Mountain Bike Fun!

noPain asked:


It seems like there’s a lot of disparity from one brand’s shoe to the next, whether the shoes are made for road biking or mountain biking. Some mountain biking shoes seem more comfortable for everyday use or for walking. What’s the downside in getting mountain biking shoes for a road bike?

Star asked:


I’d like to get a new bike, soon. I live in a very urban area, so initially I thought a road bike would suit me best, but I will need to use it when I go camping and stuff. If I am going to need a bike for both pavement and rugged terrain, would a mountain bike be my best choice?

I know about hybrids, but I have been told by many people that they are pointless and are not really great for anything, just ok for both roads and off-road.

HighAltitude2U asked:

Instruction on how to fix a flat tire on a mountain bike or a road bike using a patch. Check out www.HighAltitude2u.com for more cycling and other outdoor info.

Bikewagon asked:

Adjusting Side Pull Brakes on a road bike. Learn the tips and tricks to tune up your brakes on your road bike. Brought to you by www.Bikewagon.com

HighAltitude2U asked:

Instruction on how to fix a flat tire on a mountain bike or a road bike using a patch. Check out www.HighAltitude2u.com for more cycling and other outdoor info.

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

About the Author:

Bikewagon asked:

Adjusting Side Pull Brakes on a road bike. Learn the tips and tricks to tune up your brakes on your road bike. Brought to you by www.Bikewagon.com

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

About the Author:

Bikewagon asked:

Adjusting Side Pull Brakes on a road bike. Learn the tips and tricks to tune up your brakes on your road bike. Brought to you by www.Bikewagon.com

Mountain bikes and road bikes provide riders with many desirable features, the trick is to narrow those features down and match them to what suits your riding style best. For many riders, the versatility offered by mountain bikes, in taking them from parks to roads, makes these bikes a popular choice.

The most important thing to know about mountain bikes is it that you do not need a mountain to enjoy riding one. They have wide tyres with thick, intricately carved grooves that form patterns to keep you upright, on the trail or off. The tyres push through dirt and roll over asphalt, easily. The side knobs on tyres help riders to steer and to turn without losing their balance.

In the past, many people shied away from mountain bikes because they feared that the bikes weighed too much and that they would be difficult to carry or maneuver. Today, improvements in technology have led to bikes that are much lighter, but still sturdy enough to survive the rigors of the trail and the pavement. Bike makers commonly use aluminum or carbon to create lightweight, versatile frames.

Mountain bikes let riders sit in a more comfortable position than they experience on road bikes. Road bikes are about speed and speed is about overcoming aerodynamic drag. Road bike riders must lower their heads and chests in order to cut through the air. Road bike riders have to find a way to keep their heads down but still keep their eyes up to see where they are going. Many people do not find this riding style natural or comfortable for any length of time.

Mountain bikes also take advantage of technology to reduce some of the bumps that riders experience. Taking your bike off-road is one of the primary advantages of a mountain bicycle over a road bike. Bicycle makers build suspension systems into their bikes to soak up the jarring impact of bouncing over uneven surfaces. They allow riders to relax and not have to keep their bodies constantly braced to withstand bone-rattling jolts. Suspension systems reduce the wear and tear on bikers’ bodies meaning that they can go for longer rides on more occasions.

If speed on the open road is your sole motivation for purchasing a bike, then choose a road bike. If you want the experience of riding through forests, over logs, down embankments and still be able to ride over the pavement, then a mountain bike is for you.

By: Anna Perrott

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