MTB Parts (2)

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.

MTB Parts (1)

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 36x34, 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.

Bike Trek

If you wrote down a list of what your perfect vacation would be like, it could well be that “visit somewhere exotic”, “get close to nature”, “do something out of the ordinary” and “keep in shape” may feature on the list. One activity/tour that can combine all these features is a bike trek.

Bike treks are pretty much self-explanatory. You go on a tour using a mountain bike as transport, carrying your luggage on your back and/or in saddlebags. Some people like to “rough it” during bike tracks, tenting and cooking over camp stoves, but others prefer to alternate the hard physical activity of bike treks with staying in comfortable hotels and eating at restaurants. When it comes to bike treks, the choice is yours.

Exactly where and how your bike trek takes you are up to you. Bike treks can be wild or mild, depending on what level of challenge you want. You may prefer bike treks that keep to the tarmac and are a more pleasant and leisurely way of touring than taking a tour bus. But on the other hand, you may prefer bike treks that go off road or on specially designed mountain bike trails in extreme places. But around the world, you are bound to find bike treks that suit your preferences.

The milder types of bike treks tend to keep to the sealed roads and travel over rolling or flat country. This is an excellent way to visit a country, as you get to see the local surroundings and landscape up close. There’s an old saying that “galloping horsemen see no flowers”, and bike treks allow sightseers to appreciate little details in a way that car or bus tours can’t. Bike treks in Ireland are popular “mild to moderate” bike treks, where cyclists can traverse the rolling downs, visit old Celtic ruins and enjoy the hospitality of traditional Irish pubs.

But for those who like more of a challenge, the world has plenty of places that really put the “mountain” in mountain bike treks. Pick a mountain range. Pick a country. You’re sure to find bike trek operators offering a package deal to those wanting the challenge of a mountain bike trek.

Popular destinations for the more extreme bike treks usually head for the highest mountain ranges on the planet. The Andes in Peru and Bolivia are popular destinations, taking bike treks, following the Inca Trail or travelling from the coastal/desert conditions on the western side of the Andes to the Amazon jungle to the east. Other popular bike treks that offer a real challenge take place in the Himalayas – some supported bike treks guiding you through the awesome epic of biking to Mt Everest’s Base Camp.

Some countries offer a combination of wild and mild bike treks. New Zealand, for example, has the gentler “top to bottom” bike treks that go along the main road from the north of the country to the south, with a brief ferry trip in between islands. These bike treks tend to be over rolling or medium-steep terrain. But the east-to-west journey, especially in the South Island, sees bike treks that cross the Southern Alps. Can you do the coast-to-coast bike trek in one day? It’s possible…

Wherever you go in the world and whatever your fitness level, you will be able to find bike treks that suit you.

MTB Adventures

Mountain Biking is a sport of endurance, skills and self-reliance. From a back yard to a gravel road, from country sides to mountain slopes, fire roads to the thrills of biking down narrow tracks through forests, mountains, deserts – mountain biking offers incomparable thrills and fun.

There are aspects of mountain biking that are more similar to trail running than regular bicycling. Because riders are often far from civilization, there is a strong ethic of self-reliance in the sport. Riders learn to repair their broken bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded miles from help. This reliance on survival skills accounts for the group dynamics of the sport. Club rides and other forms of group rides are common, especially on longer treks.

Mountain Biking entails the sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, whether riding specially equipped mountain bikes or hybrid road bikes. Most mountain bikes share similar characteristics that underscore durability and performance in rough terrain: wide, knobby tires, large, round frame tubing, front fork or dual suspension .The durability factor means a far heavier bicycle weight to rider ratio than their road touring cousins.

Mountain Biking in Kerala

Mountain Biking in Kerala works as a pretty good adventure experience for those who love to explore the unbeaten tracks and not so frequently visited paths. Mountain biking amongst the majestic backdrop of the great mountains of Kerala is an unforgettable and thrilling experience. The opportunity of mountain biking in Kerala is from the Munnar, Thenmala and many other places. The training of mountain biking adventurous sport is available.

Those travellers who want to travel differently for them the mountain biking at Kerala is undoubtedly one of the safest and the most enchanting ways to tour Kerala. It has its own advantages; you don't have to be an avid mountain biker to go for biking in different places of Kerala. More than just the excitement of biking you can be delighted by the beautiful whistle of a hill myna or by the amicable smile of a villager.

