Tuesday, January 26, 2016
BlueSkyCycling: Proper Mountain Bike Gear Shifting
BlueSkyCycling: Proper Mountain Bike Gear Shifting: Proper Mountain Bike Gear Shifting How to properly shift gears when riding your mountain bike ...
Proper Mountain Bike Gear Shifting
Proper Mountain Bike Gear Shifting
How to properly shift gears when riding your mountain bike by Eddie Aguilar
On a recent mountain bike ride with the Blue Sky Cycling team I noticed several riders not shifting gears when needed. This led me to write a quick blog about the proper way to shift your gears when riding a mountain bike. The mechanism of a bicycle’s drive train that controls a
cyclist's cadence; that rate at which a cyclist turns the pedals, and that rate
at which the rear wheel turns is called bicycle gearing. A bicycle gearing system includes the whole
set of components involved in the gearing mechanism: The shifters, shifter
cables, the derailleur, the gears and the pedals. Most conventional bicycles
have only one gear, meaning that the gear is fixed. In this case, the cyclist
has no choice but to vary his/her cadence to match what the terrain offers or
the speed he or she wants to ride at. On the other hand, most contemporary
bicycles such as mountain bikes and speed road bikes have multiple gears hens a
variety of gear rations.
These gears are meant
to solve the problems of efficiency and comfort. The rider uses the shifting
system to select a desirable gear for most comfort and efficiency. For
instance, it is most comfortable and very efficient to ride on a low gear when
climbing and a middle gear when riding fairly flat and smooth trails. A
cyclist's pedaling speed and strength is limited to the power of their muscles.
Different cyclists of different stamina have different exhibit cadences.
Therefore the gearing mechanism is used to ride a bicycle beyond the limits of the
cyclist. A bicycle’s gearing mechanism uses the limited range in cadence of a
cyclist and gives it the highest efficiency if used properly.
Taking advantage of your mountain bike gears
Preparing Your Gear Shifting
You may be tempted to shift gears when riding on large
corrugation or rock gardens. These features are normally very rough and very
fast. You should prepare in advance and decide to shift to an appropriate gear just
before or after such features. If you dare shift while riding on these terrains,
your chain risks falling off as your bike roughly jumps and bounces. Eventually
you will lose momentum, concentration and in some cases you might be forced to
stop and correct the chain before you continue. If you intend to stop, it is not advisable to shift the gear
immediately before you stop. It is recommended that you pedal at least two
revolutions after you shift the gear before you stop. This will allow time for
the chain to transition completely. This also ensures that you get a smoother
quicker and more focused start after this.
If your intention is to stop, it is critical that you
quickly assess your terrain and shift to an appropriate gear in readiness for
the next takeoff. For example, if you are on an uphill terrain, it would not be
efficient at all to start on the highest gears. If you stop on a sandy flat
terrain, the best gear to make the next start is the low gears. Low gears will help you get out of sand quickly by adjusting your gear ratios.
Up Hill Gear Shifting
When you are about to begin an uphill ride, it is more
reasonable and efficient to begin shifting the front derailleur first. Then you
will have the advantage of slowly shifting lower and lower using the rear
gears. This will ensure that you keep your cadence steady through the whole
shifting process. When riding uphill you need to get focused on the track and
keep a steady cadence and shifting the rear gears first and the front last creates
a great uneven change hence confusing your cadence and focus. Pedaling hard during a gear shift only puts a lot of stress
on the chain and gears and makes it more difficult to shift. It is advisable to
keep the pedaling at a lesser force making it easy for the gears to engage
smoothly. If you are riding and
the chain keeps brushing against the front derailleur cage, it means that most
probably you are riding on a bad chain line.
Great Video on Gear Shifting...
An example of a bad chain line is
when you ride on the smallest gear in the front and the smallest gear at the
rear, or the largest gear in the front and the largest gear at the rear. This
forces the chain to run diagonally between the front and the rear gears. Apart
from inefficiency, a bad chain line can damage your bike by sagging or even
snapping your chain. To ride on a good chain line, make sure that the chain
does not cross excessively across the front and the rear gears. For example, if you have three gears at the
front and nine gears at the rear, make a habit of combining the three largest
gears in the rear with the smallest gear in the front, the three middle gears
at the rear with the middle gear in the front, and the three smallest gear at
the rear with the largest gear in the front. Thank you for reading and I hope this is helpful. As always please feel free to leave a comment with any questions.
Check out our website for all your mountain bike parts and accessories. We also carry road bike parts!
