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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Studded Bicycle Snow Tires

Last Christmas (2007) my parents bought me Studded Snow Tires (Innova Studded Winter Tire - 26 inch X 1.9 inch with 104 studs) for my Mountain Bike. These tires worked great at first. With the extra aggressive tread pattern and the metal studs I felt very confident biking on snow covered trails. Even though the tires worked great for most situations they didn't work if there was ice under the snow. I did crash a couple of times because of this but I didn't get hurt (at least not seriously).

I was happy with the tires until the a couple of months later. Some of the studs fell out. I believe this was my fault for ridding too aggressively. You have to change your riding style when you have studded tires. You cannot stop quickly (unless you need to for safety reasons). And you have to go around corners slower or the studs can be pulled out. You can buy replacement studs for this tire but the missing studs didn't make a big difference so I never bothered.

Now it is the beginning of December 2008 and I am putting these tires back on my bike. But I have noticed that the studs are worn down and do not make a huge difference anymore. Unfortunately, the studs in this tire are hardened steel and not carbide which is much harder and longer lasting. As I mentioned before, you can buy replacement studs for the tire but you can almost buy new tires for the price of the replacement studs.

I would not buy these tires again. I would spend the extra money and get studded tires with carbide studs instead. There is no point in buying tires that only last half of the winter season.

About the author:
Dennis Gertgen is an intermediate bicycle rider. He has been Bicycling seriously since the summer of 2007. He rides both road bikes and Mountain bikes as often as he can. And he is sharing some of his experiences with bike, trails and equipment. You can check out his personal blog here: Personal Blog

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A Good Mountain Bike is a Major Investment

When you plan to hurtle down the mountain biking tracks slopes, the mountain bike is the most vital investment you would make. Mountain bike is a specific and specialized bike and this design would meet the needs of various bikers to use on unpaved surfaces or dirt trails. We generally see knobby and wide tires for a mountain bike that would add for more grip and nice absorption of shock for the kind ride which bike is supposed to do in the process of mountain biking.

Suspension on the front wheel has also become an ideal tool that comes with both front and rear suspension has got wide usage in current day mountain bike. You even get mountain bikes that have bar ends equipped on the mountain bike handle bars, though handle bars that are raised are also very famous too. The wheel's diameter for these bikes is above two feet, although larger wheels are becoming very common these days.

Speaking broadly, we have 4 different types of mountain bikes that includes hardtail, fully rigid and a soft dual and tail or full suspension. Fully rigid bikes come with a frame that has a rigid fork and also an attached rear and also have no suspension. Even the hardtail do not come with a suspension although they come with a front suspension. Soft tail has a frame that has a confined rear suspension and activates using a flex of pivot rather than a frame. The dual bikes or full suspensions come with a front suspension fork and also a rear suspension. It even uses pivots for the rear wheel movement.

The design of your mountain bike would depend on the kind of the terrain that's been used on and it is very common to get bikes which are supposed to be used for Cross country, free ride, all/endure mountains, trial, downhill, dirt jumping - street and urban, 4-cross racing or mountain cross, single speed and north shore usage.

Lately, mountain biking has become one of the mainstream events and the styles of riding have become increasingly very aggressive, that would mean with new frames which are of very good design, lighter and also very strong than the earlier ones and even come with a geometry to assist in overcoming the obstacles. We get current day mountain bikes in 27, 24 and 21 speeds and with three gears one to the front and there would be 9, 8 and 7 gears on the rear wheel. Some of these come loaded with carbon bicycle frames as well.

Adam Peters is a syndicated editor of http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com A website with tips on road bike reviews and mountain bikes.

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Difference Between a Road Bike and a Mountain Bike

Bikes are one craze among the boys which they really fall for. Many men are especially fond about the custom built motorbikes. There are many kinds of bikes, and some of the most famous kinds of bikes are road bikes and mountain bikes, they are known for their specialization of their particular task. Road bikes are generally built in such a way so that they enhance the speed, and provide better mileage whereas on the other hand the mountain bikes are built to cater to the stability task. This is the major basis of differentiation between a road bike and a mountain bike. The following four areas will help to identify a better differentiation between a road and a mountain bike.

Design: Road bikes catering to the service of providing higher speed are designed in such a way that the rider's position is present much closer to the top tube. This hunched position enables the rider to get more power from your legs and the negative impact present in this posture is that it causes much strain on the back. There is a difference present in the handle of both the bikes. On one hand mountain bikes possess wide handle bar offering more control to the rider as against the bent handle bars in the road bike. The handles in the road bike are lowered thus designed to offer more energy which in turn offers greater speed.

Mass: Heavy weight as a known fact imposes greater constraint on the speed. To move down through the mountain it is important that you go down slowly, thus it becomes a necessity for mountain bikes to use heavy weight materials so as to reduce the speed of the vehicle. With a view to make the mountain bikes heavy they even have wider tyres and they even possess many suspension systems so that the ride down the mountain becomes more manageable. As far as the road bikes are concerned, good road bikes are designed with a view to reduce the weight of the bike, they utilize materials like titanium and carbon fibre which allows strength as well as they facilitate the function of reducing weight.

Tyres: Mountain bikes have traction. These are wide and they are closed with a covering material like rubber, which increases the surface area. These features permit the rider to get more control as they are riding down the mountain. The tyres of a road bike are thin and smooth. As far as the maintenance of friction in a road bike is concerned this depends on the surface of the rubber and the skill of the rider to maintain the friction between the bike and the road.

Suspension: Road bikes are built with a sole purpose of providing greater speed; they do not possess this feature, although they have certain materials which absorb the shocks of the uneven roads. Whereas in a mountain bike, there are features like front shock absorbers and rear suspensions.

To conclude you can get a cheaper bike at a price of $200 whereas on the other hand if you are looking for custom made bikes, they can cost you more.

