These days collecting vintage or old bike has become a fad among bike enthusiasts. Buying a bike costs a lot of money that is why many bike enthusiasts or collectors have opted for restoring aged bikes. This gives the bikers self-satisfaction when they collect and restore vintage mountain bikes of previous racers. Mountain bikes has started its era during the eighties and continued to be very popular until now. Not only does it is a healthy sport and hobby, but enjoying the outdoors while biking can give the people a lot of satisfaction. Imagine climbing up a mountain with nothing but your bike and seeing the view when you reach the top is just absolutely breathtaking. A lot of people collect mountain bikes from the eighties and nineties because they consider these as classic bikes which are appealing to everyone and will never fade or become out dated.
Having a very expensive bike is always will always make you become an envy of everyone, however, for those who do not have the budget to buy these pricey bikes, you can restore a vintage mountain bike by collecting parts and build the bike with bits and pieces from the original one. Spending time and effort in building a bike can give a lot of satisfaction for these people. Some even spent time collecting bits and pieces of the same brand or company, which makes it even more classic! Making a retro bike make these collectors very elated and some go to the point where they build more than just one vintage mountain bike. It needs a lot of discipline and patience when restoring a bike and it also requires money if you are looking to build branded vintage mountain bike.
By: Hannah Henry
When it comes to 2 giants crashing then the results are not only unexpected but it’s also true that everybody is on the lookout to see who’s going to smash whom! In the battle of BMX bikes, GT and Mongoose are certainly two of the most respected manufacturers on the field; but… who prevails? Well, although it’s almost impossible to judge, through this article you will have the chance to get information about 2 popular BMX bike models by GT and Mongoose. The models are Mach 1 Pro and Brawler by GT and Mongoose respectively.
Judging by the name of the bike as well as the manufacturer brand, Mach 1 Pro should definitely have to be a great bike in order to live up to the expectations of the fans. Does the bike come any close to that? Well, the first thing you would notice about this bike is that it is very smooth and light. After riding it for some time you will also discover that it is also very resistant and it loves air stunting! A good feature is TEKTRO brakes; the frame and the tires are not bad either. The bike is pretty similar to GT interceptor but some may find it’s got some paints from GT Vertigo too. The only considerable weakness that you might find on this bike is that it doesn’t come with chain tensors. Other than that, the bike is really good and the price is very affordable.
Jumping on the other side now, Mongoose would have no choice in this stiff competition but to come up with a serious weapon, the Mongoose Brawler. The first things that will catch your eye about this bike are the excellent frame and the front forks. The brakes and the crank are pretty good too. A weakness about this bike is that the other parts (such as sprocket, hub and rims) are not very satisfying. Of course, you can always replace them easily at any time and you will have a really, really good bike. Brawler is a very resistant and maneuverable bike but you might feel a little bit limited while dirt jumping because it tends to be bigger than other bikes you may have been used to.
Don’t be tricked to believe that the winner of the battle is the Mach 1 Pro. Brawler hides a really exciting riding experience and it is the type of bike that has the potential to reach the top with just a few extra replacements. Both bikes are really top of the line products and you should really have a close look and get to ride them for at least a few minutes in order to decide witch one is best for you.
By: John Gibb
When BMX first came out in the market, it has captured a lot of avid fans. The problem, however, was that most people became very particular with the riding of the bike and the excitement that they felt that they forgot to put emphasis on their safety. This is the reason why there were a lot of accidents related to BMX riding before. A lot suffered from broken limbs and bones while there were those unfortunate ones who lost some of the functions of their arms and legs. There were even those who were too unfortunate to lose their lives.
Good thing that many have already learned from the accidents that others have experienced and many are as concerned with their safety as with the kind of fun and enjoyment they get from driving their BMX. That is why it is not surprising anymore to know that there are so many kinds of BMX gear out there that are not only very fashionable but also offer top of the line protection.
Since there are so many helmets, pads, and other gears to choose from, you need to know how to choose the kind of protective gear you should use. Thus, it would help a lot to know how to choose the protective mechanisms you intend to use every time you go for a ride on your bike. More than how your gears look, you should also consider their quality.
One of the things that you should remember is that you should make sure that you keep all of your skin covered. So, wear trousers to cover your legs, socks for your ankles, long sleeved tops for your upper body and arms, gloves for your hands and any full face BMX helmets for your head. There are some, however, who opt to use shorts. If you do, go for the ones that are less likely to tear and make sure that you wear shin guards.
You should have racing pants that are lightweight. However, make sure that even if it they are lightweight, they should also be very sturdy and do not tear easily. Check if the knees and hip areas are well padded for possible accidental falls. Although you can go for the usual jeans and shorts, they will not be that reliable. Racing jerseys with well padded elbows can be good upper-body clothing.
