Mountain biking is usually very risky. If you are an extreme rider, you need specialist clothing to protect your body from injuries. Downhill racing is one of the riskiest forms of mountain biking and can result in deadly crashes. Therefore, it is important that you wear appropriate mountain bike pads and other armors needed to protect your skin during such crashes. For good protection, it is important that your protective gears fit you well without restricting your motion. Finding the right protective gear that fits you well may take time and therefore should be done well in advance before the riding date. Keeping this task pending till the last moment may need you to compromise on your safety. Upper Body Protection:
Upper body armor is used to offer protection to the entire upper body, including chest, shoulders, elbows, back, and spine. Typically, an upper body armor includes a vented chest plate and an articulated spine protection. The armor is usually complimented with appropriate mountain bike pads for complete protection. Mountain bike pads, such as elbow pads and ankle pads are important to complete the protection of your upper body. Some upper body jerseys also incorporate inbuilt elbow pads for added protection. However, separate pads are recommended for free movement of the body. Lower Body Protection:
Padded shorts are usually used to offer protection to the lower body. Padded shorts are made with soft impact inner padding and hard outer shell. The inner soft lining is designed to protect hips, thighs, buttocks and tailbone while the hard outer shell protects knee and shin. Full leg versions of padded shorts are also available that offer complete lower body protection in one garment. Separate pads like knee guards, ankle guards, and shin guards are used for additional protection of lower body. Helmets and Gloves:
Mountain bike helmets are a must have for mountain bike riders. Helmets offer protection against dust, debris and even branches of trees. They take care of your head, brain and skull in case of an accident or a collision. The helmets also act as a shield around your head to protect it from extreme weather conditions. Gloves cover palm and fingers to protect them from cuts and abrasions during heavy falls. In addition, they offer a strong grip and protect your hands against heat and cold. While buying extreme riding gloves, more emphasis should be given on getting a pair of gloves with high impact resistance.
The Author is an expert in article writing and has done a lot of research online and offline. Come visit his latest websites on Mountain bike pads and mtb helmets.
When talking about the Alps and Morzine, the first, and perhaps overpowering image that comes to mind, is of snow, skis and other winter activities. Yet there is another side to this area - the opportunities offered for mountain biking. Morzine makes a great base location for this type of holiday, and from there you'll have a huge choice in terms of tracks and directions to set off in. What's on offer?
It slightly depends upon which reference you are using, but it's commonly estimated there are over 1,000 kilometres of prepared track running through various parts of the countryside surrounding Morzine. Some of these tracks have names that have become synonymous with quality biking opportunities - such as the Colorado Singletrack, the Mont Cherry Circuit and the sometimes seemingly unassailable Col de Con.
Many trails have ski and bike lift facilities or support transport and, for mountain biking, Morzine offers terrain and conditions to suit just about everyone - irrespective of their fitness and experience levels. There are great opportunities for cross-country biking, BMX and downhill. In particular, for experienced bikers, some of the downhill runs are considered to be among some of the world's most demanding.
Equipment purchase or hire is also available locally, though if you are planning to pick something up after arrival it might be a good idea to check in advance to make sure that what you want will be available. The background
For mountain biking, Morzine can offer something that you may find it difficult to find elsewhere in the world - the incomparable scenery, clean air and tranquillity. Biking up a steep climb may not be able to be described as 'easy', but if you are doing it with the Alps as a backdrop, it just may somehow make it that much easier!
Of course, Morzine is not just about skiing and biking.There may be times when you simply want to do something that doesn't involve putting on a helmet and, if so, this area won't disappoint in terms of its other attractions.
To start with, this is not a resort that was thrown together only in the last 10 or 20 years. The history of the village goes back at least 1000 years, and long before it became famous for winter sports, it was a centre for slate mining and agriculture. What that means is that it has a culture and charm that are well worth exploring - including some interesting opportunities to witness local crafts. There is an excellent range of restaurants and bars, and even a cinema which occasionally shows English-language films.
There are some great walking opportunities and a number of the local towns and villages surrounding Morzine are well worth exploring. Accommodation is typically chalet style and extremely comfortable, if unfussy (although luxury accommodation is available for those who like a little bit of extra comfort).
