Road Cycling Blog

Disciplines of competitive cycling

Highlights different types taking into account the objectives and characteristics of the test in which you compete in competitive cycling. Thus, the field, the final objective, rules, type of bike and tools, and other features determine a different form of competitive cycling. But what are these types of cycling? What types of cycling there?

Cycling route or highway

The road race also called road cycling is characterized by its practice in tarmac terrain. It is the most classic and, therefore, enjoys more prestige internationally. Are three main ways to compete in cycling road or highway.

The time trial, which can compete both individually and in a team format is based on the time taken to perform a flight path defined time. This type of test shows the physical strength of the rider or group of riders, as it is usually done in shorter than other road races paths.

The test stages are characterized by testing and extensive travel, therefore, lasted for several days. Therefore, the total length of the circuit is divided into several sections or stages. The total time used by each rider to complete each stage. However, to finish a test so demanding cyclists will have to know what the right pace to avoid having to leave and try to finish the best.

Track Cycling

The cycling track features done in closed circuits within velodrome and the use of bicycles specially made for racing on tracks. These bikes carry the higher than usual pedal, brakes, or not wear gear changes and are fixed gear. A variety of tests that are competing in this type of cycling. The most competitive eleven are the following.

The tested individual and team speed, kilometer time trial, individual pursuit and team points race, omnium, keirin, the race six days, scratch, and Madison.

Cyclo-cross

The cyclo-cross, also called BMX, is to complete a circuit with many obstacles, usually natural but can also be artificial. We compete with road bikes or path, but with a different material on wheels to make them fit to compete in the mud. Outdoor compete for fields or meadows so that obstacles are usually difficult to circumvent.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is characterized as one of the toughest cycling disciplines due to the complication of the sections were often organized competitions. To practice, it is necessary to have a particularly resistant to shock but bike as light as possible since cyclists will face steep roads and great adversity. In this discipline are three tests mainly, but there is plenty of evidence that compete regularly.

The cross-country or cross country consists of completing a predetermined number of turns which usually comprise a length of between 8 and 12 kilometers. It is the most competitive test of this discipline and also has Olympic recognition, which is one of the tests that are competing in the Olympics since Atlanta’96.

The descent or downhill , literally “downhill”, is based on the maximum domain of the bicycle by the broker since it involves overcome the many obstacles that the rider will find in a downhill mountain always dangerous and unpredictable.

And finally, the four cross or cross country for four is similar to downhill descent but developed by four cyclists while competing with each other. Competition makes this test a sports event.

BMX Bike

The Bike BMX is to perform stunts with your bike. We compete on small and with features that make it easy to handle when performing stunts bike. It is a purely artistic discipline. Are two modes, the call is a freestyle proposed by each competitor when doing stunts, race mode is similar to motocross race but bmx bike.

Indoor cycling

It is a type of cycling whose practice is a minority and where they basically perform two tests. The ciclobol, consisting of a football play bike. And, secondly, the art refers to cycling gymnastics, usually music, on board of a bicycle specially adapted.

Trial

Finally include test trial since its inception has speaking flavor. A great champion motorcycle trial was established in Spain. The test consists basically of making a path full of obstacles, without speed, resting your feet on earth the minimum number of times possible.

Some questions to yourself before purchasing a bicycle

Pedaling around the city is not new. Many Asian and northern European cities have traditionally been strongholds of cyclists using the bicycle as a cheap, fast, efficient and environmentally friendly transport.

However, in recent times the use of urban bikes has experienced tremendous growth, and with it have come more models and more choices for those who choose this form of displacement.

For those who wish to join this happy trend, here are some questions to yourself before purchasing a bicycle to explore the streets.

What is your fitness? Not the same launch pedaling when you are accustomed to doing sports that after a long period of inactivity. Before purchasing an urban bike you should ask what your physical condition and evaluate circumstances and your height or your weight.

If you are not accustomed to riding a bike, you agree machine with small and easy developments move not to suffocate on the slopes. And if pedaling you still gives certain laziness, know that there are numerous models of electric bicycles that while you circulate loaded and, thanks to a small motor can propel you in the uphill at a speed around 20 mph.

Moreover, the rider’s weight is important when choosing the frame material and the type of bike you need. For example, if you want to get a folding machine and weights over 90 kilos, you must decide on one of good quality, or your own weight will cause the box to deteriorate rapidly.

Knowing your height and measure the length of your legs (simply extending a tape measure between the floor and your groin) will be useful to choose the most appropriate size.

