Posts Tagged ‘Dirt Tracks’

Mountain Biking – History Saturday, November 7th, 2009

People use bicycles for many different reasons. They are a great means of transport for getting to and from work, you can fit your shopping into the baskets available to attach to the front, and they provide a wonderful way to travel when on holiday and exploring different areas. People have always ridden off road as well as on it, but the history of mountain biking really begins more than thirty years ago, in the 1970’s. Modern bike designs have made the sport more accessible to more people, and the history of mountain biking certainly shows it is now even more popular than ever.

But although mountain biking is now enjoyed all over the world, it began life in California, America. A group of cycle enthusiasts decided to try out some downhill runs on bikes that would now seem antiquated to many of us. The dirt tracks were much the same as many mountain bike race courses today, but the bikes have changed considerably over the intervening years. Those races became famous, and before long similar races were taking place along tracks at locations in many different countries.

As new materials and ways of building bikes have come into existence, it has become easier to build a bike that is capable of withstanding everything a rough off road terrain has to throw at it. Stronger lighter frames and better gears have made mountain biking easier for more people to attempt. The history of mountain biking shows that the earliest riders began to adapt their bikes to get the best from those downhill runs and routes, and so the mountain bikes that we know today began to evolve.

At the time, the only type of bicycle you could buy was intended to be ridden on the road. Although people did ride off road it wasn’t popular enough to warrant a bike designed specifically for that use. But the bikers in California changed all that. The history of mountain biking began with them, and they began to rethink the way that bicycles were made in order to create a design that could handle all the obstacles and conditions the off road trails could throw at it. So the next time you grab hold of your own mountain bike and go for a ride – perhaps across a muddy field, or down a steep slippery slope on those knobbly tires – you should think of the pioneers of the 1970’s.

For buying and selling used or new (second hand) bikes and motorcycles check the link http://www.bharathautomobiles.com/motorcycles-s2_0.html

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mountain Biking – History Thursday, October 29th, 2009

People use bicycles for many different reasons. They are a great means of transport for getting to and from work, you can fit your shopping into the baskets available to attach to the front, and they provide a wonderful way to travel when on holiday and exploring different areas. People have always ridden off road as well as on it, but the history of mountain biking really begins more than thirty years ago, in the 1970’s. Modern bike designs have made the sport more accessible to more people, and the history of mountain biking certainly shows it is now even more popular than ever.

But although mountain biking is now enjoyed all over the world, it began life in California, America. A group of cycle enthusiasts decided to try out some downhill runs on bikes that would now seem antiquated to many of us. The dirt tracks were much the same as many mountain bike race courses today, but the bikes have changed considerably over the intervening years. Those races became famous, and before long similar races were taking place along tracks at locations in many different countries.

As new materials and ways of building bikes have come into existence, it has become easier to build a bike that is capable of withstanding everything a rough off road terrain has to throw at it. Stronger lighter frames and better gears have made mountain biking easier for more people to attempt. The history of mountain biking shows that the earliest riders began to adapt their bikes to get the best from those downhill runs and routes, and so the mountain bikes that we know today began to evolve.

At the time, the only type of bicycle you could buy was intended to be ridden on the road. Although people did ride off road it wasn’t popular enough to warrant a bike designed specifically for that use. But the bikers in California changed all that. The history of mountain biking began with them, and they began to rethink the way that bicycles were made in order to create a design that could handle all the obstacles and conditions the off road trails could throw at it. So the next time you grab hold of your own mountain bike and go for a ride – perhaps across a muddy field, or down a steep slippery slope on those knobbly tires – you should think of the pioneers of the 1970’s.

For buying and selling used or new (second hand) bikes and motorcycles check the link http://www.bharathautomobiles.com/motorcycles-s2_0.html

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Beginning Mountain Biking Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

This article describes the basics of mountain biking. Learning more about the sport will help you to enjoy it even more.

Mountain bikes are among the strongest and most rugged bicycles that you can find. The reason that these bikes are so strong is that they are ridden on some very tough terrain, including steep inclines, dirt tracks, and pebbles. In most cases, mountain bikers do not ride on smoothly paved roads, rather they ride on hilly and uneven terrain that can be quite rough on a bicycle. Mountain bikers get a big thrill in riding on unpaved, rough terrain, even though this is hard on a bicycle. That is why many manufacturers have made sturdier bikes for this purpose.

The tires on a mountain bike are thicker and fatter than normal bike tires. They are also made of more durable rubber that gives the rider added traction and control on uneven surfaces.

Suspension is another very essential feature of a mountain bike. A strong suspension system is essential for a mountain bike so that the rider can better handle the ups and downs that occur when riding on uneven terrain.

Mountain bikes can be separated into several different categories that are founded upon the type of suspension that they have. The classifications are dual suspension, hard tails, soft tails, and fully rigid bikes. Rigid bikes feature a rigid fork. Soft-tailed bikes have a rear suspension that pivots on the frame. Hard-tailed bikes feature a front suspension fork. Suspension bikes have either front, rear, or dual suspension systems. These bikes also feature a shock absorber in the rear, in addition to a linkage.

Lighter weight material and materials that are more resilient are the norm for a cross-country mountain bike. You can find a cross-country bike that can weight anywhere from 20-40 pounds, depending upon your needs. An all-mountain or Enduro bike will usually be heavier than a cross-country bike. These bikes range in weight from 30-35 pounds. These bikes feature a suspension that will enable you to maneuver around hairpin turns and climb up hills much easier.

