Mar 05 2010
This weekend only until 23.59 on 8th March 2010 Wiggle.co.uk are offering 15% off everything on their site as part of their Platinum Plus Promotion, the clock it ticking, click the link below to go Wiggle and grab a bargain!
Click here to take advantage of this insane promotion!
Mar 05 2010
I’ve just been informed that until the end of the weekend (Sunday 7th March) Evans Cycles are offering an extra 15% off all winter clothing using the following code: 15OFF.
Click here to visit the Evans Sale site
Jan 27 2010
I am back! After a long list of injury and rehab, I am now looking forward to getting back on the bike and hitting the trails. It therefore couldn’t be a better time to splash out on some new kit. Looking around online, I have come across some amazing deals, both Evans Cycles and Wiggle Online Cycle Shop have both started their end of season sales. I am seriously considering splashing out on a new Kona or perhaps a new rockhopper, there are some links on this page to the pick of the bunch, definately worth a look.
It’s good to be back, watch this space for more information and reviews in the coming days and weeks
Happy riding!
May 05 2009
There is a new page linked at the top of the page… I came across this Ultimate Guide to Mastering Mountain Biking last week whilst looking around for a handy guide that I could take out with me on the trail. It covers all sorts of aspects, including techniques which is something I found particularly interesting, why not check it out, if you dont like it, there’s always the guarantee!
Mar 06 2009
The mountain biking survival tips are as follows:
Water and food
Whether it is summer or in the middle of the winter season, you as a biker need to drink plenty of fluid and eat a substantial amount of food. Bring high energy food and enough water or energy drink to stay keep you hydrated during the course of the trip. Powerbars or energy bars are recommended since they are compact and easy to carry. If powerbars are not available, you can bring fruits such as bananas and apples. Always pack extra food in case you have to stay longer on the trail.
Clothing
Wear clothes that are suited for the type of weather. If you are riding in summer, bring light clothes made from breathable fabric. Winter riding requires layers of clothing that may include a t-shirt, a long sleeve shirt and a brightly-coloured jacket so that you can be properly seen in the middle of the snow. Remember more thin layers are better than one thick layer, more layers create layers of air between them which act as an insulator.
Gears
First things first: never ride without wearing a helmet. Then wear gloves for better grip and comfort. Gloves can also protect your hands in case you suffer a crash and use your palms to absorb the fall. Don’t forget sunglasses, they serve as a protection against foreign objects that might enter your eyes. Depending on the colour of the shade, sunglasses can enhance the colour of the road or trail.
Tools
Torch!! Tire blow out can happen anytime while on the trail; always carry bike and tire repair kits that include multi-tool wrenches, pump, tire gauge, patches and glue. Do not forget a spare inner tube.
Navigation
Bring a map, a compass or a GPS in case you are unfamiliar with the biking trail.
Trip Planning
Like a good Boy Scout, be prepared. Pack everything you need before the trip.
To summarize all these, your backpack should contain the following: enough food and water, sunscreen, mobile phone, pump, tire gauge, patches, glue, spare inner tube, multi-tool kit, first aid kit, wallet with identification and extra money, torch, a navigation tool like compass or GPS, a map, and a lighter.
(Do not ride alone.)
Protect yourself from heat.
Mountain forest In case it rains, stay high and dry. Create a make-shift shelter on the highest area of the terrain. Do not ride the storm especially if it comes with lightning.
If you are going to stay overnight, make a fire before it gets dark. Keep it alive throughout the night. Fire keeps predators away.
Temperature can plummet when dark sets in. http://www.articlesbase.com/
Medical Career – Advice http://www.newmedicalcareers.us Mountain Biking – Getting Started http://www.mountainbiking.co.in Affiliate Programs http://www.okus.in Ultimate Frisbee http://www.ultimatefrisbeepro.info
Mar 05 2009
This particular idea was pioneered by GT as a basis for their I-Drive suspension system. This system places the bottom bracket along with the crank assembly component on a pivot point that is separate from both the front and rear triangle of the bike resulting in the bottom bracket and crank assembly effectively floating. This is the unique feature that distinguishes the floating pivot design from other active full suspension systems which have the bottom bracket mounted on either the front or rear triangle of the bike.
The floating bottom bracket design maintains most of the quality characteristics associated with VPP and horst link/four bar suspension systems. The floating bottom bracket design has the technology within the design to minimise pedal bob (if correctly calibrated) and also remains resistant to braking compression. This means that even under braking the suspension remains active making for a smoother riding experience for the user and improves the traction of the bike by keeping the back wheel in contact with the ground for longer.
It is general opinion that the floating bottom bracket design has potential to be a brilliant all round solution, however although models have improved, there is still a lot of improvement to be done. One problem with this type of suspension is the added weight which comes purely due to the complexity of the design, although the current I-Drive is now much lighter than the original, it is still a little on the heavy side, making climbs tricky.
It is not just the I-drive that utilise this floating bottom bracket design, there are a couple of other manufacturers that make use of the idea, however they each have their draw backs. One flaw comes from having the crank assembly mounted on a floating pivot, because of this a special front derailleur has to be fitted to counteract the motion created at the pivot point, despite this there are instances and cases of shifting trouble on the front gears. It is also noted that this type of suspension causes the seat post to be at a slightly unfavourable angle with some riders making a correct pedalling position difficult to achieve.
