Trail Bikers Blog

Chris asked:


I have a mountain bike that has front and rear v-brakes. Is it better to have them looser so that they wont lock-up and cause skidding? Or is it better to have them tight so you can stop faster? THANKS

Swert asked:


All right. I’m planning on buying (or building) a new cross country mountain bike somewhere around February when I have the money. I will hopefully have around $2200 by then, and be able to buy this (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/mountain/2414/32150/). Yes I know, the price tag on the website says $3250, but I have a partial sponsorship from my LBS because they are sponsoring the high school cross country mountain bike team that I am a part of. The other thing I am thinking about is having the bike shop build up a Ventana Chiquillo (http://ventanausa.com/frame_elchiquillo.html), the frame costs $900 retail. I will also ask the bike shop this, but what do you guys think. Should I go with the Giant XTC Advanced, or have the Ventana built? Or do you guys have any other bike suggestions.
Sorry, those links were bad, here are better ones (hopefully)
http://ventanausa.com/frame_elchiquillo.html
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/mountain/2414/32150/

Monica T asked:


I am taking a cruise and Curacao is one of the ports-of-call. We can’t decide whether to mountain bike or kayak. Has anyone been to Curacao to recommend one over the other? Is the view of the shoreline more beautiful than biking through the island? Any other suggestions for a must-see in Curacao?

Thanks.

Trevor Mulholland asked:


Honestly, even if you’re new to biking – how do you think you can go wrong with a name like “Specialized”? Mountain bikes under this label have been patronized by discriminating cycling enthusiasts – and not just because the name is catchy, but because this brand has a performance history that’s no less than good and solid.

Specialized mountain bikes of the Rockhopper line, for example, have remained at the top of consumer rankings for a long time, contending with equally popular classics like the Trek 4500 and the Gary Fisher Marin. These “hardtail” bikes are lightweight and perfect for use by cyclists with different body types, which makes it a favorite for most kinds of rugged trails.

The average weight of a Specialized bike is 30 pounds. The aluminum frame helps greatly in reducing weight and increasing speed. And because aluminum is tried and tested for its durability, it is also the material of choice by Specialized manufacturers. You can test the worth of a bike of this name by putting it through a trail bike test; see how well it performs and how easily it is to transport during normally arduous uphill climbs.

Mike Sinyard, creator of Specialized Bicycle Components, founded his company in 1974, with the intent to “give everyone the best ride of their life.” Since then the professional mountain bikes turned out by the company have made the top picks, and in the past years the company’s success in developng its mountain bike lines was driven by the presence of its independent suspension FSR frame.

Specialized is also known for producing quality “budget” bikes – and by this, we mean trail bicycles that are slightly cheaper than industry standard, for their caliber. They’re still more expensive than you could expect a regular bike to be – for example, a “cheap” competition-grade Specialized model could still cost a little over $1000. Before you balk at this price, you must remember that Specialized bikes are known to compete with big-name brands like Marin, Trek and Giant, some of which definitely sell their “budget” models at much higher costs! But you could look forward to top of the line service and performance from Specialized mountain bikes. You could save a little more if you buy previous years’ models, which almost invariably drop in prices as new and shinier models enter the market. If you’re able to take advantage of special offers, you can grab a special deal on a firsthand full suspension, cross-country trail bike.

Bill asked:


It has been at least 15 years since I sat on a bike, and I am very out of shape. I would like to ride on the street, but would also like to enjoy the great Mountain Biking trails that AZ has to over. I am not looking to spend more than $400.00. I am 5′ 11. What kind of bike would you recommend? What size bike would you recommend. Is there anything else I should know? I am quite clueless.

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Mountain Bike, abbreviated as MTBs or ATBs (All Terrain Bikes) is a bike that are meant for riding on dirt paths or unpaved environments. They are more rugged than road bicycles, and can handle more strain.

The tires of the mountain bike are wider and knobbier than road bikes, for more grip and shock absorption. Front suspension for the MTBs is becoming the norm, and in today’s mountain bikes, you can find front and rear suspension. The wheels are usually 26″ in diameter, but this is slowly changing to 29″ in the newer mountain bikes.

Mountain Bikes can be widely classified into four types.

* Fully Rigid

* Hard Tail

* Soft Tail

* Dual/ Full Suspension

Fully Rigid Mountain Bikes don’t have any suspension, and their frames have fixed rears and a rigid fork.

Hard Tail Mountain Bikes have a suspension fork in the front, and no suspension in the rear. A soft tail Mountain bike has very less suspension in the rear, and its frame has a flex in the rear, rather than the pivot. A Full Suspension MTB has a suspension fork in the front, and a rear suspension as well, with a link that lets the rear wheel move on a pivot.

Until recently, MTBs had the same design and geometry of Road Bikes. When mountain biking became more popular, riding became more aggressive, and new mountain bikes with lighter and stronger frames were created to cater to the rider’s needs and aggressive riding style.

The New-age mountain bikes have 21, 24 or 27 speeds. They usually have 3 gears in the front. The rear has 7, 8 or 9 gears. They also feature disc brakes. This gives the rider better stopping power than normal rim brakes. They can also take heavy breaking without wearing out soon, and causing lesser problems.

There are a wide range of tire types for mountain bikes. Some styles include slick street tires, sticky rubber tires, etc. Tubeless tires are also gaining popularity in the MTB world for their pinch flat resistance. Some good MTB tire manufacturers are Wilderness Trail Bikes, Schwalbe, Kenda, Maxxis, Nokian, etc.

