Below are the 5 most recent journal entries recorded in keithnafothing's InsaneJournal:

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
8:46 pm	Buying a mountain bike can be a frustrating and intimidating process especially if you are new to the sport and inexperienced. The first thing to do is set your budget. This is very important because it will keep you from overspending. Overspending can be very tempting especially when you are actually in the bike store and confronted with all those brand new, gleaming mountain bikes. Mountain bikes come in so many different makes, models and styles you will soon discover that there almost no limit to how much money you could spend if money were no object. If you have been able to set a budget, make sure that you only look at and test ride bikes that fall into your budget parameters. When purchasing a mountain bike it is always best to buy from a bike specialty store rather than a mass-merchant store like K-Mart or Wal-Mart. If you buy from you local bike store, not only will you get a better bike, you will also get better service over the long-haul. Your bike will need regular, routine maintenance and unless you are prepared to service it yourself, you had better have a good, close relationship with a bike shop. Different mountain bikes are designed for different terrain and different riding styles. You will need to know that type of riding you wish to do most of the time. The different types of riding include smooth trail riding, all mountain cruising, cross-country racing or lift accessed gravity mayhem. Be sure that you buy the right kind of bike to fit the style of riding you wish to do. Do not be talked into buying a different kind of bike from the type you are looking for. The sales clerk may be trying to move some older merchandise. If you can afford it, buy a bike with a full suspension. This type of bike will give you more comfort and you will have better steering control. Hardtails which do not have any rear suspension are much lighter but you give up a tremendous amount in terms of riding comfort. Bike components are one area that most new bike purchasers get hung up on. They get bogged down in all the myriad details that are available. When purchasing a new bike, stick to the basic and just focus on those first. You can always add components and upgrade your bike later on as you gain more knowledge and have more experience. The basics include the bike fork, the derailleur and the pedals. That's it. The prices of mountain bikes can fluctuate dramatically depending on the season. The high season for buying mountain bikes is from the beginning of spring until mid-Autumn. If you are able to wait until the right time, usually in the winter when demand is low, you can save hundreds of dollars. Many bike shops will offer discounts on things like service tune-ups or accessories so always ask about these. The most important thing of all when it comes to buying mountain bikes is the test ride. Current Mood: nauseated Current Music: Indy (Comment on this)
Saturday, June 18th, 2011
12:09 pm	Some Thoughts About Mountain Bikes Mountain bikes are all terrain bicycles designed specifically for off-road cycling. In many cases, the kind of terrain they cover includes rocks, steep inclines, dirt trails, logging road and environments with unpaved roads. Mountain bikes easily withstand the stresses that come with off-road use around barriers such as logs and large rocks. Almost all mountain bikes have steel rims that are a minimum of 559 mm in ISO sizing. These are sometimes referred to as "26-inch" wheels. This term is inaccurate, though, because it covers too many tire and rim sizes to be truly meaningful. Mountain bikes have tires that are wide and knobby because they give the best traction on uneven terrain and are good shock absorbers. Front wheel suspension has become the industry norm since the mid-1990s. After that, front and rear suspension became increasingly more popular and common on most mountain bikes. Some mountain bikes come fitted with bar ends attached to the handlebars which give the rider more leverage when climbing hills. Since the sport was developed in the 1970s different subtypes of mountain biking have evolved. These include cross-country (XC), downhill mountain biking and endurance biking Each variation requires different skills and different mountain bike designs for best performance. Mountain bikes can have as many as 30 speeds which are used for both climbing and quick descents from hilltops. Some newer mountain bikes have disc brakes instead of rim brakes. These stop the bike's forward momentum much more efficiently. The technological and design advances that mountain bikes make each year are astounding. These make it difficult for people new to the sport to choose the best mountain bike for them. There are many different things to be taken into consideration when choosing your first mountain bike. Of course, the first thing that must be considered is your budget. Next, you will want to consider the frame size. The type of bike you want to have will also play an important pare in your deliberations. There are some simple things you must keep in mind when choosing a mountain bike to make sure you find the perfect one to suit your needs. Mountain bikes are designed specifically for male and female bodies. You will want your bike to be comfortable, powerful and highly durable. Mountain bikes can run anywhere from $300 to $6,000. The more expensive mountain bikes are not always the best, though. The price you will pay for your mountain bike will depend on three factors: if it is intended to be used by a beginner or an expert, the style of the bike and the brand. Most people, when shopping for mountain bikes, think that the prices are too high. They often opt instead to purchase a used mountain thinking that it is the same as a brand new one, just with a cheaper price. Buying a used mountain bike can be risky though. You will have no idea of how the bike has been maintained and what kind of wear it has had. If you have the extra money to spend on a new bike, that is always best. You will be guaranteed quality. Current Mood: nauseated Current Music: Indy (Comment on this)
