Benefits of using Flat Pedals on Mountain Bikes

                                  The Benefits of using flat pedals when riding your Mountain Bike                              By Ed Aguilar of Blue Sky Cycling

Wellgo B118 Pedals  

   As a cyclist, you may have come across and even cycled on different types of mountain bike pedals including the flat platform pedals, quill pedals, clip less pedals and magnetic pedals. Flat pedals which are also known as platform pedals are more traditional/old-fashioned pedals. They are usually made of rubber, metal or plastic. Flat pedals are still in use on many mountain bikes today. Although they are the older type, they still overshadow the other types of pedals in that they are universal and can be used effectively and efficiently on any bicycle, and for any kind of riding style and terrain. Flat pedals enable you to have a lot of confidence when training hence you can dare a lot of high-risk maneuvers. They provide you with feedback from the bike and allow you to adjust accordingly. They allow a lot of control in emergencies hence avoiding severe crashing. Flat pedals do not allow you to cheat when doing jumps hence you can train in the correct manner. 

More Confidence and Less Fear (just a little less)

Wellgo C091 Pedals by www.blueskycycling.com

When riding on flat pedals, you can easily take your feet off the pedals quickly. Therefore, riding on technical sections and learning important skills such as track standing is much easier. It is very common for cross-country cyclists to ride clipped in. However, the ability to put your foot down at will gives you the confidence to try more technical sections and new skills that you wouldn't have tried if you were clipped in. The ease to go on and off your pedals enables you to make hill starts very quickly and confidently. With flat pedals, you will experience less fear which will allow you to stay in your comfort zone and relax. We ride much better when fearless and relaxed since our muscles are less tensed.

More Feedback

   Flat pedals provide a lot of feedback from your riding which translates into an easy way of checking your riding style and technique. For example, when you are not attached to the pedals and you realize that your feet are bouncing all over the pedals, you will definitely know that you are riding stiff and relying too much on your suspension rather than using your body. Therefore, you can take action and be more relaxed and correct your technique and posture. This is very helpful especially when you are learning new skills and techniques.

Crashing...  OUCH...

Crank Brothers 5050 3 Pedals at Blue Sky Cycling

There are situations when you can save yourself from crashing when you are riding on flat pedals. For example, when you are riding on flat pedals and you get out of control, you can quickly step out and bring your bike back into control.  Similarly, crashes that happen when you are on flats are less severe compared to the ones that happen when you are clipped in to your pedals.  Yes, some quick release pedals allow you to escape quickly but even I have come close to falling by not being able to remove my feet from the pedals.  

No Cheating

   Flat pedals will not allow you to cheat when doing tricks; especially those moves that involve lifting maneuvers such as the rear wheel lift, bunny hops, and dirt jumps. This is most important when you want to learn the skills with the correct techniques and posture. If you get used to riding on clip-less, magnetic or the quill pedals, you may not realize how much you cheat when doing even the simplest of jumps and maneuvers until you switch back to flat pedals. In addition, pulling up when clipped in requires more energy and can stiffen you up and throw you off balance.

   

Wellgo Pedal Review Video...

Riding on flat pedals is all about safety, convenience, confidence, and less fear, getting more feedback from your riding, avoiding crash accidents, and zero tolerance to cheating. If you use your mountain bike for commuting or doing short rides around town and you get on and off your bike very often, you will find flat pedals to be the most convenient. With flat pedals, you can put on any type of shoes you want. Apart from just convenience, you will gain a lot when you ride on flat pedals. You will have more confidence and less fear which will allow you to push you practice to the very extreme. You will get more feedback from the bike and be able to adjust you riding posture, style and technique instantly. You will easily avoid crashing accidents and if you do crash, you will have a lot of control on how you land. And since flats will not allow you to cheat, you will be able to learn new techniques in the correct way. It is important to keep in mind that the attributes of flat pedals we have discussed above apply only to the mountain bike and not the road bike or any other type of bicycle.  You can get more information on the history and progression of the bike pedals which is pretty cool.  Here's the link.. bike pedals wiki. Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed our quick article on flat mountain bike pedals.  If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us at the phone number below or leave us a comment. Thank you!  

Wellgo B088 Bike Pedals 

Blue Sky Cycling

2530 Randolph St.

Huntington Park, Ca 90255

(323) 585-3934

https://www.blueskycycling.com

info@blueskycycling.com

Advantages of Tubeless Tires

Advantages of Tubeless Tires for Mountain Bikes

Using Tubeless Tires on Mountain Bikes and how they effect your riding

by Edward Aguilar of Blue Sky Cycling

     

     The most common bicycle tires used today are tubed. Also known as tubular tires if you want to get a bit technical.  But we don't want to make it too complicated so lets just go with tubed tires and tubeless. If you are riding on these traditional tires and need to switch to tubeless tires, you may have to change either the tires only or the whole set of wheels depending on the type of rims you are riding on. But why should you change your tires? Why should you switch from the tires you are currently riding that have tubes?  Tubeless tires have got several merits over the more traditional tires with tubes. Tubeless tires can run on low tire pressure, they provide a less rolling resistance, and when using tubeless tires, you will experience very few incidences of flat tires.  Check out the Blue Sky Cycling tubeless tires for more information on specs.  

