Lubricating Your Bike

A mountain bike is a lot of fun although it does

require some maintenance. You should always lube

your bike 15 hours or so before riding, as quick

jobs right before you take off normally doesn't

get everything lubed. Some lube jobs will last

for more rides, although if things get loud or

shifting gets sticky, it's time to lube.

Here is how to lube your bike:

1. The chain

Apply a generous amount of mountain bike lube to

your chain as you move the pedals around backwards.

It also helps to find a spot to steady your hand

such as the frame while you move the pedals around

and around. Make sure you watch out for the cranks

and chain rings as they move around.

2. Front Deraileur

On the front defaileur, lube the pivots. Use a

spot of lube everywhere you can see movement when

you move the shift lever.

3. Rear deraileur

Just like the front deraileur, lube the pivots.

4. Pedals

There are some types of clipless pedals that will

need to have the release mechanism lubed. You

should only lube this mechanism if you have this

type of pedal.

5. Everything into motion

Pedal around, shift your gears, and bounce your

bike around. If you hear anything squeak, there's

a moving part there are it should be lubed

immediately.

6. Wipe it all clean

Once you've lubed everything and wiped it all

around, simply wipe it all back off. Use a rag

to wipe away all the lube you used, including all

the lube off the chain. Wiping it away will leave

the lube in between the parts but clean it away

from everywhere it isn't needed. This will keep

your bike from collecting dirt while you ride.

Bike Framing Materials

The cost of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to

its material, as well as the treatment that material

has received. Currently, there are five types of

material used in mountain bikes - high tensile steel,

chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon

fiber. Oversized diameters, heat treating, and butting are

tubing material treatments that will increase the

cost of a frame as well.

High tensile steel

This is a very durable alloy that's found in lower

priced mountain bikes. It offers a high carbon content

which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so

more materials are needed to make it stiff enough for

bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that much

heavier.

Relatively inexpensive to produce, you'll find this

material in trail bikes, city bikes, and even entry

level mountain bikes. There are some bikes that come

with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest is high

tensile steel.

Chromoly steel

Short for steel alloy, chromoly is best described by

its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This

is probably the most refined framing material, giving

over 100 years of dependable service.

Depending on the type of heat treating and butting,

you can find this material in bikes as low as 400

dollars all the way up to 1,500 and beyond. The

chromoly steel material offers very good durability

and a compliant ride characteristic.

Aluminum

For the past 15 years, aluminum has been refined in

pretty much the same way as chromoly. There have

been various alloys developed, as well as heat

treatment, oversizing, and butting. With dual

suspension bikes, aluminum is the preferred material

as it's the stiffest and most cost effective.

Aluminum is stiffer than chromoly, and therefore it

will crack before chromoly. Of course, this depends

on how you ride and how much abuse you give the frame.

The advantages of aluminum is that the frame is very

light and very stiff through oversizing or butting.

Titanium

Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for

this material have come down over the last few years.

Frames made of titanium remain expensive because it

takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame.

Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed with

small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it

better weldability and ride characteristics. More

compliant than chromoly, it offers better fatigue

and corrosion properties.

The material you choose for your bike, all depends

on where you ride and what style you use. Almost

all materials will last you for years, as long as

you take care of your bike and treat the frame with

some respect.

Disc Brakes Or Rim Brakes

This can be a very important
decision when you are buying
a mountain bike. There are
actually two answers to the
question of disc brakes or

rim brakes.

If you want better,
more consistent brake performance in all conditions,
disc brakes are what you should be choosing.
On the other hand, if you want the lightest

set up you can have and you are willing to

accept small variances in brake performance, or you

want the lowest price possible, rim brakes are

what you should be choosing.

Over the years, mountain bikes have gone through

many design changes. They started out with the

original cantilever brakes, then went through the U

Brake years, and are now with V Brakes. In most

conditions, the V Brakes seem to work well.

In wet or muddy conditions, rim brakes will perform

poorly. Over time, they can wear right through the

side of your rim, causing the side of the rim to

blow right off.

Disc brakes on the other hand have been around for

a long time in cars but weren't used on bikes much

until the late 1990's. There were some issues in

the earlier models, although the cable actuated or

hydraulic brakes of today seem to work quite well.

In terms of performance, disc brakes seem to work

better than rim brakes, especially in wet or muddy

areas. Disc brakes normally require less force

to apply and aren't effected by the rim or wheel

condition.

Cost is an issue, as disk brake systems tend to be

more expensive than rim brakes. Mechanical or cable

actuated brakes are a closer match, although they

will still cost more. Hydraulic brakes on the other

hand cost a lot more.

When you make that final choice, weight out the above

options then make your decision. Some riders prefer

disc brakes, while others prefer rim brakes - making it

a matter of opinion.

Different Types of Mountain Bikes

With mountain biking being a very popular sport,

there are many bikes to choose from. Depending

on what type of riding you like, the style of

bikes you can choose from will vary. Below, you'll

find tips on the different types of bikes available.

1. Cross country

Almost all mountain bikes will fit into this category.

Cross country mountain bikes are light weight, making

them easy to ride over most terrains, even up and

down hills. This is the most common mountain bike

and it can be used with ease for riding on the path

or even commuting.

2. Downhill

These types of bikes are for serious bikers who

crave the ultimate adventure. Downhill bikes have

front and rear suspension, strong parts, and disc

brakes. Rarely available off the shelf, most riders

like to custom build their own.

3. Trials

Trail mountain biking involves a great degree of

skill and is classified as the precision riding of

the sport. Similiar to downhill bikes, trial riders

will often build their own bikes rather than purchase

one off a shelf. Generally very light and very

strong, these bikes require a lot of discipline.

