BMX bikes

There is definitely an art to dirt bike jumping and the great thing for you if you’re not very good at it is that it can be learned. Like anything that requires skill to execute, it takes practice and even mistakes – which unfortunately in this sport can lead to injuries.

There are many different techniques to dirt bike jumping but I will only touch on some basic tips here.

Before you go hurling yourself over any jump you need to know what is on the other side. This may sound stupid but ask most riders and they will tell you they’ve done this at least once where they’ve crashed as a result of not checking out the landing. Ride around it or even walk over the jump first. You can do a couple of practice lead-ups without actually jumping to get an idea for speed and to build your confidence. Start off small and build up to larger jumps as you improve and master each size jump. Keep your body centralized over the bike with your head over the handlebars if the up-ramp is quite steep. Approach the jump at a steady speed. It’s better to give it a little acceleration while hitting the ramp but nothing too aggressive. You definitely don’t want to back off the throttle while launching up the ramp. This will send you over the bars. As you begin jumping higher learn to pull the clutch in and tap the rear brake to balance the bike out in the air. This will pull the front wheel down. Likewise if you rev the bike up and spin the rear wheel around really fast, this will lift the front end up. Learning how to do this properly will give you great control over your bike. Accelerate just before your rear wheel touches down. This will drive you safely out of the landing in a forward direction and it also stiffens up the suspension making for a more forgiving landing especially when going big.

When you’re at a track observe the good riders and don’t be afraid to ask them for pointers. Most of them will be stoked that you’re asking them for their advice. Jumping a dirt bike is an amazing feeling but it can also go horribly wrong! Progress at your own pace and build up your confidence jump by jump. If you push it too hard too quickly chances are you’ll take a nasty fall and dent your confidence which will only slow you down or stop you all together.

Oh yea.. and have fun!

By: Hayden T Brown

In my opinion one of the most popular genres of free online games during the last decade are BMX games. My favorite free online internet games are BMX games. I spend hours and hours playing them. I play them in different modes, I play alone or with my friends, sometime I play against the computer.There are a huge number of this game titles that you have to play and believe me they will keep your attention. This games are fun and really simple for all ages, they are safe for the entire family. This games are fun to play anytime. They are great for players that are looking for a challenge, excitement and adrenaline. These free online games gives the players the opportunity to try all those fun tricks they see on TV without the risk of breaking their neck.

In all BMX games your goal is to complete the problematical courses in order to move on to the next level. Points are awarded for performing stunts, tricks and air tricks such as: BMX back flips, 360 degree turns, the in famous superman flip and the batman flip. Points are taken away when you fall off. First try to use the keyboard to maneuver the bike. It is useful for players to spend some time learning what each of the keys do in terms of stunts and tricks.

The courses in most of the games usually has many obstacles like: ramps, barrels,stairs, handrails, ledges, curved walls, banks, unusually shaped architectural designs and other unknown stuff. You must pass all the obstacles without falling in order to win the game.

I think that these are the most exciting online BMX games: Bike Rally, BMX Adventures, Backflips, Animal Bike Tour, BMX Boy, Party Interrupted, Sky High Ride, Street Ride, Stunt Dirt Bike, Uphill Rush, Wanted Race and more.

You are bored? You don’t know what to do in your spare time? You don’t know how to spend your day? If you want to spend a quality afternoon full of excitement, visit bmx-games.org and play the best free online BMX games. Everyone that search for free entertainment online can play these games. Have fun and enjoy!

By: Biljana Karapetroska

Selling used goods on eBay can generate quite a profit if you know what to sell. There are a wide range of items that sell like hotcakes and some that don’t. As a seller on eBay, you can either put your items for sale by way of auction, or you can simply set a price on the item. Either way, the profits are huge if you’re selling the right items. Here’s a guide on what items you can consider buying or selling on eBay.