Blue Sky Cycling |
| 2530 Randolph St. |
| Huntington Park, Ca 90255 |
| (323) 585-3934 |
| https://www.blueskycycling.com |
| info@blueskycycling.com |
Friday, January 22, 2016
5 Advantages of Hydraulic Disk Brakes on Mountain Bikes
5 Advantages of Hydraulic Disk Brakes on Mountain
Hydraulic Disk Braking System Advantages for Mountain Bike Riders by Eddie Aguilar
 |
| Hydraulic Braking System for Mountain Bikes |
Disc brakes for mountain bikes have been used for years and have proven to have the upper hand over conventional pad braking systems. Today, disc brakes are used on mountain bikes, road
bikes, and hybrid bikes. They consist of
a metal disc which is attached to the wheel hub at the center of the wheel in
such a way that they become part of the wheel and rotates with the wheel. Disc
brakes function by squeezing the pads together causing the wheel to slow down
and eventually stop. Compared to the more traditional rim brakes, disc brakes
are quite superior. They produce a greater braking power while being rim
friendly and they are consistent in their power regardless of the weather
conditions. Not to mention, they can quickly and easily be
configured for different wheel types and sizes, and have an improved mechanical
functionality. Although they may be quite expensive, disc brakes are highly
effective, reliable, and durable. They are worth using especially in serious
mountain biking events like racing where you might need brakes to avoid a crash.
Strength,
Braking Power and Improved Modulation of Braking Power - Disk
brakes are made of metal rather than rubber making them stronger and more
durable than rim brakes. They are attached to the wheels, rather than being in
tandem with the wheels making them even stronger. The disc braking system
features an extended travel in the braking leverage system. This presents the
rider with a wide range modulation of braking power. It also uses less finger
pressure on the levers to produce powerful braking.
All
Weather and Multi Terrain Capabilities - Mountain bikes are
made to be used on all kinds of terrains and in all kinds of climatic
conditions. Disc brakes are fixed at the center of the wheel; closer to the hub
than the ground, therefore they are less affected by mud, water snow or ice.
You can ride them on slippery wet trails, muddy roads, snow and all kinds of
terrains. Water does not act as a lubricant to metal as much as it does do
rubber. Therefore, disc brakes; which are made of metal, are seldom affected
when it comes to contact with water hence, they maintain their excellent
efficiency and braking power regardless of the terrain and the weather
conditions.
Disc
Brakes are Rim Friendly - Since disc brakes are fixed at the
center of the wheels; as part of the wheels, they do not come into contact with
the rim at any moment or in any way. Therefore, the friction produced while
braking does not affect the rim in any way. Moreover, they do not pile up
particles and debris such as sand, sticks and twigs on the rim; which usually
scrape the rim, wearing it out and weakening it in the braking process.
No
tire overheating – When riding in an extremely hot weather, a
prolonged use of brakes in the traditional rim braking system overheats the
rim, weakening the rubber on the tires. This can cause the tires to burst or
wear out quickly. This is not the case with disc brakes. Disk brakes aren't
connected with the rim or the tires. So when excessive braking is done in hot
weather, it is the disc itself that gets heated. Since these discs have holes
drilled on them, they dissipate heat faster than a rim would do. The heat
dissipation mechanism of the disc brake also allows it to maintain its
efficiency and braking power.
Multiple
Wheel Configurations - off-road riding in different types of
climatic conditions and different types of terrains require different sets of
wheels. For example, icy roads require a totally different set of wheels from
muddy and sandy terrains in terms of the wheel size in thickness and grip patterns.
This will prompt you to keep changing or switching between wheels to suit the
terrains. With disc brakes, you do not
have to reconfigure your braking system to suit the new set of tires. Moreover,
changing between wheels is very quick and easy. All you need to do is to change
the wheels then reattach the disc brake back to its position and you are good
to go.
Shimano Ice Technology for Hydraulic Braking Systems
The disc brakes catapult the mountain bike riding into a
higher degree of mountain biking experience. With its strength, power, improved
modulation of braking power, and its ability to resist overheating, preserve
the rim, and be used in all weather and terrains, the disc brakes make the
mountain bike a more capable off-road bike. They are strong and durable since
they are made of metal. They get their extra power by taking advantage of their
position on the wheels. At the center of
the wheel, they are far away from impurities such as water, mud, snow and sand.
This makes them retain their braking power regardless of weather and terrain.
They do not come into contact with the rim, hence preserving the rim and
avoiding overheating. And when you need to change your tires to suit a new
terrain and weather condition, you simply mount your disc brake back on the
wheel and off you go. You can find more reading on disk brakes on www.bicycling.com If you have any questions on hydraulic braking systems for mountain bikes please leave a comment below or give us a call. Happy Trails!
Blue Sky Cycling |
| 2530 Randolph St. |
| Huntington Park, Ca 90255 |
| (323) 585-3934 |
| www.blueskycycling.com |
| info@blueskycycling.com |
Monday, January 11, 2016
Downhill Mountain Biking
Downhill Mountain Biking
There are two similar genres of mountain biking that are always confused. By the way, Blue Sky Cycling offers online mountain bike sales for all types of mountain biking including downhill racing. Check it out after you read this article! There are all types of downhill mountain biking parts if you decide to enjoy downhill biking. They are quite tricky to tell apart. The Freeride Mountain biking and the downhill mountain biking. Both of them are done on steep and in very rough terrains. These terrains feature steep drops, jumps, fire roads, rock gardens and other naturally occurring obstacles such as roots. Both freeride and downhill mountain bikers use similar types of mountain bikes. A downhill mountain bike can easily and comfortably be used for freeriding and vice versa. In this particular case, we are going to take a deeper look into downhill mountain biking.