What tours are you going to do? Not all cities are equal and all tours demand the same body. If you’re pedaling during Mainly flat path (like a walk by the sea or in a city built on a plain), developments to mount your changes are less important, and even’ll definitely consider buying a fixed-gear bicycle, Beautiful design and fashionable.

However, if your city is full of steep slopes and your journey will take you through streets ramp, do not buy one pixie, how pretty it is: you’ll end up having to put a foot down or coming to your exhausted destination and sweaty.

Also, think about the type of firm for which you are going to move: you’re only going to use the bike on paved streets, thin wheels of a similar bike to the road are sufficient, but if you have to walk through a park or Road uneven ground needs more resistant roofs and wide.

How’s the weather in your city? If you live in a place where usually it rains, you should consider a few things: in the wet, you’ll need wheels with greater bearing surface as the many hybrids or mountain bikes; better fine slide covered by asphalt and oppose less resistance to pedaling, but less grip and, when driving on wet roads, is more likely to slip and end up in the ground.

In general, urban riding bikes usually wider than bike racing wheels to avoid these scares. Also under the weather or not the use of some supplements. The fenders, for example, are essential if in the area usually rains, they avoid the rider reaches its wet and full of dirt projected from the floor destination. How much space do you have?

Where will you put your bike? Are you going to combine cycling with using public transport? If you live in a small apartment, you will not be very comfortable to have the bike parked in the hallway all day; Fortunately, there are many folding models, in the best case, fit in a bag roughly the size of a backpack. The same applies if you plan to carry the bike by bus or train for part of your journeys.

In some cities up your machine to public transport is restricted or even prohibited, so a folding could be the solution. What is your budget? Another critical question to ask yourself. In the market, there are various price models that can analyze.

If your budget is tight, try to adapt a bike that already you have available to shoot city: a thicker for road wheels, a fender (there are plastic, they do not need assembly) and a brief review can serve to start. A website like https://www.mrscratchrepair.com will provide you with the highest quality in the industry.

You should know before buying your first bike

How and where you use your bike? How much you want to spend? What size do you agree? The following lines will serve to at least know what to ask before buying your first bike.

Think about how you will use

A bicycle may seem a simple mechanism: just two wheels connected by a metal box with a chain and two pedals that propel. However, one type for each use: if you go to move by nature, through careless ways, you have yourself a mountain bike , thick wheels and one or two suspensions; if what you want is to emulate professionals and long routes by paved land, yours is a road bike , light and handy; if you’re going to use in the city, you should consider purchasing a city bike , more robust than a road but less cumbersome than mountain; and if you want to do stunts, BMX is the right choice. And there are still the cruiser , for calm waters; power, with a small rechargeable engine; the recumbent , recumbent allowing vehicles over long distances …

Set a budget

The bicycle is a universal means of transport and consequently there are many makes, models, styles and colors to choose from. And prices, of course: the budget to buy your first bike can go from minimum payout will mean a very basic machine or used to astronomical amounts that can get paid for a painting handmade and customized. It is important to know how much you can spend one, because sure to find something. You should also know that the second hand market is very active in these products, and many shops and websites with offers of used bikes very interesting. Continue reading “You should know before buying your first bike”

Cycling teach a child

Many remember our initiation as cyclists as a difficult process, full of fears and falls. Surely the memory, because learning to pedal does not usually take too long. We offer here some tips, structured as a guide in steps, with which teach cycling a child can be made easier.

Initiate a bike without pedals

A very interesting step, before turning to the bike pedals, is learning in without them . Many child models of this type, since that kind of bikes with very thick plastic wheels that are kept in single foot, specially designed for children who have barely learned to walk, beautiful designs based on Bikes BMX equal a conventional machine except in their lack of transmission.

This type of bike is a very useful when teaching a child investment. They work almost like a scooter, driven with the feet, and allow learning to maintain balance, manage the handlebars without sudden movements and plot the curves slightly tilting the body sideways. Once learned these techniques, step up to the traditional bike is much easier: most of the knowledge already acquired.

Types of Mountain Bikes

Many features are common to all mountain bikes : broad and strong wheels, sturdy frames, suspensions often wade the most difficult obstacles, straight handlebars … However, some features make it into the category has several typologies should be differentiated to choose the most appropriate to the activity we want to develop. Although the rates are very many (each slight variation seems to have generated a distinct class of machines) and there is controversy over how to call each formulation, have attempted to summarize and unify.