Electronics:

Huge demand: Electronics items, like mobile phones, PDAs, and mp3 players, are small, easy to manage, and are in high demand. Because technology is constantly improving, and there is always production, there is a huge demand for those sought-after gadgets. People who have a craving for owning these items are willing to pay a hefty price for them.

High resale value: These items have a high resale value as compared to other small items. If you are able to purchase them cheap, you are sure to make huge profits on eBay.

Advantage over wholesalers: Another interesting feature to note is that wholesalers do not flood this market as they do with other items. Companies have to pay for the people they employ, overhead costs, among other expenditures so as to sell these items. Buying them and then simply selling them online is a sure way of making a profit.

Safety test: When purchasing used electrical goods, make sure that the item has undergone an electrical safety test. The results of this should be recorded into a PAT (portable appliance test) log book, and a PAT sticker should be attached to the item.

Video games:

Disclaimer policy: If you are interested in selling video games, make sure to offer a no-quibble return policy. Because you are selling older games and testing them can be quite a tiresome task, it is recommended that you list them as “untested.” You should also offer a money-back policy if the game is defective. However, keep in mind that, if you make such an offer, it only creates a doubt in the buyers’ minds that the product might be faulty.

Purchase a disc repair machine: When purchasing a game that is on a CD, be sure to check for scratches. If there are too many scratches, check the CDs. Investing in a disc repair machine is a good idea as it will remove all the superficial scratches as well as the deep scratches. However, if it is on a cartridge and there is some damage, do mention it.

Media:

Selling media, such as books, software, DVDs, and CDs, among others, on eBay can be a tricky business. You should keep in mind the following:

Never Sell Media That You Have Burned Or Copied Yourself: Selling media that you have created yourself, whether it is copied from the Internet or off the airwaves, cannot be sold on this site. In fact, such an activity is illegal and can get you banned from eBay. eBay will first suspend you and later ask questions. Even if the media is yours, you will not be allowed to sell it on eBay.

Specify Media Compatibility: It is important that you mention the compatibility of a particular form of media that you are selling. For instance, if it is a book, specify its language and print size; if it is a CD, mention whether it is factory made from master or burned; if it is a DVD, specify the place from where you purchased it and its standard (VCD, DVD, SVCD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, among others); if it is a vinyl record, mention its size and rotation speed; and if it is a magnetic tape or disk, specify if it is VHS, cassette, microcassette, or diskette.

Antiques And Vintage Items:

Selling used antiques and vintage items is another way of making an income on eBay. There are a number of advantages selling such items.

Interest Of Buyers: Buyers are aware that they can purchase new goods on certain websites. However, what they are especially looking for is unusual, antique, and rare items.

Rarity: Vintage or antiques are those items that are scarcely supplied as compared to other used items. So, those who have an interest for collecting antiques are sure to visit your shop.

Best Price: If something is not easily available, then you can very well demand a good price for it, sometimes even an amount that is out of proportion to its true, basic value. This can bring in huge profits for you.

Easy To Source: There are huge amounts of junk items that are in the world, and some of it can still be sold. If you live in the same town or city, it is easy to source these items.

Affordability Of Stock: If you go to purchase junk from those who want to clear their attics, garages, or basements, they are willing to sell it for a song. So, if you have a place to store it, you can get it dirt cheap.

Selling For A Third Party: If there are certain antiques that you yourself don’t want to purchase but can sell on the owner’s behalf, you are sure to get your cut, without having to stock the item.

Take Photos: It is a good idea to take quality photographs of your antique items. If you are a third-party seller, you can take pictures of those items, post advertisements of them on eBay, and take a commission for selling the item.

Profitability: Buyers who are interested in antiques and vintage items are willing to pay a huge amount. So, there are high chances of you making a profit from selling such items.

Low Turnover: Selling new items, like electronic products and apparel, is a high turnover business, which is dependent on the fluctuation in market prices as well as changing fashions. Antiques and vintage items do not depend on these factors. They can remain listed until they are bought.