Chris Martin is a SEO Copywriter of Chopper bike. He has written many articles on Custom choppers, custom chopper kit, east texas chopper, chopper for sale ...etc. For more information visit: ultimate chopper or email us at chrismartinseo@gmail.com

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How to Shift Gears on a Mountain Bike

The bike used for mountain biking has undergone tremendous changes. Its strength increased and weight decreased. Its appearance became sleek and trendy. Also, the number of gears increased substantially. Most of the latest models of mountain bikes have as many as 27 gears. So, changing gears has become difficult, especially those who are new to this adventurous sport. One may not be sure whether the gear has actually been changed to the intended gear or not. The question how to shift gears on a mountain bike has become one of the most sought after section in mountain biking tutorials.

It is natural that one might wonder what on earth a mountain bike needs that many gears. Each gear is for riding at optimum speed on a particular type of terrain. It is common for a mountain bike rider to experience various kinds of terrains: hilly, wet, dry, steep slope, rough, stone filled, you name it. One-type-fits-all-kind of gears will not work here since speed is an important factor in the equation for competition victory. So, for getting maximum and optimum speed, one should learn how to shift gears on a mountain bike.

The problem with specialized gears for specific terrain is that if you change to a wrong gear, the result may be embarrassing and sometimes dangerous. Here are some tips to properly change gears on a mountain bikes when you go uphill from a plane. When you start climbing the slope, you do not need to change the gears. You can use the same gear and try to run up the slope with as much speed as possible. Once you find it difficult to pedal, you can shift gears. When you change gears, do not instantly change to the gear that would give you maximum speed when you go up a hill. Instead, change the gear to an easy and slow mode. The emphasis here is not on speed, but spending less energy.

Once you reach a flat surface or a surface with a downward slope, you can change to fast gears again. Again, change to a slower gear when you reach a steep slope. The procedure repeats when your reach the flat surface again. The important lesson in the guide to how to shift gears in a mountain bike is to slow down by applying brake when you enter a different type of terrain. Shift the gear accordingly only after becoming comfortable with riding.

There are different types of gear system used in mountain bikes. How to shift gear on a mountain bike actually depends on the kind of gear system you have got. For riding down the slope, gear system with a front socket is ideal. But for going up the hill, a back socket gear system is generally considered good.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about How to Shift Gears on a Mountain Bike, please visit Biking Recreation for current articles and discussions.

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What the Expert Knows About Mongoose Mountain Bikes

Mongoose mountain bikes are a brand that signify quality and trust in mountain bikes. The company has an array of products suited for each class of biking enthusiasts, so you are bound to get the one that is just right for you. The brand is also at the forefront of most radical biking events and features its own news updates about the brand and its teams.

Mongoose mountain bikes have two product lines - ups. You can choose from BMX stunt bikes or the pavement and mountain bike categories. The BMX line up features freestyle and team bikes for use in stunt biking. You can also check out their dirt street bike range that features some awesome models. The BMX category features light weight bikes and you will find comprehensive product specification on the company's official website for every model.

The mountain bikes designed by Mongoose are in a class of their own. You can choose from conventional categories like the hard tail and dual suspension bikes. Those who are looking for a little extra can check out their excellent hybrid section as well. Although mountain biking might not really be synonymous with comfort, the Mongoose brand offers you a range by just that name. So you can have a leisurely ride up and down those mountains after all!

The company also has its own team called the mongoose tribe. You will find more information about it and the products on the company's official website. In addition the site also has some cool features like a gallery with photos and videos of the team and the bikes in action. Mobile downloads further increase the cool quotient of the brand. The online store has some really interesting riding gear and memorabilia for fans. The site also helps you locate your nearest dealer, help get your bike registered and gives you a large number of downloadable manuals to keep your mongoose mountain bike in good shape.

Want More Information On Mountain Bikes? All You Have To Do Is Click http://www.LaMountainBikes.com/ Now!

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Electric Bicycle Boom

Ever wonder what makes a good mode of transportation nowadays now that the prices of gasoline and other crudes has gone up to the ridiculously insane level? If you're thinking of bicycles as an alternative but don't want to sweat out during your travel, you may think that if they will add up a motor to it for ease of use and minus the pedaling.

There is some confusion about what is an electric bike. You still have to cycle around yourself? You can bring along your own engine? Why do some of these bikes look and have an appearance of scooters? There are 2 styles available on electric bicycles. One is the traditional alleviate engine and the other is the scooter look where they are used to stand on for the trip. So how can a machine like a real electric scooter be not a motorcycle? Why is it not just called a scooter or a moped? It is about all the details and the law.

Possibly style of electric bikes in the look and style you like, if you want it to be like the scooter, which then think in order for a type scooter must meet the details to be a scooter, if one assumes that it is an electric bicycle, then it must meet the specification of electric bicycles. Has enabled the 15MPH max speed of an electric bicycle. This is the only measure of speed of a motor can run for you. If the bike is above or around the speed limit then obviously it's not an electric bike.

An electric scooter, the other hand, can go up to 30 mph to be classified as a "moped scooter. 'This means that in most countries, can be considered normal for a driver's license to be issued. You do not need a bike test. Any scooter stronger than that and you should get a test for motorcycling. For an electric bike is not necessary to take any test. Although some countries have restrictions. In the UK anyone under the age of fourteen is allowed to travel on an electric bicycle road. With the helmets and safety gears in place

So as not to take a test, the additional benefits of using an electric bicycle. You do not normally require the registration by the authorities, prosecutors, and insurance, or use a helmet. Battery technology, either electric or gas base run is paved way to make the popular electric bicycles. They were very kind to the environment of an automobile or a motorcycle. They are the vehicles of the future and many decade to come.

