Alastair Hamilton asked:


Even if there are no mountains where you live, it can make sense to buy a mountain bike, just because of the security they provide, even in urban areas. And there’s always the chance of a weekend ride in the country.

If you’re a bicycle enthusiast, but have only tried cycling on the road, it’s time you gave mountain biking a try. By mountain biking, I mean more than heading down an actual mountain - although that what most people think about when they hear the phrase “Mountain biking.”

However, mountain bikes - light bikes with fat tires and front suspension - make it easy to go cross country riding as well.

So even if you live in an area that has no mountains - get yourself a mountain bike anyway! Those fat tires make for a nice ride - and as long as they’re properly inflated they can go almost as fast as the thinner tires of road bikes, but you don’t need to worry about going up curbs or down curbs.

There are three styles of mountain biking - the one everyone thinks of which is downhill riding, free riding, and cross country. If you’re a professional cyclist or a dedicated amateur you’ll want to buy a bike specifically designed for each style, but if you’re a casual cyclist who’ll want to try one style one weekend and a different style the next, any good mountain bike will do.

Most people will buy a brand new tool whenever they take up a brand new hobby. This is a mistake. Examine yourself. Have you done this in the past - decided on a hobby, bought all the equipment, used it once - then stored it in your garage and never used it again?

So, if possible, rent a bike first - indeed, in so doing you’ll be able to try out quite a few bikes and decide on which one you’d like to buy. Make sure that the people renting you the bikes have taken proper care of them, of course, and that they’re not just “beaters.”

Are you a beginner?

If there’s any mountain biking in your area, chances are there’ll be a club or two, which will cater to beginners. The best thing to do is seek out your local bike shop. Anyone there can tell you what goes on in your area. In addition, most bike shops will have racks featuring the brochures of local clubs, and bike maps of the local trails, for free.

Practice makes perfect

If you’re not in shape - you can get in shape with mountain biking… if you make a concentrated effort to do so. Set yourself goals of miles to ride each day. If you don’t have the time to ride an hour or so everyday, but if you have a steep hill near your home, you can always spend ten minutes or so doing wind sprints up and down that hill. This will increase your stamina and strengthen your leg muscles no end. (Make sure you check with your doctor to make sure you have no health problems that would limit vigorous exercise.)

Don’t get on a bike and then find the toughest trail and through yourself down it. Start with beginning trails and work on your skills for a while.

Staying safe

Riders fall. Face it - it’s going to happen. So the most important piece of equipment you have, after a good bike - is a good helmet. Never buy a used helmet - you don’t know what’s happened to it. Also of use to the mountain biker are goggles or other eye protection, elbow and knee pads, and good shoes. Always carry a few dollars and some change in a pocket so you can call for help if need be, and make sure you have identification on you at all times. (That last bit of advice is good for any type of biking, or jogging, come to that!) Always be prepared for the worst to happen, and then it [probably] never will.



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Robert Sheehan asked:


You are a biking champ - ruler of the vast mountain trails. But your fame will become dull if you don’t understand the various parts of your mean machine. So to become a complete champ it is necessary to enhance your knowledge about different mountain bike parts.

The Basic Parts Of A Mountain Bike

The Frame

The frame of a mountain bike is smaller than that of a road bike. But the angle is very relaxing for the rider so that he can maneuver the bike with skillful agility over different grounds. Mountain bike manufacturers build bikes, which are gender specific. So while you buy a bike be sure to get the right sizing.

The Handlebars

The handlebars of a mountain bike are flat, usually as wide as the rider’s shoulders. However, depending on the rider’s preference it could be narrower or wider. Riser bars are fast becoming popular as it looks attractive and gives the riders a more upright position. You can add bar ends to the handlebars, which will allow more hand positions and give more comfort to the rider.

Bike Crank And Derailleur

A crank is connected to the bottom bracket of the frame with pedals attached to the tip of each crank. Crank has chainrings attached to it. The gear and chainrings are outfitted with derailleurs. The derailleurs, using the shifters that are placed at the handlebars, derail one gear to the other and the chain from one chainring to the other. The finer the quality of the derailleur the more exact the shifting will be.

Shifters

Shifters activate the front and rear derailleurs setting off the motion of the chain from one gear to the other.

Three basic types of shifters are:

1. Thumb Shifter: These are the most basic shifters that are fastened on top of handlebars and are operated by a push and pull of the thumb and the index finger respectively.

2. Rapid Fire Shifters: Rapid-fire shifters are generally fixed at the bottom of the handlebar and are activated by a two push buttons. For newer models a push and pull lever is used.

3. Grip Shifters: A grip shifter acts like a motorcycle throttle. To shift up to a lighter gear you have to turn the grip shift for the rear derailleur inwards. And to shift down to a heavier gear turn the grip shift outward.

