Bike Safety Accessories

Mountain biking is adventurous and dangerous recreational activity. It looks wonderful when a person runs down the slope with stunning speed. But what is often overlooked is the fact that one slight lapse of concentration or some sort of problems in the surface can cause accidents, which may result in serious injuries. With the progress made in technological front, mountain bike accessories have become advanced. But still none of these can guarantee absolute safety. You can have the latest mountain bike safety accessories. But still you need to ride the bike with extreme concentration and skill. If you lose focus, not even the best accessories can prevent an accident. Here are certain tips about accessories for protecting you and about mountain biking in general.

The most popular of mountain bike safety accessories is helmets. There are a number of kinds of light and durable helmets. These are a must for all kinds of mountain bikers, from new comers to the experienced ones. If an accident happens, which may happen even to the best of the driver, the helmet prevent serious damage to the head. When selecting a helmet, select one that is a good fit for you. Too loosely fit or too tightly fit helmets can cause other problems. Also, when one wears helmets, one should take care to properly fasten all the straps. But the bottom line is that nothing can be a substitute for keen and focused driving. This is not intended to frighten you, but to make you aware of the truth. Even mountain bikers wearing helmets have been killed in accidents.

If you ride your mountain bike during the nights, the bike safety accessory you should have is a proper head light. The light should have sufficient intensity and correct projection so as to see the ground properly even from a comfortable distance. One must also has back light or a gear light to see whether any other vehicles are coming.

A rear view mirror is another important bike safety accessory you should have. It should be aligned on your mountain bike so as to get a clear and broad view of the back road. You can see any other vehicle approaching and provide hand signals accordingly. Horns are another set of accessories that would come handy. You can make you presence felt on the road with the help of these noisy devices especially on bends on the road.

There are other kinds of bike safety accessories, which are more like fancy gadgets. One must concentrate on riding safely and carefully than on such fancy gadgets. Most of these devices are for preventing injuries in the case of an accident. But the real victory is in preventing accidents. The God have given us accessories, eyes, and brain, for preventing the accidents.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about Bike Safety Accessories, please visit Biking for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candis_Reade

Mountain Bikes - Taking Them on Holiday

Mountain biking is good for not only exercising, but also for seeing the world. Allowing you to explore parts of the world that would otherwise be inaccessible, the sport really can be relaxing and enjoyable. That is why many people consider taking mountain bike holidays.

What Are Mountain Bike Holidays?

Mountain bike holidays are generally holidays you take that involve cycling around different places. They are designed for those who love the outdoors and who like to explore different parts of the world. People of all ages go on such holidays and they can even be a good activity for all of the family. There are also a number of companies set up which allow you to take mountain bike tours with others. These allow you to meet new people and to enjoy cycling in a group environment.

The type of mountain bike holiday that you choose will depend upon a number of factors. You will be spoil for choice when you look around at the different options open to you and there is a large amount of companies out there for you to choose from too. One of the best companies available today is "Sacred Rides". They have been offering mountain bike rides since 1996 and they were actually the first ever company in British Columbia to offer downhill week long mountain trips.

When you look into Sacred Rides you will see that the staff there is really friendly. They know the area well, which routes are the best to take and they are knowledgeable in everything to do with mountain biking. They also mainly deal with local suppliers and local services in order to boost the tourism within the area.

One of the best things about taking a mountain bike ride with Sacred Rides is that the scenery you are presented with is absolutely beautiful. British Columbia is one of the best places to take a mountain bike ride and with the knowledge of the staff you will get to explore places you never knew existed.

Overall mountain bike holidays can be the ideal way to relax and unwind. Helping you to see beautiful, picturesque places, it truly is an experience that you will never forget. So if you have recently started mountain biking and you are enjoying it, why not consider taking a mountain bike holiday? Whether you choose to go it alone or whether you opt to go as part of a group, mountain bike rides are designed for everyone. It could even be a really romantic activity to do as you could ride up to the top of a mountain and have a romantic picnic once you get there, enjoying the magnificent view at the same time.

Interested in mountain bike holidays?; Alison Addy is the author of many articles published online. More articles on mountain bike ratings and mountain bikes reviews at his web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Addy

Folding Mountain Bike Review - Dahon Jack

The Jack of Two Trades: Road/Touring Bike meets Folding Commuter Bike

Summary:

I'm stoked about this bike. There's a reason this folding commuter bike is in such high demand, it's good at what it does. This little beauty is Dahon's more economic answer to their popular Dahon Matrix Folding Mountain Bike.

You know I'm working an office job in the city these days and need to commute from the suburbs until I can score my own place downtown so this gem of a folder is right up my alley. I can burn over to my local train station from my house in 15 minutes and at 26 lbs it's easily light enough to throw under my arm and hop on board. Next stop, my cubicle, (luckily for me my boss let's me keep it in my cube, she's cool if the job's not) and when the wheels are folded together it's small and discreet enough to not attract much attention and safe enough to keep thieves at bay. To be honest I'm looking to escape cubicle city asap so when I weave through traffic from train station to office, I realize not only is this rocking little number stylish but it's tough and well-put-together too.

