Tour De France Blog

Mountain biking, as the name suggests, is a biking sport in which bicycle-riders ride along mountain trails. Biking through a mountain terrain is pure fun, but it also has its share of adventure and excitement. The best-known locations for biking in mountainous surroundings have unpaved surfaces and so you need to be an expert biker to truly experience the thrill.

History

Since their invention, bicycles have been used on all terrains, including rugged mountainous territories. However, it was not until 1970s that biking in the mountains became an organized sport. Groups of bicycle-riders from different parts of the United States played a pivotal role in the evolution of this thrilling biking-sport – experimenting with bikes of different makes and modifying them so that they could take the rigors of riding in the uneven, craggy mountainous lands.

The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, however, bestows the honor to a group of bikers in Marin County, California. The group (consisting of famous names in this field like Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, Keith Bontrager and Otis Guy among others) undertook bike-ride down Mount Tamalpais (Mt Tam) on old 1930s and 40s Schwinn bicycles retrofitted with advanced brakes and fat tires.

The first ‘proper’ mountain bike was built by Joe Breeze in 1977. The present-day mountain bikes are based on the bicycle first marketed by the MountainBikes Company. The frame of this particular bike was built by Tom Ritchey and it was accessorized by Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly.

Types

Bikers usually engage in four different kinds of cycling tours in the mountains:

1. Cross-Country (or XC) biking is the most familiar type mountain riding sport and naturally has the maximum number of followers. The sport involves riding between points or in loops. It includes ascents and descents on different terrains. (Cross-Country racing competitions are different from cross-country biking). A typical XC bike weighs some 22-28 lbs and it has 0-4 inches of suspension travel front and rear.

2. Freeride is the other popular type of biking in mountain trails. It restricts the biker with no specific rules rather allows the rider to do ‘anything and everything’ – downhill rides (without clock), jumps, stunts – that require skill and are hence meant for professionals. Freeride biking requires the rider to assemble the bike as per convenience and style, but these bikes are a bit heavier (weighing between 30 and 40 lbs) and are amply suspended (generally has 6 inches of suspension front and rear).

3. Downhill, as the name suggests, involves riding mountain bikes downhill. It is generally associated with racing-oriented downhill riding. Downhill biking does not require the rider to pedal up the hill. The bikers along with their bikes are transported up the hill with the help of a truck or ski-lift. The downhill climb is indeed challenging including jumps and drops as well as physical hindrances. Tough mentality, physical strength, swiftness and mounted heavy bikes weighing some 40-50 lbs make you eligible for these races.

4. Trials riding, which is quite similar to skateboarding, involves hopping and jumping over obstacles with your bike. It demands great sense of balance and control. The riders make use of special bikes that make use of 20″, 24″ or 26″ wheels fitted to small, low frames.

The following tips will prove helpful if you are planning a bicycle-trip in the rocky, hilly terrains for the first time:

1. You must have stamina and endurance to bike down a mountain.

2. Selection of a superior quality bike, especially one that perfectly meets your type of mountain riding is also very crucial.

3. You cannot avoid minor cuts and bruises but you can certainly prevent major mishaps by resorting to precautionary measures, buying yourself some protection in the form of helmets, knee-caps and elbow-caps. A good pair of goggles will also prove handy.

4. Special competitions are organized by various mountain bikers’ groups and you can join in with them. If you choose to go on your own, you will need to collect all relevant information – routes, rules, et al.

5. Whether you go with a bikers’ group or go biking all by yourself, you must remember to carry your equipment kit so that you can take care of all your bicycle-repairs.

Robert Sheehan
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/mountain-biking-for-the-adventure-loving-lot-92136.html

As people grow up they start having wonderful fantasies and these are developed as a result of others showing them. Most of the younger generation would love to own bikes which could be sped with. But while choosing your favorite, there should various things that have to be considered and taken into account.

While shopping for the first bike the most important thing to consider is the price range and your budget. There are wonderful motorcycles which cost a lot for you and look really handsome and stylish. There are premium varieties of bikes such as Ducati and even Harley-Davidsons which could be over expensive. But these are the motorcycles chosen by most of the teenagers due to its fame and popularity. These are those bikes which could be just dreamt by the ordinary people. If you are going to ride it for the first time then these models are not for you. As for experimenting bike riding, it is always advised to start off with the modest models. These are recommended for experts as they have wonderful experience in bike riding.

