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Selecting The Right Mountain Bike Frame

A good mountain biker is one who knows has the right knowledge of the sport as well as the bike he is riding. This knowledge helps him throughout his career, right from purchasing the vehicle to being the best in the game. Here we learn about the important factors origin of the sport and the construction process in brief.

How To Select The Right Mountain Bike Frames

A variety of bicycles are available in the market, and they are constructed specifically for different purposes. E.g. ordinary cycles are meant for short travels and leisure rides whereas, racing bicycles are made for competitive racing, they are comparatively lighter and have thin tires and multiple gears for better performance.

The most important factor that distinguishes between bicycles is the frame of the cycle. If a customer wants a bike for mountain biking, he has to specifically purchase a Mountain Bike. The mountain bikes are subjected to a lot of rugged terrain and hence the frame has to be really strong, and at the same time it has to be light for better maneuverable.

To help you understand this process, a through knowledge of the sport of mountain bicycling, the variety of bicycle frames available in the market and the cost is very important.

The sport of Mountain Bicycling

The sport of Mountain bicycling has gained popularity since its origin in the 70’s. It is the ultimate sport for those who love cycling and exploring the rugged outdoors. One can take up mountain bicycling just to enjoy the thrills of riding on a rugged countryside area or participate in formal competitions, or simply enjoy it as a good form of exercise.

Range of Mountain Bicycle Frames available.

Mountain bicycles are manufactured specially to withstand the pounding of the harsh terrain. They are fitted with special accessories for better performance. Often these bicycles are fitted with gears system to facilitates easy ascending and descending on the slopes of the mountains, modified lightweight hand brakes are fitted to ensure better grip and instant braking and the balloon type tires ensure a relatively smoother ride.

The frame of the bike plays a very important when it comes to purchasing a mountain bike, it has to be extremely strong and at the same time it has to be relatively light for easy maneuverability. The basic structure of all frames is same, the only thing that makes them different is the material used to construct them. Generally frames are made either of carbon fiber, titanium or steel, the favorite being steel, as it is light yet very strong and is found in abundance.

Although difficult to work with, Titanium and carbon fiber have also been used for construction of the mountain bike frame. Basically Titanium is similar to steel and aluminum but is comparatively lighter, and is scratch resistant and rust proof.

Carbon fiber is a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber. A mixture of both is dipped in glue and is molded in tubular form and these tubes are used to construct the frames.

Cost

The cost of the bicycle plays a very important role when it comes to purchasing a good mountain bicycle. Basically, the price of the bike depends on the material used for its construction. The most expensive bikes are the once with Titanium and carbon fiber frames, once made of steel are relatively cheaper.

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Bike Maintenance

By: Sports expert

As the weather is cooling, or going to cool soon, it is time to give your bike some TLC. Are you the type of person who does regular maintenance on their bike? If not here are some things to check out or have checked out.

Regular maintenance can be as easy as lubing you chain and adjusting your brakes. It can go as far as an over haul of the bottom bracket bearings. On newer bikes this is not necessary because they have sealed bearings.

This means the lubricating agent is in constant contact with the bearings. It also means that unless you see something leaking from there you do not need to worry about them. Having them inspected on an annual basis should be sufficient.

This annual check up is just precautionary to ensure they are not overly worn. If they have worn sufficiently have them replaced, thus preventing further damage.

Another good thing to check is your tire wear. This is particularly important for high mile riders. Your tires are just about as important as your chain. With out either you are not going to go very far very fast.

Upon checking your tires if you notice nicks or worn spots change the tire. It is much easier to do it at home then out on the road. Changing a tire is the same as changing a tube. You just add one more step. The added step is taking the tire completely off the rim.

For anything more extensive than this you should take your bike to a shop. They are trained to do such work.

Now is as good at time as any to keep your bike in good working order. So it will be ready when you are, to enjoy the roads of your community.

Article Source: http://www.go-see.info

If you would like more bicycling maintenance related information go to www.mycyclingsource.com/make-your-own-bicycle-repair.html

Biking can make you impotent

By: Sports expert

Riding a bike may sound like a good way to travel. After all, you don’t have to pay for parking fees, vehicle maintenance, gasoline, and insurance among others. Biking is also good for the heart, produces no pollution, is quieter than a car, and doesn’t kill or maim people.

But before you jump into a bike to explore the world, read this first. Researchers say cycling can make you impotent – a condition that currently affects 150 million men worldwide. This depressing news comes from sexual and reproductive health researcher Steven Schrader who studied the effects of bicycle riding in police officers.

Schrader said night time erections were of a poorer quality in biking police officers than in non-biking officers. The quality of erections also decreased as seat pressure increased and the longer the bikers stayed on the saddle.

Schrader is not the lone voice in the wilderness when it comes to cycling and men’s sexual health. Three other studies published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine support his findings. The studies said sitting on a bike saddle puts pressure in the perineum (the area between the scrotum and the anus). This temporarily blocks penile blood flow causing impotence. Over time, the lining vessels of the compressed arteries become damaged leading to permanent artery blockage.

In Brussels, researchers from University Hospital disclosed that male cyclists were twice as likely to suffer from impotence compared to those who stay away from bikes. A thousand cyclists were tested for this study.

“They found that more than 60 percent of men and women reported genital discomfort. Their 'Bicycle Saddle Report' suggests that male cyclists are twice as likely to suffer from virility problems,” reported the BBC News.

Earlier, Austrian doctors arrived at the same conclusion after studying 45 amateur mountain bikers who cycled at least two hours a day, six days a week. In their study published in the British medical journal The Lancet, researchers at University Hospital in Innsbruck said all of the bikers had scrotal abnormalities compared to only 16 percent of non-biking medical students.

The doctors said most of the mountain bikers developed cysts containing sperm. This suggests that the vibration of their bikes over rugged terrain had damaged their testicles and made them impotent. To prevent this, researchers advised the use of padded shorts and padded saddles.

In spite of these findings, researchers pointed out that not all bikers are doomed to suffer from impotence the same way that not all smokers will develop cancer. One study suggests that only five percent of bikers will eventually become impotent. However, while bikers can always hope for the best, they should also expect the worst. It pays to invest in comfortable biking apparel and a good soft saddle.

“Whereas past research emphasized whether or not a relationship existed between bicycle riding on a saddle and erectile dysfunction, Schrader now says that the next step of contemporary research on the subject should focus on intervention. And if that happens, it's possible that we may see some radically redesigned bicycle seats hitting the market in the near future,” said the people at AltPenis.Com.

If your doctor says you’re impotent due to biking or other reasons, don’t give up easily. Remember that impotence can be treated. One popular treatment is Erectasil, a powerful topical lotion that will help men rise to the occasion. Unlike sex pills that have questionable side effects, Erectasil is safe and easy to use.

Article Source: http://www.go-see.info

Jill Stewart is a health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online health news magazine www.healthnfitnesszone.com. For more information on Erectasil, check out erectasil.com.