Sporting Goods:

Selling used sporting goods is also a sure way of bringing in income. If you want to get rid of your old sports equipment, putting it up for auction on eBay is a good idea. There are loads of sporting goods that are sold on this site and for a good price. Some of the goods that go for sale are:

Baseball Equipment: Bats, gloves, jerseys, hitting machines, hats, batting helmets, and baseballs, among others are always in demand. Not just that, training aids, like speed sensors, batting cages, videos, and books, are also sold.

Basketball Equipment: Those who are interested in basketball search for the perfect basketball system to perfect their game. From various systems like in-ground pole, portable, and wall-mount, to different styles of basketballs, footwear, jerseys, and arm warmers, among other items are always in demand and can be sold on eBay.

Camping Gear: If you are planning a camping trip with your family or friends and don’t want to spend too much on purchasing new camping gear, you can choose eBay to get the best deals. Used camping stoves, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, first aid, and water filtration kits are sold on this site.

Cycles:Cycles of all types can be sold on eBay, from mountain bikes, comfort bikes, kid bikes, and road racing bikes to BMX bikes, low-rider bikes, and vintage bikes, among others.

Fitness Equipment: From free-weight equipment, like barbells and dumbbells to manual and electric treadmills to trampolines and exercise bikes, all can be sold for a good price on eBay.

Golf Equipment: Buyers are usually searching for individual golf clubs or sets of 12, besides drivers, fairways woods, and clubs for left-handed players.

Other Sports Equipment:There are always buyers of sports equipment searching for the best deals online. From football, soccer, tennis, bowling, and fishing goods to racquetball, skateboarding, surfing, and hockey, among other popular sporting goods, you can sell these for a huge profit.

When selling sporting goods online, you need to ensure that you use the correct term to describe what you are selling. The terms that you should use are:

New In Box (NIB): Items that are in their original packaging from the time they have been purchased and have not been opened or used fall under this listing.

New With Tags (NWT) or New Without Tags (NWOT) or Never Been Worn (NBW): As the name describes, equipment and accessories that have never been worn or washed can come under NBW; those that still have the retail tags fall under NWT; and those that have the tags removed but have never been worn can be listed under NWOT. Those items that come under these listings should have no flaws.

Gently Used (GU): Those items that appear new and have no flaws in spite of having been washed, worn, or used fall under this listing.

Excellent: Those items that have been used but have no signs of flaws can be placed under this listing.

Very Good: The items that have been used, are faded in moderation, yet have no visible flaws can be considered as items in very good condition.

Good: Items that have previously been worn, are significantly faded, and have minor visible flaws are considered to be in good condition.

Fair: Products that have been previously worn, have significant flaws, and are faded considerably are considered to be in fair condition.

Poor: Items that are not in a condition to be worn or used with severe flaws, but may have certain desirable elements, can fall under this category.

Note that stains, spots, tears, holes, problems with buttons, zips, and snaps, and fabric irregularities are considered as flaws.

Hobby items:

Selling items of your hobby is another way of making an income online. Equipment for hobbies like gardening and fishing can be sold for a good price on eBay. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when selling a hobby item online:

Know Your Hobby: When you’re selling an item, you should ensure that you know everything about the hobby. This will help you to generate sales as you will be able to convince fellow enthusiasts to purchase your product.

Name The Hobby: With every opportunity you get, make sure that you name the hobby, whether it is in one-off listing titles, your member ID, or your eBay store name. This is essential for buyers when searching as well as for purposes of remembering your item.

Give Details: Hobbyists are experts in their areas of interest. So, you need to ensure that you give detailed descriptions of the items that you are selling. Information, like the make, features, model, and condition details, are important for an enthusiast of that particular hobby. What’s more, if anyone famous endorses the product that you are selling, it would be an added advantage to mention it.

