Archive for Types of Bikes
Buying A Mountain Bike
Posted by: | CommentsIt can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming when you buy a mountain bike. Below, you’ll find some tips and things to be aware of before you lay down the cash and buy a mountain bike.
Determining your price
There is really no limit as to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your spending under control, you should figure out what your price range is and how much your willing to pay for a new bike. When you buy, you shouldn’t buy from mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart. You should instead support your local bike shop and get a much better bike and much better service.
Finding your style.
All mountain bikes are designed with several different riding styles and terrain types in mind. You’ll need to figure out what type of riding you will be doing the most. Smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is something you need to figure out. Make sure that the bike you select fits your personal style and not that of the sale’s staff.
Full suspension or hard tail.
If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain bike is always worth the purchase. A hard tail, without rear suspension, is much lighter weight and pedal more efficiently, although full suspensions offer more comfort and overall better control. You’ll want to make that decision based on your price range, riding style, and the type of terrain you’ll be riding on the most.
Finding your favorites.
Comparing mountain bikes component to component is nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations available. The best way to go about doing this is finding a few components that are the most important to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall within your price range. You can start with the fork then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.
Sales and seasons.
During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the main buying season. If you can wait until the right price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can save a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy from them.
Finding a good dealer.
Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding the best price. You should always find a dealer that cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair shop and give you the impression that you can really trust them.
Test ride.
You should test ride as many bikes as you can within your price range and riding style. You’ll find that some bikes will feel right, while others won’t. The more bikes you can test drive, you better you’ll understand what works and what doesn’t.
Doing the research Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best ways to find out about a mountain bikes reliability and overall performance. You should always look at what other owners and reviews think about a bike before you make that final purchase.
Ever Heard Of Bianchi Bikes?
Posted by: | CommentsYes, there is such a thing called a Bianchi Bike. It has style, grace, and versatility. It’s also a favorite among the fixed gear bike community.
A little about Bianchi Bikes
Formed by Edoardo Bianchi in Milan, Italy, Bianchi Bikes was founded in 1885 (damn, that’s old!). In the same year, the company pioneered the equi-sized wheel use with pneumatic rubber tires (not to mention the front wheel caliper-operated braking mechanism as well). Known as one of the worlds oldest bicycle companies, Bianchi is known for race bikes, track bikes, leisure bikes, and even fixed gear bikes of the modern age.
Bianchi in the US
In the United States, Bianchi headquarters is located in Hayward, California. Today, Bianchi makes bikes in the following categories: Ducati Corse, Hors Categorie, Born For Performance, Coast 2 Coast, Dama Bianca, D2 Special, Classica, Road Steel, MTB Performance, MTB Leisure, Sport, and Cross-Terrain. Of course within each one of these categories lies a number of sleek, high-performance bikes ranging from multi-terrain to classic road bike styles. Also today, fixed gear fanatics like Bianchi bikes for their history, designs, and prestige (they also look great with Campagnolo parts).
The Taiwan Conspiracy
Known from originating in Italy, Bianchi bikes now split their production in Italy and Taiwan. Although some may say this has degraded the purity of Bianchi and the prestige as one of the truest road bikes, overseas production has undoubted helped keep costs down and allowed many to discover Bianchi for the first time at an affordable price. In the U.S., the majority of Bianchi bikes sold are made in Taiwan. Only the Reparto Corse category is still made in Italy.
Famous Riders
When it comes to champion riders, Bianchi has a few. From Jan Ullrich to Danilo Di Luca, Bianchi has won numerous Tour de France competitions as well as victories at Giro d’Italia. This bicycle company has a reputation for winning awards on the track and on the streets, so don’t think you’re getting a cheap-o bike here.
The Auto Connection
In the mid 1950s, Bianchi teamed up with Pirelli and Fiat to form Autobianchi. This short -lived auto manufacturer ceased production of vehicles in 1996. They produced vehicles such as the Bianchina Trasformabile, Stellina, and Primula (not to mention the A111 and A112). But enough about cars…back to bikes.
Traditional Bianchi Green
You may have heard of the traditional Bianchi Green. It’s a turquoise color referred to as Celeste. The theories and stories surrounding this color range from it being the color of the Milan sky, the color of the Italian Queen’s eyes (at the time), and even that it was a mixture of surplus military paint. Regardless of the reason, Bianchi Green is part of the tradition and recognizable by Bianchi fans the world around.
So, Do You Want a Bianchi?
If you’re thinking about getting your first road/mountain bike, Bianchi is definitely a brand to check out. It’s rich history and lasting brand power make it a bike worth the investment. Prices range and will vary from model to model and the accessories available, so be sure to shop around. For you fixed gear fans, older Bianchis can be picked up online from Craigslist and other online/offline second-hand outlets. If you’re lucky, you might just find one at the local neighborhood garage sale.
Why The Mountain Biking Phenomenon Is Growing In Popularity
Posted by: | CommentsMountain biking has taken the cycling world by storm. It wasn’t all that long ago when the phrase “mountain bike” would’ve elicited blank stares. Now you see them everywhere. Mountain bikes are made to handle almost every terrain imaginable, and that’s why they’ve become so popular. Just like SUV’s, most people who use them don’t have a need for their full range of functions, but it’s good to no the capability is there “just in case”.
Mountain bikes are nice even for the urban rider because they eliminate the worries one might have when encountering potholes, gravel, and bad road conditions. Mountain bike riders utilize their bikes for a wide range of activities and competitions. A number of races and competitions have sprung up to make use of the mountain bike’s many capabilities.
One such extreme mountain bike competition is known as cross-country (or XC) races. Cross-country mountain bike races usually cover about 30 miles and cover a variety of terrains. These races feature a mass start with all the riders taking off at the same time much like a marathon.
If cross-country races are too short for you, there’s always endurance (or enduro) racing. These races cover in excess of 70 miles and climb to elevations of 8000 feet and more.
For the real maniacs out there, the only way to go is downhill racing. Downhill races typically have staggered starts to try to minimize crashing, but as you can imagine, crashes are a regular part of such events. The racers fly down the hill at breakneck speeds, the key being to have the fastest time down the slope. Many of these races are held on ski slopes during the warmer months. Such competitions demand that the riders have the utmost skill and experience as it can be an extremely dangerous endeavor. These races aren’t for novices.
A competition rapidly growing in popularity is dirt jumping. This will be familiar to BMX enthusiasts as it’s essentially the same sort of competition. Such events aren’t races, of course. They’re judged events wherein riders compete to accomplish the biggest, most amazing jumps involving spinning the bike in the air, doing flips, and even completely letting go of the bike and getting back on before it lands.
Another form of extreme mountain bike competition is bike trials. These events involve navigating unbelievable difficult terrain without touching your feet to the ground. Bike trials require riders to balance their mountain bikes on rails, boulders, posts, tree stumps, and any number of seemingly impossible obstacles. The goal is to finish the course quickly and without having to put your feet down.
If any of these extreme mountain biking competitions appeal to you, start practicing and getting into shape. These events are for skilled and experienced riders only. They’re physically demanding and fairly dangerous. They are not for novices. Remember to wear a helmet and pads when attempting crazy stunts on your bike, and take care of yourself if you’re going to attempt extremely arduous long-distance rides.