Gear

Mountain bikes are meant to stomp on Steep Mountain trails and are usually equipped with outstanding gear ratios. The most popular one is the 36×34, which the mountain biker christens as “granny” gear. With this gear, you can trudge steep hills at a high tempo.

Brakes

Today’s mountain bikes have passed the stage of coaster brakes. Today the “V” brakes or the linear pull-type brakes are regular in mountain bikes. You can have Disk Brakes for high-end mountain bikes. Disk Brakes are highly proficient, as its feat does not get clogged by water or mud. You must keep your timing intact for a good braking performance.

Pedals

The mountain bike riders use two types of pedals. One is the toe clip, which can be made up of metal or plastic and is compatible with any kind of rubber shoe. The second type is the clipless pedal for which the biker has to wear a special kind of shoe. Clipless pedals raise the transfer of power from the rider to the bike.

Saddle

A saddle is necessary for your comfort while you chomp your way through a rugged ride. Make your seat comfortable with a perfect saddle for you.

Wheels and Tires

There are plenty of wheel sets in the market, which will ensure high performance. Mostly these wheels are durable and light but before buying a wheel keep in mind the safety factor.

Tires are the most important parts of the mountain bike. They should have a good grip for a smooth experience. A bad tire can sour up your whole journey ending it up in some gutter.

Suspension System

Today the suspension system has become essential for a mountain bike and with improved technology, suspensions are now cheaper and simpler to handle. This is evident in fork suspension system of hardtail mountain bikes.

Knowing about the components of a mountain bike will make your bike live long and healthy always ready for a rousing journey.



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Robert Sheehan asked:


If biking is your passion then you must be one of those individuals who are fussy about their machines. Chances are that the convenience and the comfort levels of your bike matter a lot to you. If this be so, then go in for the folding bikes. And in particular, the Dahon folding bikes should be your choice.

What Are Folding Bikes?

Folding bikes are bicycles with a lot of hinges and joints that can be folded up to trim the size of the bike. And with the bicycle frame brought down to a manageably wieldy size, you can carry it around in public transport; have it stashed away in your car or in some corner of your apartment. Folding bikes also do not require much of a parking space, making it easy for you to travel with it.

Folding Bikes From Dahon

Dahon is a name to reckon within the bicycle manufacturing world and the leader in the production of folding bikes. In fact, this Los Angeles-based company is a trailblazer of sorts when it comes to folding bike technology.

The company has perfected the technology and the fact that it has till now sold more than 2 million of these bikes in more than 30 countries is ample testimony to its expertise.

Dahon is never short on ideas when it comes to folding bikes. It has several innovative and groundbreaking bike models to its credit, all hugely popular amongst the biking fanatics.

For instance, you have the Allegro make that has its frame modeled upon the famous Ritchey Logic frame. And you can be rest assured about the quality of the machine because the frame is hand-welded from the Italian-made Ritchey WCS steel tubing. However, the prime allure of this Dahon make is the fact that it can be bundled into a small suitcase in only about 10-15 minutes.

The very popular Ciao P5 folding bike from Dahon is a bikers delight, and especially the rookies, people with back or leg injuries and women wearing flowing dresses.

This stylish bike comes with an assortment of bells and whistles like the Hella lighting system to help you in the dark; SKS mud guards to ensure that the ride does not turn out to be too muddy and also an ArcLight rack to hold your paraphernalia.

Dahon has broken all myths regarding the folding bikes being fragile with its Fuego model. When folded, this pint-sized dynamite is basically a full suspension MTB designed to suit the demands of pro-standard Marathon/Enduro riding. This is a robust bike featuring a double-butted 7005 aluminum frame that also incorporates 4-4.5 inches of front and rear travel suspension, the Patented Interlock Joint Technology and the legendary Joe Murray LSR linkage technology and Threshold Linkage Design. Furthermore, the whole ensemble, elaborate though it may sound, can be packed into an airline suitcase.

Why Go In For A Dahon Folding Bike?

Amidst the plethora of brands jostling for your attention in the market, Dahon has been pretty quick to win the favors from the bikers. And for all the right reasons too.

A constant strive towards perfection and development has meant that Dahon goes in for an extensive R&D regime. It is thus no wonder that the Dahon folding bike comes in so many different forms and designs, all of them rivaling and most times surpassing the best in the market.

Still harping on this issue, Dahon is a trendsetter of sorts, with more than 95% of the currently prevalent folding bike technology being along the lines of the Dahon technology.

Quality is the hallmark of all Dahon bikes. This is because the bike parts are obtained from the very best manufacturers all around the world.

Go in for a Dahon folding bike. You can bask in the thought that you will be taking convenience and comfort along with you in your ride.



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