Crazy About Bicycles

How to Choose and Buy Road Bikes Online

Fixed Gear Road Bike

Road bikes provide great pleasure to people who want a healthier and more environment friendly mode of transportation and to bicycle enthusiasts who just simply enjoy riding their road bikes. But if you are one of those people who are new to cycling and for the very first time would like to buy road bikes online, here are a number of tips to help you choose and buy road bikes online.

Experience is the best teacher. If you personally know someone, a relative or a friend perhaps, who's into cycling or has previously bought road bikes online, then probably the best thing you could do is ask that person to help you choose your soon-to-be-road bike.

Read reviews. Unlike going to a bicycle shop where you can actually touch the product and make test drives, online reviews are your best alternative to gather more information regarding the road bike you are interested in. But don't just believe anything that's written in reviews. Make sure that the review site  is reliable and you can also check the profile of review posters to see if they are just spam accounts.

Frames. Road bikes are generally meant to be lighter than mountain bikes and other bicycle counterparts. Ideal materials for frames are composite and aluminum components which will ensure a strong and lightweight road bike.

Custom setup. You are at an advantage when a manufacturer will offer a custom setup for you. This will ensure a very comfortable riding experience than preset road bikes. This is great with mountain bikes as well, a custom mountain bike is always favorable.

Warranties. Buy road bikes online from websites offering warranties to their products. This will not only protect your right as a consumer but will also show the level of confidence manufacturers have with their products.

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Read on the evolution of the bicycle.

History of Downhill Mountain Biking

Downhill mountain biking has become one of today's most popular bicycle sports. Ever since its forefathers have taken biking to a whole new level in the seventy's, the sport is now well known and various downhill biking events are being held in different parts of the world. Let us take a look back at the humble beginnings of downhill mountain biking.

Downhill

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October 22, 1976, on a fire road today known as Repack Road in Fairfax, California, a group of people have gathered for a bicycling event. This was later known as the first downhill time trial. The winner of the historic race was Alan Bonds and was also the only rider who was able to finish the race. Since downhill mountain bikes did not exist yet, the first bikes used for downhills were referred to as "klunkers" or "paperboy bikes".

It is said that the sport's coming of age was in the early ninety's when downhill biking was included first ever UCI Mountain Bike Championship (Union Cycliste Internationale) in Durango, Colorado (1990)

Downhill2

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Downhill biking requires strength and quick reflexes in order to prevent riders from losing control and falling from their downhill mountain bikes. Thus, much practice is needed from easy courses to rougher and more dangerous ones is needed in order to excel in downhill biking. Considered as an extreme sport, riders should never fail to gear up with safety paraphernalia before doing any rides.

Click here for amazing downhill biking photos.

Bicycle Thrown to Stop Thieves

Bicycle culture in China is very eminent. It is common to see bicycles used in day to day transportation or even in leisure activities. With the number of bicycle enthusiasts in China, it is no wonder that the latest fad in cycling, the fixie bikes, have reached the country in no time. But who knew that bicycles can be used to fight crime as well? Take a look at this amazing video where a man used his bicycle to stop two thieves from getting away with their loot:

Chinese man throws bicycle at thieves

According to the video description, the man was riding his bicycle on a street in Wenzhou when thieves stole a woman's purse. They were about to escape on a scooter when the man just decided to throw his bike towards them forcing the driver to lose control and both of thieves falling on the ground. Check out how calm he was when the perpetrators were about to pass his way. Excellent presence of mind.

 

Awesome fixed gear bike tricks.

An Introduction to Mountain Biking

If you love the scenic view of the outdoors while at the same time would want to engage in physically challenging sports, then mountain biking is perfect for you. Mountain biking is known for its thrills and spills and has become one of today's most popular extreme sports. As the name connotes, what makes the sport different from other forms of biking is that it is done off-road. Because of this mountain bikes are built differently compared to road bikes. Running on rough terrain, the tires have more tread and the the body is built to withstand greater physical punishments compared to road bikes.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is divided into different categories two of of which, and probably two of the most popular as well, are cross country and downhill mountain biking. Cross country refers to riding point to point or in a loop consisting of climbs and descents on different terrains. Downhill on the other hand is considered to be more extreme since it requires riders to ride downhill on very steep terrains which require greater control to prevent falling or crashing into obstacles such as trees.

If you're ready to go mountain biking, be sure to check out first this list of mountain biking essentials.

image courtesy of Photo-John