Popular Fun Activities

Off-road cycling is as old as cycling itself, but it’s not until the 1970s that specialist mountain bike manufacture really took off. Originally based on road bikes, the technology has changed enormously to cater for the rigours and strains of cycling on difficult off road conditions.

Major changes in bikes component production make riding more pleasurable than ever. So you can take on more demanding terrain, harder rides and thanks to the advancement in safety equipment take on much more dangerous descents.

Gears
Take as much of the strain away from your legs with up to 27 gears on many mountain bikes.

Suspension
Your bike’s suspension lets you tackle those tricky obstacles with less effort and more control. As a minimum your bike will come fitted with front suspension which is great for bumpy downhill tracks. For the seriously rough stuff you will need a full suspension bike as this will be much easier to ride.

Frames
Tough terrain, heavy use and front-and-rear suspension puts a lot of strain on your mountain bike’s frame. Your frame has to be tough enough to take the hammer it will get on route, so needs to be made from the strongest possible alloys. Your bikes frame has of course got to be strong but at the same time must be light weight for maximum performance.

Brakes
All good mountain bikes are fitted with disc brakes to the front and rear wheels. By moving the braking system to the middle of the wheel they are much easier to keep clean as do not come into contact with the ground which will often be wet and muddy.

Tyres
Road bike tyres are very smooth and slim when compared to big, thick mountain bike tyres. These bigger tyres provide better grip and greater stability particularly when travelling at high speed. You can change your tyres to deal with different conditions.

Women-Specific
Specially designed ladies bikes are available. With smaller frame sizes, reduced reach at key points and more comfortable saddles these bikes are much easier for women to ride. Many brands now offer both men and women’s bikes enabling ladies to try both to see which is most comfortable and best suited to their needs.

Filed under: Recreation and Sports on June 24th, 2009