Mountain Bike | What Steven Cousley Does

Mountain Bike Techniques – Mountain Bike Accessories

Feb 212009

Must Have Mountain Bike Accessories

When entering mountain bike stores, it is very overwhelming for beginners to see a wide array of mountain biking products, each shouting, “buy me!” The question now is, “should you give in?” While many biking products are indeed necessary, there are some you can ride without or are just nice to have. Here is a list of necessary mountain biking accessories that you must have.

Helmet
The most important of all mountain biking accessories is the helmet. Not only is it stupid not to wear one, most public parks and trails prohibit riding without a helmet. Buy it the moment you buy your bike. Many serious head injuries can be prevented by just wearing a helmet. Look for a helmet that provides better insulation; fits properly to your head; and with chin a strap to secure it to your head.

Biking Gloves
Gloves serve a double purpose: to improve your grip on the handlebar and to protect your hand from cuts and bruises in case you crash. Since the natural tendency during a crash is to stretch the arms to cushion the fall, the palms take the most beating. While I do not advise you to use your hands to protect your body from the fall, I will not recommend riding without gloves. You can choose between cutoff and full-fingered gloves, but I suggest full-fingered. Gloves are the second most important accessory you should have next to helmet.

Repair kit
There is nothing worse than having a breakdown in the middle of nowhere and you cannot do anything about it. Make sure that you carry a repair kit as you can never tell when you will hit a major bump and blow your tire or when your chain will break due to excessive metal stress. That said, your repair kit should include a chain repair tool and tire repair tools such as patches, glue, portable pump with gauge and a spare inner tube. Also include a multi-tool set with wrenches to repair mechanical damages.

Hydration system
Just like any other physical activity, mountain biking causes your body to heat up and sweat to keep your core temperature normal. As you sweat, you lose a substantial amount of water, and even more if biking is extended for a longer period of time. To replace the water lost and avoid dehydration, you must drink fluid regularly. A water bottle is a minimum but if you can afford a hydration pack with bladder, it is much better.

Eye protection
Sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement. Glasses offer protection from dust, insects, wind and other foreign objects that can enter your eyes while mountain biking. Glasses also protect you from infrared radiation and ultra-violet rays and it can be used to filter or enhance lighting.

Mountain Bike Clothing
The point of buying clothes especially made for biking is to provide enough protection and comfort while riding. But regular shirt and sweatpants are good enough.

Choosing among different brands of bike clothing can be difficult and expensive. Your task is to prioritize what to buy. I suggest that you invest on padded biking shorts first since you have shirts and jackets you can readily pull out from your closet.

Shoes
To add comfort while pedaling, specially-made bike shoes are available. Pick the right shoe that will fit to the terrain you will be riding in and will fit to the type of pedal your bike has.

The accessories are listed according to importance. If cost is a problem, look for your nearest discount mountain bike parts store. If the list goes beyond the budget you set, prioritize on buying the things from the top of the list down.

Knowing how to change a tyre is just as important as carrying the right tools.
This video will show you how it’s done.

Mountain Bike Techniques – Frame Design

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Feb 082009

Mountain Bikes – Frame Designs

The frame of the mountain bike is without question the most important factor to determine whether the bike could make the grade or not.

Like most goods that are for sale, the better the quality is, the more expensive the goods become and so the materials used in mountain bikes determine in large part the price tag that it will have. Generally, the lighter the frame of the bike, the more expensive it becomes. Special alloys have been developed to make the mountain bike so. This is done because the last thing that a mountain biker would want when riding is the added weight. Frames being the heaviest part of the bike have to be made lighter. This is the ideal especially for competitive biking; however market forces will always dictate that options are varied.

Mountain bike frame materials

Cro-moly – bike frames that are made from cro-moly are often the choice for starter mountain bikes. Cro-moly though being made from steel is heavy. On the other hand, cro-moly has the ability to flex over bumps making the ride of the bike slightly smoother. There is nothing wrong with a cro-moly frame provided the rider is not bothered by the added weight. As cro-moly is used for basic bike road bike frames, the rider has to test it out and compare it with other bike frame materials. The added weight of the steel will hinder competitive riding although this may not matter much when mountain biking is done purely for the fun of it.

Aluminum – Aluminum bike frames are lighter bike frame materials and are a more popular choice than cro-moly. Aluminum however is not as strong as steel. To make it more durable, the frame has to be made stiff, that translate into bulkier frames. Stiffening the aluminum also results in a stiffer ride.

