Posts Tagged ‘Handlebars’

Mountain Biking – A Whole Different World Monday, November 23rd, 2009

The sport of mountain biking is increasing in popularity year by year. It’s an exhilarating sport, but it’s also physically demanding. Both men and women take part, but its usually people kids, teens, and young adults.

As with any other activity, mountain bikers have devised their own culture, including a language of their own. If you want to get into the game, you’ll have to learn a few terms:

If you’re riding a “boing-boing” you’re riding a bike with both front and rear suspension. If you’ve “bonked” you’ve run out of energy. To “bring home a Christmas tree” is a bad thing, it means you’ve crashed through dense brushes and leaves and things are hanging off your helmet – it also means you’ve left a trace on the hill, which is something mountain bikers – and people in general, of course, are not supposed to do.

“Death cookies” are rocks that fly up into you as you go down the trail. This happens all the time and so that’s why you want to wear goggles or some kind of eye protection. To get “first blood” means you’re the first rider in a group who crashes and starts bleeding as a result. Some people perhaps feel this is a mark of honor for some reason.

If you’re doing an “endo” it means you’re flying over the handlebars of your bike do to a sudden stop. And then you’ll most likely do a “face plant” – hopefully into mud and not into a rock. Regardless, that’s why you wear a helmet and eye protection!

That’s only a small sampling of the terminology. Of course you’ll enjoy the sport even more if you can understand what the people around you are talking about, so take a gander at a few mountain biking slang dictionaries before you hit the trails.

Mountain biking is a great sport, but there is some controversy to it, as some people feel that the cyclists destroy the natural environment in certain areas, and bicycle advocates have to fight to keep the trails open to cyclists.

All cyclists can help by following simple rules – pack out more than you take in, respect pedestrians on the trails, don’t bike after heavy rains, and so on.

By using a respectful attitude toward the environment and common sense in dealing with other people, mountain biking will be a sport that will be around for a long time to come.

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Mountain Biking – Safety First To Avoid Crashes Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

If you love mountain biking, then you have to be practical enough to realize that crashes on mountain bikes are a reality that cannot be altogether avoided. Most of the mind-boggling crashes seen on television are fabricated with the help of stunt riders and the intention is to keep viewers glued on to the movies or the shows on television. Actual mountain crashes can vary from the very serious to the ones that are mild. Keeping in mind the nature of these crashes, it is imperative that one always wears safety equipment while mountain biking.

Inspite of wearing safety equipment, avoiding injury with mountain bike crashes is rare. Not only can these crashes cause severe damage to the bikers but it can also injure the viewers who are merely watching it as a sport. There have been cases of bikers being hospitalized with terrible wounds to the legs and also of riders being pierced with the pedals and handlebars of the bike in a serious manner. Even though all forms of mountain biking are potentially dangerous when it comes to accidents, there are certain styles like dirt jump, trials and downhill that contain the maximum risk.

The irony is that the trail style of mountain biking has gained immense popularity today and many people take to this to satiate their love of adventure. This being the case, it is more or less certain that people indulging in this form of mountain biking meet with accidents sooner or later. It is not always the fault of the biker that leads to crashes. Other riders who do not have the expertise or are not cautious can also be the cause of accidents to the careful and dedicated biker. As a result, the wise thing for riders to do is to always carry as many safety accessories as are possible.

The most vulnerable area of the human body in case of crashes are the hands, wrists and fingers. Even minor accidents can harm these delicate areas. The solution here is to buy gloves designed for mountain biking. These come in two types- the half-finger and the full-finger ones. These gloves help in protecting the skin so that it is not peeled off and also lessens the pain when the rider grips the handle bars very tightly.

One of the safety equipments that you just cannot do without is the helmet. In very serious crashes, wearing the helmet can make all the difference between life and death. Even if all the other parts of your body are injured and your head remains intact, the chances of survival are good which is why riding without the helmet is a grave mistake. Modern day helmets have been designed keeping in mind the comfort of the rider, so this is a must-have on your accessories list for safety.

Apart from this, it is advisable to have anti-skid clothing and protection for the eyes while indulging in mountain biking. Padded anti-skid clothes are useful in preventing the skid burns that occur when you fall at speeds that are very high. Again, eyes can tear because of the wind and rubble and this can lead to crashes, so it is always better to keep the eyes safe.

If you keep these basic precautions in mind, mountain biking may not be very hazardous and could also be a lot of fun. Lastly, never forget your bicycle helmets. Play safe!

Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}

Alison Addy is a journalist who writes newsletters on mountain bike crashes for www.bikecyclingreviews.com .Keep reading about cycling safety and bicycles at his web.

Mountain Biking And Skiing Monday, November 9th, 2009

Talk about extreme sports and skiing would be one of the typical activites that comes to mind. Mountain biking is also a type of extreme sport and is massively popular in the Rockies of the United States. Have you considered combining those two extreme sports? In Vail in Colorado, skiers who are fed up about the hot summer period with no snow around have discovered a way to have fun while waiting for the snowy season. They have combined both the sports and have provided some out of work ski-lift workers something to do. If you love cycling and you also love skiing, this great combination of extreme sports is ideal for you.

The skiers get the local ski resort to open up the ski lifts, and for a reasonable fee, they will carry them to the summit of the mountain with their bicycles. The skiers then take the ski-lift taking their bicycles with them. When they get to the top, they jump off the lift – often landing on the bicycle’s pedals with their feet and off they go. They can choose from a number of down hill slopes to zoom down at crazy speeds. The only problem is that a hill with most of the snow gone is usually covered with rocks and bits of old wood. These obstacles as well as the very steep slopes make this sport risky and exciting – and of course – extreme!

