do you know anything about mountain bike maint.?
966939
If the gears are shifting by themselves, and the chain is slipping, it is because the transmission that controls the chain below the main sprocket on the back wheel is letting them.\n\nOne thing I would check is the cable running from the shifter to the transmission. If the screw/bolt holding the cable has come loose, the spring on the transmission will pull the chain to the most relaxed position it can, i.e. a different gear or off the sprockets altogether.\n\nAnother thing to look for, is that the rear axle, when mounted to the frame, can be further back or closer to the pedals. If you truly ride it hard, it make have moved forward closer to the pedals, causeing the chain to loosen. I doubt this is the case, as the transmission is supposed to keep the chain in tension. It is still worth checking, though.
486262
Daniel H has set out the case brilliantly for the true revival in bikes for people (instead of the recent trend in making us humans conform to the high techery in the bikes).\n\nBut bikes are back because of the rising oil prices, combined at last, with the realisation that we can't keep putting all that carbon monoxide into the air just to go to the paper shop. \n\nBikes are back because people are learning they offer the all-round best exercise workout, they're fun, they're companionable and they let you see bits of the World you miss by car (and even on foot).\n\nBikes are back because the quality and sheer variety of modern bikes is extraordinary. They need hardly any maintenance, they don't rust anymore, they're not messy and they're easy to live with.\n\nLike Daniel I am really pleased to see the re-emergence of gear hubs - the new geration models are fantastic (my wife has a city bike fitted with a Shimano Nexus - its excellent).\n\nBUT - you asked is the sport of cycling dying. In short No. Sadly though, the old days of club racing seem to be over at the Sunday amateur level. Its all about big events and corporate sponsorship. Nevertheless, we're seeing new velodromes being built (that means big investment) and massive sponsorship in the big road racing teams. In Europe cycling is a passion second only to football (quite right too, I may be cycling mad, but football is close to God). \n\nCycle sport is not dying ... its changing.
533124
all you need to know is this:\nhttp://www.lowriderbike.com/\n\nits the bible of lowridin bikes..\nall your problems are solved :D
293977
Look, nobody can tell you who makes the best bike.  I used to tell everyone who would listen that Rocky Mountain Bikes are the best, hands down, and honestly, they fit me better than any other bike i have ever owned.\nThe answer lies in a few simple questions.  What kind of mountain biking are you in to.. i.e. cross country, freeride, racing, pleasure... you get the idea.  The next is what bikes do my local shops carry?  The rest of your questions will be answered when you visit that shop and try a few rides out.  Figure out what fits you, what feels the best, which one looks the coolest...\nTruth is, besides a good number of small manufacturers and a handfull of companies that actually own plants that make their bikes, there are about Five major factories in Taiwan, China, and one in the USA that pump out 90% of the bikes you see on the shop floor.  Each brand may have their own idea of how a bike should be made, but cash is king and its cheaper to have a bike built in Taiwan than it is here in the good ol' USA.  My personal experience is that if you are hard on your bike, the best bikes are made in Canada and the Pacific Northwest.  The hardest of the hardcore live and ride there and their bikes have to be built to take hell and come out on top.  So theres my two cents.
1151545
Ok, so "ardi_95" says he's got experience with bikes... although I'm at odds with his ego, I am in his corner here.\n\nPersonanlly I *like* the older bikes and enjoy fixing them up. I wouldn't worry about adding more gears just because that's the trend. If you plan to be a racer, *then* I would worry about more gears and in which case, just buy a new bike. But if you're not a racer, don't worry about what's the latest fad. The important thing is do *you* really like the Nishiki? That is the most important piece -- if the frame fits you, you're comfortable on it and it does what you want, keep it.\n\nIf you decide to sell it, call me first!\n\nAnd since you've asked for qualifications, I will just give a run down of my bike shed...Road Bikes: Trek 400 (mid 80's) Miyata 110 (late 80's), Trek 2300 (late 90's carbon fiber), Bianchi Campione D'Italia (late '80's), Takara (late '70's). Mountain Bikes: Giant ...crap, don't remember (2004), GT LTS Team Issue (2000): Recumbents: BikeE CT (2004), Linear LWB folder (mid 90's). Various BMX, cruiser and other bikes. Anything else feel free to contact me off the list.
