Croatian biking portal
Even though only a few have had a chance to race to worldwide fame, this fact should not discourage anyone else from enjoying the great outdoors and peddling a bike. Biking is much more than winning a medal or trophy, and really revolves around exploring and enjoying the outdoors and filling fit and in shape.
There are many types of bikes and biking styles, yet only a few are increasingly gaining steadily in popularity, mountain biking being one of them. Mountain bikes are used for various sports, such as cross country, downhill, free ride, or dirt jumping; each bicycle type comes equipped with its own set of safety and suspension features, specifically designed for its performance levels and terrain use. With durability and safety as priorities, most mountain bikes share similar characteristics, paying close attention to tires, tubing, brakes and dual suspension shock absorbers. The more general requirements and durability features incorporated, the heavier the bicycle will be.
Mountain biking requires self-reliance, endurance, and bike handling skills. It is a sport that can be performed almost anywhere from a narrow forest trail to a rocky country back road. With a bike you can visit areas that would be simply impossible to reach by car, and it can give you an opportunity to explore spectacular scenery that would have been missed otherwise.
Mountain Biking: Fun (and Healthy!) for the Family
Do you ever wonder what happened to "Family Time"? Do you have trouble getting everyone together besides to sit in front of the television? A great way to climb out of this slump is by riding a mountain bike.
Mountain bikes are relatively inexpensive-- a brand new bike can be purchased for less than the price of the latest video game console. Start looking at Wal-Mart. They are likely the cheapest mountain bike retailer, just make sure that the bike is up to your standards as far as quality is concerned. If there aren't any bikes for you at Wal-Mart, ask the person showing you the bikes about another place to look.
Once you have your bikes, you're ready to go-- just make sure everyone has a safety helmet as well. There are parks and places to ride literally everywhere.
Start riding on a local bike path. These paths are generally paved and easy to ride on, so it's a good way to begin getting in shape. Pick one day a week when everyone can get together, and simply ride and take it easy for the first few outings. If you try to climb a mountain on your first family outing, your family will probably think mountain-biking is a terrible strain and they aren't going to want to do it anymore. So build up your endurance together, set goals together.
After a few weeks, everyone will have improved their stamina and be ready to take things to the next level. Look up parks or public land sites that allow mountain bikers, and hit the dirt! Mountain bikes are made for rough terrain, it's up to you to figure out what type of terrain YOU are made for. Take things step by step, don't ride on any terrain that you don't feel comfortable on. The point is to have fun with your family and get exercise while doing it.
You and your family will feel much better after the exercise and enjoy the time spent together. The rewards of true family time are priceless and character building. Something this simple can have lasting beneficial effects. Health is very important, and biking is good for heart but sometimes we can do our best but we'll still need AED.
Downhill mountain biking
There are many reasons why people choose to bike, from getting to school and work to enjoying the peaceful countryside. When using your bicycle regularly, it is important to obtain the right bike, equipment and clothing for your planed activities, even more so if you want to participate in one of the extreme sports performed on a bike.
Despite the major challenges and dangers that surround racing downhill at high speeds over rough and twisting terrain, this sport has generated a huge fan following. ‘Downhill mountain biking” has been deemed an extreme sport and for justifiable reasons. Many of the races and stunts are downright difficult and dangerous and should not be attempted by beginners who are inexperienced in riding single-track, or other typical riding techniques and requirements, or those riders using a brand new or borrowed bike.
An, up-to-7-speed, bike used for downhill mountain biking has to be heavy duty, reactive, with a supple full suspension. This means that during major jolts it needs plenty of control, which is provided by systems such as refined damping control. Also, hydraulic disc brakes allow bikes to stop smoothly through rain, snow, mud and dust with an almost-effortless one-finger command. These specialized downhill bikes are only used for the application they have been designed for, and their excess weight, which stems from the many built-in safety and handling features explains why riders often have to push their bikes, or use a ski lift to get them back to the top of the run.
Downhill bikers require an impeccable sense of balance to navigate safely through tricky downhill, semi-rough terrain. Furthermore, some advanced riders may even jump off cliffs while the adrenaline is pumping. They are able to face the hardships associated with this sport, because they have prepared themselves mentally and physically well before the race, and because they recognize the importance of using safety gear such as a helmet, elbow and knee pads, gloves, or special body suits. Wearing these items is vital, as they will protect them against fatal falls.
Latest mountain biking news:
05-02-2009 Accommodation Croatia offer a huge list of great campsites for your biking adventure.
16-05-2009 Crosci.com is great science resource, check it out.
22-04-2009 Crobiking forum is online, login and say what's on your mind.
31-03-2009 I received an email from Lidija, she is in charge of www.pedala.hr where you can find really cool maps for all of you mountain bikers. You can download it and ride your bike with GPS support. Maps are available on English or Croatian. Definitely great resource thanks to pedala.hr staff.
31-03-2009 Lidija also passed me this information; 12.-15.05.2009. Scotland will host world mountain bike conference. Visit http://www.worldmountainbikeconference.com for more info.