Pure Mountain BikingGet the latest mountain biking tips, tricks, news and equipment.

by Paul.Carroll

In recent years, one of the outdoors activities that has been growing fast with popularity is mountain biking. Many people agree this sport to be a great way to have fun. Nothing can beat the idea of one Sunday morning with healthy exercise on your mountain bike.

Mountain Bike Equipment is Important

If there is one thing I learned about mountain biking, that’s safety. I never leave home without carefully preparing the trip during the week. First thing that needs to be checked is the bike of course. Simply turn the bike upside down, remove the wheels and clean the drive system. Using the brush and some soapy water, start by cleaning the rear derailleur, working the brush into all the moving parts.

Also make I make sure I clean the front gear mechanism, working the rag into all the moving parts to clean them thoroughly.

I really don’t need any impurities on the bike’s moving parts. Pay attention to sounds when spinning the crank arms. If something doesn’t sound right, then there’s probably something wrong and needs fixing.

I then clean the wheels and remount them, spin each wheel, making sure it turns freely and that I can see that it’s straight. As the wheel rotates, holding my fingers against the rims, to feel if there are any dents or knocks on either side. After I have done that, just make sure I got all my cycling clothing ready for Sunday morning, hydration system and gloves should not be missing from your inventory.

After all this planning during the week, I can hardly wait for Sunday morning. Choosing your cycling location is important as well and there are plenty of online guides to get you where you want.

Once you’re there, the sweet battle begins! The way I think, is there anything more depressing than sitting on an exercise bike in an overcrowded gym trying to get fit? Why not get a breath of fresh air?

Learn tips on how to shift bike gears when mountain biking in this free video for the beginner cyclist. Expert: Mickey Denoncourt Contact: www.spookybikes.com Bio: Mickey Denoncourt owns Spooky Bikes, at www.spookybikes.com. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso
Video Rating: 3 / 5

Mountain bike cycling is a very exhilarating if not physically challenging sport activity. A person must know the basics of riding a mountain bike, whether it is just on a city trail or you are already part of the uphill, downhill crowd you are better off knowing the fundamentals of mountain biking. Most people will start with their mountain bikes and all the brands and accessories that they can think of and can readily afford, now this is quite well and good, especially for serious mountain bike cycling enthusiast, but you have to admit, one cannot really mountain bike, without a mountain bike, so that’s considered moot and academic. What you guys should consider next is the personal gear that you need whenever you are on a bike trip.

First off is of course protecting your head. Mountain bike cycling aficionados can tell you that they have actually experienced some of the most harrowing spills and falls while mountain biking and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the type of terrain you will encounter on a mountain.

Protecting your noggin is a priority and getting yourself a good bike helmet is key, of course you have to first realize that the requirements of mountain biking is distinct from racing and cruising, speed is not always important, sometimes you are actually on full stop, balancing your bike on top of a boulder trying to jump your bike with you on it on a smaller boulder, so just go ahead and imagine what kind of protection you need. Better go to specialty mountain bike shops or extreme sports shops for the right headgear.

Next up are gloves and clothing, good gloves should fit you snugly and gives you adequate protection on both the palm and knuckle side of your hands, getting those with extra knuckle studs and grip improving leather will further protect your hands.

Clothing on the other hand depends on what climate you are actually biking in, so, cover yourself properly, starting with a good bike shirt, with some padded shorts and maybe even some tight fitting jacket or warmer. Avoid wearing loose clothing because those might snag on branches and bushes, better yet bring an extra layer for emergencies. Shoes should be off road type with good gripping soles so that if it’s required you can put down your foot or feet as a support without too much fear of your shoe slipping on mossy or muddy ground or rocks. Also, always remember to watch your physical condition do not push yourself to the brink, it might cost you. Bring lots of water, possibly in a water bladder and a good number of high-energy snack bars or even nuts. Mountain bike cycling should be about fun and enjoyment to the extreme not extreme pain and suffering. Bike on!

by osaka.synaesthesia

Mountain bike is a very wide umbrella term that applies to a wide variety of bikes.  By far one of the most popular styles of bikes, mountain bikes are built to be durable and take the abuse of off road riding without leaving the rider battered and bruised.  These bikes have to be able to handle large obstacles like logs, rocks and debris, while also being fast and easy to control while going down fast mountain trails.