For those entire debuting bike riders, the best choice would be to choose used bikes which are available easily at affordable prices. This is because it is the best way to become expert and own fascinating models sooner. The used bikes will be having the same power as the new ones and due to this reason it becomes easier and safer to learn in these bikes for the beginners. It is also not much good for the experienced riders to humiliate the new riders on fancy bikes. It is always cooler to ride faster on a slow bike rather than to ride slowly on fast bike.

The most dangerous bike for all those new comers is the sports bikes which could really put the debuts in real trouble even risking their lives. This is because the sports bikes are light weight and even have horsepower and this helps in faster pace even top speeds. Many of the youngsters prefer to own a 1000 cc super bike but it is not recommended for the starters and is highly advised due to its great risks.

The hospitals and cemeteries had got various clients who had tried out the 160 horsepower liter bike. It is highly recommended to undergo a training class before trying any kinds of bike. The perfect choice would be to join classes offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Apart from providing training they also let you to use small motorcycles as part of it.

Whatever be your choice of bike ranging from a fancy bike to touring bike to sport bike to a cruiser to a standard style bike, all that is to be taken care is to get the bike that you feel very comfortable. After taken the right decision the next step is to go out for shopping. While shopping, sit on the bike with the kick start stand down and check whether feet touches the ground and if not then it would be better to choose a lower seat bike. Hence, following these steps in bike shopping would let you choose the perfect one for you.

James Brown
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/choosing-perfect-bike-128868.html

Earlier, bikes were being manufactured with a simple frame and a fork assembly, including a couple of wheels and a seat. Now, with the introduction of the BMX Bike Parts, the fashion has undergone a huge change.

Many additional features have been introduced to turn the BMX bikes all the more unique and contemporary. The BMX bikes are the latest additions to biking, representing power and passion.

The BMX bikes have many additional features for executing different stunts. The addition of the foot pegs to the front and rear axles have made it easy for bikers to perform various tricks and maneuvers.

The bikers can simply stand on the front pegs and spin the rest of the bike around. It also helps to perform summersaults in mid air. Riding the BMX bikes in the neighborhood or in your backyard is great fun.

The frames of BMX bikes are lightweight yet powerful. The frames are usually made of lightweight aluminum and are rustproof. They come in different sizes and patterns, ranging from the mini to the full size ones.

The diameters of the wheels range from the normal 20-inch to the 24 inch Cruiser. The lighter wheels are the unique features of the BMX bikes. The top tubes are generally 20 to 21 inches long.

A linear pull brake offers the ultimate grip, and helps the rider to restrict his speed. The bolt-on components like standing pegs, platform for the frame, the chain stays and the brakes have helped these bikes with supreme maneuverability and safety.

The BMX tires are thus, the best known for speed and traction. There are other unique features, like the handlebars, the small saddles, long cranks, and rear handbrakes. Besides, the linear pull brake offers the ultimate grip for maximum stopping power.

How To Ride the Bikes Safely

A few safety measures should be maintained during the ride.

There should be padding on the frames top tube.
There should be atleast a single working brake.
The kickstand, the chainguards, fenders and reflector brackets should be well maintained.

The BMX bikes are specially designed for racing. Nowadays, the kids too ride the bikes in order to reach the school earlier. These bikes have gained a huge popularity over the past decade. By the mid 90′s the biking styles have changed. The differentiations in frame and riding style have brought the uniqueness to the BMX bikes. Thus, the beauty and pulse of biking have undergone a sea of change.

There are places where the individual parts are kept for practicing the riding skills. With the help of these well-manufactured parts, the bikers regularly experiment with their skills too. Moreover, the popular X-games, extensively sponsored, are played with the BMX bikes.

Robert Sheehan
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/bmx-bike-parts-are-bringing-power-and-delicacy-together-113644.html

Although the precise origins of the connection between sports and international relations remain obscure, all cultures have participated over the course of history in different physical contests that fostered cultural exchange and contributed to their citizens’ political discourse. The ancient Egyptians swam, raced, wrestled, and played games with balls. The ancient Greeks held large athletic festivals, including the Olympic Games that drew athletes’ attention from all over the ancient world. Two of the very first ‘nations’ to engage their athletes in sport competitions, were the Greeks and the Romans. They competed in various athletic events like chariot races, or throwing the javelin, often relying on the participation of animals, or on the use of mechanical contrivances, a tradition continued into modern times in sports such as dog racing, horse racing, and shooting.