Mountain biking has become more of an adventure sport by itself, and lot of equipment can be found just for mountain bikers, most of it safety related. Protective gear that is worn by the rider is often referred to as ‘Armor’, and is work to protect against injuries. ‘Armors’ may range from just knee and elbow caps, to full body padding. Usually, Downhill and freestyle bikers wear more armor, as their riding styles are more dangerous and prone to injuries. Most of these bodysuits also have special protection for the spine, comprising of a set of plastic plates, covered with foam.

Most bike parks require bikers to wear full face helmets, to protect against injury. These helmets a just like their counterparts used in motocross, but are considerably more ventilated and lighter. Most professional riders wear these by choice, to avoid head injuries.

Some of the Mountain Bike manufacturers are Airborne cycles, Alpine design MTBs, Arrow Racing, Dagger, Dart, Full Dynamix, etc.

chris h asked:


i am new to the seattle area and want to take up mountain biking. what are some of the better bikes/brands/etc i can buy for the price. i need to get a bike and dont want to buy an unreliable one. anything under $300-$400 is the range i am looking at.

cohibasmitty asked:


Here is a list of everything I have done (i’m not trying to brag, but just looking for something new and unique to try).

ice climbing/mountain climbing/bouldering
hiking
downhill skiing/snowboarding/cross country
snowmobiling/dirt bike riding/four wheeling
ultimate Frisbee
tennis/racquetball
walleyball
volleyball
squash
pickle
badminton
hockey
sled riding/ snowshoeing
wiffleball
swimming/diving/snorkeling
soccer/basketball/baseball/wrestling/track/gymnastics/softball
cross country
mountain biking
roller blading
lacross
golf (walking)
bowling
running
boxing
football(touch/tackle)
broom ball
dodge ball/kickball

David Faulkner asked:


The sport of mountain biking, as an enjoyable and relaxing outdoor activity, is attracting ever-increasing numbers of every age and background. There are many organized outdoor events and competitions which include on their list of activities both mountain biking and endurance mountain biking.

Endurance mountain biking is a form of exercise appropriate only for those in the peak of condition; a single competition, depending on its category, can continue for up to twelve hours. Endurance mountain biking, therefore, is reserved for professional bikers who have proven that they are up to the demands involved. How is an endurance mountain biking event structured?

Categories

Endurance mountain biking events are divided into three categories according to their length. There are three-hour, six-hour, and twelve-hour races; the three-hour races are restricted to solo men and solo women. The six-hour events are open to either solo men and solo women, or duos–two riders of either sex; and twelve-hour races allow the broadest range of riders. They can be solo men or women; duos of either sex; solo single speeders–either one man or one woman; a women’s team of between two and four women; and an open team of two to four riders of either ***. For more info see http://www.mountainbikingreviews.com/All_About_Mountain_Biking/ on All About Mountain Biking

Endurance mountain biking events require that the competitors register with the organizers beforehand, and, in some cases, submit to physicals. They are also required to have their own approved safety equipment, including gloves, helmets, and knee pads. They are expected to wear accepted biking attire, with completely enclosed shoes and the endurance mountain biking event’s designated T-shirt.

Endurance Mountain Biking Safety Measures

Safety is one of the overriding factors in endurance mountain biking events, and the bikers are expected to keep every part of their bikes in prime shape, from the tires to the handlebars. Neither reflectors nor kickstands are permitted; headsets, adjusted hubs, sound frames, and true wheels are also prohibited. Headphones, Walkmans, or any other sound devices are forbidden.

If you’d like to become involved with endurance mountain biking, look for a mountain biking club in your area and approach them with your questions. There’s’ a vast amount of information on endurance mountain biking, and you’ll need to learn about everything from the basic rules, to the local event scheduling and locations.

You can get started by visiting the Internet sites different mountain biking groups, and if you work very hard and have the ability, may find yourself a member of an endurance mountain biking team!

Derek Both asked:


Mountain biking has always had its fans but it has become particularly popular over the last several years. This is due to several reasons including the fact that people are busier, more stressed and looking for ways to relax. Other people have become more health-conscious and want to exercise more while others simply want to do something fun with a friend or spouse when the weather is good.

There are a few key factors that you should keep in mind before purchasing any mountain bikes in order to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. The first thing is to know what kind of bike you need as there are many different types of mountain bikes available. Each has its specific uses, strengths and weaknesses. For example, some bikes are designed to be used on rough and uneven terrain whilst other bikes are designed to provide a smooth ride but their use should be limited to smooth, even terrain. Other mountain bikes are better-equipped to endure the rigors of cross-country biking.

Buying a bike is similar to buying a car because you may walk into a shop and see the bike of your dreams only to be floored by the sticker price. Before you visit a bike shop determine how much money you are willing to spend because some mountain bikes can cost thousands of pounds. Others are very affordable and may be effective for what you plan to do with the bike and won’t break the budget.

If you do not determine your price range ahead of time, you may find yourself agreeing to buy a bike that you cannot afford. Remember, you want to enjoy your mountain bike. You do not want to be miserable about the amount of money you spent on it.

Many people choose to buy their mountain bikes through a mass consumer outlet which can surprisingly lead to problems. Much of your bike’s performance will depend on how well it is assembled. When you purchase your bike from a major retail store they are less likely to take the time needed to properly put your bike together. Also, you will probably need to have your bike worked on in the future. Like cars, good mountain bikes require occasional “tune-ups.” Major retail stores are not likely to offer this type of service.

Visit several bike shops in your area, speak to the salespeople and even try to speak to the owner. These people are often passionate about mountain biking so will take proper care to assembling your bike. As well as this, when you need to have work done on your bike in the future, you will feel confident taking your bike to the place where you purchased it.

Buying a mountain bike requires a little planning and research. If you follow the tips above, you have an excellent chance of finding the perfect mountain bike for your needs and budget. After that, the world is an open road.