By admin, on February 23rd, 2011%
From touring to off-road riding to track riding to cyclo-riding to recreational bikingthere are almost as many different styles of riding as there are bikes. The following is a discussion of three of the most popular styles of biking today.
StreetUrban Riding
StreetUrban riding is when you bike through urban areas, ride on ledges and other man-made obstacles. Some riders execute tricks as well as stalls and grinds. Hybrid bikes, sometimes called city bikes, are typically used for streeturban riding. Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. Most have front suspension with wide comfortable seats and upright handlebars.
Free Riding
The essence of free riding has it origins on the shores of British Columbia. As some free riders have explained it, free riding is more than just riding, its about riding with your friends and doing things on your bike that push the limits of both yourself and your bike. Its not about being the fastest or coming up with a new trick. Rather, its about being totally free on your bike. Free riding is different for everyone. Essentially, when you ride for pure enjoyment, do your own thing, in your own way, thats free riding–making it more of a mindset than a structured style of riding. For example, you could free ride downhill, cross-country or down the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland.
Many free ride bikes closely resemble downhill bikes and weigh as much, although they are usually designed to be easier to pedal. Free ride bikes should be in the 30 to upper 50 pound range, have a steeper angled frame in order to make maneuvering on narrow obstacles possible, and be built from stronger, heavier materials.
Downhill Mountain Biking
If you think downhill biking is all about kicking back, stretching your arms and cruising at a leisurely pace, think again. Even though its all downhill, biking down a mountain demands concentration, quick reflexes and bike-handling skills much different than free riding or city riding. Its also a blast! Downhill mountain biking races involve race courses that are designed for riders to speed down while navigating huge jumps, obstacles and more. Its very similar to motor cross racing.
While its true that all bikes go downhill, bikes that provide the optimum ride for Downhill Mountain Biking have what is called full suspension. This means that the front and rear of the frame are equipped with shock absorbers.
By admin, on December 8th, 2010%
Proper motorcycle maintenance and preparation before riding will prevent the need for costly repair jobs. The Internet abounds with motorcycle repair videos, DVDs, books and magazines. If you prefer not to go to an authorized repair center, it is possible to learn how to do-it-yourself.
A quick pre-ride check of your bike will help prevent the need for repair, especially if you are going on a long road-trip, and even if you are just riding to the store.
First check the oil and the oil filter. Learning how to change your own filter will save time and money. If you do change your own oil make sure to dispose of the old oil properly. It should be sealed in an approved container and taken to a legitimate oil disposal facility. This is a good time to check the other fluid levels as well.
Next check the controls to make sure they all operate properly. Controls include front and rear brakes, throttle, clutch and shifter. Also check to see that the steering mechanism works smoothly. This may be done by turning the handlebars through the full operating range.
You should check your tire pressure often. If you are touring, carry a tire gauge and check it daily. The owner’s manual that comes with your bike will tell you what the correct tire pressure should be. Remember that air pressure can change with air temperature. When you check your tire pressure you should also check the condition of your tires. Replace any tires that have less than 50 percent of the tread left. Also replace tires that have cracks, cuts or signs of wear. You should not try to repair a tire unless there is no other option. Even then it is a short-term solution.
Make sure to check for any fuel, oil, or hydraulic fuel leaks. Check both the cases and the lines for leaks. Running out of oil out in the middle of nowhere will definitely mean costly engine repair or even replacement.
Check your headlights, taillights, and turning signals and brake lights. Get into the habit of doing this every time you ride. This is for your own protection letting other drivers see you as well as letting you see them. Instructions on replacing bulbs should be in your owner’s manual. Oh, by the way, if you bought a used bike and the owner did not give you a manual, try looking on line.
Now check your battery. You may actually double the life of your battery by checking and maintaining water levels regularly. This is as simple as shining a flashlight into the opening and filling to the indicated level. You may also consider installing a battery charger with a convenient disconnect.