During the Middle Ages, the cultural isolation imposed by the feudal system and religious doctrine that opposed the use of the body for play hampered the development of organised sport in the Western world. For many centuries, contests between knights in tournaments that emphasised military skill were among the only forms of approved, public sports. In the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, games and exercise attained renewed popularity. As had been the case in ancient times, however, politics and social class circumscribed activity. Sports that required wealth or leisure, such as polo or falconry, were the province of the upper classes, affluent nations, while inexpensive, massed sports, such as soccer, took root among commoners and underdeveloped countries.

The late 19th century witnessed an expanding belief in sport as useful recreation and as a mean of interconnectivity between people and nations, while in industrialized societies equipment was standardized, local and national organizations were set up to govern play, and a doctrine of character-building declared sports to be a necessary endeavor for men. The revival of the Olympics in 1896 and the blossoming U.S. intercollegiate athletic system boosted many forms of amateur, or unpaid sports at the same time that professional sports (such as baseball, boxing, and bicycle racing) drew large numbers of spectators. Sports that were traditionally played only in specific countries became by legislative act or general acceptance, national sports, like baseball in the United States, bullfighting in Spain and Mexico, cricket in England, and ice hockey in Canada.

During the 20th century, sports took on an increasingly international flavor aside from the world championships for individual sports, like soccer’s World Cup, large-scale international meets, such as the Pan-American Games and the Commonwealth Games, were inaugurated. Sports have correspondingly become increasingly politicized, as the boycott of the 1980 Moscow games by Western nations has shown, or the retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles games by Soviet-bloc nations, an exchange brought on by Soviet actions in Afghanistan.

Despite the difficulties that rose over the past, sport events are considered today a great opportunity for individual countries to promote their cultures, politics and trade. The new terms of globalization and international relations came into the scene of economic evolution and affected sport’s politics, regulations, communication and society as a whole, by using sports mass acceptance as a dominant tool for international negotiations and cultural exchange.

Jonathon Hardcastle
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/examining-international-relations-in-the-realm-of-sports-through-history-58208.html

Do you need a bike light?

If you bike during the evenings – during the dusk or at night, it is imperative that you have a bike light. It’s not so much that you need to be able to see where you’re going, although that is a consideration, but so that motorists will be able to see you.

Bicyclists are supposed to follow the rules of the road – which means that they bike with the traffic and not against it. Unfortunately, there are some teens who don’t follow these rules, so it’s a good thing for them to have a light so any on-coming motorists can see them. Also when riding at night, it is important to wear bright or light clothing, again to make it easier for people to see you. Otherwise you are simply an accident waiting to happen.

There are two kinds of lights you can purchase – those that fasten on to your bike and those that fasten on to your helmet. You’ll want a light that doesn’t weight very much, is easily adjustable, but also provides you with a well-lit path.

You can purchase these lights from online bicycle shops, or from your local bike shot.

You’ll usually save money if you order online – and you’ll be able to find the widest selection of lights on the internet.

However, it’s always a good idea to support your local shop. While their prices may not be quite as good as those on the Internet, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re purchasing and you’ll be able to discuss your needs with a knowledgeable individual.

But you’re a mountain biker. Do you need a bike light?

Millions of Americans enjoy riding mountain bikes – and there are those daring folks who like to experience it at night. And if you’re going to be zooming down mountains at night, having a bike light is obviously imperative. Indeed, you’ll probably want one on the bike and one on your helmet.

As with all accessories, lights will vary in cost depending on the quality you need. Prices for lights can range from as little as $25 to the hundreds of dollars.

You’ll need to consider how often you bike at night to decide how much money you want to spend…but just bear in mind that the bike light is an essential safety device, and you can’t put a price on your safety.

Alastair Hamilton
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/see-and-be-seen-with-a-mountain-bike-light-91552.html

Mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding. Whether made for racing or the more leisurely rider, there are four basic frame designs for mountain bikes: rigid, hard-tail, soft-tail, and full suspension.

The rigid (also commonly known as fully rigid) mountain bikes resemble a conventional sort of bike as you would imagine it. A rigid mountain bike has neither a rear suspension nor a front suspension. These used to be the most common kind of mountain bike but they are rapidly being replaced by the more comfortable models which feature some sort of suspension system. Fully rigid bikes tend to be lower-priced than models with a suspension. Many riders still prefer rigid bikes because it’s what they’re accustomed to, and the feel that the rigid design allows them greater control.

Another common mountain bike design is the hard-tail. Hard-tail mountain bikes are so named because they have a conventional rear end without a suspension. Hard-tails differ from fully rigid bikes in that they have a front suspension. The hard-tail is perhaps the most popular mountain bike design. Many professional riders prefer the feel of a hard-tail and the comfort of a front suspension.