We have a large database of Electric Bikes for sale. Also we supply Electric Bikes Hub Kits in California

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Get a Mountain Bike With Good Bicycle Saddles

Mountain bikes are the most rugged type of bicycle. They were made to be cycled on mountains, steep inclines and the roughest of terrains. Very rarely will a mountain bike rider cycle on a paved road. The majority of mountain bike riders love cycling on narrow and unpaved trails resulting in greater wear and tear and forcing the manufacturers to have to design sturdier bicycles.

Mountain bike tyres are therefore fatter, bigger and made of a stronger type of rubber. This is great as it gives the cyclist better traction and allows the bicycle to run freely in both rough and smooth terrains.

Another significant feature that all mountain bikes have is a strong suspension system. It is now common for manufacturers to make bikes with both front and rear suspensions to help the cyclist withstand heavier bumps and thuds.

Depending on what type of suspension the bikes have, they are classified as soft tails, hard tails, fully rigid and dual suspension bicycles. The hard tail types have a front suspension fork while the rigid types have a rigid fork. The soft tail's rear suspension rests on the frame rather than pivots, and dual and full types have a front suspension fork and rear suspension. As well as this they have a rear shock absorber and linkage.

Mountain bikes made for cross country cycling are generally made of more lightweight and resilient components. They can weigh as less as 20 pounds with the heaviest you can buy weighing around 40 pounds. Enduro mountain bikes tend to be heavier than their cross country counterparts weighing on average between 30 and 35 pounds. They have better suspensions that are great for steep inclines or steering over hairpin bends.

Free ride mountain bikes are built of heavier materials. Unlike most other downhill bikes they are designed for easy pedaling. You will find them easy to maneuver around dangerous obstacles and steep turns. The flip side being they are not as efficient as cross country bikes due to them being heavier, weighing between 40 and 50 pounds.

Downhill Mountain bikes, while not as strong as free ride bicycles are most suitable for riding on downhill tracks and for racing. A downhill mountain bike's traction is better than most other types of mountain bike.

Trial bikes are meant for short distances and come without suspension. They do not have proper seat or vestigial pad and weigh less than most other bikes at around 15-20 pounds.

Urban and Street Mountain Bike's features vary in between the mountain bikes and trial bikes. They are very strong and come with between one and nine gears and a chain guide for the front and rear gears.

Alison Addy contributes editing long articles on bicycles for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com

Read additional info on mountain bikes or Shimano XTR

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How To Choose The Best Urban Road Bike For You

Racing bikes are good bikes and they all have similar traits to them. The light weight frame that you might have to your bike may be made of some light weight metal such as aluminum. The wheels that you are riding on called tires are made to be able to withstand high pressures. The handle bars are slightly lower than usual and the gears and brakes may be in a cluster so you don’t have to take your hands off the grips anytime.

If you just like to simply go on an easy going bike ride, than more than likely a racing type of bike isn’t for you. The bike and its wheels are made smaller for lighter weight and the breaks are made for light weight also and not a quick stop so you may want another bike like a mountain bike. The gear ratio is probably going to be a lot longer on a racing bike to gain speed but you can get another bike such as the mountain bike that you can climb steep hills and mountains with, with ease.

With a light weight frame that you can pick up with one hand and the tight positions you may have to sit will make you accelerate at high speeds higher than a normal bike. The way the bike is made is to limit the wind and create a good position for the rider. With owning a racing bike they can reach pretty high speeds up to 35 mph I would say or at least what I have seen. They might be able to go even faster but I am not a bike rider fan so I wouldn’t know.

Another thing that racing bikes don’t have that a regular bike would is mud flaps to keep you from getting mud all over the back of your legs and bottom. Mudguards are good when riding in a dirt environment or a muddy road. As I stated this is also a choice that goes with a regular bike and not available in racing bikes.

Although you might have been thinking of getting a racing bike, and might have had the rack up for it in the garage already. It might not be the bike for you if you just like to go on easy rides and not fast speedy races. Other people may prefer to challenge their friends or family when owning a racing bike, but the family just may like the regular bikes too. Just choose whichever bike is right for you and what you want out of it. Don’t get the bike that you just want to have to own, get the bike that’s right for you and that you will enjoy riding.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle clothing at http://www.bicyclepartsandclothing.com

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The 3 Main Sites You Can Get Used Road Bikes And Road Bike Gears For FREE

In this article I am going to give away 3 websites that I have used in order to get some SUPER deals on used road bikes and road bike gears. It is SUPER because I got the items for FREE.

The first website that you should look around in order to get a super deal on used road bikes and road bike gears is Freecycle. Freecycle is a nonprofit company that facilitates the process of giving away products for free to anyone around the world. It is a great community for all people who are willing to give things away for free.

The second website that I like to use is Craigslist. Craigslist is like one big ad site where anyone can post an ad, just like a newspaper. Instead of paying a fee to list, you can list your items for FREE. However, there are now some things that require a fee in order to post an ad. There is a FREE section where many local people who either due to their generosity or just can't plainly sell the item may just give the items for free. I once got a vintage Mesinger seat for FREE.

The last place you should look in order to get a super deal on used road bike and road bike gears is local online newspaper company. Most brick and mortar newspaper companies are no online. For most of the time, you might now have to ay a fee in order to browse their classified ads section. Just click to the free section of the classified and you may get that super deal, that is, FREE!

Charlie Thai is an avid cyclist. To get great deals on cycling related products please visit his website by going to http://www.BuyCyclingGear.com

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Road Bikes Can Be Thoroughly Customized These Days

Anyone even slightly serious about cycling should consider buying a custom made bicycle rather than a mass produced type that you can buy off the rack in places like Walmart and other discount stores. A custom made bike is designed for one individual only and manufactured their exact measurements. A good fit means and immensely improved experience for the rider and optimum performance based specifically on how that individiual's body moves. Off the rack bicycles are only made in few sizes and finding a perfect fit is practically impossible. This results in a shorter shelf life of the bicycle due to it's owner working harder to compromise for the ill fit and wearing out the bicycle's components because of improper use.