Strengths:

There are so many, where do I start:

• This folding commuter bike is tough, robust and handles city riding without a fuss
• It's stylish, hey why shouldn't I look good when I ride
• Quick folding, five seconds as good as advertised
• Reasonable size, as a road/touring bicycle it fits comfortably in my buddy's car
• Safety, sharing a pad with 3 dudes, locks up safe in our apt and secure in my room

Weaknesses:

I'm scratching my head over this one and the only thing I can come up with is the handle bars. I prefer the bars to fold down like on the 2004 espresso rather than having to slacken them off with an Allen key then rotate them around to line up with the frame. Only a minor

Recommended: Go for it! Get jacked about riding your bike and living your life.

The Dahon Jack let's you commute with ease and when you return to the burbs at the weekend it offers a smooth, comfortable ride on strong 26' wheels. This road/touring bicycle masquerading as a folding commuter bicycle is the answer to life's questions.

Visit http://www.newfoldingbikes.com to browse the best price for new and used folding bikes available online.

Or click here to browse Folding Mountain Bikes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlie_McFarlane

Hybrid Bicycle Review

If you're shopping for a new bike, it is likely that you have heard or read about hybrid bikes. Hybrid bikes are designed to incorporate the best features from road bikes and mountain bikes, thus resulting in a bike that is capable of achieving high speeds on asphalt and handling packed dirt paths.

Hybrid bikes tend to have an upright frame allowing the rider to achieve a more comfortable riding position. A short, low frame can handle more weight and absorb the average amount punishment from, potholes, curbs, etc., that you might encounter during a ride to work or the grocery store. Hybrid bikes also have slightly wider tires that road bikes for better traction and stability on dirt bike paths or grass. However, like a road bike, hybrids tend to have lighter rims and taller gearing for faster riding on pavement.

Most reviews of hybrid bikes reveal that the wheels on a hybrid are a marriage of the heavy duty mountain bike wheel and the lightweight high-speed road bike wheel. Wider tires are good for stability and durability during a ride on a slightly rocky packed dirt bike path, but a higher recommended air pressure, similar to a road bike wheel, allows for speed on roads and asphalt paths by reducing rolling resistance. The rims and spokes on hybrids are lighter, also like a road bike. Because of this feature it is important that you not purchase a hybrid if you plan on doing a lot of rough off-road riding. Reviews of hybrid bikes have shown that the lightweight rims and spokes cannot handle large rocks and big drops like a true mountain bike.

Frames on most hybrid bike frames are made of lightweight aluminum or steel (also called "cro-moly"). These materials allow for both speed and durability while still be very affordable. The handlebars on a hybrid are typically flat like a mountain bike, and go straight out from the stem. They also have a wider grip, allowing riders to sit upright and offer a better position for vision and control, and perhaps most importantly, comfort. In this position the rider has an ideal center of gravity and the least amount of neck and back strain possible.

Hybrids take gearing design cues from both mountain and road bikes. Most reviews of hybrid bikes claim that they not only allow the rider to both climb hills easily, but also go fast on flat or downhill sections. However, a lack of very low gears does not allow for the power that many mountain bikes offer for powering through loose or rocky terrain. Typically a hybrid bike will have either two or three chain rings in the front, much like the crank assembly on a road bike. In the back there are eight or nine gears in the cassette. The combination of the two sets of gears allows for 16 all the way up to 27 possible gear combinations. You will find that these gears are more than sufficient for conquering almost any challenge you will find commuting to work or enjoying a weekend ride on a countryside bike path.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about hybrid bicycles, please visit Bicycle Guide Online for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candis_Reade

Road Bike Buying Guide

Buying your first road bike can be a difficult process. A Road Bike Buying Guide will direct you in the right path in no time, in choosing the 'Perfect' bike for your lifestyle. Just like any other decision you make in your life you need to stop and ask yourself some common questions, do a brief self-analysis that will in the long run save your pocket and ultimately make you happy.

To be completely honest with you today is the hottest time to be looking for a road bike. The Road Bike industry is booming due to manufacturers offering more models within a variety of different price points to suit any person's budget. The Road Bikes that are offered now are remarkably better and more proficient than ever before. This guide will help you in determining what road bike will fit your needs by cutting down your choices for your ideal bike.

Questions to ask your-self:

When buying a New or Used Road Bike you need to establish the use of you new machine and once agreed upon follow-up with these questions.

1. Do you consider yourself new to the sport of cycling?
a. If so it might be good to look around an entry level to mid-level road bike. Road bikes at first are a bit tricky to get used due to the "stiff" frame, but after some riding you will feel right at home.
b. Price will become a huge factor to most of you so spending your entire wallet on a road bike that you will only use once is not necessary.