Carbon fiber – is an ideal material although its main use is for the front fork of the bike. Using carbon fiber for the whole frame will mean more expense on the buyer, but carbon fiber being a lightweight and yet very strong material will provide a truly high performance ride.

Titanium – titanium is amazingly light and strong at the same time. This should be the best material for high performance very sophisticated bikes. The price though could be well beyond the reach of most mountain biking enthusiast and competitive bikers.

Mountain bike frame sizing

Another important factor in considering a bike frame is its size. The correct size of a mountain bike is of vital importance since the bikers comfort and agility will depend much on this. Mountain bikes are made smaller than ordinary road bikes. To get the ideal size, the mountain bike should be at least three inches smaller than your ordinary road bike. Another way to do it is to put the bike between the legs with the tip of the saddle touching your back. Lift the front wheels until it touches your crotch. The front wheels should be about 10 centimeters off the ground.

Angles

The angle of the bike’s frame translates drastically on how the mountain bike will perform. Critical angles are the head tube and the seat tube. Angles that are steeper are ideal for uphill pedaling while slacker angles are good for stability and high speed pedaling.

Mountain Bike Techniques – Mountain Bike Upgrades

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Feb 082009

Mountain Bike Upgrades

If you are doing a lot of mountain bike riding, there is a great chance that soon you will find that your current mountain bike that was fitted with the basics will no longer be enough.

Being more familiar with your present bike and the terrain that you ride it on helps you find those things that you need to adjust the function and versatility of your mountain bike.

If you are considering going for rougher terrain or thinking about a smoother ride check out the tires, there are two basic types:

In general, mountain bikes are fitted with knobby tires. The wider tires allow for better traction and the less PSI of air in the tires assures better surface grip because you have more rubber in contact with the trail. There are two tire diameters though that you could choose from, each serves a different use.

The 26 inch tires – are fitted to traditional mountain bikes and are better suited to riding harsh surfaces. These tires usually are sold with suspensions and are fitted to smaller fork that are straighter for easy and more responsive steering. The 26 inch diameter tires are good for use in forests, isolated trails, and rocky surfaces and are designed to manage the trails humps and depressions pretty well.

The 28 inch tires – are better suited for mountain bikes that are used more for touring. The 28 inch tires are adapted to riding campground trails, touring the park, gentle trails and paved dirt roads. If the bike is not really intended for rough riding, the 28″ diameter tires are the way to go. Bikes fitted with a 28 “tires have larger seats and thicker padding for more comfortable riding. For better comfort, this type of mountain bike could also be fitted with seat springs.

Whatever the road condition and the trail you ride on, you will always have to assume that when you go mountain biking, you may be farther away from “civilization” than you originally planned.

Cyclometer – fit your mountain bike with a cyclometer. This way you will always have a good idea regarding reference points and distances. Carry with you more tools and replacement parts. Sometimes the nearest help could be miles away.

Pedals – mountain bikes are equipped with platform pedals. Riders who want a firm grip on their pedaling often equip their pedals with clips or change theirs to clipless pedals which they can secure the cleats of their shoes to.

Hardtail or Dual suspension – if you ride your mountain bike mostly for cruising and smooth forest trails a hardtail is good enough. For a biker though who enjoys the more challenging terrains, a dual suspension is needed. Having suspensions for both the fork and the rear tire allows for excellent riding performance on very rough terrain. Hardtails are good for speed mountain bike riding while a dual is great at managing unexpected bumps and slopes.

Gears – the wide range of gears available for mountain bikes enables the rider to manage different types of terrain. Making adjustments and improvements to the number of gears on a mountain bike really depend on the terrain that the bike is used for. For bikes intended for rough mountain trail riding, add more low gears to conquer wicked slopes an inclines.

Mountain Bike Techniques – Getting Ready for Mountain Bike Racing

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Feb 072009

Getting Ready for Mountain Biking Race!

If you are bored with casual biking and have decided to enter a race for the first time, then you have some preparations to do. Below are the ways to get ready for your very first mountain biking race:

Pre-race Preparation
Upcoming races should be known as early as possible. This will help you ready the necessary papers (if any) or simply give you more time to prepare physically and mentally. Most biking websites as well as local bike shops have list of race events open for beginners and experts. Get a hold of entry or registration forms early. Pre-register to avoid long lines on race day.