Each ride is a display of personal expression. There is the gonzo daredevil who rides for the adrenaline rush of speed and danger. Then there is the more careful rider who takes time to enjoy the scenery. Mountain biking in India is famous at Kerala.

Mountain biking in Kerala is a sensory experience like none other. You must concentrate on the intricacies of the terrain. Your hearing becomes fine-tuned to approaching streams, animals or rock slides. As you adjust your speed, you pick up the scent of a cluster of pine trees or a field of grass. In fact, you may even taste honeysuckle carried by the wind. Kerala adventure mountain biking is popular.

Every bike riders riding kit will have all equipment, to enjoy a safe and fun ride. Only keep those things that you are going to use in your riding expedition. Among the essentials that you will require in your mountain bike trip is a first aid box and a basic bike repairs.

Must have items for short riding trips include wrenches for all the nuts and bolts on the bike, tire levers, pump, patch kit/tubes, chain tool, crescent wrench, zip ties, duct tape and a small first aid kit. For long rides also add up things such as cables, brake pads, food, water, a bigger first aid kit, crank remover, spare spokes, casette remover, and extra clothing. To carry these items, you can use a jersey pockets or bike bags.

Mountain Biker Skills (Begineer)

Skills For The Beginning Mountain Biker
by: Alastair Hamilton

Mountain biking is a fun sport but it is also dangerous. However, participants can lesson their chances of injury by taking a few precautions. First off, of course, they should have the necessary skills before even getting on the mountain.

Practically anyone can get on a bike and ride around their neighborhood, go across flat countryside or ride up and down hills, but when it comes to mountain biking, the rider should have certain skills before giving it a try.

Depending on how long you've ridden your bike, it's quite possible that you do have these skills - so let's just run through them.

1) Feel the pedals

Are you used to keeping your feet on your pedals at all times? Of course you are. But when you're mountain biking (or doing stunts), feet come off the pedals... and have to be able to find them again without hesitation.

So practice taking your feet off the pedals and replacing them...this will instill "muscle memory" so your feet always will know where the pedals should be at any given time.

2) Shift the gears

If you live in a flat area, you probably don't do a lot of gear shifting. This will change when you get on the slopes, so find yourself a hill near your home and practicing shifting as you go both up and down. Also, if you get tired just biking up a regular-sized hill, you'll want to do some wind sprints up that same hill for a couple of weeks before you decide to take on a mountain.

3) Stand up for yourself

Most people sit on their bikes while they ride, but again, on a mountain bike you don't have that luxury. You'll be off your seat more often than not. So practice coasting along while standing, and then pedaling while standing....and don't do it for just a few yards and then stop.

4) Before you go hurtling down

Mountain biking is a dangerous sport, and you should always wear a helmet, and knee and elbow pads. And when you're practicing going over curbs - the same should apply.

You want to practice going up and over curbs to get the feel of doing it on a hill. You know your own bike best - exactly how high can an obstruction be before you can't go over it with your bike? Probably about six inches.

Going off a curb is another thing entirely. As long as you have good balance and strong hands to keep your front tire straight, you can get quite a bit of "air" before hitting the ground again - but you need to know the ground you'll be landing on to ensure that there's no obstructions that will get in your way. So always ride a downhill trail relatively slowly the first time, before you go full out.

But back to practicing. Check out the curbs in your neighborhood, and - while wearing your safety gear and making sure there's no traffic in the area - practice going over them at different speeds. If all the curbs are of the same height, you'll have to increase them using man-made objects such as ramps. However... you learned to crawl before you could walk, and by the same token, become very comfortable on those short curbs before you try to increase the height and air of your jumps, and always wear your safety gear while you do it.

There's no need to be impatient. Work on your skills first, then tackle a beginners mountain biking trail or two to perfect your skills even more. Once you've got the skills, mountain biking will be a breeze!

MOUNTAIN BIKE

Mountain Bikes
by: James Brown

Mountain biking is so much more than a mere sport. It is an enriching experience in itself. Along with great exercise for you comes the added element of visual gratification if you are riding your bike across scenic wooded paths. It gives you the pleasure of knowing that you are doing something good for your body while immensely enjoying the activity. It comes as little surprise thus that mountain bikes are always so much in demand. And the technology with which these mountain bikes are being made nowadays is becoming more and more advanced. The quality is always improving and the extreme competitiveness in this segment makes sure nothing is compromised in the production of these mountain bikes.