Before you set out to find somewhere to make your custom-made bicycle it is definitely a good idea to decide what type of cycling you intend to be doing as your goals as a cyclist will influence many of the design decisions your bike manufacturer will make. Several questions you need to ask yourself : What kind of terrains will you be cycling on? If you are cycling for exercise or recreational purposes what's the fastest you think you'll want to go? Custom made bicycles are especially important for athletes because the right fit ensures peak biomechanical efficiency, giving the rider that extra edge.

Custom bicycles also give cyclist the opportunity to express their individuality. While some riders are only interested in the performance, for others the style of the bike takes precedence. While it's possible to customize the look of performance based bicycles such as mountain and racing bikes, it's the beach cruisers, lowriders and choppers that can be transformed into the most original fashion statements. Most manufacturers also sell a variety of accessories and components in a huge range of colors and materials. This makes it easier for riders to make individual style statements with their bicycles.

As a result of the resurfacing of custom bicycles on a major scale, there are now are large selection of manufacturers to choose from. Most can be found online, allowing customers the option of browsing the many styles and options before they make their decision. If you are looking for a customized bike but have no local shops then many online manufacturers will give you step by step instructions on taking the correct measurements, this means riders can still provide them with the correct information they need to make sure the bike is a perfect fit.

Alison Addy is the editor of http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com. Keep reading about bicycle frame geometry and bicycles at his web.

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Custom Road Bikes

People who consider mountain biking seriously would prefer custom bikes rather than the models that are produced in mass which lines the shelves of the discount shops and departments. A custom bicycle would be designed to fit only one single rider and to fit his exact measurements. A correct fit would improve the experience the rider would have immensely. This means an efficient performance depending on the movement of a person's body. Bicycle produced in mass are usually made in a tiny range of sizes. Getting the exact fit is almost impossible, that would leave the rider with no option other than working hard to compensate on the mismatch of the requirements and resulting in the easier wear out of the bicycle because of improper usage.

It is always preferred to have a clear picture on the kind of bicycle you want prior to shopping for a bicycle that is custom made. Various goals that you have as a cyclist would help the manufacturer decide on the options they would make while designing a bicycle for you. Have an answer for few questions like: do you want to ride primarily for social reasons? If that is the case, when who it that would be riding with you, may is be your friends, children or racers training you. Incase you wish to ride for exercise or recreation, what is the distance that you would like to cover and how fast? What type of track would you cover? Custom fit is mostly for athletes as a correct fit would make sure to receive an optimum biomechanical efficiency that gives an important edger for a rider.

Custom bicycles even provide the rider an option to give a visual statement. For few, performance takes the priority while style is also becoming an important thing for many. It is as well possible for more customization of the look of the efficiency oriented bikes like the racing and mountain bikes, it is the area of choppers, beach cruisers and low riders that have the most stunning modifications visually are made. Most of these manufacturers provide parts and accessories in a vast variety of materials and colors that makes easy for any rider to build a strong personal statement with their own bicycle.

Due to the recent rush or surge in the popularity of custom-made bicycles, you have a wide range of manufacturers to select from. Most of them can be got on internet that give the customer an opportunity for browsing through various options and styles prior to deciding on something. If you wish to have a customized fit and however are not in a position to make it the shop, then you have various online manufacturers that allow you to give instructions for noting the correct measurements, which allow riders to give them with needed information to make sure they give you the best road bikes with the correct fit for you.

Alison Addy use to write on bicycles and similar subjects for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com A website with tips on road bicycles and cycling.

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Road Bicycles

Bicycles, also known as bikes or pushbikes, are vehicles that have two wheels, which are propelled by pedals. Bicycles can be dated back to 19th century Europe, and have evolved gradually into several designs and models available today. Bicycles are an ideal means of transport as they are non-polluting, quiet, small, easy to maneuver, light and inexpensive. They can be used by anyone, from a 5-year-old to a 70-year-old. Bicycling is also a very good form of exercise. However, there are a few disadvantages of bicycles: they cannot be used for great distances and they also tire out the rider after sometime. This is the reason for the evolution of the engine-powered bicycle or motor bicycle. The bicycles are still being used a chief means of transport in most countries. There are also some jobs where employees depend on bicycles, like postal services, police services and retail delivery.

Road bicycles are designed to be used only on paved and smooth roads. They cannot be used on off-road terrain paths. Some road cycles are also known as racing Bicycles, since they are generally used for cycle racing. Nevertheless, they are the most preferred form of bicycling, as most cycling is done on paved roads. They are lightweight and very fast bikes. They are also very strong, with the ability to go over a 100 miles per day. However, they are not comfortable for riding over bad roads. They are also not recommended for people who have back, wrist, shoulder, prostate and neck problems.

Road bikes are used for road cycling, which is a very popular sport. Road cycling racing is very common in Europe and some other countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland and the US. Other categories of road bicycles are the touring bicycles and the Triathlon.

Bicycles provides detailed information on Bicycles, Performance Bicycles, Bicycle Shops, Bicycle Parts and more. Bicycles is affiliated with Colorado Bicycle Tours.

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Getting Your Road Bikes - Some Advice

Buying a mountain bike can be majorly frustrating, not to mention time consuming. Below is a guide to help you in your decision before you purchase your mountain bike.

Decide your budget

There is no limit as to how much you can spend on a new bike so to help you keep your budget under control, you need to work out what your price range is and what will be the most you are willing to pay. Try and support your local bike store rather than from mass merchants like Wal-Mart. You'll get great advice and a better bike too.

Riding style - discovers yours

Almost every mountain bike is designed to suit many kinds of terrains and riding styles so you must first decide on the particular kind of riding you will mainly be doing. Smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, this is something you need to figure out.