Take Photos: Taking photographs of the actual item from different angles is important as buyers want to know what they are purchasing. Hobbyists especially are looking for items of quality. If your picture depicts this, you are sure to make the sale.

Make It Your Business: If you can consistently supply quality used items of your hobby on eBay, you are sure to gain a market. Buyers will not search elsewhere for the items. So, in time, you will create a strong customer base.

Update “About Me” And eBay Blogs: If you are eager to make selling your hobby items your business, it is recommended that you constantly update the “About me” page as well as eBay blogs. This will slowly build a customer’s trust in you. Buyers will be happy to have gained a supplier who shares the same interests.

Include Marketing Value-Adds: Getting free equipment related to your hobby is something hobbyists look forward to. This is also a way to create your customer base.

Apparel:

Clothing is one of the most-sold items on eBay. When selling your used clothing, you need to keep in mind the following:

Give Proper Descriptions: When it comes to clothing, ensure to mention the size, fabric, and brand, among other details. You need to be honest about the condition of the apparel that you are selling, so as to make sure that the customer you are selling to is not disappointed.

Pack Properly: Shipping of clothes is important. If you use a loosely-sealed, paper envelope for packaging, the item is sure to get damaged in transit. Sealing the item properly ensures that there is no contamination by the shipping environment.

Furniture:

Huge Shipping Costs: Selling used furniture is fine, but you need to keep in mind that furniture is big, and so the shipping costs will be greater. Remember, the bigger the furniture, the more the cost of shipping, and in turn, there are less chances of the furniture being sold. So, if the furniture is too large, it is better not to choose eBay as a place for selling it.

Give Details: One of the marketing techniques you can employ is giving details about:

Workmanship: Describe the materials that are used to make it. For instance, is it made of solid oak, teakwood, glass, stainless steel, iron, polyvinyl, or marble?

Size: Mentioning the height, width, and depth is important as the buyer would like to know if the piece of furniture he or she is about to purchase will fit in his or her accommodation.

Modification or flaws: It is always better to mention if you have made any modifications or if there are any flaws. This will ensure that you do not have an angry buyer.

Get Experts To Pack For Shipment: Owing to the size of the item, it is recommended that you hire help for shipment. Let the professionals take care of packaging the item as this will guarantee that the furniture is intact and there are no damages.

Vehicles:

Selling your vehicle on eBay can be easy if you employ marketing strategies, like giving detailed descriptions, and taking photographs of the vehicle from both inside and outside. However, there are certain other issues that you should consider.

Take Care Of Any Legal Loose Ends: If you are selling your motor vehicle, you need to make sure that you have a copy of the title and that it is free from all kinds of legal entanglements. If the vehicle you are selling is of an old model, ensure that it is in running condition and the registration and any other applicable fees and taxes are paid for in your state. This assures the buyers that the vehicle is in good operating condition.

Have A Sales Receipt Ready: Before selling online, it is recommended that you ask your local motor vehicles division for the basic requirements that allow you to sell your vehicle. You need to ask for necessary documentation, one copy which will be given to the buyer and the other which you will keep.

Contact And Test-Drive Information: Unlike other products sold on eBay, a vehicle needs to be test-driven. A buyer will surely not purchase a vehicle without physically inspecting it. So, be sure to mention the address at which the vehicle is stationed for inspection.

Shipping Complications: When purchasing a vehicle, the buyer has the option of either “pick up,” “drive away,” or have the seller ship it. You need to specifically mention what shipping options you are offering.

By: Jane M Dawson

BMX Racing:

A typical BMX race consists of a starting gate in which 8 riders or less line up and wait for a cadence to sound. Both well known federations, the ABA and NBL have similar cadences with Christmas Tree lights off to the side for riders to time their starts. The tracks usually start out with a sprint to the first obstacle which is typically a jump or series of jumps all the way to the first turn. The jumps themselves can be step up, step downs, table tops, doubles, triples, or worse. The first turn is usally dirt, sometimes paved blacktop which adds a different dimension. The rest of the track layout is usually made of jumps, a rythym section and a small sprint to the finish line. Typically races last about 50 seconds and are extremely grueling on the body. A combination of power, endurance, agility, and intelligence make up the complete racer. The top Pro’s in the sport are typically some of the best conditioned athletes in the world.

