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The Short Track Cross Country event was raced around a dirt criterium style circuit, winding in and out of the Downhill event village. An enthusiastic and vocal crowd urged the Short Track racers on, with the Open Womens field first on course for their 20 minute multi lap sprint. Newly crowned Cross Country National Champion Nic Leary (Rotorua) demonstrated that an attack from the front approach also works in this shorter format of event. Leary pressured the rest of the Womens field from the gun and stretched her competitors, just like yesterday with another brutal display of aggressive riding. The real contest was taking place for the minor podium spots between Fiona McDermid (Palmerston North), Monique Avery (Rotorua) and early on from Sara Taylor (Christchurch). McDermid retained just enough gas to cross the line only seconds in front of Avery.

The Mens Short Track was a tactical duel right through to the last lap of the 28 minute mens race. Brendan Sharratt (Wellington), Mike Northcott (Tokoroa) and Mark Leishman (Rotorua) were locked in a three way battle for much of the race until Sharratt faded. Leishman and Northcott then traded attacks for the remainder of the race, until 2010 National Cross Country Champ Northcott backed up yesterday’s success to gap Leishman on the second half of the last lap to take the win. Sharratt discovered new legs after fading mid race and slipping back into the clutches of Patrick Avery and Kyle Wood, to then clear out on his own to claim the third podium spot.

The Downhill race for National Championship titles was under way at 2pm. The morning’s seeding session produced a mixed bag of results across the age group categories, with many strong favourites being gathered up in the clutches of the gusting wind to fall off the pace. However, come race time and the summer form book regained its worth – deserved champions crowned across the board. Of note was the performance of George Brannigan (Hastings) who was racing in the Under 19 category for this title after a summer racing in the Elites. Brannigan convincingly won today, in a time that would have placed him 6th in the Elite field. Likewise Local Wellington rider Dan Meilink – like Brannigan Meilink seeded first in Senior Mens and backed that up to win his first Senior Mens Downhill National title.

In the Elite Womens race Harriet Harper (Blenheim) was after back to back National Championship titles in the prestiguous Downhill discipline. And she did this in style, winning over the fast improving Sarah Walker. BMX Olympian Walker was all praise after her foray into downhill racing, recognising first hand just how tough and uncompromising this sport is. Walker may just have enjoyed this experience so much that it won’t be the last seen of her on a 26″ downhill race bike.

The Elite Mens race was missing New Zealand’s two highest ranked racers – Sam Blenkinsop through injury and Justin Leov. However, the quality of field chasing this 2010 National title was extremely high, with all of NZ’s other top professionals and several visiting international athletes in the field. Wyn Masters (New Plymouth) seeded first, and the rest of the top ten seeded riders were right on his tail time-wise. But this race was to be Wyn Master’s finest moment and he followed through on his top seeding time to take the Elite Mens National Championship title from Wanganui’s Glenn Haden. Haden had won at Long Gulley before in similar conditions, and lost out to Master’s typically powerful and controlled display by only 0.3 seconds. Levin’s Nathan Rankin took third, with Cam Cole (Christchurch) and Four Cross National Champion Matt Walker (Kawerau) 4th and 5th. For Masters this title win seems to have been a long time coming, and for the likeable and charismatic Taranaki streak, totally deserved this year.
The RaboPlus Mountainbike National Championships finish tomorrow with the Hillclimb event on Mt. Victoria at midday.

Photo Credits – Caleb Smith
#6 – Cam Cole
#257 – Dan Meilink
#62 – George Brannigan
#110 Louis Hamilton (Under 17 National Champion)
#26 – Matt Scoles
#7 Nathan Rankin
#11 – Wyn Masters

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

Photo Credits – Caleb Smith
#6 – Cam Cole
#257 – Dan Meilink
#62 – George Brannigan
#110 Louis Hamilton (Under 17 National Champion)
#26 – Matt Scoles
#7 Nathan Rankin
#11 – Wyn Masters

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Mountain biking accessories come in all different forms and you do not need all of them. They also have the added advantage of reducing your bike insurance premium in addition to potentially saving your life.

If you are only just starting out in the world of mountain biking, then it is possible that you are currently feeling a little confused as to which accessories you need. With so many different accessories out there to purchase for mountain biking, it can often be difficult to know which ones will come in useful and which ones are better left alone.

Really you do not need every single accessory which has been brought out for mountain bikes. It all depends upon how often you use your bike and what you will be using it for. So before you purchase anything, it is a good idea to know what each of the different accessories does and whether it would be useful to you. Ideally you will want to purchase accessories which enable you to be as safe as possible so here you will find out about the best safety accessories available to purchase.