A mountain bike is also known as an ATB or an All Terrain Bicycle. These are meant for rough use on rugged roads and built much more sturdily compared to the normal bicycles. Depending on the suspension, mountain bikes can be mainly categorized into hard tail, soft tail and dual suspension bikes. The speed of these bikes will also vary as they come with different speeds with the most common ones being 21 speed and 24 speed. There are also bikes that have 27 speed or 30 speed.

As the technology used in producing mountain bikes has seen several progressive changes over the years, it has in turn been becoming increasingly possible to ride these bikes on rougher and rougher terrain. And that is just one reason why they are called All Terrain Bicycles in the first place.

Another unique feature in the mountain bikes that separate them from the normal every day bikes are their tires. The first thing that you would notice is that mountain bikes have much fatter tires. Given their bigger size, these tires are afforded far more durability on rough roads or mountainous paths than their normal counterparts. Mountain bikes normally have wheels that are 26 inches thick but other sizes are also commonly used like 21 inch wheels.

A lot of modern mountain bikes also come equipped with disc brakes. These have proven to be of significant assistance especially to mountain bikers who are participating in a race or a rally. These disc brakes give you the option of braking fast and the strength of their braking is also quite powerful compared to the mechanical brakes. All in all, whether it is for the racing professionals or casual office-goers looking for some exercise, a good mountain bike could be a very smart purchase.

Mountain Bike is a Sport to Some

Mountain Biking is a Sport to Some

Author: David Marc Fisman

Regular bikes compared to mountain bike may have a smoother ride and are slower and heavier but are great for riding on the street. You can find information about mountain biking online or in magazines; they are geared toward beginners or professionals. Mountain biking is not really thought of as exercising but it is a great way to burn many calories.

If your interested are off-road you will need bike that can handle the terrain so you will need some big treads and a good suspension to handle the bumps and holes so get a good mountain bike, if you are just riding for fun then a regular bike will do. There are so many different styles of mountain bikes so when you are looking to purchase one make sure it fits the terrain you will be taking it on and make sure it fits your riding style. If you are going to be rough on your bike and plan on going through gravel, dirt and jumping off hills you definitely need a mountain bike.

The chassis on a mountain bike is sometimes referred to as the skeleton, this is a term that refers to the fork, frame and suspension and is looked at as one unit. Mountain bikes are equipped with knobby tires, large number of gears and handle bars that are wider; they also include shocks and a much stronger suspension. You can choose from many different suspensions on your bike, make sure the suspension you choose is going to fit the type of cycling you intend for it. These used to be the most common kind of mountain bike but they are rapidly being replaced by the more comfortable models which feature some sort of suspension system. They have had front suspension on bikes for a while now; the rear suspensions have just come into the market place, it took longer because of all of the design complexities.

Of course, there are many other things to consider when purchasing a mountain bike, but for the beginner, it's best to just narrow it down to how much you want to spend and what kind of suspension you're going to want.

If you want to ride your mountain bikes look for trails that are suited for mountain bikes. If you don't have any trails or jumps, you can build them.

When you first try the toe clip style of pedal you might want to spend some time getting use to it, it will take some practice. Getting a feel for your pedals while first sitting on your bike, keep one foot on the ground and practice moving your foot away from the pedal.

If you have clip less foot pedals or toe clips, you will want to practice this quite a bit. Turn your bike upside down, move the pedals and shift gears. The pedals can also use a regular application of lubricant.

The purchase of your helmet should be at least as important as buying your bike. About 90 percent of the people riding can reduce head trauma just by wearing a helmet. Cost shouldn't be a factor as a good helmet can be acquired for around $25-$45.

9 Types Of Mountain Bike

Nine Types Of Mountain Biking

Author: Alastair Hamilton

Did you know that there are nine categories that mountain biking can be split into? Each category offers the rider a different experience either as a hobby or as a sport. The different mountain bike reviews are broken down into these categories:

1. Dirt Jumping

This style of mountain biking is known for the high jumps over man made dirt hills. While in the air, tricks are done on the bike. Six or more jumps are usually d

one in one run and the jumps are close together so that the biker can get a flow going with their trick riding.

2. Cross country

In this style of mountain biking, y

ou ride your bike up and down hills. It is not the most extreme form in the mountain biking world, but most of this type of ride is in great shape due to the long rides.

