Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. The reason for this is because there are so many things a bike can be used for, including competitive racing, getting to and from work each day or just as a bit of leisurely enjoyment. However, those who are keen cyclists are probably aware that if precautions aren’t taken, there are a number of repetitive-strain injuries that can occur from cycling, especially mountain biking. Here we examine the causes and preventive measures for 3 of the most common cycling-related injuries.

Wrist Problems. The large and aggressive forces that are generated when riding over large bumps on uneven terrain often find their way to the cyclist’s writs by traveling directly up the bike forks. What’s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured.Having quality suspension on the front forks of the bike will reduce a lot of the pressure, or if you cannot have suspension, make sure the forks have shock absorbing qualities like you find on the Trek Madone.

Backside Pain. This is one of the most common complaints and is basically a result of repetitive pressure on the gluteus maximus (backside) muscle and surrounding sensitive areas. It is in every rider’s interest to address backside problems as soon as they can quickly become quite serious and even lead to problems with fertility. Buying a decent bike saddle is the number one thing to do and you should test ride one for a good few miles before you buy one. You can also purchase specialised cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.

Knee Problems. Another common complaint among riders is knee injuries, inflammation and general soreness. There are bike settings that can aggravate this problem, such as having the saddle too high but generally it is caused by overuse and too much strain on the knees. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as Zipp wheels which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.

We’ve seen them all, the wide array of different cyclists on their morning commute. All wearing different cycle clothing, from suits to lycra. All riding different types of bikes ranging from streamlined road bikes to slow and steady granny bikes.

Obviously the choice that people make as to which type of bike to ride is based upon what they are going to use it for. A range of things affect what bike they choose, how far they need to go, what they are bringing with them and finally, whether they have showers at work.

Most people think they have made the best choice for commuting. But have they made the right choice? Would it work out faster for a granny bike to get to work over a fixed gear bike? You’d think not, but I might just prove you wrong.

If you choose 4 different cyclists and time how long it takes them to get to work, we’ll then see who’s fastest. If we take 2 lycra wearing cyclists, one of a fixed gear one, the other on a road bike. Then take another two cyclists, one in a suit on a granny bike, and the other in casual wear on a mountain bike.

Of course a large number of people will think that the fixed gear and the road bike will shoot off and beat the others by miles. This is true, they would, however, they haven’t won yet. When these 2 get to their work, they are basically a waterfall of sweat. So for them, not only do you have the time to get to work, but you also have to factor in the time to have a shower.

For the other 2, the mountain biker may have got there resonably quickly, but being still a bit sticky, a shower will be required. Finally, the granny bike, although it comes in last, the rider is sweat free and has enjoyed their ride. No need to catch your breath or have a shower, you can simply walk into work.

So once you get all the factors together and plus the amount of time taken to get to work, plus the time to recover from cycling. The granny bike comes out on top. It proves that slow and steady really does win the daily commute.

Next time you’re on your way to work, spend some extra time considering your travel options.

As the famous saying goes, you never forget how to ride a bike. There are loads of different types of bike riding, which is one reason why so many different people are able to take part. What you may not know however is that cycling is one of the best sports around for helping to combat depression and is actually prescribed by doctors in many countries. Lets take a look at the reasons cycling can get you back to your happy self?

Outdoors. To kick things off, most bike riding happens in the great outdoors. Studies have shown that staying trapped indoors actually makes depression worse and so being in the open air with lots of space is a great release. Further more, you breathe in fresh air and see some wonderful surroundings on bike rides, which all helps to perk you up a bit. Bikes are also a great deal easier to transport than other outdoor equipment like surfboards or used kayaks.

A better body. Depression can be linked to many things, but it is often a difficult hole to get out of. Many people begin to neglect their physical health and appearance when they are depressed and this leads to a downward spiral of confidence and mood. Cycling is a great aerobic sport that works to burn off fat and get you looking slimmer. Improving their external appearance usually goes a look way to improving people internal emotions as their self esteem grows.

