Check several Mountain Bikes

 If you are planning, good quality and durable mountain bike purchased for a better trip to the mountains of the region should check the catalogs to make the right choice. After visiting the showroom in your area, you should ask the seller to provide a long list of different models. You will be in contact with various models, such as BMX, Cross Country, Cyclocross, Dirt Jumping, Trails, Downhill, Dirt Jumping, Urban and Street are free ride, single speed bike. For example, in BMX, this type of bike is much stronger with 20-inch wheels moves easily and quickly. If you have a series of tricks and gimmicks BMX Bike Show will perform well because of the availability of small wheels.

 motion background will help you to undergo a long journey across the country, and you will be happy to use the bike paths. For short-and long jump of this kind of jump bike works much better than other brands Motion. And 'the bicycle, help you pass the barriers and obstacles in the way and the ground much more comfortable. Do you want fun and adventure? I think the downhill mountain biking will give you guarantee 100 percent to adjust the trip.

 The downhill bike is special and thus the work efficiency is very high and there is confusion about the term. Do you have a growing interest in the river, lake short of water, andLawn, you can opt for cyclo cross bike, which is only for this type of riding through the mountains. This type of bicycle is used to run on open fields and streams. Enjoy while you ride a bike Cyclo. If you have limited expertise in managing mountain biking, you can simply use the vehicle with less complicated technology. Single Speed Bike is very beneficial to you.

 The simple straight chain does not create a problem in the vehicle, the bicycle as a controlIt is very simple in design with the normal setting. The price is good and cheap. Trail bikes are also very good and energy efficient with 20-26 inch wheels. This small frame to give sufficient flexibility on the bike. You can increase the speed of light and the light is actually green ground framed by mountain biking in the hills to run.

 Drhas is to write on various topics. Please visit his website, the latest Magic Chef refrigerator, contains the Reviews and deals on Magic Chef Wine Cooler and other information appliances.

Mountain Bikes Frames

We've recently had a chance to sit down with Wayne Gray, Vice President of KHS bicycles who sheds a little light on what keeps KHS on the top of the bicycle manufacturer heap year after year.

Wayne, tell us a bit about KHS.

KHS Inc of Los Angeles, California is the designer and U.S. distributor of KHS adult bicycles, Manhattan beach cruisers and Free Agent BMX bicycles.

How long has KHS been around?

Founded in 1974, KHS was founded and is still currently located in Southern California, where the diversity of consumer lifestyles provides fertile ground for the development of many of today's most popular cycling products. We currently offer over 30 KHS models serve the needs of recreational as well as Enthusiast cyclist in over 33 countries around the globe.

32 years in the industry is very commendable, to what do you attribute this longevity?

Our philosophy has been to manufacture all of our frames using premium specifications and materials including tubing from True Temper and Reynolds. We design our frames to be functional, using proven designs that allow us to focus our efforts on reducing weight, enhancing performance and improving component selection. Our choice of specifications are prioritized based on the type of application involved, i.e. entry level mountain bikes must have functional suspension forks, comfortable steering and seating compartment tires that perform both on and off the road. This criterion insures that consumers receive a bicycle that delivers exceptional performance for its intended use.

And this attitude is clearly projected through your position in the bicycling industry.

Definitely, cycling enthusiasts know KHS through our advertising in major cycling publications and sponsorship of many world class road and off-road cyclists. Enthusiasts are very brand conscious and tend to choose to ride a KHS due to our clean, traditional designs, high performance specifications and custom options we offer in our higher range of products. The caliber and diversity of athletes who have professionally ridden for KHS over the years speaks to the brand success in this area.

Recreational cyclists tend to choose KHS primarily due to retailer recommendation, graphic appeal and availability of performance frames and designs at an attractive retail price. In the U.S. market, KHS bicycles are actively promoted to this audience through key product media placement in non-cycling print, cable and motion picture venues.

Judging by the incredible recognition KHS has earned throughout the years, it appears the press is taking note. Tell us about some of these awards.

KHS was the first Taiwan made road bike to enter U.S. market with Reynolds 531 tubing. Bicycling Magazine tested this model in 1979 and rated as good as a similar, French-made Motobecane model.

KHS was awarded the "Sears Partner in Progress" award in 1986 The KHS Comp was awarded the "Bike of the Year" award by Mountain Biking Magazine in both 1994 and 2001.

KHS remains the only brand to have a finalist in Mountain Biking's "Bike of the Year" award every year since the inception of the award in 1992.

Bicycling Magazine awarded the 1997 KHS Fleetwood it's "Editor's Choice Award" for best bike at the 1996 Interbike International Bicycle show.

In March 1998, the KHS FXT Sport was rated the "Best Value" full suspension bike under $1000 by Mountain Bike Action Magazine.

KHS introduced suspension seatposts and semi-click tires on its 1998 mountain bike line, a full year ahead of most other brands.

KHS was also the first to introduce popularly priced softtails to the market during 1999 giving hardtail and full suspension buyers a new alternative that incorporates the best of both designs.

Preferred bicycle and parts distribution in USA voted by USA bicycle dealers in 2002.

Mountain Bike Action proclaimed the XC 904r dual suspension bicycle a perfect "10 out of 10" in the October 2004 issue.

Wayne, thanks so much for your time.

Anytime.

For more information on KHS bicycles head over to: http://www.khsbicycles.com

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Mountain Bikes

Tires/Wheels: You’ll note that the terrain for ‘cross races is not nearly as technical as your typical singletrack trail. With that in mind, super knobby 2.2 tires are only going to slow you down. Switch to a narrow pair of semi-slick tires such as the Kenda Short Tracker (1.90) or the Kozmik Lite II (1.75). Low profile tires with good side knobs for cornering work best.