Lower Tire Pressure

Since there is no tube in these tires, you are able to run on lower tire pressures without the fear of pinch flattening. Riding on low tire pressure will allow your tires to take shape into the ground and provide you with a comfortable ride. With less air, the jumpy nature of a fully inflated tire is highly reduced. It results in an increase in the surface area of the tire that is in contact with the ground. With more surface area on the road, you get increased grip, hence more traction. When you are riding in a situation that demands good traction such as in a cross-country race, you can run up to 15 percent less air pressure with your tubeless tires and get terrific traction.

Less Rolling Resistance

The performance of a fully inflated tire on a road bike is different from the performance of a fully inflated tire on a mountain bike. As we talk about the rolling resistance, consider that a road bike uses smooth narrow tires and rides on flat hard surfaces while a mountain bike uses fat knobby tires and rides on rough, bumpy, rocky; even soft, loose surfaces. In this case, we are talking about mountain bikes and not road bikes.

The interaction between the tire and the ground is what causes rolling resistance. Therefore, forgetting about road bikes and its terrain, reflect the picture of your mountain bike tire in motion, on rough terrains. When it hits a bump, the wheel will either move upwards or sideways. This deflection requires some energy, which is snatched from your forward momentum. This will cause you to slow down. Now can you imagine hitting all those rocks and holes on a rock garden; how much forward momentum will you lose?

    Using a lower tire pressure allows your tire to deform inwards rather than moving your tires up or sideways, acting more like a shock absorb-er. And thus, you will lose less forward momentum and ride faster over obstacles. This will also result in more stability and balance as you ride over obstacles because there will be less upward and sideways movement on your wheels.

When you are riding a mountain bike with low pressured tubular tires, you will not get a good amount of deformation on the tires when it hits a bump because of the friction between the tube and the tire. You must get rid of this kind of friction to allow the tire to deform properly. By getting rid of the tube; and using tubeless tires, there is no more friction to reduce the energy needed to deform the tire.

Fewer Flat Tires

First of all, when you are riding on tubeless tires, you never worry about pinch flats because there is no tube to be pinched. Since you will be using a sealant when installing the tire, many small punctures will get sealed up by the sealant without you noticing. And when you get a puncture that is too big for the sealant to repair, you can simply install a tube and use the tire as a tubular tire; at least for the time being as you find better ways of solving the problem. Moreover, many manufacturers will provide an internal liner within the tires that will prevent leaking and constrain damages to the casing. According to IRC, applying a thin rubber coating to the inner wall will prevent leaking and allow the tire to be repaired easily even when you are in the field.

Here is a great video on how to convert your mountain bike tubed tires to tubeless tires...

     As a mountain biker, getting rid of tubes from your wheels will give you an improved feel of what your wheels are doing on the road. Your ride will get smoother, faster and easier and the tires will also sound differently on the trails. You get all these benefits because you are able to ride on lower tire pressure which greatly contributes to less rolling resistance. You will also experience fewer flat tires. With less tire pressure, you get you tire to mold more into the ground giving you a comfortable ride and more traction. Less rolling resistance will enable you to ride faster over obstacles. Riding on tubeless tires will also present you with the convenience of riding long distances without experiencing a flat tire. If you still want to research going tubeless on your mountain bike check out an article on tubeless tires I found useful while researching. I hope you were able to gain some great information on tubeless tires for your mountain bike or even road bike.  As always, please feel free to leave a comment with any questions you might have.  Thank you and get out there and ride!  

Blue Sky Cycling

2530 Randolph St.

Huntington Park, Ca 90255

(323) 585-3934

https://www.blueskycycling.com

info@blueskycycling.com

Shimano M670 Crankset by Blue Sky Cycling

Shimano M670 Crankset by Blue Sky Cycling

Cross-Country Mountain Bikes vs Trail Mountain Bikes

Cross-Country Mountain Bikes vs Trail Mountain Bikes

  Differences between Cross-Country Mountain Bikes and Trail Mountain Bikes

           

    A lot of people usually find it hard to identify the correct mountain bike for them. Although choosing a bike may all depend on your riding style, the terrain you will be riding on and who you will be riding with, getting the right bike that fits your style is tricky. The trail mountain bike and the cross-country mounting bike are quite identical and can easily be confused at first glance.  There are several areas where you can find a significant difference between the two bikes. Physical features of the bikes such as the length of the stems, the width of the handlebars, the braking system, the suspension travel, and tires are normally taken into consideration when identifying these types of mountain bikes.  You can find all your mountain bike parts and accessories below on the Blue Sky Cycling website.  

The Handlebars - The cross country mountain bike has a narrow handlebar.  Since the cross country bikes are built for maximum speed and agility, a narrow handlebar enables the rider to get a feel of what the front wheel is doing. It is also quick to steer around corners. A wide handlebar on trail bikes gives the rider enough leverage to maneuver technical terrain. It helps the rider not to be thrown around when going through rock gardens. 

