How To Lube Your Mountain Bike
A mountain bike is a lot of fun although it does
require some maintenance. You should always lube
your bike 15 hours or so before riding, as quick
jobs right before you take off normally doesn’t
get everything lubed. Some lube jobs will last
for more rides, although if things get loud or
shifting gets sticky, it’s time to lube.
Here is how to lube your bike:
1. The chain
Apply a generous amount of mountain bike lube to
your chain as you move the pedals around backwards.
It also helps to find a spot to steady your hand
such as the frame while you move the pedals around
and around. Make sure you watch out for the cranks
and chain rings as they move around.
2. Front Deraileur
On the front defaileur, lube the pivots. Use a
spot of lube everywhere you can see movement when
you move the shift lever.
3. Rear deraileur
Just like the front deraileur, lube the pivots.
4. Pedals
There are some types of clipless pedals that will
need to have the release mechanism lubed. You
should only lube this mechanism if you have this
type of pedal.
5. Everything into motion
Pedal around, shift your gears, and bounce your
bike around. If you hear anything squeak, there’s
a moving part there are it should be lubed
immediately.
6. Wipe it all clean
Once you’ve lubed everything and wiped it all
around, simply wipe it all back off. Use a rag
to wipe away all the lube you used, including all
the lube off the chain. Wiping it away will leave
the lube in between the parts but clean it away
from everywhere it isn’t needed. This will keep
your bike from collecting dirt while you ride.
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The Bunny Hop
In mountain biking and even BMX riding, the bunny hop
is a bike trick that involved the rider lifting the
bike up and over an obstacle while remaining in
motion on the bike. Experienced bikers can lift
their bikes in excess of a meter or one and a half
feet. The world record for the bunny hop stands at
4 feet.
The bunny hop is executed by approaching an obstacle
with speed, lifting the front of the bike then
leveling the pedals. If the bike has full or front
suspension, pre-load the shocks by pressing down
on the bike just before you reach the obstacle.
Once the shocks have been pre-loaded, the rider
will spring upwards, pulling up with the hands and
feet at the same time. Toe straps or clipless
pedals help with this, although if plain platform
pedals are used, it’s still possible. As the biker
lifts, the hands will roll through twisting the
throttle. After the object is cleared, push down
on the bike then absorb the impact with the arms
and the legs.
It’s often times a misconception that a bunny hop
without toe clips is achieved by rotating forward
on the handlebars. Lifting up on a mountain bike
while standing next to it is quite difficult to
hold on to the handle bars.
The bunny hop is very popular with mountain biking,
as experienced riders can make it look a lot easier
than it actually is. New mountain bikers should
practice a lot before they actually attempt the
hop, as doing it on a bigger obstacle can easily
be quite dangerous.
With proper practice, the bunny hop can be achieved,
even for beginners. All you have to do is give it
some time and effort, and you’ll be pulling off the
bunny hop just like the pro’s do it.
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Mountain Bike Designs
The designs for mountain bikes can be classified in
three categories based on suspension:
1. Hardtail – A frame with no rear suspension,
often containing a front suspension fork.
2. Fully rigid – This is a sub type of hardtail,
with a rigid fork.
3. Dual or full suspension – These bikes offer a
front suspension fork and a rear suspension that
are integrated into the frame.
4. Soft tail – Offers a frame with a small amount
of rear suspension, normally less than a full
suspension frame.
The different designs of bikes in mountain biking
will offer you what you need for your unique style
of riding. You’ll want a different bike for
different terrain, such as cross country or
downhill. As the terrain changes, you’ll want to
make sure you have the right bike for the job.
Mountain biking is different than any other sport,
offering you plenty of excitement and thrills.
If you are new to mountain biking, you’ll find the
different designs to be very enticing yet very
challenging at the same time. Each design serves
a purpose with mountain biking, even some that
excel on the trails.
There are also several other designs which reflect
on the manny challenging disciplines in the sport
of mountain biking. No matter what type of
mountain biking you like to do, there are bikes
for that specific discipline.
If you are new to mountain biking, you’ll want
to check out the many designs and types of biking
before you purchase a bike. Mountain biking can
be a lot of fun and excitement, although it can
also be very dangerous if you don’t have the
right bike for the terrain. Before you decide to
buy a bike and hit the trails, make sure you
have the right design of mountain bike for the
riding you are planning on doing.
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Different Types of Mountain Bikes
With mountain biking being a very popular sport,
there are many bikes to choose from. Depending
on what type of riding you like, the style of
bikes you can choose from will vary. Below, you’ll
find tips on the different types of bikes available.
1. Cross country
Almost all mountain bikes will fit into this category.
Cross country mountain bikes are light weight, making
them easy to ride over most terrains, even up and
down hills. This is the most common mountain bike
and it can be used with ease for riding on the path
or even commuting.
2. Downhill
These types of bikes are for serious bikers who
crave the ultimate adventure. Downhill bikes have
front and rear suspension, strong parts, and disc
brakes. Rarely available off the shelf, most riders
like to custom build their own.
3. Trials
Trail mountain biking involves a great degree of
skill and is classified as the precision riding of
the sport. Similiar to downhill bikes, trial riders
will often build their own bikes rather than purchase
one off a shelf. Generally very light and very
strong, these bikes require a lot of discipline.
4. Jump and slalom
Slalom and jump bikes are very strong and designed
for jumping, street racing, and slalom. They offer
a front suspension and use very strong components
dedicated to what they do. These bikes are very
popular with the sport of mountain biking.
Even if you are new to mountain biking, the sport can
be a lot of fun. There are several bikes to choose
from, all of which depend on your style. If you are
still looking for the best style for you, all you
have to do is try out several bikes and see which one
suites you the best.
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