectives. The aim of the National Cycling Strategy is to double the rate of cycling by 2016, and has thus far been signed by all federal, state and territory transport ministers across the country.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The federal government has also committed to the national AustCycle program which aims to encourage more Australians to acquire the skills they need to cycle safely. With these initiatives in place, and strong government financial support for cycling, we should once again expect bike sales to be greater than car sales throughout the decade ahead.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adam_C_Williams" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_C_Williams</a></div></td><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;"><br />
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<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">When you get your first new bike (whether it is a road or mountain bike), you know you are excited. You want to ride across the town and everywhere else with it. But have you given a thought about traffic and road laws? Bicycles are a type of transportation and a vehicular method too. That means you are also bound by road laws!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">As a cyclist, you are free to cycle to anywhere you want. But this does not mean all the roads are safe for you. Other vehicle operators might not care but you have to do your homework. You should avoid roads with blind corners. Roads with narrow shoulders should also be best avoided.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Often times, you will find the most beautiful and memorable rides along the seldom-used roads. Sure, nobody uses them but yet it is much safer for you. Find out about more of these roads as they are more likely to reside along beautiful scenery. But usually, big trucks or lorries might hog the road also. Therefore, always keep your eyes alert.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">When should your ride aggressively? The answer is most of the time. Usually, you would want to have better control over the road. This will keep you safe when cycling on roads with traffic. However, sometimes it pays to maintain a lower profile. One of your enemies will be motorists. Sometimes, if they do not give in, then there is no point in asserting control. Remember, your bike has a limited speed if compared to a two-wheel vehicle that is powered by an engine! Let the motorist go in front ahead of you and you have earned yourself a clear path.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Sometimes, the number of cyclists on the road is not many. Therefore other vehicles like cars and motorcycles do not expect to see cyclists on the road as well. Even if they see a cyclist on the road, their brain might de-register the thought and think you are not there! This the main reason for bike and car accidents to happen. Car owners claimed that they did not see the cyclist!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Therefore, the smarter way to cycle on the road is to get noticed. Wear jerseys that are bright in color and illuminate at night. Be sure to spend extra money to fix the blinking lights for night riding. Try not to break the road laws. An example of this would be going against the traffic.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">You should also always ride in a single bee line or a single file. Every cyclists know that it is more fun to cycle side by side with your cycling buddies. But you have to be rational enough to know that it is not safe to do.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Now that you know how to ride on the road safely, take the time to read about <a href="http://www.menscyclingshorts.org/" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">mens cycling shorts</a> and find out about <a href="http://www.menscyclingshorts.org/Descente-Cycling-Shorts.html" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">descente cycling shorts</a>.</div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Freddy_R._Johnson" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freddy_R._Johnson</a></span></div></td></tr>
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</div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-9836475055566249072011-03-12T13:12:00.000-08:002011-05-01T13:12:37.539-07:00Want to try this. Did anyone before?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qfEheW4Dtms?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-52688811144763508082011-03-01T01:10:00.000-08:002011-05-01T13:11:03.046-07:00Ride Safe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px;">Both hobby cyclists and professional cyclists will find that bike lights can be very helpful. They serve a great number of functional purposes, including letting motorists know that you are on the road and showing you where you are going. You will find that there are several different bicycle lights available, so you want to choose the bike light that best fits your needs and your riding style.</span><br />
You can find quite a large variety of bike lights that are both durable and dependable at online bicycle equipment stores and shops. They can help you find the right bike light that will fit your needs. The prices are comparable to brick and mortar stores and shipping is fast. You will probably get your lights within a week or so after you place your order.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Another place that you may want to look for your safety bike lights is at your local bicycle dealer. Their prices may be a little higher, but if you are not sure what you want, you may prefer seeing the lights in person so that you can make a better informed decision. The salesman at your local bike dealer can help you find the bike lights that are right for your particular bike riding and functional needs.<br />
There are thousands of people that enjoy the thrilling, heart-pounding sport of mountain biking. Some riders enjoy riding down those mountains at night and adding bike lights can help them to make it safer and more enjoyable. One long-lasting and durable type of light that you may want to consider is the LED light. It will last you for many rides to come.<br />