3. Cyclo cross

This bike category is a cross between mountain and road biking. The riders learn how to race on and off the course, ride obstacles, and go through rivers.

4. Downhill Biking

Racing downhill the fastest is the goal of downhill mountain bikers. The name of the game is extreme and intense riding, to help give the riders maximum excitement and thrills.

5. BMX
This style of mountain biking uses 20-inch wheels. You can very commonly see this kind of bikes at skate parks or areas with dirt jumps. These BMX bikes are made for performing tricks and doing stunts because they have a shorter wheel base and smaller wheels.

6. Trials
The bicycles used in trials do not look anything like mountain bikes. They have 20 or 26-inch wheels and they have smaller, lower frames than mountain bikes. In trials, riders jump their bikes over different obstacles. This kind of biking takes a great deal of practice, focus, and balance.

7. Freeride Biking

This type of mountain biking involves finding a path down the side of the mountain where you can use all of the terrain to do tricks, stunts, etc. This is a very popular competition, because the riders can express themselves.

8. Street and Urban Biking
Manmade obstacles, ledges, and other urban areas are what this type of biking revolves around. They will do great stunts and tricks on these manmade items, too, including grinds and stalls.

9. Single Speed
This kind of biking is done on a bicycle with only one gear and few other components. This is not to be confused with a fixed gear bicycle. The basis behind this kind of biking is simplicity. This helps the pedaling to be more efficient and the bicycle is lighter and has fewer problems mechanically.

MTB For Beginners

Author: Don

Learning about mountain bike for beginner is simply like kids learn how to ride a bike. This article will help you describes the basics of mountain bike and how to enjoy it.

Why called MTB or mountain bike ? Well, like Road race bike which ride on roadway, Mountain bike as the name also ride on mountain, now days mountain bike is also popular ride on another field like village, beach, forest even on road track.

Mountain bikes are among the strongest and most rugged bicycles that you can find. The reason that these bikes are so strong is that they are ridden on some very tough terrain, including steep inclines, dirt tracks, and pebbles. In most cases, bikers do not ride on smoothly paved roads, rather they ride on hilly and uneven terrain that can be quite rough on a bicycle. Mountain bikers get a big thrill in riding on unpaved, rough terrain, even though this is hard on a bicycle. That is why many manufacturers have made sturdier bikes for this purpose.

The tires on a mountain bike are thicker and fatter than normal bike tires. They are also made of more durable rubber that gives the rider added traction and control on uneven surfaces.

Not like road bike Suspension in MTB is another very essential feature of a mountain bike. A strong suspension system is essential for a mountain bike so that the rider can better handle the ups and downs that occur when riding on uneven terrain.

Mountain bikes can be separated into several different categories that are founded upon the type of suspension that they have. The classifications are dual suspension, hard tails, soft tails, and fully rigid bikes. Rigid bikes feature a rigid fork. Soft-tailed bikes have a rear suspension that pivots on the frame. Hard-tailed bikes feature a front suspension fork. Suspension bikes have either front, rear, or dual suspension systems. These bikes also feature a shock absorber in the rear, in addition to a linkage.

Lighter weight material and materials that are more resilient are the norm for a cross-country mountain bike. You can find a cross-country bike that can weight anywhere from 20-40 pounds, depending upon your needs. An all-mountain or Enduro bike will usually be heavier than a cross-country bike. These bikes range in weight from 30-35 pounds. These bikes feature a suspension that will enable you to maneuver around hairpin turns and climb up hills much easier.

Heavier and stronger materials are used to build a free ride mountain bike. They are made to help make pedaling easier, so that you can easily move around anything that is in your way and you can make sharp turns. They weigh in at around 45 pounds, which decreases their efficiency over other cross-country bikes.

For downhill tracks or race courses, you will want to choose a downhill mountain bike. They offer you better traction than the other varieties of mountain bikes for maximum control and speed.

If short distance riding is your game, then a trial bike is probably the one for you. They lack suspension and do not have a seat or vestigial pad. They are also much lighter than other bikes for maximum speed. They weigh in at about 20 pounds.

Between mountain and trial bikes, you will find Street Mountain, Dirt Jumping, and Urban Bikes. These bikes are extremely touch and feature anywhere from one to nine gears with a chain guide for the front and rear gears.