Mountain Bike Fun!

A mountain bike is a bicycle created for hard terrain cycling. As a sport, mountain biking has been around for around 30 years. In the beginning, there were very few options to choose from for avid cycling enthusiasts. But today, we have got a variety of bikes to choose from based on the rider and the type of riding.

· Cross country

This is the most conventional and popular of all the mountain bikes. They can be rigid (with no suspension), hard tail (with only front suspension), or full suspension. This is the bike for you if you’re an average weekend mountain biker and ride on paved trails and occasional hills and mountains.

· Downhill bikes
Downhill bikes are built to be very durable so that they can withstand hard hits and big drops while racing down the mountain.

· Trail bikes
These bikes are specially designed for jumping over obstacles.

· Jump and Slalom bikes

Jump and slalom bikes are used in competitive jumping, street racing and slalom down mountains. In competitive jumping, the rider performs certain tricks while in mid air.

If we move on to the argument of which is the best mountain bike in the world, it all depends on the riding style. Although there are many specialist bikes, each of them maybe suited to a certain style of riding and may not seem to be the best in a different riding style. For example, the lightest bike may also seem to be the fastest but it will be very liable to breaking into pieces even before you’ve had some fun. Similarly, the fastest downhill bike will go uphill only if you take a lift!

If you’re Lance Armstrong and you’re looking for a bike that will win you competitions, this article is not for you. So basically we want the best bike that can do everything. A bike that’s strong enough that it won’t break as soon as you hit a tree, light enough that you can pedal uphill without getting knocked out, and as fast as possible so that you can beat all your friends.

A full suspension is surely the way to go, it will make climbing and descent, both more enjoyable. So there are two possible options for the best bike, the tough hard tail and the light cross country suspension, and it would be best if they are made of aluminum.

Well, by now you must be thinking that none of the kinds of bikes I am talking about would be best at anything. Yes, that’s true, but specialist bikes are usually an average rider’s horror, they may be terrible at a lot of things, but yes, the best at one particular thing. So I’m suggesting a bike that can take you both uphill and downhill and which you can ride anywhere unlike most of the specialist bikes.

So this is the moment you’ve been waiting for: who makes the best mountain bikes? Specialized, Scott and Schwin are the three most popular brands. Specialized is the market leader, producing good quality bikes for people with different requirements. It caters to the needs of an amateur and a champion cyclist with its wide variety of brands. Scott also offers a large variety to its customers along with durable frames and great components. Schwin is also a popular brand because they have lower rates compared to other big name brands and provide the same level of quality. Apart from these three big names there are other smaller but equally good bike brands which have a good following in the market.



By: Vasiliy Dede

About the Author:

When you look into the sport of mountain biking, you soon realize that there are quite a few different variations involved. From relaxing scenic mountain trails to challenging cross-country riding and to the more extreme downhill racing; all are popular with thousands of people worldwide. Downhill biking in particular is proving to be popular and there have been many people who have chosen to specialize purely in downhill biking.

Why Downhill Mountain Biking?

The main reason why most people choose to take part in downhill mountain biking is because it really gets the adrenaline pumping. You go at extreme speeds downhill and you also take part in various tricks and jumps too. It is certainly not a sport for the beginner and the chance of having an accident is extremely high. Whilst you may not pedal as much in downhill biking, due to the high speeds involved, when you do pedal it makes the sport even more dangerous. The reasons why downhill bikers choose to pedal even though it may seem that they don’t need to, is to gain an advantage over their opponents.

There are two things which could happen in downhill mountain biking. The first is that you race against an opponent and the second is that you race against time. When you choose to enter races where you race an opponent, it is known as a dual slalom. You set off at the same time as your opponent and you have to race them to the bottom to the finish line. When you race against time you usually take part in the same course twice at least. You see which one is your best time out of the two races and from that you see whether you have qualified to the next round.

No matter which type of downhill racing you do take part in, you should always wear protective gear. This helps to protect you in case you do fall off the bike. However as downhill mountain biking is a potential danger to the whole body, it is not possible to protect every single part of yourself. So there is always the risk of injury even if you have got the right protection on.

Overall as long as you wear the right protection you will have a lesser risk of hurting yourself. However you can never fully guarantee that you won’t get hurt and that is why downhill biking is such an extreme and dangerous sport to take part in.

By: Alison Addy

About the Author:

Mountain bike racing is a rapidly growing sport. It is often thrown into the ‘extreme sports’ category, but shares little in common with such sports as skateboarding or trick biking. A mixture of ski slalom and intense trail riding, a good mountain bike race is exhilarating to watch but even more fun to ride.

When you think about mountain bike racing, if you have at all, you probably think it’s just for crazy young people. The truth, however, is that people of all ages and abilities can partake, from children to grown men and women.

Before jumping in, however, it’s a good idea to learn the basics. This article will cover everything you need to know, so you can hit that trail today!

The Name of the Game is Fun

The first, and most important rule, to mountain bike racing is to have fun! Sure, in any competition, we want to win, but this sport is about the pure thrill of riding on new and exciting terrain, and a win is just the icing on the cake.

In order to keep things balanced, most races are broken up into different skill levels, so you’ll always be riding against someone of comparable skill and experience. Categories are broken up by age, experience level, weight, and sometimes there are even men- or women-only races. Before signing up for one, check out what the race has to offer and sign up for the appropriate level.