527808
Send me a pic to bmxcollections@yahoo.com and I could probably tell you depending on year and style i should be able to pinpoint it within a year
616625
A BMX bike is typically fixed gear ratio so you must pedal at different cadences depending upon if you are up a hill or down to maintain the same speed.  \n\n    Now a mountain bike has usually 18 to 21 different gear ratios (that is three on the front and seven on the rear) which you can vary your gear ratio so that you can pedal at the same cadence but vary the amount of mechanical force you are receiving with your effort.  \n\n    So a BMX might be able to provide for a fun ride since you don't have to think or learn about how to maximize your effort, a mountain bike would be able to provide more return for your effort and therefore you won't have to work as hard to go longer distances or cover those distances in less time.\n\n   So if you wish to use the bike for the next x number of years to just have fun then a BMX is the way to go, but if this is the last bike your dad is buying for you, you might want to think longer term on getting to places a bit more distant than you can cover using a fixed gear system.
575058
Choose a hybrid if you want comfort and efficiency first, and the toughness and durability to manage tracks second. The hybrid will not be able to go everywhere that a mountain bike does.\n\nChoose a mountain bike if you're willing to trade on road efficiency for the ability to go anywhere. A mountain bike is not so good for commuting and city-based recreational riding (that said, modern MTBs can be pretty good all rounders and you can always buy a second set of wheels - one lot with city tyres and a set of knobblies for the weekend).\n\nHybrids are sometimes merely mountain bikes with slimmer, tyres. Avoid these, because the frame geometry is wrong for street use. Go to a good dealer and try out genuine hybrids from manufacturers like Cannondale, Specialised and Trek.\n\nWhether you go for a hybrid or an MTB, buy the best you can afford from a well known bikemaker and a good, high end shop. Go for the best componentry you can afford (gears and brakes) because cheap components go wrong or work badly and this will put you off cycling.\n\nI recommend you go for good front suspension, but avoid rear suspension - for your requirement it is pointless, adds weight, goes wrong, reduces ride quality and adds price.
708894
Try looking into a Trek Madone.  I have a friend who bought his Madone 5.2 a couple months ago and he loves it.\n\nI just bought my Fuji Roubaix Pro a month ago and love it.\n\nMy girlfriend bought her Specialized Dolce Comp two weeks ago and she loves it.\n\nOther than that, check out the Trek, Fuji, Cannondale, Lightspeed websites.  Be sure that you get minimum components of Shimano 105s (or even better, the Shimano Ultegras)\n\nCheck http://www.performancebike.com/\n\nThey're trying to unload their 2006 inventory and selling them all at a really good price.\n\nHappy hunting!
885167
depends what for, Haro are known for BMX, specialised are known for mountain bikes, my advice would be stay with the manufacturers that make the type of bike you want. For example, If ferrari made golf carts, i am sure they would sell well because of branding, weather they would be any good is a different matter!, ferrari are masters at sports cars, but not at golf carts!
572101
I have not ridden that trip, but I do think it may be worth your while to check into Adventure Cycling.  What you are talking about is pretty much what they do.\n\nGood luck and hope this helps you.