As for your shoes, go for those that offer your needed adhesion to the pedals. Novices may need to go for clipped shoes and pedals, though more experienced ones do not anymore. Also, do not forget to have your own set of GT BMX pad set. These pads give you the necessary protection for possible bumps and falls.
Hopefully these tips could help you decide what kind of protection you could use for yourself. Just make sure your choices will really keep you safe as amateurs and beginners have the same chances of getting into an accident. More than the looks and the style and the purpose to impress, these gears are meant to offer the best kind of protection you could get so that you can be safe even when things do not turn out that well when you are riding your BMX.
By: Stucken Koutsoudis
BMX bikes are one of those things that have simply never gone out of fashion. Many of the kids who have used them in the past now have their own kids carrying on the tradition of extreme biking. With specially designed BMX tracks, this is more controlled and is therefore an exciting activity but is also safer than a lot of people may think. It beats just hanging around the youth shelter.
It can help the local community in many ways including providing a fun activity for all the family to do and lowering levels of anti social behaviour. It can transform wasted space into a productive part of the local community. BMX tracks are widely appreciated and considered as ‘cool’ by younger members of society and are now being embraced by older demographics.
But what is it about BMX tracks that are cool? Out of all the BMX track designs, which ones are considered the best?
Designing a BMX track can be challenging; it takes skilled experts to create the most exciting courses whilst still maintaining the necessary safety aspects of the park. In terms of being the best, it depends entirely upon your sporting ability in order to define which type of track ranks the highest. It is important to have a variety in terms of skill level when it comes to BMX tracks; from beginner to expert, the best creators of tracks often have a wide selection to choose from.
Jumps are one of the main things involved in BMX biking, therefore a track with good ramps (of varying heights) and good lead-ups to the ramps is essential. There are many different kinds of ramps that can be included in a well designed BMX track. There will almost always be a start hill, to allow the riders to build up momentum for their first jump. Other ramps may include quads (four ramps grouped closely together for a faster paced course), triples (three ramps grouped closely together), or doubles (two ramps close together but with an easier, less steep incline/decline) – these are small ramps and are usually under a metre high.
To create a better flow of the track, one or more turns may be included. These are turns in the track that are raised up on one side, and they help to create a more varied and interesting course. Ramps over 1 metre high are called step-ups and these are often included to provide more challenging jump opportunities to more progressed BMX track users.
Finally, there may be table-top ramps included. These are so-called because of their resemblance to actual table-tops with their steep inclines and flat top surfaces which then decline again after a period.
All-in-all this mixture of ramps can all create different types of BMX tracks for various levels of skill depending upon the combinations used by the creators.
To attain the most authentic type of course, it is useful to know the various types of ramp in order to make sure they are included in the overall design. If you see one or more of the ramps mentioned previously in a BMX track design, you can be sure of a safe, exhilarating injection of fun into your day out, one which is catered for all skill levels and for all the family!
By: Mary Holder
Many BMX bike owners around the world find it difficult to stay away from their bike. They want to ride it in the morning, in the afternoon, and even at night during their sleep. We should also mention the big disappointment rain can cause to this eager crowd. In order to please the demand of this eager crowd, BMX games are now available online to play free. All the thrills and excitement of doing back flips in a U-shaped ramp, or jumping over obstacles can now be found in a number of multimedia applications created in flash, in the form of online games. An example of such an application can be found with the game title BMX Extreme, also available to play online free.
Extreme Stunts is an online masterpiece of the free BMX game genre. Featuring high resolution graphics and really exciting game play, this BMX game is among the most popular titles available online. The player can engage game play in two different modes, a free ride, or competition mode. The free ride is basically an obstacle course where the biker gets a chance to practice his skills and maneuver his bike in different settings. You get points for every stunt you perform. A fun aspect about this game is that the maneuvers are pre determined, or programmed for you, the stunts are made as you go along through your skill and use of the keyboard controls. Thus, a jump off the ramp can give you a chance to perform a 360 degree turn, maybe two, that would depend on the player.
In competition mode, the player has one minute to get as many points possible by performing the maximum amount of stunts within this time frame, as opposed to the free game mode, where you can play for as long as you wish. This BMX game online features a simple set of controls based on a few keyboard keys and no use of the mouse. The up arrow key moves the bike forward, while the other movement keys produce exhilarating stunts. On the more conventional side, the down arrow key produces a side flip, and back arrow key is the famous back flip. On the more daring side, the Z key produces a superman flip, while the c key will activate a batman flip, all unique to this particular game.
Overall, BMX Extreme Stunts is a great way to release energy and enthusiasm for the sport, especially for those bikers who sleep with their bike next to their bed. It is completely safe to play for the entire family, and absolutely free. Just one word of caution, these stunts seem to be much easier on the computer screen than they actually are. Be really careful when trying these out for real, and always remember to wear your safety gear.
By: Damian Cross