2. Is this New Road Bike more for my personal fitness?...

http://bargainroadbikes.com/ is a site that was developed to give the common cyclist a chance to find great deals on specific road bikes, components, and accessories that fits his needs. Being part of the BANS community, my site promotes the idea of grabbing current listings from eBay and streaming them onto my site throwing the specific information into a controlled environment to help the browser.

You looking for that bike that will give you the ability to cross any boundary and feel like a real cyclist, check out my listings all at discounted prices. Get your hands on top of the line road bikes with an array of components that will overwhelm your thoughts. Just one click away from having the imaginable become reality.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bartynski

Giant XTC 4.5 2008 - The Riding Begins

Bought a new bike on the weekend after months of slathering over the GT Avalanche expert I went into another shop and fell for a Giant XTC 4.5 2008 which came in a lot cheaper with all of the spec's that I was after.

As I cycle around 10 miles a day across country, I needed something that was lighter than the rigid frame I normally use, i needed hydraulic disc brakes (to prevent the build up of muck and leaves in my V breaks) and front end suspension (to reduce the amount of shock my wrists were receiving)

I needed to replace the standard tyres that came with the bike for some Panaracer Trailraker 2.1 tyres. I Will be testing it out on my normal route tomorrow but the Trailraker 2.1's should be fantastic on the mud that I have to deal with (lots of horses on the track that I follow).

The other alteration was the pedals on the bike for a sealed set (the name eludes me but i will add at some stage) they were just very smooth so should cut down on overall resistance.

The guy I was speaking to at the shop said that I'm probably going to be in and out of the shop quite frequently, as the mechs and bottom bracket are going to be submersed in water quite frequently and covered in crud. This is an ideal way to create a grinding substance for all those moving parts. Alas it seems that alot of the manufacturers are from regions where its dry most of the time so they don't really consider the semi submerged nature of British off road biking.

I'm not saying my route is the most normal, as I wear wellies to cycle to work (water comes over my ankles when I'm cycling through the water filled ruts), but for people like me that actually use their bikes daily for fitness, transport and fun, grinding substance terrain and grass filled mechs make the cost of running a bike higher.

I wash of the bike daily (not with a pressure washer as this just pushes muck into the bikes working parts) and i still need to constantly (weekly) take bits apart to remove grinding goo. I know you might say why don't you use the road, but have you seen some of the people driving out there, and it adds an extra 4 miles onto my journey. Admittedly if i was into the whole spandex, techno riding gear and space age Cervelo road bikes i'm sure it would be a dream, but me, i'm a little more grunge with my BMX helmet, Skiing gloves and wellies on.

Will keep you updated on how the Panaracer Trailrakers do and give you an overall gist of what the Giant XTC 4.5 2008 rides like. I'm 6 foot and went after a Large frame which looks and feels right but i do wonder whether I need a slightly shorter, raised stem (i just need to settle in with the new bike).

Anyway a point i meant to make is if you have any bike experiences you would like to share drop me an email and if I don't feel like your trying to sell stuff ill put them on my blog.

Giant XTC 4.5 2008 is a great bike, not as light or fancy as a Cervelo road bike but for off road I'm looking forward to finding out if it cuts the mustard.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Harland

The Entry Level Road Bike

You are gathering information to help you know what to...search for. Your first road bike is a big step. No matter your size there are some guidelines to follow for your first bike!

You want to make sure you get a bike which will provide you with a good platform to start from. You also don't want to break the bank get this new bike either. You will probably find once you start riding you really enjoy it. You are not alone most people do!

So to make sure you are happy with your bike for a longer period of time it is best to steer clear of hybrids. Not that there is anything wrong with hybrids....they just make upgrading more costly.

The best thing for you to do is start out looking at a lower end road bike. Start looking at something which has shimano 105 components. You can even take a step down and use shimano Tiagra components. These are great components to start out with. When you decide to upgrade it will make it cheaper for you by starting here...at the very least.

One thing to realize is road bikes can feel stiffer when you first ride them. You will get use to it and appreciate it later. A road bike gives you more positions for your hands than say....a hybrid. Your hands and arms are less likely to feel sore with more hand positions to choose from. You will come to appreciate a variety of hand holds on your bike! The particular brand of bike is not nearly as important as the particular comfort level it gives you.

You will probably notice some differences in the stiffness of different bikes. So find one you feel most comfortable on. For your first bike don't be embarrassed to ask for a previous model year or a....used one. It will save you upwards to several hundred dollars by doing so. Now you have a starting point and an idea of what to look for!

See you on the street!

For more information on entry level road bikes and for some recommendations go to: http://www.mycyclingsource.com/entry-level-road-bike.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Lilly