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
9:29 pm	How To Choose A Bike Correctly Most people assume picking the right mountain bike is an easy task. Simply finding the bike they like the look of is all there is to it, right? As long as it is comfortable that's all you need to worry about. This is wrong, the fact is there are more things to consider these days than there was a few years ago. Cycling is increasing in popularity each day, be it for fun or as a serious mode of transport, there are now more bikes to choose from than ever before. Some people are choosing to cycle as a means of transportation on a regular basis. Lots of families have taken up cycling as a family hobby. No matter why you are picking your bicycle, here are some ways to help you along. And there are some who like to cycle simply because it is fun. Whatever your reason for going cycle shopping there are some definite criteria that you need to think about before you make your choice. You will be surprised at how much more there is to a bicycle than just the looks. Outlined hereafter are some pointers you can take into consideration when going out to buy your bike. The first thing you should think about, which is pretty obvious, needs to be the cost. Of course you are going to need to think about how much you will ride your bike as well as where you are going to be riding it, but cost is one of the most important things. You must make sure you get a road bike or mountain bike that is the appropriate size for you. The measurement of your inseam is needed for this. Simply measure the distance from your groin to the bottom of your foot, down the inside of your leg. Ideally you should be able to place both feet on the ground while on your bike. This is for safety more than anything else, if your brakes should fail you will not be able to easily stop the bike otherwise. The type of handlebars you choose is also important. Not all handlebars are the same. It's easier to handle a bike over rough terrain with handlebars that extend straight out. They are also better for distributing your body weight over a larger area. If you are using your bike for racing, then you want to pick some handlebars that are more slim and allow you to lean forward on your bike so you can go faster. If you aren't going to be using your bicycle very often, you might simply opt for a handlebar style that feels comfortable and makes it easier to store your bicycle while you aren't using it. You shouldn't keep the bicycle seat at the lowest setting, either. Always consider that you are going to have to raise the seat up off the crossbar when you are shopping for your bike. You want to have the comfort of the seat being higher up than the crossbar on the bike, because if the seat is sitting on the crossbar, you will not be comfortable. You want to be able to sit on the bike and place your foot on the pedal at the lowest position, and almost be able to fully extend your leg. It is important you allow for room between you and the crossbar. When choosing a bike move the seat so it is a couple of inches above the crossbar. Make sure you can place both feet on the ground if need be. Each type of bike requires different clearances. As an example, with a touring bike you will only require around 1". If you are buying a mountain bike you'll want more-three inches or so between you and the crossbar. There are a lot of things to think about when they are choosing which cycling bicycles are right for them. There are people who view the durability of a bike to be most important, this is especially true if you plan to use your bike a lot over rough terrain. You may simply be looking for the bike least likely to malfunction because you rely on it to get around. Price can also be a point to consider. Research is important when purchasing anything, especially a bike. You will also want to shop around to find the best deal. If you just get the first one you find it may not be the best suited for you and could even be a bad bike. Current Mood: nauseated Current Music: Indy (Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
9:13 pm	Specific Types of Mountain Bikes On The Market The design of mountain biking is made specifically for off road riding. It will not matter if you are looking for a mountain bike if you are going to be riding in the woods for a hobby or if you are an extreme stunt person looking for a great new way to perform stunts. No matter which it is, you want to look at the 4 basic types of frame designs available for mountain bikes. The four basic types of mountain bike frames are the hard tail, soft tail, rigid and the full suspension. Here are the differences in them that you want to look at when selecting which bike is right for you and your stunts. Your hard tail bike is named this as it contains a conventional rear end that is without the suspension and has the front suspension that a rigid mountain bike does not have. Of all the various types of mountain bikes on the market, this is by far one of the most popular types of mountain bikes. For most professional riders, they will opt to have a hard tail as their mountain bike of choice. The soft tail choice or option is going to offer the rear end suspension which is quite new and offers a more complex design with the front suspension. The soft tails bike is generally a more expensive bike than a hard tail bike however, the soft