Know the location, length of the course, date and time, categories, and direction of the race. It is better if you can ride on the actual trail before the race day to familiarize the track and learn the terrain.

If you are riding alone, make sure that you pack everything you need including a tool kit, tire repair kit, clothes suited for the weather, helmet, gloves, shoes, food and liquid. If you are riding in a team, check with the race organizers the rules. Can you munch powerbars during the race? Can you borrow tools or extra inner tube from your teammates? Can you get water-bottle from your pit crew as you turn a lap? These things are important to know beforehand to properly prepare and strategize how to race.

Personal Preparation

While you may not aim to finish first in the race, physical preparation is still a must. Make sure that you have been doing some personal time trials on your chosen course weeks before the actual race instead of the usual casual riding. Try to improve your time on every ride. Strengthen your legs more by doing leg exercises like squats. Eat properly and get enough rest and sleep.

Note: Any type of mountain bike race can be very competitive. If this is your first time to race, try not to push yourself too hard. You may need not aim to finish the race first. There is more to racing than winning, so enjoy the view and at the same time, improve your personal best.

Bike Preparation

Check your bike at least 2 days before the race day. This will give you time to go to shops and buy replacement parts if necessary. The last thing you want is to find an open shop at 11pm or change inner tube minutes before the race starts.

On Site Preparation

Arrive early; at least one hour before the start of the race. This will allow you to get a good parking spot, time to rest, relax and loosen up, and handle any registration complications. Practice a pre-race ritual by polishing your bike with a rug. This will give you time to mentally prepare and do a final check on your bike.

Warm up (but not get tired) by taking a lap around the course. If the weather is bad, consider bringing a roller or a trainer. Stretch your muscles.

Eat foods rich in carbohydrates, protein and fats before the race. Drink plenty of water. Go if you need to. Nothing could be worse than having to go in the middle of the race.

When the gun goes off or when the gate drops, pedal fast!

Mountain Bike Techniques – Before Buying a Mountain Bike

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Feb 072009

Before Buying a Mountain Bike

This site aims to help you make an educated purchase that will lead you on to the right mountain bike.

• Know what type of biking you will be doing

This will set the standard of your bike as well as its price. Mountain bikes are not created equal. They are designed for a specific style and terrain. Your task is to determine which type of biking you will be doing most of the time. Are you going to ride on different terrains or smooth surface? Are you going to use your bike for serious off-roading or cross-country expedition? Knowing the answer to these questions will lead you to the bike you really need.

• What to look for…

Good bikes are comfortable, durable and feature-packed. While this may cost a lot, it is important to focus your find within these criteria. Comfort means everything. A bike with an adjustable seat and good suspension is a must. Durability is equally essential. Choose between aluminum and steel frame depending on the type of use. Features can add to the cost of the bike. You may want to choose which features are necessary. Again, “good” is always equated with price, at least for mountain bikes, so if your money doesn’t match with the bike that you want, identify what features you can give up.

• Set your Price

Most mountain bikes are expensive. In fact, there is virtually no limit to how much you can spend on your bike. But this should not be the reason to quit your desire to conquer the mountain. With the right knowledge of what you want your bike to be, choosing the right bike is made easier. Just remember that with price comes quality. An $800 bike for example has more components and is more durable than a $500 one. Here, price really matters but if you are a first-time buyer, I suggest that you get a basic bike and upgrade as necessary. This way, you will not waste your money just in case you decide to hang your bike. Conversely, buying a $2000 bike is not bad as long as you can afford it. After all, with price comes functionality and features. The point is, set your price according to your needs and how much you can afford.

• Find a good dealer

Finding a good dealer is as good as finding a good bike. Although you do your research, talking to a dealer’s representative can shed light on the things you want to clarify and things you still need to know about mountain bikes. Ask questions about the different types of bikes, its features, maintenance, maintenance cost and servicing. A good dealer is more than willing to assist you on these things.

• Look for a good deal

Nothing could be better than buying a bike that is worth more than its sticker price. If you want to get more than your money’s worth, do your homework. Find as much information as you can on different bikes. Read product reviews. This will take time but is worth every minute. Another sure way to get a good deal, or even the best deal, is to buy during fall and winter. Dealers are willing to slash off hundreds of dollars to the bike’s original price to dispose of last year’s stocks and give way to their new designs in summer.

Instinct (or impulse) may tell you to buy certain bike because it looks good or the price is reasonable but I suggest that you evaluate and decide out everything that what we have discussed.

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