Trail

The more conventional, with mixed developments up and down slopes, comfortable suspension and fairly long journey. As should combine precise performance for each field have boxes that allow light but resistant to descend safely and at the same time, ascend without bursting. They are, in short, using most of those involved in mountain biking as a recreational activity. Continue reading “Types of Mountain Bikes”

What is cycling?

Cycling is the name by which various types of sports in which a bicycle is used is identified. It is a very popular activity that has achieved worldwide fame to introduce several methods to achieve the Olympics.

Cycling as a sport born in 1890 but the bike has a much more ancient origin in China, India and Egypt. The bicycle, as it is known today, was completed after many improvements, in 1865.

The first road cycling race was in Italy in 1870. Between 1890 and 1900 many trials that are now considered classics are created. The first world championship was held in 1893 with sprints and middle distance. Continue reading “What is cycling?”

BMC Shimano Di2 test in Enduro

The team competition of the Swiss brand makes the first tests with electronic facelift to the Enduro World Series. BMC and was one of the first brands that could mount Shimano Di2 electronic precisely hand Julien Absalon and racing the World Cup.

Today asuiza marc anunca you chose this electronic group to ride his enduro model Trailfox , 150 mm and 29 “, which already was the first bike 29 “and 150mm . To reach the Enduro World Series and now becomes the first enduro bike that is equipped cn Di2 an assembly to be beneficar components BMC team enduro, and which have already been testing this weekend Finale Lugure.

BMC prueba el Shimano Di2 en Enduro

In the words of Fraces broker François Bailly Maitre , highlights its accuracy and speed, and easy to program to suit different riding styles tackling a career, training, transition sections, special stages … really seems to open new possibilities.

Merida One Twenty 7900

Merida has refused to convert to the wheels Twenty One 27.5 “with a series of tweaks and changes, but has taken advantage of the situation to develop a bike 100% new. Begin a new and different stage for the second biggest selling model maker.

Test GT Force Carbon Pro

With some bikes happens as our best friend from childhood you have the feeling that it has always been and is there. The same feeling awakens Merida One Twenty of a bike that always emerged when the idea has been to have a bike for all types of routes, for giving everything rises or to download safely and guarantees. While doing review of the history of Merida, the origin of this bike goes back to 2009, when it was presented to the world, found in 2010 catalog Brand and time Merida left the Mission, with the damper located in the left strap. Such a large echo in such a relatively short life can only mean that the Twenty One is a successful bike, though no Merida is shown under and has constantly sought ways to improve it further.

Merida One Twenty 7900

From the small office Stuttgart (Germany) in Merida, where a group of about 10 employees are responsible for the engineering and designs all models, have worked to modify the rear suspension system, from a set of 4 pivots to a floating system (Trek or KTM are other brands that have popularized). The reason for this remodeling is, in short, to obtain a more absorbing rear suspension, with which we feel have more travel than 120 mm real. In detail, this system allows engineers have more room to change the Leverage Ratio of the suspension, ie, if you want the damper has a more or less linear or progressive along its entire length behavior. In the case of One Twenty, efforts have been aimed at achieving a mainly linear feel. Continue reading “Merida One Twenty 7900”

How the handlebar height is adjusted?

Today we want to explain how the handlebar height is adjusted? This setting is usually one of the forgotten among bikers and still play an important role on the downhills. Want to know more? While the saddle height will pay more attention, it seems like the handlebar height nobody looks in detail. And it is a very important setting, as it has much to do with the way the weight is distributed on the bike: highest regard is the handlebars relative to the saddle less weight bear hands .

This is very interesting considering controlling the bike, downhill, as the bike is more manageable to have very little weight on the front wheel. However, it makes the bike more nervous in difficult climbs steep slopes and lost aerodynamics (unimportant in MTB). In contrast, the lower is the handlebars relative to seat more weight to bear hands and the bike will become less manageable downs. In return, we will improve on the climbs. Therefore, the logical thing is to find a middle ground depending on the use we give to the bike and our preferences or weaknesses. Continue reading “How the handlebar height is adjusted?”

Mechanics: Change camera

Whether we punctured, or simply want to change a tire must know how to remove or change camera is basic.
TOOLS

1 Knockdown. Indispensable to remove or mount a camera without picking.

2 new House. We assume that if we change we need a new camera … right?
FOOTSTEPS …

This is a basic point of the mechanics of our bikes as well by a puncture or a mere change of tire, we will be forced to take the wheel and remove the camera … Cater!

1. First, although very obvious, is to remove the wheel. For this we must loosen the quick release. Today there are several standards in the market, but the mechanism is similar in all of them; we will see later. Continue reading “Mechanics: Change camera”