Mountain Bike Forks - Upgrade Options
As more and more people discover the opportunities for exercise and enjoyment that come with the outdoor sport of mountain biking, more riders have become interested in ways of improving the performance of their bikes and taking things to the next level. While it is perfectly possible to have a great time with a stock mountain bike without wanting anything more, sooner or later you might find yourself interested in different upgrades that can affect the way your bike performs when you are out on the trail or bombing down hills in the woods. A good way of upgrading your mountain bicycle is by changing the stock fork that came attached to your bike. Today it is common to find mountain bike forks that come with technical suspension systems so the bike can handle and maneuver better when the terrain becomes rougher, wetter, rockier, or muddier.
The different kinds of forks that can fit mountain bikes are classified by the types of technology they use. Examples of bike forks available as upgrade options for mountain bikes are Jump suspension forks, 4x forks, freeride mountain suspension forks, cross country suspension forks, freeride downhill suspension forks, and Cannondale lefty forks. Every suspension fork category will offer its own unique pros and cons, and each will perform best in specific conditions and on specific terrain. An important part of a suspension fork that you should keep in mind when shopping for upgrades is the suspension travel; the suspension travel refers to the amount of distance a suspension coil can move from when it is fully compressed to when it is in its resting position. This article will discuss some of the different upgrading options you can consider for your mountain bike fork.
What to Look for in a Mountain Bike
For the outdoors enthusiast, a good mountain bike is absolutely necessary. There is nothing better than whizzing down a trail, enjoying the adrenaline of a swift ride combined with the beauty of surrounding nature. A well-designed mountain bike will give outdoor explorers years and years of joy and exhiliration.
However, there is no single mountain bike that will work perfectly for everybody. It is important that you select the best mountain bike that will suit your individual desires and needs. But there are thousands of different varieties of mountain bikes, and the innumerable available choices can seem dizzying. The following guidelines will help you to choose the perfect mountain bike for your individual purposes.
Mountain Bike Fitting Tips to Avoid Hand, Knee, and Back Pain While Riding
Mountain biking is quickly becoming one of the most popular outdoor sports in the country due to the numerous advantages it offers people who give it a try. Within a short amount of time, it is possible to turn yourself from a couch potato into someone capable of riding several hard miles through outdoor trails and giving your whole body a workout. However, while there are several benefits to starting a regimen of frequent mountain bike riding, it is still possible to injure yourself if you begin to ride without taking some time to fit yourself to your mountain bike beforehand. Just as different people of different foot sizes require different shoe sizes to be able to get around without hurting their feet, mountain bikes also come in different sizes and dimensions to help you match the unique dimensions of your body to the fit of the bike. Establishing a proper fit on your mountain bike is important so you can reduce the risk of injuries to different parts of your body such as your hands, your knees, and your back while you are riding on the trails.
The first area to consider when establishing a proper fit on your mountain bike is the height of the saddle, which is another term for the bike seat. The height of the saddle can make a significant difference on the levels of comfort you feel all over your body, but especially in your knee and back areas while you are on the trails. If your seat is too high, you can suffer from extension pains in your knees and cramping in your back as you try to adapt your body to the improperly fitted seat. Similarly, if your seat is too low, which is the more common misfitting of the two scenarios, you can suffer from cramping and tightness in your knees as they are not allowed to extend properly when your leg is constricted due to a too low seat. When the seat is too low you can also suffer from back pains as your back may be too straight or too curved for you to be comfortable riding for extended periods of time. To fit your saddle height to your actual height, a quick way to get started is to straddle the bike while sitting on the saddle. Your feet should just touch the ground when they are extended and pointing straight down. Depending on the person, you may be fine with your whole foot touching the ground, while other people will prefer to have only their toes touching the ground. If both feel equally comfortable, then go with having your toes touch the ground. This will help your legs extend to just the right amount when you are riding, which will help your knee and back feel better. Keep in mind that if you intend to do a lot of riding in rough conditions where you may frequently have to dismount the bicycle, it may be a good idea to slightly lower the saddle height so your feet can touch the ground completely, which can make it easier to dismount the bike in an emergency.
Which Bicycle Lubricant is Best For Your Mountain Bike Chain?
Every mountain bike requires maintenance to different parts of the components from time to time, and the chain of the mountain bike is no exception. In fact, the chain is an essential part to maintain because it is part of the drive train that transfers energy from your legs to the wheels so you can get busy getting lost in the great outdoors. The most common way to maintain a mountain bike chain is through the regular use of bicycle lubricant specifically designed for the chain. But with the wide variety of bicycle lubricants you can purchase or browse through in today’s bicycle accessory and supply market, you may find yourself having a tough time choosing exactly which bike lube is best for your mountain bike chain. Some of the options you may have to choose between are whether to go with an aerosol lube or a drip lube. Alternatively, you might have to choose between a wax lube, a wet lube, or a dry lube. This article will discuss some considerations for you to keep in mind when next you find yourself in the market for the best bike lubricant for your mountain bike chain.
Perhaps the first decision you have to make is if you are interested in aerosol bike lube or drip bike lube. You will have to choose between the two as methods of applying lubrication to your mountain bike chain. The drip application is generally preferred by mountain bikers over the aerosol format because you will have an easier time directly applying to lube to the parts of the chain that need it. When you use the aerosol spray lube, it is liable to land on other parts of your bike which will make those parts more prone to collecting grime and dust while you ride up and down trails.
Ways to Get Your Hands on Quality Used Bike Parts
You’re ready for that huge cross-country cycling tour you’ve always wanted to go on, minus one important detail. You’ve gotten all the camping supplies you’ll need, told your boss not to call you for a bit, saved up money burning the midnight oil overtime, and planned your route out with the utmost precision and care. The only thing is, you’re not too sure about the safety of your faithful steed anymore. The bike worked like a charm for a good long while, but after a time, the shifters didn’t respond as fluidly, and the brakes seem to take a bit longer to slow you down nowadays. You’ve been maintaining your ride regularly, so you’re sure there’s nothing wrong with how you’ve been treating it, it’s just that after so many adventures, even the best high-quality parts will have to cash in their chips.
When you’re looking for new parts, because face it, you love that old frame to death, as long as it doesn’t end up killing you, you can find great deals searching online. Social sites like Facebook and Myspace advertise people selling parts they no longer have a use for, and other user-generated content venues like Craigslist constantly advertise every bike part you can think of.