650516
Hi,\n\nI assume that you are trying to decide whether to purchase a hybrid or a mountain bike. The answer depends on your riding style and the intended use for the bike. If you plan to ride the bike within city limits (along the path close to the river, to school, to the coffee shop, etc.), then go for the hybrid.\n\nIf you plan to take the bike on gravel roads and maybe some dirt trails the wider tires and suspension will make the experience much more comfortable and safe - you should go for the mountain bike. \n\nUltimately visit a local bike shop. They will be able to provide the most help. And stay away from big box stores (Walmart, Costco, etc.).\n\nHappy riding,\n\nCarlos\n\nPS: don´t forget to ride with a helmet!\n\nhttp://www.lava-tours.com
727891
There are 3 common types of bicycles right now... road, atb, and mountain. I am going to assume you don't mean a road bike.\n\nA mountain bike is built for off road use in rough terrain, and usually has suspension for better handling. Suspension is NOT for comfort, but is to keep the wheels on the ground for control. These bikes are very unfriendly on the road. Expect to pay $600 or more for a mountain bike.\n\nAn ATB, or All Terrain Bike, looks a lot like a mountain bike but is built lighter and any suspension it might have has very little travel. It is good for on the road and light trails but will soon fail if taken on severe terrain. The cost anywhere from $250 to about $800 or so.\n\nThe other kind of bike that looks like mountain bikes or ATBs are found at discount stores like Wal Mart or Target. They tend to have all kinds of fancy features, but they don't tell you that they are only for looks... taking these bikes off the road or at worst on a groomed trail will mean trouble very quickly. Never get a bike from a discount store and expect it to perform well. you can't buy a mountain bike or an ATB for $169.99.
827574
Trek bikes  are the truth........frame design and specs are just better than giant ...buy the trek you wont be dissapointed
262156
Get off the computer and get outside and use good old trial and error.  Build a ramp of dirt--it may be easier to make a pile of rocks (or whatever else you have in your area) and cover it with dirt.  Jump your bike off it and then adjust it as needed.  Buy a mountain bike video (The Collective, Kranked series, etc) and check out how they build theirs.  They will be bigger and the lips will be more vertical, but you can scale it down.  Also check out photos on online forums (MTBR, NSMB, ridemonkey, busted spoke, etc).  People post their dirt jumps all the time.\n\nIf you know of any BMX jump tracks, check those out.  But realize that a MTB wheelbase is longer, so the curvature of the ramp/lip needs to be a larger diameter.\n\nIf youre only going for 3' of air, you can probably land flat or build your jump so that you land on a down-sloped transition.  When you progress bigger than that, you will probably build your own transition exactly where you need it, and at the angle you need.\n\nCheck out Bellingham, WAs dirt jump park--my buddy helped develop and build it.
133
I'd agree with TaraN's answer. Take the time to really find what you want. Take a lot of extended test rides. You might find that aluminum might be too harsh for you, in which case you might find that steel or carbon might be more comfortable. That's just one example. Lots of test rides will give you a feel for how the various bikes at a given price point can handle very differently. Without getting into too much tech-speak, you might find that one bike handles a bit more twitchy than another. Think of the difference as driving a Mini Cooper versus a basic sedan. Some bikes are set up more for racing, where you'll get a quicker handling bike, whereas others will handle a bit more laid back.\n\nParts wise, you'll find the same component offerings on many of the manufacturers out there for a given price point, as TaraN pointed out. You'll most likely be getting a bike with Shimano componenets, with perhaps a mix of some of the manufacturer's own branded components (for example, Trek outfits their bikes with a lot of Bontrager componentry).\n\nFocus on the overall ride of the bike. For a $1000, you can get a lot of bike.\n\nWade at The Spokesman in downtown Santa Cruz is a GREAT guy - very helpful, and yes, very patient. He's very knowledgeable and will set you up right.\n\nAlso in that same category, I'd highly recommend seeing Vance Sprock over at Cupertino Bike Shop. He's just like Wade - he'll set you up right.\n\nGood luck!
792177
Well, I am a pretty hard core mountain biker and dirt jumper. In that price range you aren't going to find a bike out of the entry level range. Entry level Kona, Trek, Specialized, Jamis bikes are pretty good. The only problem with an entry level is that your rear axle may break if you decide you want to ride a little more hard and down and dirty. Also the fork that entry level bikes come with are shit. They have, like, two inches of travel.\nSo after that, I suggest that when you go to buy the bike, get something like a specialized hardrock or specialized rockhopper or something. They are both mountain bikes, with decent forks, and a strong axle. It can be used on the road as much as you want, and it's not a REALLY heavy bike. Depending on what year model you buy, it's going to be a little over $300, but it's well worth it.\n\nHope I helped!\nLater.\n\nCher.