History

References to mountain biking go all the way back to 1966 but new styles of bicycles didn’t gain any noticeable popularity until the 1970′s.  In Northern California’s Marin county, riders started taking advantage of the mountainous surroundings by taking classic cruiser style bikes and modifying their heavy and sturdy frames with better brakes, home made suspension systems and other innovations.  The sport caught on, especially on the west coast of North America and large groups of riders started popping up from California’s Sierra Mountains to Canada’s now famous North Shore Mountains.  It wasn’t until the late 70′s and early 80′s that new and previously established companies started seriously making mountain bikes.  They used technology, design techniques and materials from their road bikes and adapted them to mountain biking uses and developed new innovations to meet the needs of this growing set of riders.  In 1982, Specialized brought out the first mass produced mountain bike, the Stempjumper.

Features

Mountain bikes cover a wide spectrum of bikes, but on the most basic level, they usually share similar features.  These include:

Frames:  Mountain bikes are built with strong and stiff frames for durability and stability while dealing with unpredictable and rough terrain.  Depending on the specific style and needs of the bike the frame can be made from a variety of materials.  The most common are variations of steel, aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber composites.

Tyres:  Mountain bike tyres need to be wider, stronger and more knobby than road bikes.  Rims usually are 559mm but are commonly called 26″ inch tyres, even though that isn’t quite accurate given the variations of the bike.  These tyres give the bikes the traction they need in rough and ever changing terrain.

Gearing:  Mountain bike gearing can range from single geared bikes all the way up to 30 speeds.  The amount and kind of gearing you need will depend on the style of riding you’re up to.

Brakes:  Higher end mountain bikes come with disk brakes, while lower end versions are outfitted with V-brakes.  Disk brakes work a lot better when you’re traveling at high speeds but are substantially heavier and more expensive than V-brakes.

Suspension:  Mountain bike suspensions are usually judged by the amount of travel they allow.  The more travel, the more the bike absorbs impacts instead of your body.  The different suspension variations can be broken down into three main categories:  hard tail, front suspension and dual suspension.

Hard Tail:  Hard tail versions feature stiff frames but no suspension.  If you’re doing any sort of serious off road riding, you’re going to feel every bump.  These bikes are designed for the average rider who enjoys off road riding but also plans on doing some city or path riding too.

Front Suspension:  Since mountain bikes land on the front wheel first, generally, these suspensions are great.  The suspension system is loaded in the front and provides good but not great protection from serious off road impacts.

Dual Suspension:  The newest innovation in mountain bike technology is dual suspension.  Often referred to as full suspension or full-susser bikes, this system is in both front and back wheels.  While heavier and more expensive, if you’re doing big jumps and tackling the roughest courses, this is the suspension you want.

Mountain Bike Styles

What was once a niche market made up of tinkerers making their own mountain bikes in garages out of spare cruiser frames and their own custom components, mountain biking has blow up into a full scale industry.  Today mountain biking is just an umbrella term that encompasses a large variety of bikes and riding styles.

As the sport exploded in popularity many riders found their own personal styles and bikes started getting made to meet the needs of those unique markets.  Many bikes fit several categories and can be used effectively across a variety of styles, while others are specifically designed for just one.

Here is a sample of the most popular mountain biking styles today:

Cross Country:  Abbreviated XC, cross country bikes place a high degree of importance on speed and endurance.  The bikes are lightweight and not meant for the roughest off road environments.

Trail Bikes:  These evolved from XC bikes and are commonly used for recreational trial riding and can handle rougher terrain than the bikes that spawned them.

