Posts tagged: outdoors

Are Electric Bike Kits Worth It?

By Garrick Baxter, June 28, 2010 2:43 pm

An electric bike kit is simply an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery. It converts an ordinary bicycle into an electric bike. The battery is simply recharged by plugging to the electricity mains. If you already know how to ride a bicycle, you don’t have a problem using the electric bike. Just pedal and allow the motor to kick in, then relax and enjoy your ride.

The electric bike conversion kit has many advantages over a new electric bike. If you already have a bicycle you only need to spend a little amount of money to buy the conversion kit. You can now enjoy all the benefits of a bike without spending anything on fuel. Buying a new electric bike can be very expensive.

Buying a conversion kit gives you a wider range of choice to suit your lifestyle. Bicycle manufactures are numerous compared to electric bike manufacturers, who are few. Any brand of bicycle can be converted.

A bicycle converted to an electric bike is lighter than an electric bike. You are also used to your bicycle, making riding easier and stress less.

The electric bike is recommendable for physical fitness exercises. If you are overweight and needs to burn some calories you can as well get an electric bike conversion kit. This kind of exercise mixed with pleasure can be very effective for management of certain ailments including hypertension, diabetes and arthritis.

The electric bike is a time saving machine for short distance trips. You don’t need to waste time in the traffic, since any available space will get you through. During rush hours you can make use of your electric bike instead of wasting time, fuel and energy using a car. You don’t even need a packing space.

Compared to the electric bike, buying the electric bike kit is far more economical. Do you have a bicycle? Then, spend a little money and buy an electric bike conversion kit. You will not only enjoy it but also will be proud about it.

If you want to buy electric bike kits, hurry and visit Electric-Bike-Kits.net.

Discussing Several Uses Of Mountain Bikes

By Eric Scott, April 28, 2010 8:55 pm

Mountain biking is a popular sport, and as it gains more and more popularity, biking enthusiasts have more mountain bikes to choose from. It is important to consider what type of riding you enjoy before selecting a mountain bike. Some of the most popular types are listed below.

Cross country. Cross country mountain bikes are designed to be very light weight, which will help the biker to navigate almost any terrain, including hills. This category will cover most mountain bikes.

Think you need a separate bike for general commuting purposes? Think again! A light weight cross country bike can be used for almost anything, including less challenging rides. From an aggressive workout to a short gas-saving commute, you’ll get a lot of miles out of your mountain bike.

Downhill. Many serious mountain bikers build their own downhill bike in order to go after very adventurous rides. A good downhill bike must have suspension in the front and the rear and very strong disc brakes.

Trails. Another very strong bike is a trail mountain bike. Trail riding is one of the most precise forms of mountain biking and is for very skilled riders. These riders take their sport very seriously and often design and build their own bikes.

Jump and slalom. These bikes are exceptionally strong and can be used for slalom, street racing, and even jumping.

Jump and slalom bikes use the strongest components available and offer great front suspension. Adrenaline junkies who mountain bike will love this one!

Mountain biking is a great workout and a great deal of fun, even for beginners. You’ll need a good, sturdy mountain bike selected just for you. You not only have your own style, but each person has different mountain biking goals. Visit several stores and see how you like different models. You may want to talk to other mountain bikers and find out what they like or don’t like about different models as well.

The writer additionally frequently shares knowledge on things including alarm system for apartments and home alarm systems.

Five Bike Accessories Everyone Should Have

By Dan Goulski, April 12, 2010 9:40 pm

Whether you ride competitively or just for enjoyment, we all seem to love gadgets on our bicycles. Some items offer extra convenience and some a bike rider should not be without. Here are our top 5 bicycling gadgets.

Where are you going to ride your bike? Maybe you can ride through the trails for hours on end seeing the land. Your accessories will differ slightly from someone who rides for 45 minutes through the neighborhood or goes to the park for a leisurely ride with the family.

1. Bike rack

Unless you always ride from home for short distances, you will most likely want to ride in different locations, and you need to be able to get your bicycle there. A bike rack is the perfect solution. Keep in mind that if you like to ride with others, you should get a rack that can accommodate more than one bicycle at a time. This is also handy if you like to compete and need to carry an extra bike in case problems come up. When shopping for a rack, look for one that holds the bike with minimal movement of the handlebars and wheels. And don’t forget that if you get a rack for the top of your car, be careful going through underpasses or tunnels.

2. Bike computer

Some may think this is excessive, but it really is a handy tool to have if you want to track how far you have ridden. A bike computer can keep track of speed, mileage, elapsed time of the trip, and clock time, among other things. Some computers are more sophisticated than others and track more things.

3. Clip for a Water Bottle

This comes as a standard on many bicycles today, but if you don’t have one, you need to add it. The first time you take a long drink after a hard ride, you’ll be happy you added it.

4. Pedal Clips

Bike clips keep you your foot from slipping when you ride. For a casual rider, the clips may frighten them because it increases your reaction time when trying to stop. You have to slide your foot out of the clip before touching down. During a long ride, the clips can give tired feet a rest.