Go for full suspension if you can

If your budget will allow it, a full suspension mountain bike is definitely worth buying. A hard tail, without rear suspension, weighs less and pedals more efficiently but full suspensions offer greater comfort and better control.

Finding your favorites

Trying to compare a mountain bike from component to component is almost impossible, as there are way too many combinations available. The best thing to do is to find the components that are essential to you and then make sure the everything else falls within your budget.

Wait for the sales

Throughout the year, the cost of buying a mountain bike fluctuates regularly. Between spring and summer is the main buying season when prices are at their highest so if you can wait until the fall you should save a couple hundred dollars. Most bike stores will also offer good discounts or free accessories if you buy from them.

Find a good dealer

Finding a good bike dealer is more important than getting the cheapest price. You will always find that dealers care more about selling you your perfect bike than selling you the most expensive one.

Test ride

If possible test ride as many bikes as you can within your budget and riding style. You'll discover that while some bikes will feel right, others won't. By test riding the bikes first, you'll be able to understand what works for you and what doesn't.

Do your research

Bike reviews offer one of the best ways to find out about a mountain bike's reliability and performance. Always look at what other owners and reviewers think about a bike before you
part with your cash.

Alison Addy is a syndicated writer of http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com More articles on Pinarello F4:13 and bike buying at his web.

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Rock the Road With a Dirt Pocket Bike

Racer and motorcycle fanatics will surely love these most modern inventions on pocket bike. Dirt pocket bike with very awe-inspiring machine and artistic designs smeared on its steel body will surely stun those avid fans of racing motorcycles and bikes.

Ever heard of dirt pocket bikes? They are motorcycle bikes which is the smaller version of the usual motorcycle bikes you usually see on the public roads. They are mostly used for racing and biking along mountains and dirty roads. They are said to be the fastest roadrunner of the era. These pocket bikes have different shapes and sizes and all for existing designs. They can reach up to 80 miles per hour of speed, faster than the fast pocket bike which limits up to 50 miles per hour only. Wonder why it is called a "fast" in pocket bike though?

These dirt bikes are also known as trail bikes but are lightweight motorcycle compared to the bigger super pocket bikes that are also super cool motorcycle bikes with same exciting features to be in love of. Dirt Bikes are best for cross country, mud, hills, around the fields with unpaved, rough, and uneven ground. When it comes to maintenance, you need not to worry because they are fabricated to give the best machine with less-trouble and easier maintenance.

There is also what we called dirt mini bike which is more or less exhibits the same features than the dirt pocket bike. The two-cycle air-cooled engine is used as standard for both dirt pocket bike and mini pocket bike. The only drawback of this dirt bike is that it cannot be use as vehicle on daily travel along public roads. They are primarily meant for racing vehicle and biking vehicle.

Dirt pocket bikes are less costly than you might first think. You can purchase these dirt bikes in your nearest sports bike store or search through the internet for websites that are selling a variety of these kinds of bikes.

The internet can be a good source to shop because you can be updated with the latest model of bikes and see for yourself the different designs and exciting features the bikes have to offer. Choose websites that offers you to see the model first before purchasing or actually paying for it. So what are you waiting for? Buy a dirt pocket bike now and you will be sure to rock the road.

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Mountain Bike Parts - This is the Way the Experts Easily Find Them

The avid biker should always know and understand his or her mountain bike parts. This is an important base to comprehend the working of a mountain bike. Bikers usually blaze trails through lonely paths and knowing how the bike works helps one repair it immediately should anything go wrong. This article will take you through the basic parts of a mountain bike.

The frame of the mountain bike represents its overall size. It is usually smaller in comparison to other road bikes. Most manufacturers customize bikes according to age and gender and you should always buy a bike that is comfortable to maneuver. The handlebars of a mountain bike are also different from the road bikes. They tend to be flat and are almost the span of the rider's shoulders. The important thing here is to ensure that the bars are at the right level. Most bikers prefer an upright position and you should ensure comfortable hand positions on the handlebars.

Another pair of important mountain bike parts are the crank and the derailleur. The crank is at the bottom of the frame and has pedals on its tips on either side. The derailleur is used to shift gears on the mountain bike and is operated using the shifters at the handlebars. High quality derailleur increases the precision of shifting gears. The shifters are usually thumb shifters and are located on the top of the handlebars. Higher quality shifters include rapid fire and grip shifters.

The gear on most mountain bikes comes with specifications of 36 x 34. The gear helps bikers go uphill with good speed. Along with the gear, the brakes form an important part of the bike. You can choose from V-brakes or the newer disc brakes. You must also check the tires on your mountain bike. A good grip is essential on the tire if you want to navigate difficult terrain. Other than these the pedals should be sturdy and you can add a toe saddle if you like. This ensures that your feet won't slip out of the pedal while going on steep surfaces.

Want More Information On Mountain Bikes Parts? All You Have To Do Is Click http://www.LaMountainBikes.com/ Now!

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Most Good Road Bikes Get Good Reviews

Bicycle reviews provide cyclists with important information on bicycle parts, accessories and products, as well as the latest news from around the cycling world. The reviewers are mainly made up of mountain bikers, road racers, and recreational cyclists; their common goal being to enhance the sport of cycling.

Bicycle review sites will provide you with plenty of useful info, as well as links to cycling tours and vacations all over the world. Reviewers are generally experienced veterans who know their subject! They are able to aid the cycling enthusiast in choosing the trails that are best suited for them in a foreign country.

Bicycle reviews also provide competitive cyclists with helpful training and riding tips some of this advice includes: pedaling techniques, resistance training, overtraining and many more. Each topic is aimed at helping cyclists improve their cycling times and increase their strength, thus becoming a better overall rider.