4. Jump and slalom

Slalom and jump bikes are very strong and designed

for jumping, street racing, and slalom. They offer

a front suspension and use very strong components

dedicated to what they do. These bikes are very

popular with the sport of mountain biking.

Even if you are new to mountain biking, the sport can

be a lot of fun. There are several bikes to choose

from, all of which depend on your style. If you are

still looking for the best style for you, all you

have to do is try out several bikes and see which one

suites you the best.

Spring Tune Up

If you don't ride in the winter, you've probably

spent the winter months on the couch eating chips

and watching television. Before you know it, spring

will be here and a new season of mountain biking

will begin. Even though your body may not be in

shape, these tips will ensure that your bike is.

Before you take your bike out, check the wear and

tear on your components and adjust them if its

necessary. Start off with your chain. If you

haven't replaced it in a year or more, it's time

to do so. Over time, the individual parts in the

chain will get worn out, increasing its effective

length.

As this happens, the chain is no longer able to

conform to the cog and the teeth of the chain ring,

so it wears those teeth out to fit the profile of

the chain. If you can replace the chain before it

stretches too much you'll save yourself from having

to replace high priced cogs and chain rings.

Now, check the bearing surfaces. These include your

bottom bracket, hubs, and the headset. Each of these

should turn without a problem with no play in the

system. Before checking the bottom bracket, make

sure each cranking arm is snugged tight. Next, hold

on to the crank arm (not the pedal) and wobble it

back and forth. If you hear any clicking or if the

crank arm binds, the bottom bracket needs to be

adjusted.

Do the exact same thing with your hubs. Take the

wheels off the bike, spin the hub axles, then feel

for any free play or binding. If you feel play or

binding, you need to make an adjustment. To check

the headset, start off by putting the newly adjusted

wheels back on the bike.

Now, grab the front brake and pull and push the

handle bars back and forth. There shouldn't be any

play. If you lift the front end off the ground,

the fork should turn very smoothly. If it feels rough,

it needs to be either adjusted or replaced.

While your looking, check the condition of your cables

and housing. The cables should be rust free and the

housing shouldn't be cracked or kinked. If you see any

of this you should replace the offending device, as if

you don't your shifting and braking will be sluggish.

Last, you should inspect your brake pads. Most pads

will have ridges or indicator marks that will let you

know when they need to be replaced. Brake pads that

are worn out will comprimise both safety and braking

efficiency.

Once you've got the tune ups out of the way, it's time

to go for a ride. With your mountain bike running

better than ever, all you have to do now is have fun!

Buying A Mountain Bike

It can be a bit frustrating as well as
time consuming when you buy a
mountain bike. Below, you'll find

some tips and things to be aware
of before you lay down the cash
and buy a mountain bike.

Determining your price

There is really no limit as to how much money you can

spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your

spending under control, you should figure out what

your price range is and how much your willing to pay

for a new bike. When you buy, you shouldn't buy from

mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart. You should

instead support your local bike shop and get a much

better bike and much better service.

Finding your style

All mountain bikes are designed with several different

riding styles and terrain types in mind. You'll need

to figure out what type of riding you will be doing

the most. Smooth riding, cross country racing,

mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is

something you need to figure out. Make sure that

the bike you select fits your personal style and not

that of the sale's staff.

Full suspension or hard tail

If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain

bike is always worth the purchase. A hard tail,

without rear suspension, is much lighter weight

and pedal more efficiently, although full suspensions

offer more comfort and overall better control. You'll

want to make that decision based on your price range,

riding style, and the type of terrain you'll be

riding on the most.

Finding your favorites

Comparing mountain bikes component to component is

nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations

available. The best way to go about doing this is

finding a few components that are the most important

to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall

within your price range. You can start with the fork

then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

Sales and seasons

During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can

fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the

main buying season. If you can wait until the right

price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can

save a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will

also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy

from them.

Finding a good dealer

Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding

the best price. You should always find a dealer that

cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you

a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair

shop and give you the impression that you can really

trust them.

Test ride

You should test ride as many bikes as you can within

your price range and riding style. You'll find that

some bikes will feel right, while others won't. The more

bikes you can test drive, you better you'll understand

what works and what doesn't.

Doing the research

Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best

ways to find out about a mountain bikes reliability and

overall performance. You should always look at what

other owners and reviews think about a bike before you

make that final purchase.

Kona Kula Review

The Kona Kula has been around for 10 years, but experts say it continues to live up to Kona's reputation for building tough and durable mountain bikes. This hardtail mountain bike sports an aluminum frame, disc brakes and a Shimano XT rear derailleur, and reviewers say the components are pretty sweet for the price. Where the bike really earns accolades, however, is on performance. Experts say it's a great ride, with capable handling and powerful braking, which makes it a good pick for entry-level XC racers. Although most reviewers have mostly positive feedback for the Kona Kula, BikeRadar.com does say the bar and stem are pretty basic and could use an upgrade. The Kona Kula comes in a wide range of seven sizes, so you'll have a better chance of obtaining a good fit. It's designed mainly for cross-country riding, so if you frequently ride rugged terrain, an all-mountain bike like the Specialized Pitch Comp (*MSRP: $2,100) may be a better choice.

The Kona Kula is featured in a number of reviews. The best coverage comes from the U.K.'s Bicycle Buyer magazine, which pits the Kona Kula against three comparable mountain bikes in a head-to-head test. Not only is each bike rated on performance and value, but each bike also receives a lengthy review. BikeRadar.com also writes a detailed review based on tester feedback, and we find a shorter review in VeloNews' annual buyer's guide.