BMX Origins:

Starting from California (United States) in the late 60′s, BMX was the most popular way for teenagers to imitate motocross champions. The founder of BMX is called Scot Breithaupt w(the “OM” of BMX) while the motorcycle racing documentary “On Any Sunday” is widely accepted and credited for inspiring the whole movement nationally. Although the sport spread very quickly, it wasn’t until the middle of the decade that the bike constructors started producing real BMX – oriented bikes. Another very important person that needs to be mentioned here is Bob Haro; he is the person who merged BMX and skateboarding tricks together and without him the whole scheme wouldn’t have advanced so far.

BMX Participation:

There is a class for everyone in BMX racing. From 5 yrs old to 60+, both girls and boys. No one sits on the bench in BMX!

BMX Injury:

Being an extreme sport that BMX is, it’s almost impossible to get involved without getting hurt. Protective equipment is an

By: L Sliwa

The brand of Mongoose mountain bike is very well known. Mongoose sells a wide range of mountain bikes so there is something to suit all abilities and uses. This brand is very well known for the level of quality that it delivers and this is why the customers tend to trust these bikes.

This company also organizes a vast number of biking events of various descriptions. This company also ensures that its customers are kept up to date with the latest brands that are selling. This company offers two main types of mountain bikes, which are the BMX style of stunt bike and the other style is the mountain bike that is suitable for using on the pavements and roads.

The BMX category features a wide range of different bikes such as the freestyle bike that is used in stunt biking and dirt biking. The many varieties in turn have a choice of different models and all of the models are stunning in their own way. The BMX bikes tend to be lightweight bikes and they tend to feature a range of different things.

The most common Mongoose mountain bike is amongst some of the best mountain bikes that are available. There is a wide range of different mountain bikes that are available in the Mongoose mountain bike range. These mountain bikes tend to feature the hard tail, the hybrid variety and the dual suspension bikes that is suitable for the customers that are looking for the something a little bit extra with their bike.

The company also produces a selection of luxury mountain bikes that are suitable for the people that want to ride up and down mountain without having to actually put in much effort. The Mongoose company website has a vast amount of information about the bikes, the company and also about the mongoose tribe which is the companies own biking team.

By: Azlan Idris

How do I position my cleats? It’s one of the questions we often get following the purchase of a pair of pedals or new cleats. Many customers want to know how they can ensure the best placement. Some customers admit they haven’t adjusted their cleat position in years and question if it could be wrong.

Lateral Adjustment

Let’s start with the lateral position, often called the ‘Q’ factor. A rider should have their legs and feet in a natural position, not forcing their body to pedal in an unnatural manner. Forcing your legs wider or narrower than is natural will elicit undesirable results. For a majority of us this means moving your cleats to the outside of our shoes, to allow them to get as close to the crank arm as possible. Riders with wider hips will benefit from moving their cleats to the center or even as far as the inside of their shoes to push their feet further out.

Angling the cleat

In many cases riders don’t ride with perfectly straight feet. To compensate for this and to take full advantage of the float, the cleat needs to be angled so that when in the natural position the cleat is centered on the pedal.

Heal out (further away from the crank than the ball of your foot) requires the tip of the cleats to be pointed away from the crank. Heal in will require the cleats to be pointed towards the crank. The amount will vary depending on how far off center the foot is while riding and it is likely different on each foot.

Front & Back

Moving the cleat front and back along the bottom of the shoe will allow you to line the axel of the pedal up with the ball of your foot. The ball of your foot is slightly behind where the foot bends while walking and is considered the best place for power transfer. This will improve the power transfer from shoe to pedal. If the front of your knee has been bothering you, it is likely that your cleat is not centered properly.