These reviews are available both on and offline. They are essential reading for those involved in competitive cycling, as well as novice cyclists who want professional opinions on the best products to buy.

Trusted bicycle retailers will be able to provide the best products, along with great customer service for every cyclist.

There are many bicycle dealers on the internet and locally throughout the United States. With the popularity of cycling, especially mountain biking, it is expected that the number of websites and shops opening for business will increase. Both offer customers the hottest brand names from the cycling world although online bicycle stores tend to have the better prices because of their low overheads. Local stores however will give you a more hands-on experience, allowing you to try out the different products.

The National Bicycle Dealers Association

The NBDA which stands for the National Bicycle Dealers Association are an important organization, and much needed by the cycling world. They are a non-profit trade association consisting of bicycle retailers that supports membership from product suppliers and the like in the cycling industry. Their goal is "to aid the growth of cycling by supporting specialty bicycle retailers through research, education and advocacy."

The NBDA are also responsible for publishing one of the industry's most popular trade magazines entitled "The Bicycle Retailer and Industry News". They have also co-produced the Bicycle Business Leadership Conference in with the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association. As well as this they endorse the Interbike International Bicycle Expo. They say one of their main goals is to reach out to everyone in the cycling world and that's exactly what they are doing.

Alison Addy is a syndicated editor of http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on Museeuw bikes and cycling

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Road Bikes Buyers Guide

Do you like the road cycling? Want to buy a new road bike? Along this article you will find lots of information on how to choose your road bike that more fits with your needs. Probably, the first and most important question is how much do you want to spend as well as how much cycling will you do? The answer to the first question is a difficult one, Remember that you get what you pay for. Many cyclists can not afford to spend much on their bicycles. It depends on the level; keep reading and get the perfect cycle for your level.

Bicycles For Low Level Riders

If you go to the larger sports shops or bike stores they will have complete bicycles for sale, usually an alloy frame with Shimano Tiagra or Campagnolo Mirage or a mixture of not much expensive components, These bikes will be built to a price, will ride quite well, wont be very light and is a good point to start. To get something better, you might start with a good alloy frame and if you can afford it, carbon forks, then with what money you have left chose your group-set of either Campagnolo or Shimano, and then you can pick your handlebars, saddle, wheel rims and tires, this is very funny, however if you are working to a budget, it can be tricky.

Bicycles For Touring And Possibly Racing Mid Level Riders

You can buy a complete bike in this category, in the bikes store, sports shop or even in the specialist magazines or on the Internet. It is more fun to choose the components for your frame and how much you want to spend. At this level you would probably be looking at Campagnolo Centaur or probably Shimano 105 road bike parts and you could possibly buy some built up wheels from Mavic, Shimano or Campagnolo. But you should think firs on the frame, there are many frames out there to choose from, get on the web and find what you want, it will probably be alloy again, with carbon forks. Alloy seat pin, handlebars and stem and a comfortable saddle.

Bike For Racing And Pleasure Designed For Top Level Riders

At this range of bikes it gets more difficult. Probably your components would be Shimano Ultegra or Campagnolo Chorus, unless you can afford the top components of both manufacturers. Wheels will be probably Shimano, Mavic or Campagnolo, deep carbon rims look fantastic and have a smooth ride, but will probably be too expensive, best if you stick to alloy rims for high pressure tires as tubulars, even though they ride wonderfully, will be expensive and a lot of trouble. Handle bars, stem and seat pin could be alloy or carbon, if you have the money. The frame is the heart of your bike and you will want a good one, at this price range alloy is going to be the first choice with carbon forks and possibly a carbon rear triangle. If you look around you might manage to find an all carbon frame at this price, Giant make a very well priced carbon frame in a compact, sloping design, there are others but you will have to spend a lot more money.

Pro Bikes For Pro Level Riders.

When’re looking at a lot of money here if you want to buy a professional road bike. The frame will be all carbon or titanium with carbon forks and maybe a carbon rear triangle or alloy main tubes with carbon front or rear end. The nicest ones on the market at the moment, in my opinion, are Colnago, De Rosa, Pinarello, Battaglin, Time, Scott, Cervelo and many more, all are available in different colours, geometries and sizes, check out there web sites for information and try to make your choice, it’s a difficult job. This is a professional road bike so it will have to have the best components, Shimano Dura.Ace or Campagnolo Record are your only choice at this level. Same with the wheels, Dura-Ace or Campagnolo Bora, these can be for high pressure clincher tires or tubulars, tubulars are more trouble but do ride well, but clincher tires are very nearly as nice and much more practical. Handle bars, stem and seat pin will be carbon and your saddle will have a carbon base with a leather cover and sometimes with gel for a little extra comfort.

The Best Bicycle You Can Afford.

That's true "You do only get what you pay for, so get the best bike you can afford". A good idea might be look around the magazines and the internet manufacturers' sites and don’t forget your local bike shop until you get that little treasure, but be careful not to make your partner too jealous!

Andrew Caxton runs a cycling site which can be found at http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com. Withing his website he publish reviews and comparisons on heart rate monitors and bike accessories

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Major Advantages Of Road Bikes

The oldest and most popular form of bikes is the Road Bike. These have been an eye-catcher for people since decades and one can easily find several deals on the internet to buy Vintage Road Bikes. These bikes are popular as they are light weight and have been designed specifically to ride on smooth roads. One can easily sail on a flat road for miles with an ease and speed, which cannot be found in any other bike ride.

Why Are They So Popular

Tires: - The road bikes are swift as they run on thin tires - tires are kept as thin as possible so that the drag produced is minimum. As the friction is minimized, these bikes can attain high speeds within seconds with very little effort. A word of caution – as the amount of friction is lessened on the bike tires; stability of these bikes also comes under scanner. They are less steady as compared to mountain bikes (which depend a lot on stability and road grip due to the terrain on which they are used).