The Stem length - The cross country mountain bike features a longer stem length of approximately 90mm - 100mm. The long stem positions the rider in a posture that pushes the rider's body further forward for enhanced grip on flat terrain, and maximum acceleration. On the other hand, the trail bike has a shorter stem length of approximately 40mm -80mm. A short stem keeps the rider's posture laid more backward for better stability during steep downhill riding.

The Suspension Travel - A cross country mountain bike has a shorter travel of suspension than the trail bike. A shorter travel of suspension enhances a quick uphill sprint. For real fast cross-country mountain bikes, the comfort of the rear suspension has been eliminated to boost pedaling efficiency.  A longer suspension travel provides comfort and easy crawling capabilities over obstacles. 

The Head angle - Due to a longer suspension travel in the front, trail bikes also have a wider head angle which is good for down hill riding. It positions the front wheel far much ahead of the rider making the bike stable even on steep downhill maneuvers. On the other hand, the short suspension travel on a cross-country bike forces it to have a narrower head angle which makes a cross country bike more twitchy when riding on steep down hills.

The Brake Rotor - A trail bike has a relatively large brake rotor compared to the cross country bike. A large brake rotor of about 140mm - 160mm is key to a more powerful braking system, which is essential when down hilling at a fast speed. Due to its wide surface area, a large brake rotor is less likely to overheat and cause brake failure than smaller brake rotors. Since cross-country mountain bikes are quite twitchy on the downhill ride, a powerful braking system will only make things worse. Therefore, its brake rotor is much smaller and less powerful.

Tires - A Cross-country bike has smoother tires to enhance faster rolling for maximum speed while the trail bikes feature wide and heavily threaded tires for better grip and stability on unstable grounds.

     Apart from the physical features of theses mountain bikes, they can also be identified by their capabilities, or what they can do better than the other. For example, cross country mountain bikes are slower on the descent and faster on climbs and flat surfaces. Trail mountain bikes are slower on climbs and fast and fun to ride on down hills. Considering the overall speed, the cross country bikes are far much faster than trails bikes. While the trail bikes can take a corner quite aggressively with more grip, the cross country is able to maneuver sharper corners with more agility. The trail bikes do break faster and more precisely. The cross country bike is lighter and quicker in acceleration and steering while the trail bikes are heavier and optimized for descends. Today's mountain bikes have become extremely specialized in terms of their intended use. On one extreme you will find the cross-country racing mountain bikes. On the other extreme, you will find the downhill racing mountain bikes. The trail mountain bike sits in between the two types of bikes and tries to serve the purposes of both ends but to a limited extent.  How to set up your mountain bike is important.  Click to check out how to set up a mountain bike.  Or you can watch a quick video below that will show you the steps...

     You can tell the difference between them by having a closer look at the handlebars, the stem length, the suspension travel, the brake rotor, the tires, and the head angle. The handle bars vary in length with the shorter ones for cross country bikes and the longer ones for trail bikes. Long stem length creates the appropriate body posture for cross country bikers while short stem lengths pull the cyclist backward for safer down hill riding on the trail. A long suspension travel is fit for trail bikes while cross country bikes feature a shorter travel on the suspension. Trail bikes have a large brake rotor for a more powerful breaking experience while cross-country bikes have smaller brake rotors. The tires on a cross country mountain bike are thinner relatively smoother for maximum speed compared to trail mountain bikes which have rougher and wider tires for better grip on technical terrains. With all these features in mind, you can easily tell the two types of mountain bikes apart.  If you have any questions please feel free to leave us a comment.  Thank you! 

Blue Sky Cycling "Mountain Bike Parts Specialist"

2530 Randolph St.

Huntington Park, Ca 90255

(323) 585-3934

www.blueskycycling.com

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

    In my opinion,  it is every mountain bike cyclist’s interest to make the full use and take full advantage possible of the gearing system and mechanism on the bicycle. Mountain bike cyclists such as cross country riders, whether in competitive riding, workout or any riding purpose need to know and decide when and when not to use the gear. They should also have the knowledge of which gear will best work for them in different circumstances. Efficient gear shifting doesn’t occur naturally. It is more of a skill that has to be learnt over time than an inborn phenomenon. Perfect gear shifting involves smoothness, precision and efficiency. Good gear shifting makes the rider a more capable mountain biker. Good gear shifting skills enables a rider to adopt rapid changes in the terrain smoothly and easily. It enables the rider to roll over obstacles with less fuss and induce more momentum faster with little effort. Well let us have a look at some gear shifting habits that can make you a better mountain biker if properly nurtured.  Some mountain bikers usually wait for a climb to get tough and start wearing them out before they can shift to a lower gear. This is not correct. It is important to look and anticipate the terrain ahead and get prepared for it. Shift to a lower gear just before the climb starts getting tough. This will reduce the loss of your momentum and make the shift smoother and easier.  Check out this link for more information on proper gear shifting.  

  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

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