Tips For Riding A Sports Bike

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If you are thinking of buying a bicycle for any reason, you need to consider how you are going to be riding it. If you are not used to riding a bike, you have to look at some tips to ensure that you are riding correctly. These tips will ensure that you are safe and that you get the most out of your bicycle.

Protect Your Head

When it comes to serious injury and death of cyclists, around 60% in the US are caused by head injuries. There are a lot of these deaths that could be prevented if everyone wore a helmet while riding their bike. There are times where wearing a helmet is not required and many states do not have any laws regarding this.

However, there are some states that do have bike helmet laws. These laws state that you have to wear a helmet whenever you are on your bike. This is something that you should do at all times because it will protect you should you fall or be in an accident.

Do Not Use High Gears For Extended Periods

If you have a bike with a number of gears, it can be tempting to stay in a high gear for prolonged periods. This is actually something that you will want to avoid. High gears put additional strain on the legs and knees when you use them for too long.

This is due to the fact that you want to keep your pedaling at 70 to 90 rpm. This is the ideal speed when you are cycling for a prolonged period as it does not cause a lot of strain. When you are in a high gear, it is harder to maintain this speed which results in additional strain on the knees.

Make Use Of Your Gears

While you do not want to cycle in a high gear for prolonged periods of time, this does not mean that you should be avoiding your gears completely. The gears are there to make your ride a lot easier and you need to use them. If you don’t, you could find yourself struggling and this will make you less likely to continue cycling.

It is recommended that you use your gears when climbing a hill to keep the speed that you want. You will also be able to pedal with greater ease when you are in the right gear for the terrain. Using your gears will also reduce the pain and soreness that you feel after a long and hard ride.

Have The Right Bike

If you are serious about riding, you should not pick up any old bike that you find. You need to get one that fits your body and riding style. You do not want a bike that is too big because it will be hard to pedal, but a bike that is too small will force you into an uncomfortable riding position. You also want to get the right type of bike because mountain bikes will handle differently to road bikes.

When choosing a bike, you have to consider the size of the frame and ensure that it is the right size for you. To do this, you can use the manufacturer sizing guide which links your height to the frame size that you should be getting. If you are still unsure about the size you need, you should ask your local bicycle store to help you find the right size.

Get The Right Saddle

If you are going to be on your bike for a prolonged period of time, you need to have the right saddle. The right saddle can make a lot of difference when you are riding and could be the difference between enjoying your ride and not. A mistake that many people make when choosing a saddle is to get the thickest padding they can find.

This is done because people assume this will be the most comfortable for them. The truth is that a longer seat that has a cutout will often be the best one to get. If you are able to go to a bike store, you should be able to test some of the saddles before you buy to ensure that you are getting the right one.

Change Position While Riding

A lot of people make the mistake of staying in one position once they are on their bike. This is a problem if you are riding for a prolonged period because parts of the body will become sore and numb. This is why you should shift your hands and your position in the saddle.

When you move while riding, you will stop your arms, hands, and rear from going numb. When these parts of the body go numb, you will have issues when you get off your bike. You may also have problems properly controlling your bike.

Know The Rules

This might seem like common sense, but you need to know what the rules of cycling are. You have to ride with the traffic and obey all of the road signs. You also need to ensure that you watch the cars and bicycles in front of you to anticipate where they are going. You also need to know where and when you will be able to ride on the sidewalk, if this is at all possible.

There are a lot of tips that you can use when it comes to riding a bike. These tips will ensure that you are safe and comfortable when you use your bike for prolonged periods of time.

exploded view of carbon fiber mountain bike frame

3 Reasons To Get A Carbon Bike

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With so many bicycle frame options out there it may seem overwhelming when you are choosing a new pair of wheels. Carbon bike frames have been around for a long time but until recently were known as a super expensive ride for the elite biker. However, recently carbon bike frames have become more widely available for the common rider. Here are 3 benefits of purchasing a carbon bike frame.

1. Carbon bike frames are durable.

They are built to last. In many studies and experiments, carbon bike frames proved more durable than their alloy counterpart. Carbon is a very stable material that stands the test of time. Previously, carbon bikes were very susceptible to UV damage. Now, carbon is treated with UV stabilizer that negates this problem. Another benefit of carbon is they will not corrode or get damaged by salt.

Carbon bikes have been used for years. Because of this, they have also evolved for years. Bike manufacturers have taken any negatives about carbon frames and changed them so they no longer are a hindrance. With maintenance and care, a carbon bike can last a lifetime.

2. Carbon is light.

Most people know that carbon bikes are the lightest bike frames around. Because carbon is extremely fibrous it can easily be customized so that weight can be applied where the bike needs it but can remain light in other places. This translates to over a pound of weight loss compared to it other bikes.

3. Carbon bikes have a very smooth ride.

The common biker loves the feel and comfort of a carbon frame. This is because aluminum bikes transfer vibration and carbon bikes damper vibration.

A carbon frame may be the perfect fit. It is a durable, light, and smooth option. Next time you hit a bike store make sure to check out the carbon frames.

3 Tips For Cycling In The Philippines

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Cycling in the Philippines is quite the adventure. It can help to know some tips that you can put to use so that you have the best time. For example, you’re going to be buying a bike there, right? If not, you can certainly rent one. If you buy a carbon bike frame in the Philippines, you can find some high quality for a good price. You can get your spare parts from just about anywhere if you end up needing them. You can find out more about them here.

You’re also going to find that many of the bike shops that you can browse are all in one area. That helps when you are trying to find the best bike quickly for your excursions. You want to get the best price, and you also want to know the best routes to take. You can imagine that the locals there will have quite a bit of information for you. In fact, they will be able to provide you with information on the best bike tours that you can take.

In a new country, it’s always best if you have a guide, don’t you agree? Those bike routes can be challenging, and it is going to help to have a guide that knows the terrain. You want to have fun on your adventure, not break down and have nowhere to turn. Find someone who knows the roads and wouldn’t mind going on a cycling adventure with you.

The road surfaces throughout the Philippines vary in regards to what shape they are in. Keep that in mind as well. Those three tips regarding cycling in the Philippines will get you headed in the right direction. What you need to do now is prepare for your big adventure because it’s going to make for quite the story.

What makes a good dirt jump bike?

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Dirt jump bikes are often way more high tech than people think. They see a weirdly small mountain bike with smooth tires. But dirt jumpers have to withstand a ton of abuse.

Long days in the park, jumping massive lines.

Casing that massive double.

Bouncing on the landing after the rider bailed in the air.

A good DJ bike can take all that, and still run fast and true for years to come. After years of riding jumps, and fixing our friends’ bikes, we now understand what makes a good bike.

Let’s start with the basics:

Bike Frame

The frame needs to be light and strong. But as much as carbon can do that, it has one fatal flaw; it doesn’t take sharp object impacts well. So, unless you are a factory rider who gets a new frame every month, don’t go for carbon. The best DJ bike frames are made of aluminum. Why not steel you might ask. Well, steel is a great material but in order to make a light frame, you need to use very thin walled tubes. And those tubes dent easily.

Wheels

Strong and light wheels are just as important as the frame. Making strong and resilient wheels is easy;

Use as many spokes as you can without making the wheel too heavy.

Get nice hubs with wide flanges.

Lace the spokes in a 3 to 1 ratio for the rear, and radial for the front.

That’s it for now. Next week we’ll continue with more tips on building the best DJ Bikes