Some Downhill Mountain Biking Eye Candy Video....
Downhill Mountain Bikes
Due to the very unique, rough, and tough to ride terrains involved in downhill mountain biking, this genre of mountain biking require very special types of mountain bikes. The bikes must first of all ensure the safety of the rider. One biggest achievement in down hilling is for the rider and the bike to remain in one piece at the end of the race. They should also include features that makes it easy to drop, dirt jump, and roll over obstacles easily. Unlike other mountain bikes, the downhill mountain bikes are heavy and strong. Their front suspension should have at least 8 inches of travel to be able to cope with all the rough and tough trails. Such kind of a suspension glides smoothly over roots and rocks.
Downhill Mountain Biking Trails and Venues
Proper down hilling trails should be built on naturally occurring hills and mountains. These trails need to be as natural as possible. However, manmade structures are usually added sparingly to achieve desired effects on the trails. The natural trails are usually modified too, especially when avoiding very dangerous lines. When choosing and building downhill mountain bike trails, experienced riders and judges must always be involved since they always know better.
It is always difficult if not impossible to ride or walk up the hill to the starting point. Moreover, downhill mountain bikes are never designed with uphill riding in mind. So how do the riders and their bikes get up the mountain to the starting point? Thanks to the electronic winch and motor technology. The riders and their bikes can either ride on trams, chair lifts or gondolas to the top of the mountain. Alternatively, shuttling which uses motorized vehicles can be used. Other down hilling venues are designed in such a way that a road can wind up to the top of the hill. When creating a downhill trail is not an easy task. The designers have to consider critical factors such as safety, the spectators view, difficulty, variety, fun, just mentioning a few.
The Trail Placement
Considering that down hilling trails are one way trails for single-use, and are technically designed to suit no other sport or activity apart from Downhill Mountain biking, No other users should share or interfere with the trails. The trails should be placed is such a way as to avoid any conflict with any other activity. To separate and avoid conflict between downhill rides of different abilities and skills, at least two trails should be created.
The Ideal Downhill Mountain Biking Trail
An ideal downhill trail should include features such as:
Vertical Drops - A variety of vertical drops or approximately 1000 feet and above; the more the drops, the better. These drops can go to a height of more than 2000 feet.
Jumps and Drop Offs - These are normally the funnest part of the ride. They should be clearly visible and marked to enable the rider to make a split second decision on whether to ride them or bypass them. Clearly marked alternative bypasses should also be included. It is over these jumps, drops and drop-offs that riders like to show off their skills and tricks such as the 360s, back and forward flips, no handlers and many more.
Open and Flowing Sections- These allows the rider to make a split second choice from the available variety of lines. This section should be wide and rough, the perfect section to test the rider's skills and abilities when it comes to stability in technical high speed riding. Since downhill bikes are not good at pedaling, the open and flowing section should come after a very steep downhill ride.
Tight and Technical Sections- This is meant to be a slower section challenging the rider's abilities to make quick turns, overcome obstacles such as logs, and glide through difficult terrains.
The Downhill Mountain Bike Competition
What makes a huge clear cut distinction between freeride mountain biking and downhill mountain biking is the competition. Unlike freeride mountain bike competition whereby the winner is determined by how much tricks in terms of difficulty and creativity you can show off, the downhill mountain bike competition is focused on the speed. The riders are provided with a particular trail and they have to work out how to get to the finish line within the shortest time possible. It is up to the rider to decide and take a line that will give him/her the most advantage depending on his or her riding styles and abilities. For example, while a jump may be the shortest way to use, but the alternative line beside it can be ridden at a very high speed. Therefore the rider will make the decision within the split of a second depending on his/her approaching momentum, abilities, and instincts. The riders are normally given one or two attempts to ride from the start to the finish and the best time between the two is recorded as the final score.
To sum up, downhill mountain biking is reserved for expert mountain bike riders. It requires a lot of skill and time on a mountain bike. The speed is much faster therefore you have to make decisions quicker. Always make sure you have the correct mountain biking gear to ensure you will not hurt your bike or more importantly your self. If you spend a lot of time on downhill trails sign up for a competition and give it hell! We hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions regarding down hill mountain bike riding please feel free to leave a comment below.
Blue Sky Cycling"mountain bike parts online superstore" |
| 2530 Randolph St. |
| Huntington Park, Ca 90255 |
| (323) 585-3934 |
| www.blueskycycling.com |
| info@blueskycycling.com |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)