If you have never tried this or any other extreme sports, you should ride with an expert the first few times. Protective gear is necessary which should definitely include a helmet and pads. This not a sport for the fair of heart! The bike itself can hurt you if you have a wipe out against some rocks. Handlebars can provide nasty gashes on you. Knee pads are recommended as well as thick gloves. When you fall off your bike going upwards of thirty miles an hour, you will slide a long way – ow!

A way to stay a bit safer is to follow the normal routes on the slopes by following the standard green, blue, black, and double black diamond. It is not wise to go off course because the barrier fence that borders the slope in the winter will probably be gone. New extreme sports participants will find that going down ski slopes on a bike is not as easy as it sounds. You must be manouverable enough to shift your wheels to avoid obstacles and make tight turns.

Slope mountain biking can be done at Colorado and other places along the I-70 corridor. Call ahead and make sure that they allow the bikes on the ski lifts. It is also worth asking how much it will cost to buy tickets. Quite often, you can find ski resorts which are open for the summer purely so that people can hitch a lift and enjoy the view.

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Mountain Biking Tips for a Safe and Sound Bunny Hop Sunday, November 8th, 2009

It’s time everyone learns some mountain biking tips and tricks! But as a sound of concern, if this is your first time to try out these methods, it is suggested that you do them on secure areas and to wear your safety gear. Sure it isn’t cool to get hurt during your earlier attempts, right?

Have you ever tried doing what they call the Bunny Hop? This trick basically refers to making a jump, as it will get both your wheels off the ground at the same time! It is indeed a very helpful plan as it allows you to leap over logs or woods or other tranches that can possibly impede your ride. If you’ve already practiced well enough the mountain biking tips for this technique, then you can effortlessly get past the small objects along the trails you’re passing through even without slowing down nor having your tires get into contact with objects along the ground.

Learn to do the Bunny Hop by these simple mountain biking tips: If you are riding swift enough, simply pull the handlebars in an upward direction so you can haul up the front wheel too. If you lean backward, it can also help to lift your front wheel off the ground. Then now you can subsequently get your rear wheel off the ground. Do it by transferring your weight off the back end of your ride as you push the pedals back and up. Just be sure you carry out these actions in a fast yet smooth manner. Then prepare for landing and try to come back down gently. However, if you are doing the Bunny Hop from a higher place to a lower spot, land on your rear wheel first. It is not recommended that you land on both wheels when caught in that situation.

So, go ahead and try these out! But practice first before doing the tricks on rough areas. Plus, there are a couple of mountain biking tips to remember for your safety! First, always wear your helmet. You may have been told to do this over and over, but what harm can you get from doing so anyway? Second, make sure every gear of your bike is working. You will obviously do a lot gear shifting, from the lowest to highest, as you go along so you better be certain that this part of your mountain bike is functioning right.

As you pile up all the mountain biking tips for this trick, you should also learn that the key is to build up your biceps even more and to work out focusing on your arms, so you can lift your bikes and go higher.

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Mountain Biking – Safety First To Avoid Crashes Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

If you love mountain biking, then you have to be practical enough to realize that crashes on mountain bikes are a reality that cannot be altogether avoided. Most of the mind-boggling crashes seen on television are fabricated with the help of stunt riders and the intention is to keep viewers glued on to the movies or the shows on television. Actual mountain crashes can vary from the very serious to the ones that are mild. Keeping in mind the nature of these crashes, it is imperative that one always wears safety equipment while mountain biking.

Inspite of wearing safety equipment, avoiding injury with mountain bike crashes is rare. Not only can these crashes cause severe damage to the bikers but it can also injure the viewers who are merely watching it as a sport. There have been cases of bikers being hospitalized with terrible wounds to the legs and also of riders being pierced with the pedals and handlebars of the bike in a serious manner. Even though all forms of mountain biking are potentially dangerous when it comes to accidents, there are certain styles like dirt jump, trials and downhill that contain the maximum risk.

The irony is that the trail style of mountain biking has gained immense popularity today and many people take to this to satiate their love of adventure. This being the case, it is more or less certain that people indulging in this form of mountain biking meet with accidents sooner or later. It is not always the fault of the biker that leads to crashes. Other riders who do not have the expertise or are not cautious can also be the cause of accidents to the careful and dedicated biker. As a result, the wise thing for riders to do is to always carry as many safety accessories as are possible.

The most vulnerable area of the human body in case of crashes are the hands, wrists and fingers. Even minor accidents can harm these delicate areas. The solution here is to buy gloves designed for mountain biking. These come in two types- the half-finger and the full-finger ones. These gloves help in protecting the skin so that it is not peeled off and also lessens the pain when the rider grips the handle bars very tightly.

One of the safety equipments that you just cannot do without is the helmet. In very serious crashes, wearing the helmet can make all the difference between life and death. Even if all the other parts of your body are injured and your head remains intact, the chances of survival are good which is why riding without the helmet is a grave mistake. Modern day helmets have been designed keeping in mind the comfort of the rider, so this is a must-have on your accessories list for safety.

Apart from this, it is advisable to have anti-skid clothing and protection for the eyes while indulging in mountain biking. Padded anti-skid clothes are useful in preventing the skid burns that occur when you fall at speeds that are very high. Again, eyes can tear because of the wind and rubble and this can lead to crashes, so it is always better to keep the eyes safe.

If you keep these basic precautions in mind, mountain biking may not be very hazardous and could also be a lot of fun. Lastly, never forget your bicycle helmets. Play safe!

Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}

Alison Addy is a journalist who writes newsletters on mountain bike crashes for www.bikecyclingreviews.com .Keep reading about cycling safety and bicycles at his web.