Heavier and stronger materials are used to build a free ride mountain bike. They are made to help make pedaling easier, so that you can easily move around anything that is in your way and you can make sharp turns. They weigh in at around 45 pounds, which decreases their efficiency over other cross-country bikes.

For downhill tracks or race courses, you will want to choose a downhill mountain bike. They offer you better traction than the other varieties of mountain bikes for maximum control and speed.

If short distance riding is your game, then a trial bike is probably the one for you. They lack suspension and do not have a seat or vestigial pad. They are also much lighter than other bikes for maximum speed. They weigh in at about 20 pounds.

Between mountain and trial bikes, you will find Street Mountain, Dirt Jumping, and Urban Bikes. These bikes are extremely touch and feature anywhere from one to nine gears with a chain guide for the front and rear gears.

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Alastair Hamilton is the author of many resources on bicycles related topics published at www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A website with tips on mountain bike reviews, amongst many related topics.

Have Fun and Stay Fit on a Mountain Bike Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

The next time you’re ready to answer the call of the wild, hop on your mountain bike and head for the hills.

There is no doubt that mountain bikes are the most rugged bicycles on the market. Designed and built to take anything nature can put in their path, mountain bikes can tackle dirt tracks, steep inclines, pebbled surfaces and hairpin bends with ease. Most of these rugged cyclists thumb their noses at paved roads, and choose to take the less-traveled unpaved trails instead. The obvious wear and tear that these bikes face on a daily basis has brought about sturdier models that will keep performing under all types of pressure.

Mountain bikes have fatter tires made of stronger rubber, to avoid tears and punctures from sharp rocks and obstacles along the trail. These bigger tires provide better traction, so the cyclist can enjoy a smoother ride as he or she rolls over obstacles and crosses uneven terrain.

The type of suspension is an equally important feature of every mountain bike. All good quality mountain bikes are built with strong suspension systems. Mountain bike builders have begun to implement both front and rear suspension systems to help cyclists withstand the pitfalls of trail riding. Mountain bikes can be classified as soft tails, hard tails, fully rigid and dual suspension bikes, depending on the type of suspension that’s in place.

Soft tail bikes have rear suspension that rests on the frame and pivots. Hard tails models have a front suspension fork. Rigid types have a rigid fork, and dual or full suspension bikes have both a front suspension fork and a rear suspension. These also have a rear shock absorber as well as a linkage.

Cross-country mountain bikes are made of more resilient material, so they usually weigh less. These bikes can weigh as little as twenty pounds or as many as forty pounds. All-mountain or Enduro bikes are generally heavier than cross-country bikes, weighing anywhere from thirty to fifty pounds. With better suspensions, these bikes are better for climbing hills and maneuvering hairpin bends.

Free ride mountain bikes are made with stronger, heavier materials. This style of bike is designed for easier pedaling than the other downhill models. Free ride bikes are easily maneuvered around dangerous obstacles and steep turns, but they are not as efficient as cross-country bikes due to their hefty forty to fifty pound mass.

Downhill mountain bikes are not as strong as free ride bikes, but are the best choices for riding on race courses and downhill tracks. Downhill mountain bikes have better traction than most other styles.

A trail bike has no suspension and is usually reserved for short distances. This type of mountain bike is quite light, weighing a mere fifteen to twenty pounds, and lacks a proper seat or vestigial pad. Dirt jumping, urban and street bikes all fall in classes somewhere between trail bikes and mountain bikes. These styles of bikes are quite strong and have one to nine gears, plus a chain guide for both front and rear gears.

Riding mountain bikes is a popular way to have fun and get fit. Visit your local cycle shop for professional advice on finding the bike to best suit your cycling needs.

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Writer Abbott Tearce is a columnist for a variety of popular Internet sites, on outdoor sports recreation and creative recreation themes.

Mountain Biking – History Sunday, June 28th, 2009

People use bicycles for many different reasons. They are a great means of transport for getting to and from work, you can fit your shopping into the baskets available to attach to the front, and they provide a wonderful way to travel when on holiday and exploring different areas. People have always ridden off road as well as on it, but the history of mountain biking really begins more than thirty years ago, in the 1970’s. Modern bike designs have made the sport more accessible to more people, and the history of mountain biking certainly shows it is now even more popular than ever.

But although mountain biking is now enjoyed all over the world, it began life in California, America. A group of cycle enthusiasts decided to try out some downhill runs on bikes that would now seem antiquated to many of us. The dirt tracks were much the same as many mountain bike race courses today, but the bikes have changed considerably over the intervening years. Those races became famous, and before long similar races were taking place along tracks at locations in many different countries.

As new materials and ways of building bikes have come into existence, it has become easier to build a bike that is capable of withstanding everything a rough off road terrain has to throw at it. Stronger lighter frames and better gears have made mountain biking easier for more people to attempt. The history of mountain biking shows that the earliest riders began to adapt their bikes to get the best from those downhill runs and routes, and so the mountain bikes that we know today began to evolve.

At the time, the only type of bicycle you could buy was intended to be ridden on the road. Although people did ride off road it wasn’t popular enough to warrant a bike designed specifically for that use. But the bikers in California changed all that. The history of mountain biking began with them, and they began to rethink the way that bicycles were made in order to create a design that could handle all the obstacles and conditions the off road trails could throw at it. So the next time you grab hold of your own mountain bike and go for a ride – perhaps across a muddy field, or down a steep slippery slope on those knobbly tires – you should think of the pioneers of the 1970’s.

For buying and selling used or new (second hand) bikes and motorcycles check the link http://www.bharathautomobiles.com/motorcycles-s2_0.html

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

James Gunaseelan advises consumers on buying and selling second hand bikes and motorcycles in India