Small adjustments often translate into big differences in feel. We provide this as a reference to help you place your cleats properly. We recommend adjusting your cleats on short rides to find the optimal position. Please avoid making changes prior to long rides.

By: Rob Poulton

When you are out on a cycling run, whether training or for leisure there’s a number of items I would never leave the house without.

Spare Tubes

I always carry at least two spare tubes with me. In my experience punctures are like busses and come in twos. I’ve been saved plenty of times by carrying spare tubes and would feel vulnerable without them.

Instant stick puncture patches

Patches that require no glue and stick instantly are a part of my cycling equipment I always take with me. Just in case I use my tubes having another back up plan is always a good idea. They’re easy to carry and give me that extra reassurance when out.

Food

Refueling is essential for a decent distance ride so I always carry a few things to give me an energy kick. I like bananas, easily to consume without making you thirsty like the serial bars tend to do. If I’m heading through a number of villages where I’ll pass some shops, I won’t carry too much extra rations. If I get hungry I’ll do a pit stop at one of the shops.

Water

At least two bottles for a decent ride after topping up before setting off. I tend to avoid the serial bars because they make you thirsty and use up your water supply too fast. Keeping hydrated is crucial to ensuring you don’t hit an energy dump.

Pump

I’d never leave home without a good pump. I like the good old fashioned small quality hand pump. There’s not much that can go wrong with them and they’ve never let me down yet.

Tools

A decent set of tools is essential to have with you. Fortunately today, you can carry virtually everything you need in a fold up set. With the advances in bike and tool technology, the days when you needed a mechanic’s toolkit in a big saddle bag are over. A little fold up set that slots nicely into a small saddle pouch is more than enough to get you out of minor trouble.

Mobile Phone

I always carry my mobile. If I get through both my spare tubes and have used all my instant patches, which would mean I’ve had eight punctures. Or I’ve run down a pot hole and buckled a wheel or suffered some other calamity, I call the wife to come and rescue me. I’ve only had to call her once and she came happily. These are my favorite items that I consider essential to take on a bike ride. After years of cycling I consider them enough to get out of most things that could happen.

By: Paul Merry

Mountain bikes can vary hugely in both price and quality, so it is important to be clear about what you are looking for when you go shopping and before you actually buy anything. There is a huge amount of choice so you need to know what you are looking for. If you want it for cross-country then you will need a light mountain bike, but even then you have more options. Do you want a full suspension or just the front shocks? Or would you like some thing a bit heavier such as a free ride? They are much tougher than the cross-country mountain bikes, but will also be a bit heavier to ride and you need to know if you really need it.

Probably a good place to start is to find some mountain bike reviews, then you should be able to understand about the capabilities of the different bikes and what may be suitable for you. Cost can also be a major factor in your choice and there can be a huge difference in the cost of different bikes. A good series of mountain bike reviews can help you to make the cost and use comparison effectively so that you know how much it is going to cost you for the bike that you want and why you might want to buy that particular bike. After all there is no point in paying several hundred dollars for a bike if you are not really sure if it is the one for you.

There are many places that you can find mountain bike reviews and there should be no problem finding a review of the bike that you are looking for. The easiest place to start looking for mountain bike reviews is in the mountain bike magazines or websites. Mountain bikers are always looking for the next best thing and so there are often tests of the latest bikes and equipment. They all look great in the store but it’s not until they behave been really tested well that you can know how good they are.

When you have read the mountain bike reviews and think that you know the bike that you are looking for, do test lots of bikes and don’t just buy the one that had the best review in the magazine. You need to make sure that it is the right bike for you and no amount of reviews from others can decide that for you. So read all the reviews but make sure that you try the bike of your choice well before you spend you money.