tail is considered to be much more forgiving than your typical bike when using the bike on rough and rugged terrains. Your rigid bike is going to take a path of a conventional bike minus the front end suspension as well as the rear end suspension. This was originally one of the most popular choices for mountain biking but have slowly moved on to be one of the least popular choices for mountain biking in the recent years. The one reason some choose this type of bike is because the bike is less expensive than a bike that comes with either a suspension on the front or back or both. For those of you who are accustomed to this type of bike, you most likely will choose to stick with it as it is what feels comfortable to you. The last option is the full suspension type of mountain bike . This particular type of bike is going to offer front end suspensions as well as rear end suspensions. This particular bike style is heavier than your standard, everyday bike. It was not until the 90's that this particular style of bike would become popular and would be considered to be marketable. It is not only the frame and suspension on the mountain bikes that you worry about but also the style of brakes it holds. If you have one type of brake that you are used to, you do not have to stick to that type of brake to avoid feeling uncomfortable but instead, learn about the different brakes and find out why one type is more popular than another. Once you have chosen your brakes, choose the size of your tires. Most bikes will range from 24 inches on up to 29 inches and will have the maneuverability that is needed in order to participate in stunts and jumps. All of these decisions will rely on what you want to do with your bike and how much money that you want to spend on your new purchase. Consider all options before deciding on your new bike. Current Mood: nauseated Current Music: Indy (Comment on this)
Monday, April 25th, 2011
9:50 pm	Top Quality Design Features And Advantages Of Colnago Bikes For The Cycling Enthusiast Colnago bikes are ideally suited to the professional cyclist. They have many benefits to offer racing cyclists as is evident by their superior design and manufacture. These bikes are lightweight and have stiff frames for excellent handling, and are always built for top ride safety. Experienced riders will find many advantages of Colnago bikes thanks to the top quality materials and methods of manufacture employed in their production. . The highly sophisticated carbon composite frames are designed and developed using computer-aided designs. Frame lugs, and other essential parts and unique molds are part of the special frame development process. Each individual Colnago bicycle, regardless of its cost, must pass tough testing for quality control, before it is passed onto dealers for sale. There are many different sizes of Colnago bikes available, depending upon the rider's needs. The bikes can even be custom fit for individual requirements. The very stable and well balanced bicycle also offers precision handling even at high speeds. The bike has a superior ride quality and rigidity that is made possible by the frame's stiff construction, yet it does not compromise on comfort while also helping to reduce road impact. The international standards for strength retention after impact are easily exceeded upon testing, for every frame and fork. A range of different materials are used in the manufacture of Colnago bikes. This is important when constructing the best bicycle frame, because no single material used on its own is ideal. For example, a very strong, light material may not be resistant to fatigue, or may be far too expensive for the average cyclist. Carbon fiber is one of the most popular materials for high quality road racing bicycles due to its immense versatility and strength. Colnago bike frames include both one-piece carbon units and lugged carbon construction. Steel was the main material used in the manufacture of bike frames in the past, and is still sometimes used today. Colnago steel frames include other metals for added strength, which are then butted and formed into the desired shapes. Aluminum is great for bike frames that are less expensive, as it has a low density yet high strength. The result is lightweight and stiff frames that are suitable for the requirements of many cyclists.The primary traditional material used in the history of bike frame manufacture is steel. Colnago steel frames have added strength by incorporating chromium, vanadium and molybdenum, and formed into the required shapes. Aluminum is used in bike frames within the lower price range. Aluminum has a low density while still retaining high strength, which is most suitable for constructing light, rigid frames at a great price. Many cyclists find aluminum frames most suitable for their needs Another great feature of Colnago bicycles is their ergonomic design specially suited to sportive cyclists for an upright road racing position, instead of the tucked position that is traditionally used. This gives cyclists the ability to more fully appreciate their environment whenever participating in organized, long distance cycling events, though without compromising the great handling, stability and safety of their bikes. An important consideration for top-end bikes is the headset. One of the many advantages of Colnago bikes includes their semi-integrated headset, rather than the recently fashionable integrated system that has clean lines but where the bearings are positioned immediately into the head tube. This can eventually cause a lot of damage to the frame, which would need full replacement. The semi-integrated headset still keeps the bike looking good, but allows for easier maintenance and weight reduction. Current Mood: nauseated Current Music: Indy (Comment on this)