The next kind of mountain bike design is the soft-tail. As you probably guessed, soft-tails employ a rear suspension. Rear suspensions are a more recent innovation than front suspension due to the complexities of the design. Soft-tails are often more expensive than hard-tails, but they also tend to be more forgiving.

Finally there’s the full suspension mountain bike. Bikes with this design feature both front and rear suspensions. These bikes are the latest mountain bike design. For a long time riders avoided full suspension bikes because they were heavy and they tended to sag in the middle like an old swayback horse. It took years for engineers and riders to perfect a viable, functional full suspension mountain bike. It was in the 1990′s when these bikes finally reached a point where they were marketable.

In addition to the frame and suspension, there are other differences in mountain bike designs. One key area where bikes differ is the brakes. Mountain bikes either have some form of caliper brakes, which are the kind of brakes typically associated with bikes. This kind of brake squeezes the rims to slow and stop the bike. The other type of brake is the drum brake. Drum brakes on bikes are similar to the braking system on automobiles. Drum brakes are more expensive than caliper brakes but they’re also easier to maintain. Mountain bike braking systems have even been made which utilize hydraulic power.

Another area where you have some choice in mountain bike design is tire size. Mountain bike tires typically range in size from 24″ to 29″. Smaller tires are used when greater maneuverability is required as in stunt-riding and jumping. Larger tires are used when speed is the key.

As with any other important purchase, do your homework before buying a new mountain bike. Think about your needs and your budget. Mountain biking is a terrific past-time. It’s a fun way to get some fresh air, enjoy the outdoors, and improve your health.

Gregg Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/a-look-at-some-of-the-more-common-mountain-bike-designs-69138.html

Brake rotors are the rotating discs on the Mercedes-Benz disc brake system. They are mounted on the Mercedes Benz drive train and provide a clamping surface for the brake pads. When you step on the brake pedal, the foot pressure is transmitted hydraulically by the master cylinder to a push rod connected to the caliper-driven brake pads. Depending on the foot pressure input, the caliper then squeezes on the brake rotors and retards the motion of the car.

The disc brake system of the Mercedes Benz works in principle like the brakes on a bicycle. But, since cars need more braking power, the caliper in the disc brake assembly clamps on the rotor to apply restraint on the wheels instead of a caliper tightening on the wheel itself. Aside from improved braking power, the Mercedes Benz disc brake assembly spares the wheels from the resulting friction.

Operationally, the brake rotors are exposed to high heat condition. Most Mercedes Benz brake rotors are made of cast iron to withstand the heat and friction against the brake pads. But the chronic contact between the two makes them highly disposed to regular replacement and maintenance. Brake pads are one of the maintenance items in a Mercedes Benz that require periodic replacement, while brake rotors often have a long service life.

Replacement brake pad sets are categorized as per drive applications. Brake pads with harder and less aggressive compounds are designed for Mercedes Benz cars used in city driving. Using this kind of friction material on performance cars can result in brake fade. Race cars, or performance Mercedes Benz cars for that matter, are fitted with a brake pad set lined with soft and more aggressive friction material like asbestos, Aramid, etc. Driving style and preferences are often valid considerations when deciding on brake pad replacement.

Because most brake pads are equipped with aggressive friction compounds, brake rotors are periodically flipped to make rotor wear even. However, turning the brake rotors can reduce their ability to temper heat in the high-friction operating condition. Heat buildup between the brake rotors and the brake pads can “warp” or reshape the brake rotors, causing thickness variations. When this happens, you get a pedal pulsation, and sometimes, a jolt in the steering wheel. When the brake rotors get worn over time, they do not only get thin but lose the heat ventilations on their contact surface. This ventilation exhausts friction heat via the holes that are cross-drilled on the discs.

Aftermarket Mercedes Benz brake rotors can have fins or drills hollowed out of them that are meant to dissipate heat at greater amounts, preventing rotor warping and brake pad wear. These usually go to the front brake rotors, which carry more of the weight load of the car and are faced more frequently by hard braking operations.

There are also slotted discs. This type can be the most ventilated brake rotor. However, slotted discs are more appropriate for Mercedes Benz earmarked for racing and hard drive applications. The slots on the brake rotors, while reducing considerably the possibility of heat buildup, can wear out the brake pads easily. They are nonetheless reliable in preventing the brake pad material to stick on the discs and reduce the braking power of the assembly. When looking for Mercedes brake rotors, these design considerations can let you do away with the largest of requiring premature replacements.

Dwyane Thomas
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/brake-rotor-key-part-of-mercedes-brake-system-111547.html