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Mountain Bike Components: Frames, Tires, Brakes And Pedals
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Published: February 21, 2007
Over the past few years the majority of the world's population has become more focused on leading healthier lifestyles. As a result, there has been renewed interest in different types of exercise. A great and fun method of exercising is mountain biking. Nevertheless, it's important to make sure that a mountain bike contains the necessary mountain bike components before venturing on a ride.
Every mountain bike should be comprised of sturdy mountain bike components.
One of the most important mountain bike components is the mountain bike frame. Mountain bike frames can be made from many different materials. The first mountain bikes were made of 4130 chrome-molybdenum by Joe Breezer, who was one of the first mountain bike engineers. Throughout the years mountain bike frames have developed and flourished into many different kinds of frames.
The most popular types of bike frames are Chro-moly, aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium. Chro-moly is a type of stiff, durable steel. It's a cheap and a very strong material, but it does tend to rust. Aluminum is the most common material used in mountain bike components. This material is lightweight and inexpensive. But it can break under heavy usage and the tubes dent easily.
Mountain bike components made with carbon fiber are unique because they are made by braiding carbon fibers together. The frame of these mountain bike components tend to be very light and do not rust, but they are expensive and prone to breakage. Titanium frames are also super light, rust proof, and very expensive.
Bike tires are one of the most essential mountain bike components. There are many different kinds of bike tires, but all fall in two categories: tubeless and standard. Tubeless tires are simply tires without the tubes. Instead a large metal rim is on the inside of the tire. Many people choose standard tires, but tubeless tires are recommended for the more serious rider, as they are less prone to developing flats.
Bike pedals are also essential mountain bike components. There are 5 different kinds of mountain bike pedals. There is the platform pedal, toe clip system, Shimano SPD cleat system, the Time system, and the Frog system. The platform pedal are standard, generic mountain bike components that work with any kind cleats. The toe clip system is like the platform pedal because it is cheap and works with any shoe.
The Shimano SPD cleat system is the most popular system. These mountain bike components work with specific kinds of shoes- either Shimano cleats or a generic shoe that is similar. The downside of this system is the restriction of knee movement from side to side. The time system works like the SPD cleat with specific shoes, but the time system allows more knee movement. Lastly, the frog system is the most rare. It allows the most knee movement and costs the most.
Mountain bike components also include mountain bike brakes. Mountain bike brakes are broken into two different kinds: disc brakes and rim brakes. Disc brakes are mountain bike components that offer a more consistent performance in all conditions and weighs more. Rim brakes are composed of a lighter material and are lower in price. They also perform poorly in rain or muddy conditions and can wear through the rim causing it to blow off. While disc brakes add more weight to the bike, these mountain bike components perform better and need little pressure to work.
No matter what level of rider, these mountain bike components are essential for a good bike. Whether it's Raleigh mountain bikes or mountain bikes from the local bike store, it's important that riders be aware of which mountain bike components work best for their bike.
Sources:
A Brief History of the Mountain Bike. FAQs.org. 8 Oct. 1998. 20 Feb 2007 <http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/part5/se ction-35.html>.
“Bike Frame Materials.” Epinions.com. 5 Mar. 2004. Shopping.com, Inc. 20 Feb. 2007 <http://www99.epinions.com/content_3704660100&g t;.
Schwartz, Jefferey. “If You Don’t Have Good Pedals, You Don’t Have a Good Bike.” Epinions.com. 28 Mar. 2001. Shopping.com, Inc. 20 Feb 2007 <http://www99.epinions.com/content_1178116228&g t;.
Tisue, Kevin. “Should I Go Tubeless?” About: Mountain Biking. 2007. About, Inc. 20 Feb. 2007 <http://mountainbike.about.com/od/buyersguidean dreviews/f/Tubless_ornot.htm?terms=tubeless+tires&
Every mountain bike should be comprised of sturdy mountain bike components.
Related Articles
The most popular types of bike frames are Chro-moly, aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium. Chro-moly is a type of stiff, durable steel. It's a cheap and a very strong material, but it does tend to rust. Aluminum is the most common material used in mountain bike components. This material is lightweight and inexpensive. But it can break under heavy usage and the tubes dent easily.
Mountain bike components made with carbon fiber are unique because they are made by braiding carbon fibers together. The frame of these mountain bike components tend to be very light and do not rust, but they are expensive and prone to breakage. Titanium frames are also super light, rust proof, and very expensive.
Bike tires are one of the most essential mountain bike components. There are many different kinds of bike tires, but all fall in two categories: tubeless and standard. Tubeless tires are simply tires without the tubes. Instead a large metal rim is on the inside of the tire. Many people choose standard tires, but tubeless tires are recommended for the more serious rider, as they are less prone to developing flats.
Bike pedals are also essential mountain bike components. There are 5 different kinds of mountain bike pedals. There is the platform pedal, toe clip system, Shimano SPD cleat system, the Time system, and the Frog system. The platform pedal are standard, generic mountain bike components that work with any kind cleats. The toe clip system is like the platform pedal because it is cheap and works with any shoe.
The Shimano SPD cleat system is the most popular system. These mountain bike components work with specific kinds of shoes- either Shimano cleats or a generic shoe that is similar. The downside of this system is the restriction of knee movement from side to side. The time system works like the SPD cleat with specific shoes, but the time system allows more knee movement. Lastly, the frog system is the most rare. It allows the most knee movement and costs the most.
Mountain bike components also include mountain bike brakes. Mountain bike brakes are broken into two different kinds: disc brakes and rim brakes. Disc brakes are mountain bike components that offer a more consistent performance in all conditions and weighs more. Rim brakes are composed of a lighter material and are lower in price. They also perform poorly in rain or muddy conditions and can wear through the rim causing it to blow off. While disc brakes add more weight to the bike, these mountain bike components perform better and need little pressure to work.
No matter what level of rider, these mountain bike components are essential for a good bike. Whether it's Raleigh mountain bikes or mountain bikes from the local bike store, it's important that riders be aware of which mountain bike components work best for their bike.
Sources:
A Brief History of the Mountain Bike. FAQs.org. 8 Oct. 1998. 20 Feb 2007 <http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/part5/se ction-35.html>.
“Bike Frame Materials.” Epinions.com. 5 Mar. 2004. Shopping.com, Inc. 20 Feb. 2007 <http://www99.epinions.com/content_3704660100&g t;.
Schwartz, Jefferey. “If You Don’t Have Good Pedals, You Don’t Have a Good Bike.” Epinions.com. 28 Mar. 2001. Shopping.com, Inc. 20 Feb 2007 <http://www99.epinions.com/content_1178116228&g t;.
Tisue, Kevin. “Should I Go Tubeless?” About: Mountain Biking. 2007. About, Inc. 20 Feb. 2007 <http://mountainbike.about.com/od/buyersguidean dreviews/f/Tubless_ornot.htm?terms=tubeless+tires&
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