Mountain Bike Fun!

If you’re shopping for a new bike, it is likely that you have heard or read about hybrid bikes. Hybrid bikes are designed to incorporate the best features from road bikes and mountain bikes, thus resulting in a bike that is capable of achieving high speeds on asphalt and handling packed dirt paths.

Hybrid bikes tend to have an upright frame allowing the rider to achieve a more comfortable riding position. A short, low frame can handle more weight and absorb the average amount punishment from, potholes, curbs, etc., that you might encounter during a ride to work or the grocery store. Hybrid bikes also have slightly wider tires that road bikes for better traction and stability on dirt bike paths or grass. However, like a road bike, hybrids tend to have lighter rims and taller gearing for faster riding on pavement.

Most reviews of hybrid bikes reveal that the wheels on a hybrid are a marriage of the heavy duty mountain bike wheel and the lightweight high-speed road bike wheel. Wider tires are good for stability and durability during a ride on a slightly rocky packed dirt bike path, but a higher recommended air pressure, similar to a road bike wheel, allows for speed on roads and asphalt paths by reducing rolling resistance. The rims and spokes on hybrids are lighter, also like a road bike. Because of this feature it is important that you not purchase a hybrid if you plan on doing a lot of rough off-road riding. Reviews of hybrid bikes have shown that the lightweight rims and spokes cannot handle large rocks and big drops like a true mountain bike.

Frames on most hybrid bike frames are made of lightweight aluminum or steel (also called “cro-moly”). These materials allow for both speed and durability while still be very affordable. The handlebars on a hybrid are typically flat like a mountain bike, and go straight out from the stem. They also have a wider grip, allowing riders to sit upright and offer a better position for vision and control, and perhaps most importantly, comfort. In this position the rider has an ideal center of gravity and the least amount of neck and back strain possible.

Hybrids take gearing design cues from both mountain and road bikes. Most reviews of hybrid bikes claim that they not only allow the rider to both climb hills easily, but also go fast on flat or downhill sections. However, a lack of very low gears does not allow for the power that many mountain bikes offer for powering through loose or rocky terrain. Typically a hybrid bike will have either two or three chain rings in the front, much like the crank assembly on a road bike. In the back there are eight or nine gears in the cassette. The combination of the two sets of gears allows for 16 all the way up to 27 possible gear combinations. You will find that these gears are more than sufficient for conquering almost any challenge you will find commuting to work or enjoying a weekend ride on a countryside bike path.



By: Candis Reade

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When out to make a new purchase we tend to keep a lot of factors in mind to ensure that our purchase matches our set criteria. Though such factors may be relevant while buying a new bike, the most important criteria is that the size of the bike should match the size of your body. The metal type, the technical aspects and other factors should never be given priority over the bike’s size while selecting the right bike. Different people have different thoughts to evaluate the selection of the right bike size but the most common evaluation factors are as given.

For the selection of the right bike, the inseam measurement is one of the factors to be considered. The inseam must be measured keeping the seating of the bike in mind therefore the inseam of your trouser may not be the correct measurement. To accurately get the sizing of your mountain bike, you can do the following – supporting yourself against a wall, place a ruler or a hard object like a stick between your legs while keeping your feet apart at around 6 to 8 inches. Raise the object until it fits into the crotch just like a seat would and mark this distance on the wall with someone’s help. Your mountain bike inseam should be equal to the measure between the floor and the wall marking.

Another factor is the judgment of the frame size. You could take the measurement from center to the top or from center to center. This can be a bit uncertain since a little variation can cause inaccurate fitting. The mountain bike’s have adjustable seat tube as well as adjustable handlebar tube. However inaccurate measurement can result in an uncomfortable ride.

Time and Patience – the Key to achieve the right adjustment

The still position is the best way to judge your mountain bike sizing. Just ensure that the back wheel is kept off the ground with the help of a stand. The top bar of the bike should level with the ground and for this the front of the bike also should be kept off the ground. Keep a leg on the pedal and see that the knee is in line with the pedal simultaneously keeping the pedal in the same level. In most mountain bikes this position can be achieved by slightly adjusting the seat forward and backward.