So, if you are considering a holiday including mountain biking, Morzine offers some great trails and tracks but also alongside that, the best of comfort and facilities. What more could you ask for?
Liz Olkowicz is the Business Development Manager for Ski and Summer Morzine, a Morzine Tour Operator, based in Surrey, offering tailor-made holidays. For mountain biking, Morzine has world-class trails and is the perfect location to explore the French Alps. For a great-value Alpine holiday mountain biking, Morzine is the ideal location.
Mountain bike riding is one of the most skilled forms of cycling that there is, this is why it is so popular with so many different people. From trail riding to forest riding to downhill descending to climbing a steep rocky path there are so many different skills and techniques that you need to learn if you want to be a mountain biking expert. One of the easiest skills to learn is how to negotiate a muddy trail when out on your mountain bike.
Learning to negotiate a muddy trail when riding your mountain bike really is one of the easiest skills that you have to learn when riding and as it is the skill that you will use most often it is important to make sure that you learn it well and get to grips with it as soon as you can. Mostly this skill is about learning to keep your balance on the bike and learn how to distribute your weight when riding. If you are riding a new mountain bike then this is something that might take you a little long to get as you will have to learn how your bike handles.
The tyres that you have fitted to your bike will also make a really big difference to how you negotiate a muddy trail, The Maxxis Ignitor tyre is ideal for helping you tackle this terrain as it is really good at clearing mud from the tread pattern. The Maxxis Ignitor was specially designed as an all round mountain bike tyre but with special emphasis on helping the rider to be able to negotiate tricky terrain. If you have not invested in a set of Maxxis Ignitor tyres and you are relatively new to riding a mountain bike it might be a good idea to go out and buy some as you will get much more from your ride experience.
Another skill to learn when riding a muddy trail is when to apply power to the pedals and when to back off. This will not only help you stay upright on your mountain bike but it will also help you save a lot of energy. Putting power down at the wrong time will mean that you might lose traction on the mud and then you will have to try extra hard to keep going or you may just fall off which is not advisable.
Learning to handle your mountain bike competently is also something that will come in handy when riding a muddy trail. A muddy trail can seriously change the way your bike handles as the mud can encase the tread on your tyres which in turn alters the feel of your bike that you are used to. Keeping your hands on the handle bars at all times is really important and always make sure that you have flex in your arms otherwise you will find yourself being too rigid which will reduce your control of the bike. Finding a mountain bike tyre which does not clog up with mud is a great way to alleviate this problem, the Maxxis Ignitor is probably the one most suited to this task.
So by understanding how your bike handles, fitting a set of Maxxis Ignitor tyres to your mountain bike and understanding when to apply power to the pedals when riding a muddy trail you should soon have this important skill mastered.
For more info on Maxxis Ignitor tyres please visit our site - http://www.thebiketyre.co.uk/ Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site Harwood E. Woodpecker
Selecting Good Mountain Bikes begins with selecting the right type of mountain bike (MTB) for you. Yes, it all comes back down to the type of riding you do.
My current bike is thirteen years old and still going strong. The questions I am about to share with you, are the ones I used when researching good mountain bikes for myself. Recently I used the same questions to find a good MTB for my nine year old son's birthday. I began researching kids mountain bikes and applied the same questions to help select the right bike for him. I am pleased to say, the bike is a perfect fit for him and has renewed his love of bike riding.
So how do you go about choosing the right bike? Simply by asking a series of questions designed help you select the best bike for you.
What is your riding experience?What is the age and height is the bike rider?Is the bike going to be used for commuting or cross-country riding?Is the bike going to be used for mountain cruising?Is the bike going to be used for rocky trails?Is the bike going to be used for rugged downhill tracks?Is the bike going to be used for jumping and aerial tricks?
The type of riding you intend to undertake will greatly influence the style and bike configuration. Although most mountain bikes look similar, there is a vast difference in frame types, steering geometry, suspension, gearing as well as the wheels, brakes and tyres.