By: Tim Gorman

If you are looking to purchase a new bicycle, you need to be prepared to make a bit of an investment because a good quality design is going to cost you some money. In order to make an investment that large you need to understand what features are important for this kind of model. They are often categorized by price so we’ll take a look at what to look for in a road bike at each price range. Unlike other kinds of bicycles you need to be fitted for these in order to make sure that it provides the most comfortable ride.

The material that is used for this design’s frame will have a big impact on the comfort of the ride. If you purchase one for a more inexpensive price you will likely have a frame made of aluminum. This is important to know.

While an aluminum frame is not inferior it will not be as durable as the frame material used on more expensive road models. If you are new to street models, you should not spend too much on a bicycle until you are more certain of how often you will be using it and are sure that you enjoy engaging in long distance rides.

In the mid-range, you begin to add things like carbon forks on the frame to save weight. A mid-range model is often pretty reasonable and is good for the budget conscious rider. As you get to the higher end of that price range you can often find options that have full carbon frames.

A big part of the riding dynamic is that the frame is incredibly lightweight allowing riders to achieve some rather impressive speeds. You can also start to differentiate between frames designed for racing and frames that are designed for touring or endurance races.

On the upper end of the spectrum are bikes that max out at high prices. These bikes all use complete carbon frames at the least and often are designed of more exotic materials including titanium and bamboo. These bikes are designed to be used in triathlon style events.

They are really only suitable for the serious racing enthusiast. The most expensive designs will use very high-end components, and in selecting one it is important to remember that the components are nearly as important as the frame of the bike. Each detail matters in how the ride functions and in how your will experience your time riding. Don’t overlook any aspect of the design when you are choosing a model.

When you head to the store to actually purchase your new bicycle, you may be able to get a better deal by not purchasing the newest bike in the shop. If you are buying around the end of the biking season you can probably get a much better price on last year’s model and usually it will have many of the same basic features. By knowing what to look for in a road bike you will be able to do to the salesperson at the bike shop and find a road bike that takes care of your needs for many seasons to come.

By: Ken Zalot

There are nine different kinds of mountain biking, each offering its own unique type of thrill or enjoyment. BMX biking is on small, nimble bikes with 20 inch wheels. These bikes are used for jumping and are usually used at a skate park, or in an area that has dirt mounds to jump off. Their small size and and short wheel base makes them perfect for performing biking stunts and tricks.

A cross country mountain bike is perfect for riding on hills and through uneven terrain. It’s an easier sport than BMX biking, but most cross country bikers like to travel long distances, as a cross country runner would do. This keeps these bikers as fit as cross country runners as well.

Cyclo cross biking is a combination of road biking and mountain biking. The sport involves a course that covers both on and off road sections. The course may contain water crossings and other obstacles as well.

Dirt jumping is a kind of mountain biking that is done on large man made mounds of dirt. While they are aerial in the middle of the jump, the biker will attempt to perform tricks and spins in the air. The mounds are placed relatively close together, so the biker builds up more speed and height on each subsequent jump.

Downhill mountain biking is just that: a race to bike down a hill as fast as possible. This is a a very strenuous but thrilling sport, since travelling downhill on mountain bikes at high speeds over uneven terrain is very difficult and dangerous.

Free mountain biking means the biker hugs the contours of the mountain to find the best route to the bottom. This is a very popular sport since each biker has his own style to express and it is fun to watch the various ways they do so.

Single speed mountain biking uses the simplistic approach to mountain biking. The bikes are designed with only one speed and very few moving parts, yielding an ultra light bike that relies solely on the strength of the biker, rather than a mechanical advantage.

Street or urban mountain bikes are used in the city, almost like a skateboard. Urban mountain bikers use railings, ledges and other features of the urban landscape to perform their tricks such as “stalls” and “grinds”.

Trail mountain biking uses a very low framed bike with small wheels. This allows the biker to jump the bike over obstacles. This is a difficult sport, requiring a good sense of balance and a high degree of concentration.

By: Alison Addy