Handlebars: - Propelled by new innovations in road bike design and technology over the last decade, these road bikes have become a treat to watch. The metallic colors and designs often prompt you to stop and have a second look at them. To add style to them, these come with special curved handlebars that give many hand arrangements over long runs. These handlebars also assist the rider to a have a low, smooth riding stance.

Gearing System: - Another astonishing feature about these bikes is the gearing system. In order to provide a relaxing feeling over along distance, most modern bikes have triple chain-rings at the front and around 10 rings on the rear wheel. This allows a huge gear range so that bikes can cope with steep hills and twisting roads. Even the ones used for racing and superior performance employ such gear technology, as high gears are required for faster speeds. Integrated brake levers and gear shifters is another recent advancement that has allowed bikers to change the gear and pull the brakes, both at the same time, with very little movement of hands.

Road Bikes – An Asset to Own

With the amount of work, money and time being invested in road bike technology, it is an investment to look out for. If someone has not driven these latest bikes, that person is certainly missing something in his life.

Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like the above article at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com. If you would like more information on this topic please checkout his website at road bikes.

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Road Bike Review

This article will present a general Road bike review, essentially designed to be ridden on paved roads. The road bikes are specifically designed to be used on paved roads, not on off-road terrain. Road bikes are often sometimes popularly called as racing bicycle. The first thing that one can notice about road bikes is their drop handlebars and the most exciting multi-gear options. You can have many varieties in terms of gears. A road bicycle is a bicycle designed for road cycling according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The UCI rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles.

Key Features and Parts

Although there are many features of a road bicycle but two most notable features are its light weight and the rider position. You can easily recognize a road bike amongst hundreds of bikes by seeing its handlebars that are lower than the saddles. This is designed to put the rider in an aerodynamic position. The road bike provides amazing handling capabilities because its rear and front wheels are close together.

The key parts of a road bicycle are as follows:

* Saddle

* Downward Handlebars

* Seat-post

* Brake levers

* Head tube

* Down tube

* Seat stay

* Chain stay

* Gear shifters

* Stylish rims

The other most important part of any bicycle that calculates its performance is the wheels. The rims can be shaped to achieve greater efficiency. The rim of a road bicycle makes a triangular cross-section to form a teardrop with the tire. For hill climbs, however, energy losses due to the higher rotating weight of most aerodynamic rims are greater than the aerodynamic drag reduction that they offer, so a traditional lighter box-sectioned rim is often used. Rims are usually made from various alloys like aluminum alloy. However, a rim for a road bicycle can be made from a carbon fiber that is less in weight as compared to a metal rim. For better aerodynamics, it is always advisable to lower the number of spokes present in the wheel.

For more information about mountain bikes, please visit our site: Bike Review Article also available at: http://bikereview.info/RoadBikeReview.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ivan_Makenan

Customizing The Perfect Road Bike For You

If you are serious about your bicycling, then you will want to consider a custom bicycle over one that is mass-produced. While mass-produced bicycles are all made in the same way, a custom bicycle is custom fitted to the exact measurement of the person who is going to be doing the riding. This means that it fits the person’s body exactly and it will help to make the cycling more comfortable and efficient. A mass-produced bicycle is more difficult to make to fit, so the rider may find that it is more difficult to compensate for the issues that are caused by a poor fit.

You need to first determine what kind of bicycle riding that you are going to do before you have a bicycle custom-made for you. This will help the designer to make the kind of bike that will best meet your needs and wants. Some questions that you may want to start with include: Are you riding for fun? If you are, then who are you going to ride with? Where are you going to ride and how far are you going to be riding? Answering all of these questions will help you and the designer to customize the perfect bike for your body and your riding, so that you will have the best edge possible in your bicycling.

Another option that you have with getting a custom bicycle is that you determine what it looks like. This can give you a wonderful opportunity to make it into the visual statement that you want. Some bicyclists are more concerned about the performance, but style is become more important for many cyclists. They are excited about being able to customize their bicycle to make it look more interesting and to express their own personality. It is not just mountain and racing bikes that are being customized – choppers, low riders, and beach cruisers are also being customized with fantastic results. The bicycling manufacturers are offering parts and accessories in many different colors and materials to help make it easier for consumers to personalize their bike according to their own desires and personality.

There are a wide number of manufacturers that you can purchase different components from for your cycle. The Internet is a great source for finding information about different components, including the styles and prices, because you can look any time of the night or day with no pushy salesperson. This can help you narrow down your choices so that you can make the best decision for you. If you want to customize a bike for yourself, but you cannot find a shop or cannot take the time to visit a shop, then you will find that there are online stores that give directions on how to take the proper measurements so that they can customize a bike for you. This is a great option if you are unable to find a shop to customize a bike for you.

Choosing the Ideal Road Bike Need Not Be a Difficult Decision

I remember the first time I walked into a specialty bike store; this would be my first expensive (at least to me) road bike. My eyes were like saucers and my emotions soared as I saw every imaginable make and model hanging on the wall. Each of them representing the pinnacle of cycling, how could I possibly choose one from another?

That was years ago, and I've owned multiple bikes since, but I have realized the most important question to ask yourself, how much cycling do you intend to do? If you'll answer this question truthfully, it will guide you in your choice and you can then almost automatically pick your perfect road bike. Of course this will need to be tempered with your age, physical condition, and whether you plan to race, or simply enjoy a leisurely ride on a beautiful road bike trail.

Certainly one of the factors will be financial, if you're a young and plan to ride consistently, possibly entering a contest or two, your perfect bike might be more expensive than you'd planned for. If you're older and established in the business world, perhaps money is not the issue, but how much time you have to enjoy your road bike. You'll certainly need to justify one against the other, and what works for one may be different for another.

