August 16th, 2009
Picking a mens mountain bike does not have to be difficult. There are some basic pieces of information that you should review in order to pick a mountain bike that is right for you.
The first thing is to make sure that you are selecting a bike that is a true mountain bike. There are many bikes out there that look like a mountain bike, but it is important to do this as the first step. Now some people may be going “duh” but you would not believe how many people buy a bike only to realize later that it is really a road bike that has been made to look like a mountain bike. This is especially true in your big box stores that sell bikes. Choosing a true mountain bike is important because mountain bikes are designed to ride over difficult terrain and if the bike is not a true mountain bike you or your bike might not end up well at the end of the ride.
Next you want to check the bike frame. Mountain bikes are usually heavier and have more suspension than other bikes to deal with the more difficult terrain that riders tend to ride on. The different types of suspension are rigid, hard-tail, soft-tail or dual suspension. This is a very critical part of the bike choice and most mountain bikers normally choose a hard-tail suspension. You also want to check the angles on the frame. The angles to look at are the head tube and the angle at the seat tube. Normally a wider angle is used for better handling when pedaling uphill. Shorter angles are better for higher speed and more stability on downhill courses.
The final thing to check on a mens mountain bike is its brakes. There are basically two different types of brakes, the standard v-brakes and the newer disc brakes. Most people prefer disc brakes to the v-brakes because they tend to provide better braking in a variety of terrains, disc brakes are also much easier to maintain and tend to last longer than the standard v-brakes.
So check to make sure that the bike is a real mountain bike, that it has the suspension that you desire, that it have the correct angles on the frame for the type of riding that you are planning on doing and lastly has the preferred braking mechanisms that will match your riding techniques. After reviewing these items, you should have no problem picking the correct mens mountain bike.
Posted in specialized mountain bike, used mountain bike | No Comments »
February 24th, 2010
I’ve been a road rider for several years on a classic 10 speed Bianchi. The tires are much too narrow for dirt/woods trails where my 10 yr old son likes to ride, so I’m looking for a more appropriate ride. Considering a used mountain or hybrid bike for less than $150. Any suggestions on where to start? Features? Brands?
Why draw the line @ $150? If you were to pay 150 for a used bike it would probably make sense to get it tuned up by a bike shop (to make sure it is safe) which would probably cost around $45. So you’d end up paying $200 for a used bike when you could probably buy a brand new one (trek, specialized, giant) for about $230. Especially this time of year, the bike shops are dead! That’s not to say you couldn’t find a deal @ 150 if you were to look for a while. Maybe try cragslist.
Posted in used mountain bike | 3 Comments »
February 23rd, 2010
What are your essential tools and accessories while mountain biking (excluding the bike, for all your smartasses out there). Thanks!
My typical list:
backpack with hydration bladder – only put water in it or you will have to clean it regularly
water bottle with some sort of electrolyte or energy drink (dishwasher safe)
1 spare tube (sometimes one is not enough)
1 patch kit
tire levers (at least 2)
multi-tool, preferably one with a chain breaker, Allen wrenches to fit all bolts on your bike and screwdrivers to fit derailleur adjustment screws
small handlebar LED light or small Mag light for backpack
spare chain links and SRAM powerlink – make sure you get the right one for your drivetrain as they have different ones for 7, 8 and 9 speed.
spare derailleur hanger (if your bike has a replaceable hanger)
spare chain ring bolt
spare spoke nipple
rag
chain lube
small first aid kit
tire pump
small length of duct tape (wrapped around tire pump)
zip ties (varying lengths)
personal ID and medical information
cell phone
Posted in mountain bike accessories | 4 Comments »
February 22nd, 2010
im looking for something made for mountain biking. clothing material thats affordable and comfortable.
you get what you pay for in gear like that. Pearl Izumi makes great bike shorts, but they are awesome, sturdy and comfortable. If you are gonig to ride alot, get serious about your shorts. It will be money well spent.
You can also find some very good deals at www.performancebike.com
Posted in mountain bike clothing | 3 Comments »
February 21st, 2010
Are Specialized bicycles considered good bicycles? Are they comparable to Trek, Jamis, Gary Fisher, et cetera? What is an ‘average’ price for a Specialized bike? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Yes they are good bikes and yes they are comparable to the other brands you’ve mentioned. There’s no average price for a Specialized bike unless you are after a specific model which would be sold for an average price, there’s many different models that range in price from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars.
As mentioned by another poster:
Quote – "They are actually regarded as a very exclusive manufacturer and have a great reputation for making high quality frames"
They aren’t what you call a ‘very exclusive manufacturer’, they are just a smaller company that isn’t as common if you compare them to a large company like Giant. Most of their frames are made in Taiwan by a bicycle company called Merida who is the 2nd largest bicycle manufacturer in the world they also own about 30% of Specialized. Some of their frames are even outsourced and made by Giant (also from Taiwan) who is the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world.
Posted in specialized mountain bike | 4 Comments »
February 20th, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_bike
Duration : 0:1:52
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Technorati Tags: mountain bike fork
Tags: mountain bike fork
Posted in used mountain bike | No Comments »
February 19th, 2010
The guys at Brothers Bikes in Heber City, Utah show off some of what you need to gear up for mountain bike season.
Watch PCTV online at http://parkcity.tv
Duration : 0:2:32
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Technorati Tags: Bike, BrothersBikes, city, Gear., heber, helmet, Mountain, park, pctv, pctv1, shorts, television, utah
Tags: Bike, BrothersBikes, city, Gear., heber, helmet, Mountain, park, pctv, pctv1, shorts, television, utah
Posted in mountain bike accessories | No Comments »
February 18th, 2010
Learn how to remove a mountain bike gear cassette in this free bike care and maintenance video series.
Expert: Mickey Denoncourt
Contact: www.spookybikes.com
Bio: Mickey Denoncourt owns Spooky Bikes, at www.spookybikes.com.
Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso
Duration : 0:2:3
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Technorati Tags: bicycle, Bike, BMX, maintenance, Mountain, outdoors, parts, repair, ride, street, video
Tags: bicycle, Bike, BMX, maintenance, Mountain, outdoors, parts, repair, ride, street, video
Posted in mountain bike clothing | 10 Comments »
February 17th, 2010
Interbike 2009 – Bikerumor’s coverage continues with Specialized’s 2010 mountain bikes. New models include the completely redesigned full carbon S-Works Stumpjumper, the 19lb S-Works Carbon Hardtail 29er and the redesigned S-Works Enduro…all in High Definition straight from the show floor. For more info and photos, check out bikerumor.com
Duration : 0:6:3
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Technorati Tags: 2009, 2010, 29er, bicycle, cross country, Enduro, Freeride, interbike, Mountain Bike, s-works, specialized, stumpjumper, trail
Tags: 2009, 2010, 29er, bicycle, cross country, Enduro, Freeride, interbike, Mountain Bike, s-works, specialized, stumpjumper, trail
Posted in specialized mountain bike | 10 Comments »
February 16th, 2010
Learn how to use Mountain Bike Racing experience to your benefit when cyclocross racing in this free cyclocross racing tutorial and video lesson.
Expert: Mickey Denoncourt
Contact: www.spookybikes.com
Bio: Mickey Denoncourt owns Spooky Bikes, at www.spookybikes.com.
Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso
Duration : 0:1:0
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Technorati Tags: bicycles, biking, competition, cyclocross, how-to, Mountain, racing, video
Tags: bicycles, biking, competition, cyclocross, how-to, Mountain, racing, video
Posted in used mountain bike | 1 Comment »