5. Bike panniers

These are bicycle bags that attach to the bike. They are much better than carrying stuff in a backpack because they leave the rider free to concentrate on the ride instead of worrying about the bag shifting and making the rider unbalanced. You can put all kinds of handy things in them such as your phone, a first aid kit, a tool kit for unforeseen repairs, food, and a jacket (you never know when a storm will come up suddenly). Having all this gear on the bike itself allows the rider to just enjoy the ride.

Dan Goulski knows the importance of biking gadgets, especially the cycling water bottle. That’s why he created a website all about it, called http://www.cyclingwaterbottle.org.

Difference Between a Bike Tubular Tire and a Bike Clincher Tire

By Steve James, March 12, 2010 7:48 pm

When debating what the differences are between a tubular or clincher tire the more knowledgeable person may reply that there is a right time for everything. Knowing which one to choose is the question.

Fundamentally, the way a clincher tire is secured to the rim of a bike is by using air pressure. This is how the wheel gets the name of “clincher” by pneumatically sealing the tire between the outer rim bead and inner tube. The tube itself is completely separate from the tire. The largest example of a clincher tire is a drag radial as used by fuel cars.

Fueler teams have known for many years that for ease of maintenance and safety at high speed, it’s difficult to beat a tube that is independent of the tread. The main reason that passenger car tires do not have separate inset tubes is that in sustained high-speed, heavy-usage applications, a separate tube can rub on the inside of the outer tire, creating friction and heat-softening the rubber. Bicycles don’t have this problem as they typically run at much higher air pressure, and have a great deal less load to bear than a passenger car does.

A tubular tire is far more similar to a car tire, that is, the air containment chamber and the outer tread of the tire are integral to each other. The differing features between a bike tubular tire and a car tire is that whereas the the car tire is fastened using the same technique as a clincher wheel, the bicycle tire is stuck to the wheel rim using glue. Once the only performance choice for a cyclist was the tubular tire but with the progress in tire and wheel mechanics plus the acceptance of clincher wheels as a performance tire option within the racing community, the clincher wheel has now become the leading tire choice within the world of bike racing.

Reduced weight is the only real advantage of tubular wheels over clincher wheels because this type of tire does not require a thick rim to enable the seal. However, racing cyclists today are happy to use a clincher wheel made of a light alloy and composite material because of the ease of maintenance and greater reliabilty even though there is a small weight difference.

Learn more about bike clincher wheelsets. Stop by Steve James’s site where you can find out all about campagnolo wheelsets and what they can do for your bike.

Fixed-Gear Bikes For First Time Buyers

By Jimmy Hansel, February 26, 2010 9:23 pm

Bike riding is not just your average activity. In fact, there are people from all over the world that use bikes as a simple mode of transportation as well as a way to save money. Fixed-gear bikes have become increasingly popular among those who live in the cities and urban communities. Many college students can be found riding these around campus. In order to make sure that you buy the right fixed-gear, ensure that you look over this helpful guide!

It is important that you purchase a bike that is going to be the right size for you. You do not want a bike that is so tall that you can barely reach the pedals or so short that you feel like you are on a children’s bicycle. These bikes are measured in centimeters so make sure that you are aware of the proper size first. Measure the inside of your leg down and you should be able to know your size.

When you get our new fixie the first thing you are going to want to do is hop on and ride. However, these bikes typically do not have brakes installed and therefore may present some safety issues for you. Install a front brake first in order for you to get used to riding around with the free-wheel hub. The wheel can easily be switched so that you can ride the bike as a simple single speed rather than a track bike.

Do not break the bank when you purchase your first foxed-gear bike. In fact you can easily find a used one or even new for as little as $300 to $400. It is important that you take the time to use this bike as a way for you to begin learning your own technique. Your next fixie should be either built by you personally, or custom built over the internet. Saving as much money as you can is going to be important so that you can get other aspects of your bike cover.

Complete bikes will come with everything that you need in order to get on your bike and ride. If you order your fixie online you will need to install the pedals as well as the handlebars before you ride. Ensure that you also buy a fixie tool set in order to practice all of the maintenance on your own.

These bikes also come in a variety of colors that you will be able to choose from. Fixed-gear bikes have been known to come in bright, vibrant colors that are perfect for expressing the owner’s own personality or expression. If you want a custom color, make sure to add in this specific extra cost.

Accessories can also be purchased in order to enhance your riding quality and experience. These accessories will include brakes, pedal clips, wheels and handlebars. The handlebars on a fixie can truly be unique. Look closer at the bullhorn handlebars or the straight across bars. The accessories that you buy can be added as you get familiar with bike riding.

Looking into fixed-gear bikes is a big purchase to consider but it can be well worth the money. If you are serious about learning the ways of the fixie, make sure to get a bike that you can handle and ride on a daily basis. Start out slow and from there you should be hooked on this type of bike for life!

Like to learn more about fixed wheel bicycles? Well go online and check out the fixed gear gallery. Go now and find out all you need to know.

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