Let's Start with the Basic Road Bike

There are specialty bike shops and larger sporting good stores that will have a variety of selections. The larger stores will probably offer road bikes with alloy frames, mixed with less expensive components, your bike is probably pre-built and will certainly provide a good ride, but there will be other bikes that are lighter and more expensive, using an alloy frame.

These more expensive road bikes usually allow customization ofeach individual component, i.e., saddle, tires, handlebars, wheel rims, et cetera. That is the ideal way to build your custom road bike however, it can be quite expensive.

So You Want Your Road Bike to Be a Racer

If you're considering a racing bike, if you have vision of the Tour 'De France, you'll find these gems in road bike magazines, specialty bike stores, and certainly online auction sites. When you began looking at these upper level road bikes, chances are you'll be buying it completed or assembled. This simply means that the manufacturer has already put the time and energy into ensuring each part integrates perfectly. The foundation of your road bike is of course the frame, and no doubt you'll be choosing an alloy frame, with carbon forks. This is the most efficient, high tech way of outfitting your road bike but not without expense.

The Top-Of-The-Line Road Bike

I'll drop a few names here, since we're talking about the creme de la creme of road bikes; Campagnolo Chorus or Shimano Ultegra are recognized manufacturers, whose very name invokes, "Ooo oo, ahh ahh" among road bike enthusiasts. If money is no object, (not the case with most of us), you'll probably be looking at carbon rims for the tires, however most will use high-pressure tires (such as tubulars) and alloy rims.

A top-of-the-line road bike could potentially cost thousands, and while it would certainly make Lance Armstrong proud, consider these top of the line models, only if you have the money and time to invest.

If you're someone like me, a person who simply enjoys riding, feeling the wind in your face, the adrenaline in your soul, choose a road bike that fits your personality, bank account and style. Once you do then pedal for life, enjoyment, and simple thrill of meeting the road on your terms.

Customized Road Bikes

You will find that no other bike is like one that is customized for you. It is the right fit for your body, including the right weight, height, and feel, and it is made with the right parts and components. A customized bike will be more expensive, but it will be well worth the money because it will ride better and be more comfortable.

One of the first things that you need to decide upon is the top tube. If you have a longer torso, then you will want a bicycle with a longer top tube. You can choose to get a handlebar stem that is longer, but if you do this, then you will need to sit so that your weight will be focused on the front wheel. This may affect the control and handling of your bike, so you may not want to do this. Choosing a bike with a longer top tube would be a much better choice for you.

Woman may find that longer top tubes are not very comfortable because it may cause them to have to stretch to reach the handlebar. This may cause them to turn the stem backwards or they can choose to get a seat post that is longer and a bike stem that can be raised higher.

Bicycles come in a few standard heights. The shorter height is approximately 47 cm and the taller height is 63 cm. You may find that some of the bicycle manufacturers make bikes that are 40 cm for women to ride, but the tubing is usually of a standard size, which makes the ride uncomfortable. To determine which height fits you the best, you will need to try out several of the bikes.

The frame is one consideration, but the handlebar can have a big impact upon the bike’s feel as well. The handlebar needs to be at the right depth and width so that it feels right and so that you can control the bike properly. It should be comfortable to ride during races and long distance rides as well. A 73-degree angle is the optimum angle for the head and seat tube for maximum stability.

You will also find that parts like hubs, the headset, bottom bracket, and the seat post are also important facets of your bike. By choosing more lightweight features, you will find that your bike is easier to control and it will go much faster.

Now that you have a bike that fits your body and your needs, you can also add in your personality to aesthetically make it into the bike of your dreams. Adding your own personal touches can be the most fun part of customizing your bike.

It sounds like a dream to have the bike that you have always wanted, but it can cost you quite a bit of money if you are not careful. The fitting costs and special components can cost quite a bit and add in the cost of assembling this custom bike and you could be looking at quite a bill. By making your decisions carefully, you will be able to get the bike that you want and that fits your budget.

Riding Road Bikes Expertly Takes a Lot of Practice

Mountain biking is an exhilarating sport that can be enjoyed by anyone who has learnt to ride a bike. Compared to a normal bike riding it can be dangerous, so you should make sure you learn the
basic skills below before you begin.

You can practice these skills practically anywhere - on a bike path, at your local park, or simply around your garden. If at all possible, try and find somewhere with a hill.

Get to know your pedals.
Learn to move your feet away from the pedals. Try this while you are sitting on your bike with the other foot on the floor. Once you have mastered that you can have a go at moving your foot on and off the pedal while pedaling around for a while. You might need to spend some extra time
practicing if you have either clip less or toe clip type pedals.

Practice spinning
For this one you need to do is sit on your bike and keep pedaling. Bend your arms slightly and adjust the height of your seat so your legs are 70-90% extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal. Make sure you relax, as there is never a situation where your elbows or your knees are locked.

Changing gears
Get acquainted with changing the gears on your bike. If you are in a high gears you may notice that it is more difficult to pedal although your speed increases, while the lower the gear the easier you will find pedaling and getting up steep paths. As you approach anywhere steep, its better to change gears before you get there rather than while you are actually on it.

Learn to coast
Practice coasting with your feet on the pedals without sitting down. Keep your arms bent but make sure your knees are not locked.

Learn to stand and pedal
One thing you will definitely need to master is pedaling while standing on your bike, so you will need to practice this often until you get it right. Try standing up slowly once you've been pedaling sitting down for a while and then increase your speed once your confidence develops. You can practice this in low gears when on hills and in high gears when on level ground.

Dropping down curbs
Look for a curb where you can get to the upper portion of it with ease. Practice at a reasonable speed, standing and coasting off the curb from the upper to the lower level. Practice this at
different speeds until it is a piece of cake.

Once you have practiced these skills and got the hang of them, you will be able to start on the trails feeling full of confidence. Even though it may take some getting used to at first, you'll soon be a pro!