As a rule of thumb, a beginner rider will best be served by a recreational cross country bike. If you intend to do a lot of riding on pavement and off-road, choose a model with good front suspension, no rear suspension (hardtail) as they have the best efficiency and comfort. If you intend to do more off-road riding, a full suspension frame is best.
If you intend to use it exclusively off-road and mostly over rough terrain look for a higher end full suspension model as these will have a greater range of suspension travel and a heavier more robust frame and brakes. This will help with the comfort and stability of your ride.
Downhill MTB's must be very heavy duty in design and have lower, looser steering geometry. These design changes make the bike more responsive at fast speeds down steep slopes; these bikes are designed for the more experienced rider.
Depending on the type of riding you wish to undertake the following is a list of good MTB brands which I have found to be good quality and good value for money. They are Giant, Diamondback, Kona, Trek, Norco, Schwinn, Mongoose and GT brand bikes.
The last thing you need to decide is, do you want good, or do you want cheap. The words "good" and "cheap" are not synonymous, nor are good bikes generally found in discount department stores.
While researching Kids mountain bikes, I discover a renewed passion for the sport as both my sons now have mountain bikes. We purchased a 21 speed - 24 inch "GT Stomper" for my nine year old son while my eleven year old son rides a five year old, 7 speed - 20 inch Schwinn.
My eleven year old does well to keep up with us on our larger and faster bikes. His bike is much more agile over jumps and tight tracks. He now wants to upgrade to a larger 26" bike. Due to his age and height, frame selection is critical as he is going through rapid growth spurts. He is currently just that little too short for a medium frame size. We are waiting until his next birthday before choosing a good mountain bike with a larger frame size that he will not outgrow too quickly.
I must commend my son as he has learnt that there is a difference between a cheap bike, a good bike and a reasonable bike. We said we would look at a GT aggressor, a reasonable bike, good for its price range; however, he has his eyes on the Mongoose Tyax Comp or if he can stretch his savings a GT Avalanche 1.
I will be researching the best mountain bikes and MTB prices to help my son get the most bike for his money. Keep an eye out for our future article where to buy Good Mountain Bikes which will be posted on our website.
After researching mountain bikes and mountain bike prices on the Internet for my family I got discouraged with the information available due to the high number of spam marketing sites. I decided to start a quality site about mountain bikes and mountain bike riding called Good Mountain Bikes R Us.
If you want quality information why not visit and bookmark our site http://www.goodmountainbikesrus.com/.
So you think you can become a mountain biker? Mountain biking is a sport that improves your fitness levels and helps your concentration peak. If you seek the thrill of adventure and have a passion for traveling through rough terrains, mountain biking might just be perfect for you. After all, cycling through rough terrain and mud is exciting.
Bikers are people who are physically fit and have great levels of endurance. Riding a mountain bike up a mountain requires a lot of stamina and energy and is not very easy. New riders are often at a loss deciding if mountain biking is for them. It becomes clear very early on that a bike is not the only equipment they need. Research the tools required to start mountain biking before deciding to take the plunge.
New riders need to decide if mountain biking is really their cup of tea. Mountain biking is an expensive hobby. You need to consider the additional costs that mountain biking attracts. It's not enough if you buy a Scott Scale 20 or a Scott Scale 60. You need buy your bike and the gear that accompanies it. You will need to consider the type of tires your terrain demands and buy accordingly.
Safety while riding your mountain bike is very important. Never drive without a helmet and other protective gear. Your helmet can save your life. In addition to a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads should be worn to prevent bruising. Always carry a first aid kit and some water. It helps if you know some basic first aid procedures. Mountain bikers should wear special pants for cycling that come with padding and with suspenders. Bikers should avoid wearing baggy clothes as there are chances of the clothes getting stuck in the bike and causing injury.
Riders are also expected to keep their bikes in a good condition and service them from time to time. Bikers must also have a basic idea about repairing the bike in case of an emergency. Most bikes like the Scott Spark 60 are so well designed that you will not find yourself in situations like those. But it's always good to know how to get things to work if the need arises.