Endophines. Cycling is one of those exercises that when performed, causes the brain to release endorphins into the blood stream, which are hormone that makes you feel happy. These little endorphins work to increase the amount of energy the body has, reduce feelings of anxiety and worry, and generally make you feel good. It really is no surprise that many people turn to exercise first to help them get though difficult times. So if you’re feeling a bit low, find a pair of second hand bikes and go for a ride with a friend or partner

Types Of MTB Front Suspension On The Market

The front forks of bicycles have evolved significantly since the introduction of the mountain bike. Due to the introduction a need developed for protection from impact of grueling terrain. A need that simply hadn’t cropped up previously.

Generally on MTB’s now days you will usually find that the front forks have an integrated set of shocks, with the blades being made from upper and lower telescopic cylinders, called ‘legs’. These telescopic tubes allow the impact of the rough surface under the tyres to be reduced, which will make the bike much easier to ride in rough conditions.

The setup for MTB Forks can vary massively, with the forks travel and handling characteristics designed to a specific style of riding. For example, the cross country rider will need a different fork to a DH mountain bike rider, who will have a different suspension fork again to a freeride rider. XC bikes don’t require as much suspension fork travel, typically near eighty to 100 mm and can be made from lighter metal when compared to the suspension used on a downhill bike. This is essentially because they don’t receive as much punishment as they might in other situations.

When suspension was initially introduced into mountain biking, a travel distance of the 80 to 100 mm was the form. Now though, downhill forks offer typically around 150 to two hundred millimetres of travel. There are some downhill mountain bike forks though which can offer anywhere up to three hundred mm of travel for really extreme terrain!

Some mountain bike suspension forks may also allow the rider to adjust the suspension travel to fit particular sections of terrain. More travel for downhill and extreme terrain, and less travel for the not so rough XC or up hill sections. The rider may even want to entirely eradicate suspension movement all together which would be advantageous on a smooth tarmac road for example. This lockout facility may even be changed externally from the handle bars making use of a cable.

Whichever type of riding you do, it benefits you to pick your MTB front suspension forks carefully because when you pick correctly you will benefit from a significant performance advantage.

There is no greater joy than road cycling. With the wind in your hair and the whir of wheels beneath you, you are free on the open road to explore what you like. In order to get started in road cycling you need to firstly get your hands on a good road bike. Choosing a road bike can be a difficult task for a first timer, but with a little bit of effort and research you can come up with a good deal. Make sure you get a frame that is the right size for you. Getting a professional at a bike shop to measure you is a really good idea.

All bicycle stores and shops carry parts and accessories for your bike – be it a performance bike, trek bike, or just for riding around the neighborhood with the kids.

Most bicycle shops also carry a large selection in many price ranges. Everyone is catered for in a good bicycle store; from the top-end road cycling enthusiasts – right down to kids with their first bikes. There are several types of bikes to from which to choose. One is the mountain or all-terrain bike. These bikes are designed for casual cycling and have the wider or ‘fat’ tires. You can ride these bikes on hard, dirt-packed roads or off-road. Other types of bikes are racers and touring bikes, which have narrower or ’skinny’ tires. Touring bikes are fitted out for long distance touring. Hybrid bikes are a cross between a road bike and mountain bike. They have upright handlebars and a tire somewhere between wide and narrow. Most bikes sold today for adults are multi-speed bikes with up to 24-speeds.

Picking the right Accessories

Bicycles have many accessories. The most important accessory you need to buy is a bike helmet. Bike helmets are compulsory for all cyclists. Wearing a helmet reduces the chance of serious head injury in an accident.

Another accessory you might want to consider purchasing is a pair of padded cycling shorts. These shorts come in many different styles and have extra padding in the seat to make riding more comfortable. Cycling gloves are a good investment for long rides.

A seat bag is handy for storing items such as a tire repair kit and extra tube. A pump attached to the frame, for pumping up your tires is also a good idea, or you might consider a water bottle that attaches to the bike frame.