Finally before you start out, check the position of the mirrors. Do this while you are sitting on the bike to ensure that they are correctly positioned.
Following this simple maintenance plan can save you time, money and the need for repair. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, find the closest Harley Davidson dealership to help you out.
By admin, on October 6th, 2010%
There are many different types and styles of bicycles. You will need to decide on the type of biking you will be predominantly doing in order to help you narrow down your choices. Below are just some of the types of bicycles available on the market today.
The first bicycle we will mention here are what are considered by some to be comfort bicycles. These are the type used by most weekend recreational bike riders. They usually have a comfortable shock-absorbing seat and shock absorbing front forks and wide pedals.
Another type of bike which is a bit more rugged than the comfort bike is a trail bike or light duty mountain bike. These bikes can take a bit more rough stuff than the bikes mentioned above but are not meant for serious mountain biking.
Touring bicycles are for those who go long distances and faster than recreational bike riders. These bikes are built for riding on the pavement. They are light weight bikes with more shock absorbency than comfort bikes.
Cruiser bikes are heavier than the comfort bikes with fatter tires. They are good for the road, or riding in the sand.
A true mountain bike has a stronger frame and components than any other bike as they are intended for off road and rugged terrain. The tires on a mountain bike are knobby and wide for more shock support. The seat and handlebars are positioned to allow for the rider to lean over while maneuvering the bike.
Recumbent bicycles are becoming very popular with older riders and those who have some limits in physical ability. The rider reclines while pedaling in a feet forward position. The seat is much more comfortable than on any other bicycle. Recumbent bikes sit low to the ground and have multiple gears.
Talk with family and friends who own bikes to get their opinion on what may be the best investment for you. If you don’t think that you’ll stick with bike riding long term and if you don’t plan to do more than weekend riding you don’t need to spend a fortune. Visit several bicycles shops and talk with the pro’s before making a decision. You can get many years of enjoyment if you choose the right bike for you.
By admin, on September 22nd, 2010%
Choppers came into being in the 1960’s and 1970’s. They were the next step in motorcycle evolution after the “bobber”. The bobber came about after American soldiers returned home from World War II. While they remained loyal to the Harley Davidson company, riders that had served oversees just weren’t quite satisfied with the machines the company was producing. These riders remembered the motorcycles they had seen in Europe that were more lightweight and more exciting. Most hade been trained to work on motorcycles and automobiles in the service. They began to get together and talk about improvements.
To make the bike lighter, riders began removing or shortening the fenders. The front fender was usually removed completely, while the back fender was made short enough to just protect the passenger from mud and water thrown up by the rear tire. This is where the term bobber came from. Riders continued to make changes or customizing their bikes and eventually the “chopper” was born. Their original purpose was for dirt track racing.
The term chopper comes from the process of chopping. Riders began chopping off any part they felt was unnecessary. This included windshields, front fenders, big headlights, crash bars and big seats. The standard large footrests were replaced with forward-mounted foot pegs. The fuel tank was made smaller. This made the bike lighter.
Next, riders began raking the front end of their choppers so that the angle of the fork to the ground decreased allowing for an increase in the wheelbase. They also raised the handlebars and called them ape hangers.
Anything that was thought too big or unnecessary was either made smaller or removed. The front tire was made small; the rear tire was made fat. Each rider created the bike he wanted to ride.
As always, as soon as this rage caught on, enterprising individuals began designing and creating custom bikes to sell to other riders so they didn’t have to do the work themselves. Choppers began to be built, not just chopped. While this trend slowed for a few years, it seems to have made a comeback. Custom built choppers created by top designers are greatly prized and sought after.
The Shovelhead FX Super Glide was one such Harley Davidson model to come out of the chopper evolution. Choppers became especially popular after the film Easy Rider, starring Peter Fonda, was released in 1969.