Tires are easy to swap as conditions/needs change, but you could go so far as having an extra set of wheels with your “cross ready” tires already mounted. If you were sticking with the typical 26″ wheel size, any lightweight cross-country wheelset would be fine.

If you’re running disc brakes, you COULD put 700c (29′er) wheels on a 26″ mountain bike frame. As long as you use true 700c cyclocross tires, there should be enough clearance on MOST frames/forks. If you’re running linear pull brakes you still have options. Mavic makes a nifty adapter (Mavic 700c Brake Adapter) that attaches to brake post mounts and changes the brake’s position to allow for larger wheels. I have a pair of these on my commuter bike (regular 26″ hardtail mountain bike now with 700c wheels and cyclocross tires), and they work great. If you’re a weight weenie, you might balk at the additional grams but you can always drill holes in your frame to offset that (kidding, of course).

Before you switch wheels, be sure to double check the spacing between the rear dropouts. Road wheels might have rear hubs that are 130mm wide while mountain bike hubs are usually 135mm wide. Check out the late, great Sheldon Brown’s Web site for more information about frame/hub compatibility, or check with your local shop.

Drivetrain/Brakes: First, choose a clipless pedal that functions well in the mud, such as those offered by TIME and Crank Brothers. Make sure you’re adept at getting in and out of your pedals quickly, as you’ll be doing that quite a bit in a ‘cross race.  To some newbie riders, platform pedals and running shoes may seem like a good idea (considering the running sections), but think of it this way: if that system worked well, everyone would be doing it. The positive connection between clipless pedals and the shoe cleats still reigns supreme.

When it comes to making changes to cranks, derailleurs and shifters, I’d say that in most cases you could leave these alone. You could switch to a rear cassette with taller gears as you’re probably not going to need a 12-34 in the back. You could also remove your granny gear, to save a little weight, and limit the front derailleur. I’m lazy so I didn’t do any of that to my converted mountain bike. Truth be told, I’m close to having all but my road bike be singlespeed, so gears and derailleurs bore me.

My original converted mountain bike had linear-pull brakes and they worked fine. I hear the arguments for cantilever brakes, but my personal opinion is that when V-brakes hit the scene they worked better and were an improvement over canti’s. Also, I’ve ridden plenty of muddy mtb courses and even with my fat tires I still had enough mud clearance. Enough said there because I think disc brakes are even better. The UCI still has its bizarre ban against disc brakes, but for the vast majority of local ‘cross racers, UCI rules don’t apply. If you’re racing on a national or international level, well, you’re probably not doing so on a converted mountain bike.

For the rest of us, this is where you’re going to have to make some serious decisions as to really how far you want to go to convert your bike. If you want to swap out your flat bar for drop bars, you’re going to have to change your shifters/brake levers. The shifters should work fine (road shifters with mtb derailleurs or vice-versa), but road brake levers will not work well with linear pull brakes, nor will they work optimally with disc brakes. Personally, I say stop here and use whatever handlebar/brake/shifter setup you’ve got. If you go much further with the conversion, why not just take the next step and buy a ‘cross bike?

Well, that covers: frame, fork, wheels, tires, cranks, brakes, shifters, levers and pedals. That leaves rider cockpit items such as your stem as well as your seat and seatpost. If your fit is good and you’re comfortable on your bike, don’t change a thing. A more stretched out position may be better in the long run but, unless your mountain bike is set up so that your back is straight up when you’re riding, you should be fine. After a couple of races, you’ll know if you need to make any fit changes.

There you have it, now you’ve got no excuses. So toss your bike in the stand, grab a Duvel and ring that cowbell like you just don’t care.

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Other than spending a small fortune on a hybrid car or electric car, commuting by bicycle is probably the best way to save gas and improve the environment. When selecting your next (or first) bicycle, it’s pretty important to understand the different bike types. Here’s a few tips about the most basic categories.

Road bikes, also known as racing bikes, are usually, if not always built for speed and riding on smooth surfaces like pavement. Because of this they are equipped with very narrow tires, drop handlebars (to put the rider in the most aerodynamic position), and multiple speeds (12-24 gear positions is common). Racing bikes follow the same basic layout, but with a very lightweight frame. Although road bikes and racers can be used for commuting, most casual riders opt for comfort rather than speed.

Mountain bikes are built less for speed and more for durability and control. These bikes have much larger tires, raised handlebars that put the rider in a more upright position, and are generally (but not always) heavier. Since mountain bikes are intended to be used on trails and steep inclines, the gear ratios are generally lower than that of road bikes. Some mountain bikes have up to 36 gears, advanced suspension systems to handle bumpy trails, and it is now common to find disc brakes on one or both wheels. These bikes are great for commuting, especially if some of that commute is over uneven and rough or rocky roads.

Hybrid bikes attempt to combine the best of road and mountain bikes, and are intended to handle most commuting situations. These bikes come equipped with narrower tires than mountain bikes, suspension systems for the occasional bumpy road, comfort grip handlebars and comfy seats, and often come with pre-fitted fenders and luggage racks for bicycle saddle bags. Many hybrids are geared much like road bikes, while others limit the number of gears to a minimum (5-7 speeds) or have the gears “sealed” in the rear hub (3-5 speeds). Hybrids are generally the best selection for most commuting situations, and are a great choice for casual riders.

Many other specialized types exist, from single speed cruisers to very specialized off-road “rock riders” and BMX racers. However, most cyclists will do alright to start from the list above. Use this guide as a starting point, try out a few models of each type to see what’s a good choice for you, and then start riding. You won’t regret it.

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