The Best Safety Accessories

If you are looking for the best safety mountain bike accessories then the first thing you need to look into is a helmet. This may sound obvious but there are some bikers who think that they do not need a helmet because mountain biking is different to ordinary biking. However, no matter which type of biking you take part in, a helmet is an essential accessory that every rider must wear. You could potentially suffer a very serious head injury if you were to fall off your bike or collide with something. So a helmet is not something that can be forgotten.

The next accessory which you may not have thought about is mountain bike gloves. Now most people wear gloves whilst they are riding because they keep the hands warm. However they do much more than that and they can in fact be a really good safety accessory. They help you to have a better grip on the handlebars which can be really helpful when you are going over rough terrain. They also provide a higher level of comfort which means that you can cycle for further without feeling the strain on your hands. Finally they can also help to cushion the hands when you fall. You always put your hands out to stop you when you fall and that can lead to nasty injuries. So wearing gloves can potentially stop these injuries from occurring.

Another important safety accessory is eye protection. The reason you need toprotect your eyes whilst out riding is because bits of debris can easily fly up and land in your eye. This can hurt a lot, cause an injury to the eye and the temporary loss of vision could make you fall off your bike too. So it is obviously a very serious worry if you were to get something in your eye whilst riding.

Overall the above mentioned are the main safety accessories that you will need for mountain biking. If you protect yourself as much as possible you will be less likely to receive an injury if you were to fall off your bike.

The Short Track Cross Country event was raced around a dirt criterium style circuit, winding in and out of the Downhill event village. An enthusiastic and vocal crowd urged the Short Track racers on, with the Open Womens field first on course for their 20 minute multi lap sprint. Newly crowned Cross Country National Champion Nic Leary (Rotorua) demonstrated that an attack from the front approach also works in this shorter format of event. Leary pressured the rest of the Womens field from the gun and stretched her competitors, just like yesterday with another brutal display of aggressive riding. The real contest was taking place for the minor podium spots between Fiona McDermid (Palmerston North), Monique Avery (Rotorua) and early on from Sara Taylor (Christchurch). McDermid retained just enough gas to cross the line only seconds in front of Avery.

The Mens Short Track was a tactical duel right through to the last lap of the 28 minute mens race. Brendan Sharratt (Wellington), Mike Northcott (Tokoroa) and Mark Leishman (Rotorua) were locked in a three way battle for much of the race until Sharratt faded. Leishman and Northcott then traded attacks for the remainder of the race, until 2010 National Cross Country Champ Northcott backed up yesterday’s success to gap Leishman on the second half of the last lap to take the win. Sharratt discovered new legs after fading mid race and slipping back into the clutches of Patrick Avery and Kyle Wood, to then clear out on his own to claim the third podium spot.

The Downhill race for National Championship titles was under way at 2pm. The morning’s seeding session produced a mixed bag of results across the age group categories, with many strong favourites being gathered up in the clutches of the gusting wind to fall off the pace. However, come race time and the summer form book regained its worth – deserved champions crowned across the board. Of note was the performance of George Brannigan (Hastings) who was racing in the Under 19 category for this title after a summer racing in the Elites. Brannigan convincingly won today, in a time that would have placed him 6th in the Elite field. Likewise Local Wellington rider Dan Meilink – like Brannigan Meilink seeded first in Senior Mens and backed that up to win his first Senior Mens Downhill National title.

In the Elite Womens race Harriet Harper (Blenheim) was after back to back National Championship titles in the prestiguous Downhill discipline. And she did this in style, winning over the fast improving Sarah Walker. BMX Olympian Walker was all praise after her foray into downhill racing, recognising first hand just how tough and uncompromising this sport is. Walker may just have enjoyed this experience so much that it won’t be the last seen of her on a 26″ downhill race bike.

The Elite Mens race was missing New Zealand’s two highest ranked racers – Sam Blenkinsop through injury and Justin Leov. However, the quality of field chasing this 2010 National title was extremely high, with all of NZ’s other top professionals and several visiting international athletes in the field. Wyn Masters (New Plymouth) seeded first, and the rest of the top ten seeded riders were right on his tail time-wise. But this race was to be Wyn Master’s finest moment and he followed through on his top seeding time to take the Elite Mens National Championship title from Wanganui’s Glenn Haden. Haden had won at Long Gulley before in similar conditions, and lost out to Master’s typically powerful and controlled display by only 0.3 seconds. Levin’s Nathan Rankin took third, with Cam Cole (Christchurch) and Four Cross National Champion Matt Walker (Kawerau) 4th and 5th. For Masters this title win seems to have been a long time coming, and for the likeable and charismatic Taranaki streak, totally deserved this year.
The RaboPlus Mountainbike National Championships finish tomorrow with the Hillclimb event on Mt. Victoria at midday.