Start Small

If you’re just getting started, no matter how much riding you’ve done, it’s a good idea to start at the lower, or beginner, levels. If you try to dive headfirst into an extreme race, you could lose your confidence, or worse, get injured. So start small, and once you have some experience you can move up to higher difficulties.

That said, if you really know what you’re doing, don’t take on a race that’s way too easy for you. Just as you wouldn’t like to be left in someone else’s dust, it’s not fun for other riders if you fly past them on a course below your level.

Also make sure you’re in good physical condition. A mountain bike rice can be a strenuous affair, so make sure you’ve got plenty of practice on downhill rides, and on different terrain. Also make sure you’ve got the strength and endurance to finish a race. Make sure and check out how long a race is first.

Your Bike – Is it Ready?

Once you’ve ensured that your body is ready, it’s time to check your bicycle. It can be frustrating and potentially dangerous to breakdown mid-race, so always do a routine check-up before a race. Tune your bike, check tire pressure, check the brakes, and take it on a test run before tackling the challenge.

You should also consider what kind of components your bike has. A full suspension mountain bike can really help cushion those falls, but it also means a heavier bike, which may slow you down. A bike with a lighter frame is great, if you can afford it.

The general type of mountain bike matters as well. For trail races, a cross-country bike will keep you covered, but for serious downhill bike racing, you’ll want a bike specifically designed for downhilling.

Finally, always carry an emergency repair kit. We recommend a good multi tool as well as a tire puncture repair kit and a water bottle.

Types of Racing

There are several different types of races. You may want to try them all, or focus on one kind. Let’s take a look at the options:

Cross-Country:

The most common type of race, the cross-country (or XC) race is a direct competition where riders take on a pre-constructed trail or track. If there are a large number of riders, the race may be divided into sections, such that only a few riders go at a time. This is a fast-paced and intensive race, somewhat comparable to track-bike racing, only with obstacles and rough terrain.

Downhill:

This is a straight-shot downhill race. Riders go down one at a time and the fastest time wins. Usually the course will have both natural and man-made obstacles, such as ruts, jumps, boulders, and other obstructions. It is essential to have a clear view ahead of you at all times, so that you’re surprised by any of the obstacles.

Downhill Slalom:

Similar to straight-forward downhilling, the slalom may take place on the same (or similar) course, except there are gates along the way. Just like in slalom skiing, the rider must pass around the edge of each gate. A penalty is given for any missed or touched gates, and the best time wins.

Hillclimb:

This is also an individual race against time. Much more physically taxing than the downhill ride, in the hillclimb the fastest rider to the top wins.

Important Tips Before you Race

Once you’ve picked out your race and bike, you’re almost ready to hit the course. There are just a few more things you should keep in mind.

Practice: Before entering a serious race, you should have logged hundreds, if not thousands of hours riding your bike. The only way to get better is to keep doing it. Know the risks: Competitive mountain biking can be a dangerous sport. Always wear a helmet, but know that it is a potentially dangerous extreme sport. Hydrate: Always drink before the race, and keep a bottle or Camelbak with you at all times. Dehydration can stop you dead in your tracks. Pace yourself: If you’re in a long race, just like in a foot race, don’t blow all your energy at the beginning. Know the course: You should always take at least one test-run on a new course, at a slower speed, before racing it. Surprises can be dangerous.
Time to Race!

Once you’ve covered all the above steps, there’s nothing left to do but get out there and race! There are lots of races all over the world, so check online or a local newspaper or biking magazine, and enroll today!

By: David A Carter

About the Author:

GerryPallor asked:

The Gravity East Mountain Bike Series staged a dual slalom race race at Windham Mountain on a rainy Saturday. The result was predictable, lots of muddy racers sliding down the course with ear to ear smiles. Another RadXSports video. Narration: Natalie OnCam — Mountain Bike Intro: A dual slalom mountain bike race pits two racers riding down the course together, first one across the finish line wins the heat and moves up to the next bracket until the winner emerges from all this head to head competition. Tony OnCam — Mountain Bike Intro: Run it over a muddy course and it’s a sight to be seen. Tony: VO Mountain Bike June was a record month for rainfall in the northeast, but it takes more than a little mud to stop a maniac mountain bike racer on a mission. Practice runs through the wet conditions didn’t slow them down or keep these hearty souls from smiling. The racers gathered at the top of the course for the first round, individual time trials to determine seeding and byes in the brackets. 34 racers were competing in men’s and women’s divisions at the Pro, Cat 1 Expert, Category 2 and 3 Amateur and Juniors levels. With the timed runs done and the brackets set, the racers prepared for the head to heads action. A fast start was critical in these sloppy conditions. Passing, even on a wide open course, was an adventure. Still, all it took was momentary mistake for an opening to appear that let an alert racer slide past his opponent for a come from behind victory. Then, in the b…/b

first-or-last asked:


Im 14 years old, 5 feet 4 inches and 110 pounds and i am looking for a dual slalom mountain bike. I want it to be a good durable bike that is under $1500. What would be a good size bike for me. I you know any thing else that would help me i would appreciate it.
Thanks, Cole