All Mountain:  This style of mountain bike is designed to climb and descend well and are perfect for all day rides up and down mountains.

Free-ride:  Bikes in this discipline are built to be heavier and more durable.  They can be ridden uphill but handle much better going downhill.

Downhill:  DH bikes have large gears, plush travel and are specifically designed to handle the stresses of downhill racing.  Their frames need to be strong but light, which leads to the use of high quality but expensive materials

Dirt Jumping:  DJ bikes are a mix between BMX bikes and free-ride mountain bikes.  They are made to be sturdy and strong enough to withstand the high impacts they are frequently subjected to.  They usually only have front suspension systems.

More Mountain Biking Gear Articles

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.

MTB Shop

by joneboi

In the wide world of outdoor sports and hobbies, there is something out there for everyone of any background to enjoy. This does not mean, however, that they are not without their own problems. Take mountain biking, for instance.

The beginner can quickly become caught up in debates on what is the best brand or model of the mountain bike, from the wheels to the color to whatever else people can come up with. But beyond all of that flash, just what exactly makes a good bike? Should the buyer focus solely on comfort, or what makes it the most convenient and functional model?

You must choose a bike that is functional to your needs. Sure, it may look pretty, and the seat is nice, but how well will the bike be able to handle what you want to do? Can it stand up to mud, slush, rain, and other problems that come with interacting with the landscape? The frame must be sturdy no matter what happens and no matter what others might try to talk you into.

A good mountain bike will suit your needs without breaking the bank. If you feel that you must take out a loan just to be able to afford it, let the bike go. There is no use in bringing any problems to a hobby that is supposed to be fun. If you feel that it is worth it, take a little more time to save up the extra money to get that more expensive and the best mountain bike in the market.

The best mountain bike must be able to evolve with upgrades. If you find that you can’t change the wheels to something better on the bike later on, or add some kind of accessory, don’t bother getting it. Spend your energy finding something that you know will be able to change as you do.

Mountain biking is a fun, rewarding and good for you exercise that many choose to make a part of their life. Before you take the plunge and invest, be sure that you have found the right bike. In doing this, you can only benefit and save yourself from any headaches or regrets later down the line.

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Video Rating: 1 / 5

by SoulRider.222

When you take that first ride down that new found mountain that challenges you, makes your blood flow and gets your adrenaline pumping is one of the best feelings in the world, for sure… But it is important that your mountain bike frame is stirdy and can withhold the immense energy and power placed upon your bike frame during that ride. Your body along with the bike will absorb a lot of shocks when you purchase the right kind of mountain bike frame.

Instead of you feeling all the bumps and humps, most of the shocks will get pushed into your bike components making the ride more comfortable for you and your bike (if it had feelings). Luckily the design and construction of mountain bike frams have gotten way more superior over the years. The things you can buy today are so much more sophisticated than the old frames from back in the days.

When you buy a frame in todays day and age it is hundreds times better. The design will be more shock absorbing… The materials are lighter and absorb shocks better etc.

It can still, however be hard to determine what frame is right for you. You will require a different frame for different types of riding. Adrenaline filled downhill riding with lots of roots and danger will require a different bike frame than level trails in alongside mountains for example. It is important to know the difference and not buy a mountain bike that will be useless or worse off in the situation you want to ride it.

You might also see mountain bikes in the city, because more and more people are getting them. They are more comfortable than most “city bikes” and can also appear cooler for some people.

Buying a mountain bike is simple. You should do some research online or go to stores in order to learn about what bike suits your body type, size and interests. This might take a while, especially if you are price hunting too. If not, simply search offline and have it delivered online! It is usually a lot cheaper to order a mountain bike from the internet as most of those vendors do not need to have an inventory, but can send it straight from the factory or cut down on middle men.