All in all, this system has some good points, eliminating pedal bob and compression under braking, however it still lacks some of the simplistic refinement found in other suspension solutions.
Don’t agree? Have your say in the Forums!
Feb 25 2009
No matter what characteristics an object has, as long as it is on this big rock we call earth, it will be governed by basic physical laws. These laws of physics therefore impact upon any object, movement involving these objects is also regulated by constant variables included within these rules, and so the way the object reacts to these rules can be anticipated. This is the concept that the DW Link suspension system relies upon to work. The DW link system balances out the forces created from the bikes movement resulting in arguably the best suspension system to date.
The rules that the DW Link is based upon are made up of simple physics:
1. Every rider has the same ‘centre of mass’ therefore weight distribution is constant
2. Laws of physics dictate that every action has an equal reaction. Therefore if a bicycle accelerates forward, the rider’s total mass is transferred backwards and so the ‘centre of mass’ shifts backwards. This is the main reason for suspension becoming locked out during braking and acceleration, the weight shift causes compression of the rear suspension and causes a bobbing motion. This causes ‘bob’
3. Pedalling causes forces on the drive chain which results in fluctuations of the chainstay lengths, these fluctuations are reflected by the amount of pedal feedback through the suspension, the less change in the chainstay length during pedalling, the less pedal bob.
4. Pedal bob is usually counteracted by extra dampening in suspension systems, this detracts from the efficiency and is usually only necessary for less sophisticated suspension, DW link suspension minimises the amount of dampening used and so the suspension is more reactive to minor deviations on the trail. This gives better traction on the terrain aiding in changing of direction and changing in speed.
For more information on DW link visit www.dw-link.com , do you own a DW link equipped bike, does this suspension system work, have any questions? Why not visit the Forums
Feb 23 2009
For those who ride a bike fairly often a good pair of shoes and clipless peddles make for a smashing investment. For those who are picking out a pair of shoes for the first time we have put together a handy little guide to picking the perfect cycling shoes.
Firstly you need to identify what style of riding you are planning on doing.
Offroad shoes offer more protection around the ankle and are made of a thicker, more flexible material to help the foot cope with uneven surfaces.
If you are planning on riding on the road or even racing then it is best to look for a lightweight stiff shoe. Most shoes that are being made now usually have carbon outer soles which stops your foot flexing and so increases the power that you can push through the cranks. Lightweight shoes also offer the benefit of saving weight on the climbs.
In summer you might consider a shoe with built in air vents and a wicking fabric to help cool your foot however you really want to make sure not to wear this type of shoe over winter, even with over shoes or over socks your feet with still be cold and wet.
A growing trend for riding in winter is to wear a cycling boot rather than a bike shoe for both mountain bikers and road riders alike mainly due to the fact that they keep the foot warmer and drier than traditional cycling shoes.
Emma Lois Watson manages the cycling shoes e-tailer Cycling Shoes Direct; the UK’s only specialist cycling shoe website.
Feb 17 2009
The Virtual Point Pivot system is made up of a double linkage configuration which links together the front and rear triangles of the frame. With virtual pivot designs the two separate linkages, their attachment points and varying lengths can dictate the path taken by the rear triangle when the suspension is active. Because the configuration of the pivot points is almost indefinitely variable, designs and therefore characteristics and rideability of virtual pivot point equipped bikes vary widely. Depending on the aims and wishes of the designer the rear end of the bike can be made to pivot in almost any way.
Due to the constant movement of the two linkages there is no one fixed main pivot point, the pivot point position is constantly changing depending on the actions of the two linkages, in essence a single constant pivot doesn’t exist, which is why this suspension solution is known as ‘virtual pivot.’
One popular implementation of the virtual pivot design is that patented by Santa Cruz ™ and is branded under VPP. The patented configuration of the VPP linkage system creates an rear wheel travel path similar to an elongated S. This path brings with it some minor problems, there is a period where the linkages effectively cancel out each other leading to a very brief lock out of the suspension, however this is at a very precise point in the wheel path.
Each VPP frame is designed to work with sufficient ‘sag’ to provide truly active suspension, this meaning that with the rider on the bike, the suspension has enough positive and negative travel either side of the sag to provide active suspension and to prevent lock out, this allows this type of suspension to deal with some big bumps but also react well to smaller bumps. This will also maximise traction by keeping the rear wheel glued to the terrain!
VPP equipped bikes also pedal well, the system utilises some of the chain pulling force to counteract the natural pedal bob making a smooth ride, however the design occasionally suffers when faced with aggressive climbs and pedalling.
One negative with this type of suspension solution is the weight, as a result of the extra linkages and the strains that are placed upon the small linkages, this can lead to problems in frame durability. As a cure for this fragility the frames are made stiffer leading to a lot more weight needed to support the extra complexity of the frame. Another negative is the ground clearance, having a pivot just behind the cranks reduces the clearance of the rear wheel, which can lead to very tricky riding especially in muddy conditions.
Interested in VPP? Thinking of buying a VPP bike? What do you think of VPP suspension systems?? Why not share your opinions in the forums!
Feb 16 2009
Hi,
Thanks for visiting Mountainbikesuspension.co.uk, we have now added a Forums section. Mountain biking is growing constantly, with new suspension designs, shocks, theories and technologies being released every season, there is far too much for one person to keep up with so why not share your own experiences with other riders, head over to the forums and check them out.