Bikers who ride in the neighbourhood and in cities need to be careful about following traffic rules. The traffic rules apply to bikers too and a simple adherence to them can help save lives. Bikers also need to be cautious when crossing intersections and driveways. Bikes are silent vehicles and so it's tough for motor vehicles to know when a bike is around the corner. There is always a risk involved and a smart cyclist biker is careful while riding on the city streets.
Rising bicycles are great fun but they are also a very big risk. A large amount of emergency room cases are of bikers who sustained injuries while cycling. With such a high margin of risk, new bikers should give mountain biking a serious thought and decide the risk level they are comfortable with.
This article was brought to you by Shaun Connolly, owner and developer of Review Saver [http://reviewsaver.co.uk]
If you are interested in cycling and would like to view all the latest Men's Mountain Bikes, including the Scott Scale 20, Scott Genius 30 and the Scott Spark 60 [http://reviewsaver.co.uk/review/Scott-Spark-60-2011-Mountain-Bike-1306516180], you can do so by following any of the relevant links.
Long-suspension trail bikes (120 mm and above) designed with geometry which allows cross-country biking are the most popular mountain bikes today. Trail bike adjustment, riding style, use of brakes and pedaling, are different from short-suspension bikes. In this article, you will find some tips to take advantage of the trail bikes like: Trek FUEL EX, Merida TRANS MISSION and Giant TRANCE. Comfortable Suspension
Calibrate the shock absorbers to the soft side of the range. Common mistake of most riders is to inflate the shocks in order to simulate old bike. This common mistake has serious consequences like: suspension isn't fully used, bike center of gravity and thus rider position is higher, what cause an unstable ride. Shocks are designed for spring preload of 25 percent since it is the point at which the rider spends most of the time. Use the Gadgets
All the mountain bike special features are designed for use and aren't just gimmicks. Compression damping, rebound damping, suspension travel adjustments are effective and efficient mechanisms that can improve your cycling performance. Switching between different modes can change bicycle angle, improve pedaling efficiency and raise/lower the center of gravity. Dials and buttons are not your enemies, "play" with them and experience their effect during the ride. Wide Tires
Wide tires let you move fast, ride aggressively in technical sections, stop hard, and all of them under full control. You can balance the weight you have added to the tires by converting the rim to run tubeless. Low Air Pressure
Large volume tires can be inflated with low air pressure. 1.9/2.1 wide tire inflated to 50 PSI, will lose about 10 PSI if the width is increased to 2.35. Cross country bike with a tire width of 2.35 inches does not require more than 28 PSI front and 30 PSI rear if the rider weighs about 75 kilograms. Cycling with high air pressure in wide tires will become bumpy and unpleasant nightmare, and decrease bike's overall performance. Ride Fast
Long suspension forks have high energy absorption capability, so they can bring you to a complete stop when encountering an obstacle. You should arrive with momentum to allow the bike to absorb the obstacle and move forward. Climbing
You do not have to climb with the small gear up front, but trail bike with thick tires climbs best while you seating. Climb effectiveness depends on bike capability to keep momentum, and this by "swallowing" bumps and advance on selected line. Let your bike and suspension do the work for you. Break Late
When you equipped with 5 to 6 inches of travel in the back and wide tires, you are not supposed to lock the wheels during braking. Versus short suspension bikes, the front brakes in trail bike are more effective. Fork and front tire let the rider to brake later and deeper into the turn. Release the brakes gradually when entering into the turn and stick to the selected line. Right is in the Middle
The more suspension travel the bike has, the more they are sensitive to rider's weight transfer forward and back. It is better to ride in the middle of the bike. Two situations in which the body shouldn't be centered are standing acceleration and technical downhill. In standing acceleration the body should be shifted forward, and in technical downhill, body weight should be on the back to reduce the load on the fork.
For more information regarding mountain biking and specially mountain biking clothing, refer to Mountain Biking Clothing
Cycling Is Considered The New Golf. 13 Million Searches A Month For Keyword "cycling". Cyclists Spend 10k+ On Their Bikes And Are Obsessed About Their Performance. A Brand New Killer Product In An Untapped Market.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