I highly recommend going to a mountain bike store first as the professionals in the store will be able to measure you in order to make sure you get the right kind of triangle based on weight, length, interest of riding etc.

by MoHotta18

One of the most important components on your mountain bike is your tires. They grip the ground and provide the traction you need on different surfaces. Most mountain bike riders look for light weight, strength and traction in a tire and many advanced riders even have multiple sets of tires for different riding conditions.

So what tire is right for your mountain bike and riding style? With so many different manufactures and models to choose from which one is right for you? These are not easy questions to answer so hopefully we can provide some insight to get you moving in the right direction. Mountain bike parts are not cheap and you want to make the right decision.

Tire Construction:

Consider a Kevlar bead or folding tire – A Kevlar tire weighs an estimated 60-80 grams less then a conventional none folding tire. It does not sound like much of a weight savings but multiple that number by two and then consider the rotating weight. For an extra couple of dollar, in my opinion, it is worth spending the extra money.

Terrain and Tread patterns:

Determine where you are going to ride and how you are going to use the bike. As an example will you be riding on the local trails that are hard packed dirt or on slick rock?

For hard packed terrain consider a narrower and smooth tire. As an example a tire that is 1.8 to 2.0 wide.

For hard packed terrain with a good mix of rocks you might want to consider a wider and smooth tire. As an example a tire that is wider then 2.0.

For loosely packed terrain consider a knobby tire. Choose a tire with a really aggressive pattern as this will help you gain maximum traction in the dirt. You might also want to consider tires that are designed for the front and rear of the bike.

For muddy terrain consider a narrow tire. Narrow tires will reach the bottom of the mud and create less resistance when turning making it easier for you to move forward.

For all terrain tires there are so many choices to consider. Many of the major tire manufacturers make very good tires that are great for all conditions.

Riders Body Size:

Consider your body size. If you are heavier you might want to consider a wider tire.

Where to buy:

You can buy your tires at a bike store, order them from an online website or from an individual sell tires posted on a mountain bike classifieds website.

The information above is a rough guide on what to consider when buying new mountain bike tires. Many bikes stores that have bikes for sale and bike parts can also give you their opinion. Talk to your friends and read online forums to see what other riders like and don’t like. The more information you have the better.

See you on the trail.

by osaka.synaesthesia

The gears in mountain bicycles just keep getting more and more complex. The bikes of today have as many as twenty-seven gear proportions. An off-road bike will utilise a
Aggregate of three different sized sprockets in front and nine in the back to produce gear proportions.  

The concept behind all of these gears is to permit the rider to crank the pedals at a continuous pace no matter what sort of slope the bike is on. You can understand this better by picturing a bike with simply a single gear. Every time you rotate the pedals one turn, the rear wheel would rotate one turn as well ( eleven gear proportion ).

If the rear wheel is twenty-six inches in diameter, then with 11 gearing, one full twist on the pedals would lead to the wheel covering 81.6 inches of ground. If you’re pedaling at a speed of 50 R.p.m, this suggests that the bike can cover over 340 feet of ground per minute. This is only 3.8 Miles per hour, which is the equivalence of walking speed. This is excellent for climbing a steep hill, although bad for ground or going downhill.

To go quicker you will need a different proportion. To ride downhill at 25 Miles per hour with a fifty Revs per minute cadence at the pedals, you’ll require a 5.6:1 gear proportion. A bike with plenty of gears will give you a large number of increments between an eleven gear proportion and a 6.5:1 gear proportion so that you can always pedal at fifty R.p.m, no matter how fast you’re really going.

On an ordinary twenty-seven speed mountain bike, 6 of the gear proportions are so close to each other that you can not notice any difference between them.

With actual use, bike riders have a tendency to choose a front sprocket acceptable for the slope they’re riding on and keep it going, although the front sprocket can be difficult to shift under heavy load. It’s way easier to shit between the gears on the rear.

If you’re cranking up a hill, it’s best to choose the tiniest sprocket on the front then shift between the 9 gears available on the rear. The more speeds you have on the back sprocket, the larger advantage you will have.

