Unless you have a taste for dirt, you're obviously going to want to tune-up your ride before downhill mountain biking this year. Even if you've already been out for a ride, you can still take these easy steps to keep from swallowing a buffet of rock, sand and mud.
Pump it: First things first. Get those tires pumped up, and check them for any wear. Better yet, buy a new set. Spring is a good excuse to get a new set of tires for downhill mountain biking, so you might as well. That means a new set of Maxxis for me.
Lube it: Get a good bottle of professional bike lubricant and lube all the sliders and cables from front to back. You might be tempted to use WD-40, but don't it's a quick fix that ends up drying out your parts by attracting moisture. Those plastic-lined cables don't need lube, so skip those. But, lube the fork and front suspension liberally, as you know how much abuse those take when downhill mountain biking. Just make sure to clean of any debris fist.
Make sure its tight: Bust out the allen wrenches and pliers and make sure everything is tight. Adjust the shifting, the brakes, and everything in between. Don't forget to check the crank, derailer, and chainring.
Check the head: Tighten it up, even if you don't think its loose. You'll also want to tighten the bottom bracket and hubs. Things will loosen up while downhill mountain biking, so you might as well tighten it up beforehand.
Check your grip: Just like with the tires, Spring is a good excuse to get new grips. Rip off the old ones using oil or some dishwashing liquid. Dry the handlebars thoroughly. Slip on the new grips using an air gun, or if you don't have access to one, then dip them in hot water for a few minutes to expand and then slide them on.
No Rubbing: BRAKES, CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF!!! If you are going to be tear ass down the trail or through the freeride area you better be confident in your brakes. Whether you are using disk brakes or hydraulic brakes make sure they are dialed in. Make sure there is no rubbing and that everything is lined up correctly. If you are running hydraulic brakes check your fluid levels and make sure there are no leaks. Finally, check your cables to make sure they are out of the way.
Yank that Chain: Grab the chain and inspect it for any loose rings. Check the ring and cassette for any bent teeth. Then, lube it up heavily with professional bike lubricant.
Footing and Shifting: Ok, so we couldn't think of a witty euphemism for this step. But as you know, if you loose your footing while downhill mountain biking, you might be riding home in an ambulance or a hearse. So, secure all the screws and bolts on the pedals, and make sure your clips are tight. If you are running platforms check the pins. See that your cleats aren't worn out. You may even want to test the release of your shoes, if applicable. Don't forget to check that they are tightly connected to the crank.
Take these steps, and you'll have one less excuse not to huck yourself off something this downhill biking season.
While mountain biking is typically associated with the cyclists pitting their reflexes, strength, and athletic abilities against some of the world's most treacherous back country wildernesses, deserts, and canyons, there is a new breed of mountain biker--the city dweller. Urban mountain biking may be the next big thing in sports.
Where To Go Urban Mountain Biking
One place where urban mountain biking fans can develop their skills is at their local skateboarding parks. Almost every city of more than a few thousand people has at least one skateboarding park, and biking in them is a lot more convenient that finding ways to do urban mountain biking on public streets or in parking lots and parking garages.
Skateboarding parks will let urban mountain biking riders perform many different stunts, by tackling the ramps, rails, ledges, and bowls the skateboarders use. Vertical riding on a half pipe doing twists and air spins will require urban mountain biking skills as advanced as any needed in freeriding, and will also require full protective gear including a full face helmet. The risks that you could fall on concrete from seven or with feet above a ten foot vertical ramp are not to be taken lightly.
Skateboarding parks are ready and waiting for those ready to do some urban mountain riding and best of all, the bikers don't have to send time digging or building obstacles. But for those bikers who don't have a local skateboard park, or those who live in cities where skateboard parks have banned urban mountain biking, street urban mountain biking is an option.
Street urban mountain biking is great for those who like to explore and take on whatever challenges they find. Those who have been lucky enough to hone their skills in skateboard parks can try them out on the city streets, going with the flow of downtown traffic, jumping gaps and grinding ledges or rails, and even tackling stair sets--but only if they are very, very good, and have someone spotting for them so that they are in no danger of landing on someone. Street urban mountain biking is the type of mountain biking most likely to cause controversy, and those who engage in it have an obligation to ride with the safety of people and property as their first priorities. For more info see on http://www.mountainbikingreviews.com on Mountain Biking.
Urban Mountain Bikes
Urban mountain bikes are solidly built to a very basic design, with 20-inch wheels and intended to make their riders do the work. They do not have accessories like pegs and suspension forks to make them more maneuverable so that less experienced riders can look good riding them.
Urban mountain biking is gradually gaining in popularity, but until it has enough support so that every major urban area boasts a number of quality singletracks, urban mountain biking will remain limited to those daredevils willing to perform their stunts on public thoroughfares, in public parks, and while ascending or descending public stairways.
Both Lucas Baier & David Faulkner are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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