The protection of the bicyclist is the main reason that bike lights were designed. Mountain bikes can be sued for many different purposes, including transportation around time and for other recreational uses. There are some kids who even ride mountain bikes back and forth to school and the lights will help them to be safer while riding. This can keep them safe and help decrease your worry.<br />
Due to the huge popularity in bicycle, it should not be difficult to find accessories, including bike lights, for your bike. You can find a plethora of different online shops that can offer you a varied choice in bicycle lights. This is wonderful is you have some kind of idea concerning what you need and want, but if you don't, then you may want to stick with a local bicycle shop or email the online store so that you get some help.<br />
There is a large price range in lights for your mountain bike. They start at around $25 for bulkier lights and the price increases the lighter and more advanced that they are up to about $500. Your functional needs and riding commitment will have a huge impact on the amount of money that you will want to spend on this accessory. If you only ride your bike casually, then you may want to choose a less expensive light, but if you ride your bike seriously, then you will want to spend a little more.<br />
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</div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-60076724944681416172011-02-01T12:31:00.000-08:002011-05-01T12:31:48.384-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-q3zbf6Ve0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-14375122034192976742011-01-30T13:01:00.000-08:002011-05-01T13:02:42.628-07:00What to Look for When Buying a Mountain Bike<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Mountain biking is an exhilarating sport, which involves riding a bicycle off the road and over rough terrains. If you are a beginner and want to buy a mountain bike, it is worth to look for some important things.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Budget</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The first and foremost thing to be considered before buying a mountain bike is your budget. Mountain bikes for beginners are available for a price, ranging £155 to £200. High end mountain bikes cost more. You can first determine your budget and then start searching for a bike in the market. If you are on tight budget, you can go for mountain bikes available in a local bike shop rather than buying from a reputable store. If budget is not at all a concern, you can buy the best full suspension bike available in the market.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Style of riding</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Once you have narrowed down your search by fixing budget, you can find out which type of mountain bike you want. <strong>Mountain bikes</strong> are designed for various riding styles and terrains. There are specific bikes for smooth trail riding, mountain cruising and cross country racing. It is worth to ensure whether the type of bike you want to choose will fit your riding style and the terrain you will ride over.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Upgradable parts</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">It is advisable to check whether the parts of the mountain bike can be upgraded in the future. As a beginner, you will find a basic bike better to get started with. When you improve your skills, you need more and more additional bike parts. Your bike should allow you to upgrade the parts.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Frame size</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Frame size is one of the important things to be considered while buying a mountain bike. The frame of a mountain bike is much smaller than that of a road bike. Always choose a bike with a frame that is three inches smaller than your standard road bike. This helps you ride your bike comfortably.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Brakes</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">It is crucial to check the brakes of the bike before buying it. If the bike has V brakes, you need to check the alignment of the pads. It is important to ensure whether you are able to lock the wheels using two fingers. The brake pads should not touch the rims when it rotates. Both the pads should be adjusted to have equal distance from the rim.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Wheels</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Wheels are yet another important feature of the bike to be considered before making a decision. The distance between the two stays should be constant. If it is not constant, you can confirm that the alignment is not ok. It is also worth to check the tyres.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Saddle compatibility</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The type of saddle determines your efficiency and comfort and is one of the essential things to be looked for in a mountain bike. As you will sit on it for hours while going out for a ride, you need to choose the right type of saddle. If you are a woman cyclist, you need to choose a saddle that is specially made for women. Saddles for women are wider and offer extra support. Choosing a high quality mountain bike after considering all these aspects can help you enjoy improved performance and safety.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">A huge range of mountain bikes by top brands are now available online by cycling product specialists. Just visit <a href="http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">www.WestbrookCycles.co.uk</a> for quality products at fantastic prices.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Westbrook Cycles is situated in Stokesley North Yorkshire,This is the ideal base to explore the fantastic scenery and diversity of terrain the North Yorkshire moors offer.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">All our staff love to get out cycling on and offroad - and with this experience we carefully hand pick all of our bikes and accessories to suit. Whatever stage you are at in cycling, Westbrook Cycles will find that perfect bike or accessory that suits you, your style of riding, and your budget.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Our mechanics also play a vital role in the quality of the finished product that you purchase. Their love of bicycles shows in the pride they take in assembling and servicing your bike - and not just the ones we sell. So whether it's a minor tune-up or a major overhaul, you can count on us to do the job right.