Mountain Bike » Bike Riders

How Mountain Bike Gears Work

Admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:31:26 +0000

The gears in mountain bikes just keep getting more and more intricate. The bikes of today have as many as 27 gear ratios. A mountain bike will use a combination of three different sized sprockets in front and nine in the back to produce gear ratios.
The idea behind all these gears is to allow the rider to crank the pedals at a constant pace no matter what kind of slope the bike is on. You can understand this better by picturing a bike with just a single gear. Each time you rotate the pedals one turn, the rear wheel would rotate one turn as well (1:1 gear ratio).
If the rear wheel is 26 inches in diameter, then with 1:1 gearing, one full twist on the pedals would result in the wheel covering 81. 6 inches of ground. If you are pedaling at a speed of 50 RPM, this means that the bike can cover over 340 feet of ground per minute. This is only 3. 8 MPH, which is the equivalence of walking speed. This is ideal for climbing a steep hill, although bad for ground or going downhill.
To go faster you’ll need a different ratio. To ride downhill at 25 MPH with a 50 RPM cadence at the pedals, you’ll need a 5. 6:1 gear ratio. A bike with a lot of gears will give you a large number of increments between a 1:1 gear ratio and a 6. 5:1 gear ratio so that you can always pedal at 50 RPM, no matter how fast you are actually going.
On a normal 27 speed mountain bike, six of the gear ratios are so close to each other that you can’t notice any difference between them.
With actual use, bike riders tend to choose a front sprocket suitable for the slope they are riding on and stick with it, although the front sprocket can be difficult to shift under heavy load. It’s much easier to shit between the gears on the rear.
If you are cranking up a hill, it’s best to choose the smallest sprocket on the front then shift between the nine gears available on the rear. The more speeds you have on the back sprocket, the bigger advantage you’ll have.
All in all, gears are very important to mountain bikes as they dictate your overall speed. Without gears you wouldn’t be able to build speed nor would you be able to pound pedals. The gears will move the pedals and help you build up speed.
There are all types of gears available in mountain bikes, all of which will help you build up a lot of momentum if you use them the right way.

Kona Mountain Bikes Are Made For Biking At Its Best

Admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:23:58 +0000

Kona mountain bikes are the specially designed mountain bikes manufactured by a bicycle company in the name of Kona Bikes. The company also has other product lines, which includes racing bicycles, frames, parts and accessories

The company has been dubbed as the fun bike company for its unconventional yet crazy bike names.

Whats more, it is believed that Kona is the first principal company to be on board as far as Freeride, or “North Shore” riding was concerned. Moreover, they are also known to produce some odd bikes that became instant hits in the market.

You must know that Kona bikes are more than suitable for UK weather conditions. No wonder, their mountain bikes have a huge market in U.K alone. Speaking of Kona bike range, you will find the Kona Stinky and not to mention the Kona Smoke are some of the best choices for the fanatic bike riders and novice cyclists.

Achievements

Believe it or not, Kona has manufactured a downhill bike that took the title of a Downhill World Champion twice. When it comes to cross country riding and cross-country racing you cannot do without Kona Bicycles. From designing to innovation, you will get it all with these bicycles. Although these kinds of races are really tough, Kona bicycles are equal to the task.

Durability and performance are the things that go hand in hand with Kona bikes and for this reason these bikes score high in dirt jumping. If you are seeking a bike for urban riding, then hit the road with Kona Asphalt. With Kona Asphalt, riding city streets becomes childs play.

Free riding bikes were always on demand and now with things going global, the demand has radically increased and Kona bikes have set the example worldwide especially as far as design is concerned.

The variety

The varied collection of mountain bikes from Kona has taken a considerable share of the market. For example Kona Lana I 2005 Mountain Bike, Kona Fire Mountain 2006 Mountain Bike, Kona Shred 2006 Mountain Bike, Kona Cinder Cone Sole 2007 Mountain Bike, Kona Unit 2007 Mountain Bike, Kona Kikapu-8 2007 Mountain Bike and all that have been instant hits.

If you have any queries about this company and its products, go through the shopping help web page to find answers. Another thing you should know is that Kona accepts sponsorship requests and resumes by email. You may also avail yourself to discounted bikes, so check it out with your local Kona dealers.

If you have already bought a Kona mountain bike then you can seek the customer service department for any queries and enhancements.

Maybe, you want to install a DH fork, or a specific tire or may even want to include more suspension to your bike, the Kona people are always ready with their suggestions. All you need to mention is the type of bike, the date of manufacture and its serial number.

By: Robert Sheehan

kona fire mountain 2006

Mountain Bike Accessories That You Need

Admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:43:28 +0000

For beginning mountain bikers, they may find it very overwhelming to visit a bicycling store to purchase their first bike. Even after reading mountain bike reviews, once you go into the store and check out the many different accessories and bikes that are offered, it can overwhelm you very easily.