All in all, gears are critical to mountain bikes as they dictate your total speed. Without gears you would not be well placed to build speed nor would you be in a position to pound pedals. The gears will move the pedals and help you build up speed.

There are all sorts 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.

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by onlinejones

Mountain biking is a sport that grows on you. A mountain bike trek is the more adventurous side of conventional cycling. Done on nature preserves and bike trails, this sport is pure haven for all cycling enthusiasts. Safety on a trek is primarily determined by the upkeep of your bike. An organized mountain bike trek is completely safe if supervised and expertly planned.
The basic and most common gear on a bike trek is a helmet. Mountain bikes are specially designed for the rough but great outdoors. All bikes are inspected and made sure to be ready for your trekking adventure.
Mountain bike treks are a very exciting activity that combines both exercise and recreation in an adventurous way. With the Trek Mountain Bikes, one will still be able to enjoy cycling in the rural area. As the nature preserves are opened and bike trails become available, Trek mountain bikes is the choice of more cycling enthusiast. The Trek mountain bike is also lightweight. For many people, mountain biking is exciting, green and often very expensive. All the major manufacturers advertise mountain bikes that appear to fill this need – ‘complete mountain biking at an affordable price’, with various different models on offer such as the Fuel EX 2010 range of Trek mountain bikes.
Giant, Orange, Orbea and Trek mountain bikes all have ‘all-rounders’ within their ranges which combine the latest suspension technology with great performance. However, as with choosing any bike, the same questions need to be asked: how do I want to use the bike, where will I use the bike and how experienced will I be when handling and controlling the bike?
Not only does this Trek mountain bike give a comfortable ride, it doesn’t compromise on speed either and it’s seeing superb results from the biking community. One company, Trek mountain bikes, is working hard to make the green bicycle even greener.
When choosing the components of the bikes, Trek mountain bikes’ designers plan ahead for their future use and recycling.
Trek mountain bikes have also pioneered a recycling programme on their bicycle tyre tubes.

by SoulRider.222

Your very first ride down the steep slopes of a bona fide mountain on a rock strewn trail on an old bike will undoubtedly leave you convinced to the necessity of purchasing a strong and resilient mountain bike frame! It, as your body will attest, is going to absorb a lot of shock. If you invest in a good mountain bike frame, it will do even more: it will actually absorb, into its metal and components, much of the shock that would otherwise move readily into your own components!

Design and construction of mountain bike frames has advanced centuries in the last couple of decades, really. What is available today only remotely resembles the first so-called mountain bikes some of us rode in the early nineteen-eighties. Today, mountain bike frames are available in geometries and materials unimagined two decades ago. What you need is going to be a combination of your own body and your individual intentions. If you like the thrill of high speed downhill rides, you will need a vastly different bike than if you ride on level trails. If your preference is to avoid going over rocks, you will need a different bike than someone whose eyes light up at the sight of a boulder strewn pathway. Think about what you enjoy before you go shopping for a mountain bike.

Mountain bike frames spend a lot of time on roads these days, too. Most of the bikes seen around town seem to be mountain bikes or some hybrid of the mountain bike. Fact is, mountain bikes are made for comfort. What they add to genuine off-road riding (shock absorption, easy gearing, and responsive handling) may be essential but what they add to street riding (shock absorption, easy gearing, and responsive handling) is no less appreciated by the casual rider. You will even find mountain bike riders on most any of the long, multi-day road tours so increasingly popular. You will not, probably, find these riders among the front pack though: a mountain bike frame is not made for efficient road usage, even if it does add comfort.

Getting a mountain bike frame that’s right for you is possible either in person at a good bike store or online if you know your size and usage requirements, but the vastly different frame geometries make riding a bike before buying it more important than ever. The traditional triangular structure of a road bike frame is frequently drastically skewed on today’s mountain bike frames, rendering the triangle almost unrecognizable. Shopping at a good bike store will put you in touch with bike professionals who will be able to recommend the right geometry for your unique physique and your own unique preferences and strengths as a rider.