</div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Luke_Raper" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Rape</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-84479836477427278102011-01-20T09:54:00.000-08:002011-05-01T13:03:04.247-07:00Can Good Mountain Biking Shoes Make A Difference?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Professionals in any field use the best tools available in order to do their jobs as well as possible. Having the best tool available means you can get the job done right every time even though you could do the job passably with a lower quality tool. No questions, no slips, no failures. The best tool for the job will be the tool you can rely on time and time again. You will definitely want the best tools if you are either a professional athlete or just simply want compete at the highest level possible. And if your sport is mountain biking, that includes every part of your bike, your helmet and even your mountain biking shoes.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">You invest in the best frame because it will give you a competitive edge. You'll get a competitive edge by investing in the best gears. You get a competitive edge by investing in the best tires. If you make the same investment in quality when it comes to your shoes, you could have another competitive edge. Your competitors are making that investment which would give them the competitive edge over you if you don't. You will be well served investing the same amount of time educating yourself about biking shoes as you have educating yourself about the best equipment.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">There are mountain biking shoes and road bike shoes that are designed specifically for professional cyclists. They not only have the advantages that the usual tennis shoe/sport shoe don't have, but they are also comfortable. The lacing system is the main difference between them. Just think about how often you have to readjust your laces, untying and retying them to make them fit right on your feet and you will understand why it's important. Ordinary lacing systems stretch and are affected by water and if dirt or other debris gets in them, that affects your performance.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Shoes with a single line, locking lacing system aren't affected by anything. Using a stainless steel lace that tightens the entire shoe evenly with a single point adjustment wheel that locks until you release it means your shoe doesn't need adjustment. Once you get the athletic shoe laces tightened where you want them, they stays until you're ready to take the shoe off. No adjustments, no stretching or shrinking, no changes due to weather or getting wet. Once and done and you're good to go. Check out your shoes and see if you can't do a bit better so you can have one more edge over your competition.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">To help make your adventure the best it can be, have the right <a href="http://www.boatechnology.com/products/sport/cycling_%5Bslash%5D_mountain_biking" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">mountain biking shoes</a> and laces as an essential part of your gear. Scott Duglase loves all things outdoors and he knows that to keep on track, having the best <a href="http://www.boatechnology.com/products/sport/running" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">athletic shoe laces</a> for any occasion is key.</div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Scott_Duglase" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Duglase</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-77827978056256628212011-01-06T11:44:00.000-08:002011-05-01T13:02:23.361-07:00A Beginner's Guide for Buying Mountain Bikes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">There are a lot of things you should need to consider if you are planning to purchase mountain bikes. Selecting the kind of mountain bikes and how you are going to use them are not the only factors you'll need to consider. Some mountain bikers prefer rocky roads and trails while others would choose biking in paved roads. Enthusiastic bikers correlate the kind of riding they do with their mountain bikes. Also several bike parts need to be considered including the bike's tires, forks, saddle and etc. However, let's assume that you want something which is neither too expensive nor too cheap.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Since you are a starter and aren't sure what are the right things to do and of course you want a decent bike that will make you happy, here are some of the guidelines that you might need to follow.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The Type of Bike You Should Get...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">If you want to begin off-road riding, you need to look for a bike that have front suspension only or a rigid type that have no suspension fork. Buying an excellent full suspension bike is too costly to be regarded as a starter bike. A rigid bike is the best choice if riding on paved surfaces.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Recognize the Bike Quality...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">You have a tight budget and you need to buy the best bike you can afford with your money. If you're hesitant what to watch for, you could be giving a wrong impression by features that seem to make mountain bikes better. Here are what to look for in your bike search.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Consider the Frame...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">You should get the best frame as you can within reason. There is no need to spend too much on a frame alone but you should not be contemplating a cheap frame. Don't buy a bike that has any part made of hi-ten steel, whether in the main frame or in the fork. Although there are different sorts of aluminum, there's not much to distinguish them at this price range.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Suspension Fork...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">If you want a suspension fork, then you need to know which one is the best. Moreover, sad to say but the more expensive the forks are, the better the quality it has. There are a lot of fork variety materials and internal building and it's always changing all the time. You can look for the best forks through magazines so get the best and the most affordable for your budget.