By admin, on August 18th, 2010%
 For most of us, well-intentioned but casual bike riders who secretly believe we might be Lance Armstrong’s heir if we only had a few more hours a day to spend on our bicycles, buying a new road bike is tantamount to buying a road bike frame. The frame is what we’re thinking of, something new and shiny and colorful, something we suspect even car drivers envy when they see us flash through the snarl of traffic. Truly, a road bike frame is a beautiful thing and part of the reason we love bicycling.
When you have the good fortune to be looking at new bicycles, though, you definitely want to look at a few elements besides the color of a road bike frame. Face it. When you’re on your way back home from a long Sunday ride and you’re riding your thirty-fifth mile smack into a stiff headwind, the fact that your frame is cobalt blue or even Bianchi green is not going to help you. The length of your seat tube is going to help you and the length of your top tube and even the angle of the three main tubes all put together is going to help (or hinder) you, but color is not.
If you shop at a discount store or even a general purpose sports store, if you get any help at all in choosing a bike that fits you, it will probably consist of a clerk instructing you to stand over the top bar of the frame and see if you can comfortably straddle it with your feet on the floor. This is not really particularly helpful, especially if you happen to have anything unique about your physique, like long legs combined with a short torso. If you have long legs, you can straddle almost any bike, but will your body be able to relax comfortable in the stretch between your saddle and the handlebars? The whole geometry of the road bike frame matters a lot to fit. And fit matters excessively to comfort.
If you’re a racer, comfort will not be your only consideration. Indeed, it may be down among the last elements you consider. Speed is not usually built from comfort, and the road bike frame that promotes speed is built of different materials than one used primarily for recreational riding. Frames can be made of titanium, chrome-moly, aluminum or steel, and each metal has different advantages of weight and strength. Frame geometry varies, too, with touring bikes featuring a longer vertical base and top tube than the skittish racing models.
So when you’re looking at road bike frames, think beyond the paint. Get a frame that fits both you and your purpose. Whether you do your research online or in a good bike store, you’ll be glad you took the time.
By admin, on June 23rd, 2010%
 A mountain bike is considered as being a bicycle that is designed specifically for mountain biking, either on dirt trails or on other unpaved environments. Mountain bikes are different from regular bikes in a number of ways. For one they have wide and knobby tires for extra traction and shock absorption.
As well, most mountain bikes are fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, however with the increase in the popularity of riser handlebars, fewer riders now tend to use bar end extensions.
There are basically four different classifications of mountain bikes, which are: fully rigid, which is when the frame has a rigid fork and fixed rear with no suspension; hard tail, which is a frame with no rear suspension, and these bikes are usually used with front suspension; soft tail, which is a frame with a small amount of rear suspension, but activated by the flex of the frame instead of by the pivots; dual or full suspension, which is a front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that makes the rear wheel move on pivots.
There are many key components on the typical mountain bike, with one of the most critical of all being the mountain bike disk brakes. Mountain bike disk brakes are featured on most new mountain bike models, and they offer much improved stopping power over the previously used rim brakes.
Mountain bike disk brakes also work much better under adverse conditions, because they are located at the center of the wheel, unlike rim brakes, and therefore they remain drier and cleaner than other rims. Although there are many advantages to mountain bike disk brakes, there are some disadvantages as well, such as the fact that they weigh more and are often more expensive as well.Maintenance on these particular brakes also tends to be more difficult and costly, and this is particularly so with hydraulic disk brakes, which work by moving brake fluid through a hose or line to squeeze the pads together.
You always need to make sure that your brakes are in as proper working condition as possible, and so this means that you need to take your bike itself in to get a full inspection monthly, if not more. This will not only ensure that your brakes and the rest of the parts on your bike last as long as they possibly can, but more importantly that you can feel safe riding on a bike that you know is safe and secure and which will be able to properly handle those rugged and steep hills.
For buying and selling used or new (second hand) bikes and motorcycles check the link http:www.bharathautomobiles.commotorcycles-s2_0.html
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