You can buy many different mountain bike accessories and products. Salespeople usually work by commission, so they will most likely try to encourage you to buy quite a bit of items that you may not necessarily need. That is why it is important to set a budget so that you are able to determine what is most important to you and what you really need to begin your mountain biking journey. Here are a few things that are essential in mountain biking.

Helmet

This is the thing that is most important to purchase for mountain biking. If you will not wear a helmet, then you do not need to be riding a bike. Many bike riders have received serious head injuries just because they will not wear a helmet. You will find that mountain bike helmets can be quite stylish, comfortable, and you will see that everyone else who is riding the trails is wearing a bike helmet.

Gloves

Your hands can get quite irritated while mountain biking, no matter what time of the year it may be. If you are a beginner, then you may find that you grip the handlebars quite tightly, which can irritate your hands. If you happen to crash, then you will see that your hands are the first thing that will probably come into contact with the ground. By wearing mountain bike gloves, you will be helping to protect your hands.

Shorts

You will find that mountain biking can be very uncomfortable to your bottom. Mountain bike shorts can help to keep your bottom from getting quite as sore. Your body and bottom will get used to the riding, but the mountain bike shorts will help your body until it grows accustomed to the riding.

Shoes

Mountain bike shoes are chosen according to what type of bike pedals you have and what type of bike riding that you do. If your bike uses clipless pedals, then you will need to choose shoes that will work well with your bike pedals. Comfort and durability are the main goals in mountain bike shoes and if you need more power, you will want to have a stiff sole on them for more efficient pedaling.

Protecting Your Eyes

If something gets in your eye, then you cannot see the trail to ride on. By wearing clear-lensed protective glasses or sunglasses, you can help keep the dirt, wind, and debris from your eyes. Make certain that you choose glasses that are non-breakable for maximum use.

Hydrating Yourself

Keeping yourself hydrated is very important. By carrying a water hydration backpack or water bottle, you can help keep yourself from becoming dehydrated. Then you will be able to have more energy and stamina.

Bike Repair Kit

If you do not have the proper kit to repair your bike, then you can become stuck on the trail if you have a problem. For maximum safety, it is important to have a bike-repair multi-tool, a patch kit for flat tires, and tire levers. Being prepared can help to keep you safe.

By: Alastair Hamilton

Kona Mountain Bikes – Biking at It’s Best

Admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:46:34 +0000

Kona mountain bikes are the specially designed mountain bikes manufactured by a bicycle company in the name of Kona Bikes. The company also has other product lines, which includes racing bicycles, frames, parts and accessories

The company has been dubbed as the “fun” bike company for its unconventional yet crazy bike names.

What’s more, it is believed that Kona is the first principal company to be “on board” as far as Freeride, or “North Shore” riding was concerned. Moreover, they are also known to produce some odd bikes that became instant hits in the market.

You must know that Kona bikes are more than suitable for UK weather conditions. No wonder, their mountain bikes have a huge market in U.K alone. Speaking of Kona bike range, you will find the Kona Stinky and not to mention the Kona Smoke are some of the best choices for the fanatic bike riders and novice cyclists.

Achievements

Believe it or not, Kona has manufactured a downhill bike that took the title of a Downhill World Champion twice. When it comes to cross country riding and cross-country racing you cannot do without Kona Bicycles. From designing to innovation, you will get it all with these bicycles. Although these kinds of races are really tough, Kona bicycles are equal to the task.

Durability and performance are the things that go hand in hand with Kona bikes and for this reason these bikes score high in dirt jumping. If you are seeking a bike for urban riding, then hit the road with Kona Asphalt. With Kona Asphalt, riding city streets becomes a child’s play.

Free riding bikes were always on demand and now with things going global, the demand has radically increased and Kona bikes have set the example worldwide especially as far as design is concerned.

The variety

The varied collection of mountain bikes from Kona has taken a considerable share of the market. For example Kona Lana I 2005 Mountain Bike, Kona Fire Mountain 2006 Mountain Bike, Kona Shred 2006 Mountain Bike, Kona Cinder Cone Sole 2007 Mountain Bike, Kona Unit 2007 Mountain Bike, Kona Kikapu-8 2007 Mountain Bike and all that have been instant hits.

If you have any queries about this company and it’s products, go through it’s shopping help web page to find answers. Another thing you should know is that Kona accepts sponsorship requests and resumes by email. You may also avail yourself to discounted bikes, so check it out with your local Kona dealers.

If you have already bought a Kona mountain bike then you can seek the customer service department for any queries and enhancements. Maybe, you want to install a DH fork, or a specific tire or may even want to include more suspension to your bike, the Kona people are always ready with their suggestions. All you need to mention is the type of bike, the date of manufacture and its serial number.

By: Robert Sheehan