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Wheels...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">While the frame is the heart of the bike, the wheels are what make a bicycle! Most MTB wheels look similar, but when you get into the details, you'll find the difference between wheels that will fall apart after one month compared to the ones that will keep spinning happily until you finally wear out the rims through braking.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">As time goes by, prices continue to go down but selection decreases as well. You can buy mountain bikes from your local shop. At least a shop that is not too far away so you can go back anytime if ever you have any problem with the bike.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Generally, these are just a few things to consider for in purchasing your mountain bike. Purchase the kind of bike which you enjoyed riding the most. Hopefully this will be a help for you someday whenever you want to start riding mountain bikes.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Require additional information concerning this article, try the webpage <a href="http://www.jims-bikes.com/" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">Mountain Bikes</a>, <a href="http://www.jims-bikes.com/" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">Bike Shop Pompano Beach</a></div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Richard_McWhilly" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_McWhilly</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-61913467903020282322011-01-04T11:41:00.000-08:002011-05-01T11:41:38.668-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NV6sn8WUvv4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474124418156157796.post-7597472206061978492011-01-04T11:40:00.000-08:002011-05-01T13:01:57.574-07:00Types of Mountain Bikes: Tips for Choosing the Best<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div id="body"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Before buying a mountain bike, think about what type of riding you are planning to do. Are you into mostly smooth hardpack with little obstacles or bumpy technical singletrack with lots of rocks and logs? Do you want to do drops and jumps with your bicycle? Are you planning to race or use the bike for recreational riding? Once you figure out what type of riding you will be doing, you can narrow your focus to what type of bike you want.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>1. Hardtail vs. Full Suspension</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Hardtail Mountain Bikes:</strong> Hardtails have suspension in the front fork, but not in the rear of the bike. They are good for racing and climbing because they are lighter and more efficient than full suspension mountain bikes. Hardtails perform well on smooth hardpack, but on more bumpy and technical terrain, they do not perform as well or are as comfortable as a full suspension. In general, hardtails are less expensive than full suspension bikes.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Full Suspension Mountain Bikes:</strong> Full suspension bikes have suspension in the front fork and in the frame of the bike. They perform better and are more comfortable on technical terrain because they absorb bumps better than hardtail bikes. Full suspension bikes come in a variety of options that range in price, weight, amount of suspension, and components.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>2. How much suspension do you need?:</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Full suspension bikes come in several different categories:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Cross Country Race:</strong> Lightest in weight. Usually around 100 mm of suspension. Best for racing and climbing.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Cross Country Trail/Marathon:</strong> A little heavier than cross country race bikes, usually having 120-140 mm of suspension. Better for more epic rides because more comfortable. Increasingly more lightweight options in this category available for more cost, which make them a good bike for longer races.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>All Mountain/Enduro:</strong> Burlier and heavier than cross country bikes, often having around 140-160 mm of suspension. Harder to climb with them, but great for more gnarly downhill riding.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Freeride Bikes:</strong> Burlier and heavier than all mountain, usually equipped with 160-180 mm of suspension. Great for technical stunts, jumps, and drops. Not good for climbing.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Downhill Bikes:</strong> The burliest and heaviest type of mountain bike, often having 180-220 mm of suspension. Made for taking up a lift or shuttle and riding downhill fast and furious. Can handle drops of several feet. Not made for climbing.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><strong>3. 26 Inch vs 29 Inch Wheels:</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Traditionally, mountain bikes have had wheels that are 26 inches in diameter. More recently, 29er mountain bikes have entered the market. 29ers have wheels that are 29 inches in diameter. There are many advantages of this larger wheel size, but it may not be the right choice for everyone.</div></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;" valign="top"><div class="sig" id="sig" style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">For more information on different types of mountain bikes and how to choose a bike, please visit our page on <a href="http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/types-of-mountain-bikes.html" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/types-of-mountain-bikes.html</a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Mary Blomquist is a mountain biking enthusiast who lives in Colorado and is the founder of <a href="http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/</a>, a site that is full of information and tips for mountain bikers and includes a free eBook on riding techniques.</div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mary_Blomquist" style="color: #1900ff; text-decoration: underline;">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Blomquist</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193870585918014846noreply@blogger.com0