There are shops specializing in mountain bikes and can provide information and assistance in assessing the right mountain bike sizing. The efforts put in to select the right mountain bike sizing may prove to be time consuming and demanding but the result will be a mountain bike which feels like a part of your body and gives extremely effortless and smooth riding even in uncomfortable and rough terrains. Thus as already pointed out, selecting your mountain bike based on the right sizing is the most important criteria and any other advice about body type etc. should be treated as secondary.



By: Andrew Caxton

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cheeseman3000 asked:


I have an older, but fully functional mountain bike. I dont really feel like spending the money to buy a whole new bike, however, I would like to invest in some upgrades and repairs. What are some of the most important things to upgrade and repair?

jakewhit2003 asked:


Mossy Oak Game Tracker 26 Men’s Mountain Bike, Is this bike any good? i can not find any reviews any where. i am looking for a new bike because my old one has been good but i would like a new one.
it is not full suspension it is a hardtail

Jeb asked:


I am new to MTB and with the purchase of my new bike, I am on a very limited budget. I was searching the internet and came across this deal

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/17120-285_ADIMW8_KIT-1-Clothing-133-Shoes/Mountain/Adidas-Minrett-Mountain-Shoes-2008-w_-Wellgo-WAM-M3-Pedals.htm

@ pricepoint.com. Is this worth the money and does anyone have any reviews they could share about the shoes or pedals. Thanks ahead of time for your responses…….

sunshine in a jar asked:


I’m looking for a new bike because my old one was stolen from my shed. But all the mountain bikes for women i’ve seen that are of decent quality are ugly too. It needs to have suspension and withstand ALOT of wear and tear. Any suggestions?

Woodland Hiker asked:


My mountain bike is in need of repair: front wheel wobbles, therefore the brake hits it making it harder to bike. Also the kickstand doesn’t hold the bike up. This bike cost me under $100 about 10 yrs ago. But I don’t really use it much, so I feel that buying a new bike isn’t worth the big cost (assuming I buy it at a bike shop – unless bike shop prices are under $200). Anyone gotten their bike repaired? What was your repair cost like?

cheeseman3000 asked:


I have an older, but fully functional mountain bike. I dont really feel like spending the money to buy a whole new bike, however, I would like to invest in some upgrades and repairs. What are some of the most important things to upgrade and repair?

sunshine in a jar asked:


I’m looking for a new bike because my old one was stolen from my shed. But all the mountain bikes for women i’ve seen that are of decent quality are ugly too. It needs to have suspension and withstand ALOT of wear and tear. Any suggestions?

A standard mountain bike is inherently sophisticated, however you do have the option to replace individual parts of the bike with better ones. Upgrading can be carried out as parts wear out, or beforehand if you find a replacement that is more efficient, comfortable, or easier to use. With a few tools and a little experience, a bike can be stripped to the frame and rebuilt with different parts in a matter of hours.

One reason to upgrade certain parts is to reduce the weight of your bike. Weighing just a few grams less, you achieved a higher speed for the same energy input, which is particularly helpful when climbing. This is particularly important for mountain bikes as the lighter weight counts at all times off road. You must never sacrifice strength just to reduce weight however, as this will increase the risk of your bike failing.

The lower the quality of the bike you start with, the greater the improvement if you upgrade it. The reverse is also true, the higher the quality of the bike you start with, the smaller the improvement will be if you upgrade it.

Upgrading can often mean customising, so what starts out as a model number on an assembly line becomes unique to you. Much upgrading has to do with experimentation. For every lasting mechanical improvement that comes out mountain bike development there are dozens of dead ends. So if you do choose to upgrade to a particular part do your homework on that part before you purchase it.

Often times if you are deciding to upgrade a number of parts at the same time it may be more cost-effective to buy entirely new bike. It is generally advisable not to spend more than a half or two thirds of the original price of your bike on improving it. If the parts become too good for the frame, it is time for a new bike.

By: Anthony Bradshaw

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