Photo Credits – Caleb Smith
#6 – Cam Cole
#257 – Dan Meilink
#62 – George Brannigan
#110 Louis Hamilton (Under 17 National Champion)
#26 – Matt Scoles
#7 Nathan Rankin
#11 – Wyn Masters

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

Photo Credits – Caleb Smith
#6 – Cam Cole
#257 – Dan Meilink
#62 – George Brannigan
#110 Louis Hamilton (Under 17 National Champion)
#26 – Matt Scoles
#7 Nathan Rankin
#11 – Wyn Masters

Related Posts

• Olpran Extreme 18″ Mountain Bike 2008 Aluminum
  Extreme 24 Speed Mountain Bike

  This is a brand new bike fresh from the factory.  This bike was made in Taiwan alongside all the top brands.  These are well constructed frames, made to last.  This i…

• Olpran Extreme 20″ Mountain Bike 2008 Aluminum
  Extreme 24 Speed Mountain Bike

  This is a brand new bike fresh from the factory.  This bike was made in Taiwan alongside all the top brands.  These are well constructed frames, made to last.  This i…

• Olpran Tomahawk 22″ Mountain Bike 2008 Aluminum
  Tomahawk 24 speed Mountain bike

  This is a brand new bike fresh from the factory.  This bike was made in Taiwan alongside all the top brands.  These are well constructed frames, made to last.  This …

• Men’s Forge Sawback Hard-Tail 5xx Mountain Bike – Matte Blue (19″)
  The Forge Sawback 5xx hard-tail mountain bike offers brand name components and is awesome on dirt trails and single tracks. Shimano Deore drivetrain and shifters with a Truvativ ISOflow crankset, Rock…
• Schwinn Mesa GS Adult Mountain Bike
  Outfitted with a Schwinn N-Litened Gold Label TIG welded aluminum frame with off-road, ride-tuned geometry, the Schwinn Mesa GS adult mountain bike is versatile enough for both dirt and street riding….

Mountain biking accessories come in all different forms and you do not need all of them. They also have the added advantage of reducing your bike insurance premium in addition to potentially saving your life.

If you are only just starting out in the world of mountain biking, then it is possible that you are currently feeling a little confused as to which accessories you need. With so many different accessories out there to purchase for mountain biking, it can often be difficult to know which ones will come in useful and which ones are better left alone.

Really you do not need every single accessory which has been brought out for mountain bikes. It all depends upon how often you use your bike and what you will be using it for. So before you purchase anything, it is a good idea to know what each of the different accessories does and whether it would be useful to you. Ideally you will want to purchase accessories which enable you to be as safe as possible so here you will find out about the best safety accessories available to purchase.

The Best Safety Accessories

If you are looking for the best safety mountain bike accessories then the first thing you need to look into is a helmet. This may sound obvious but there are some bikers who think that they do not need a helmet because mountain biking is different to ordinary biking. However, no matter which type of biking you take part in, a helmet is an essential accessory that every rider must wear. You could potentially suffer a very serious head injury if you were to fall off your bike or collide with something. So a helmet is not something that can be forgotten.

The next accessory which you may not have thought about is mountain bike gloves. Now most people wear gloves whilst they are riding because they keep the hands warm. However they do much more than that and they can in fact be a really good safety accessory. They help you to have a better grip on the handlebars which can be really helpful when you are going over rough terrain. They also provide a higher level of comfort which means that you can cycle for further without feeling the strain on your hands. Finally they can also help to cushion the hands when you fall. You always put your hands out to stop you when you fall and that can lead to nasty injuries. So wearing gloves can potentially stop these injuries from occurring.

Another important safety accessory is eye protection. The reason you need toprotect your eyes whilst out riding is because bits of debris can easily fly up and land in your eye. This can hurt a lot, cause an injury to the eye and the temporary loss of vision could make you fall off your bike too. So it is obviously a very serious worry if you were to get something in your eye whilst riding.

Overall the above mentioned are the main safety accessories that you will need for mountain biking. If you protect yourself as much as possible you will be less likely to receive an injury if you were to fall off your bike.

At the start of the winter, I was lucky enough to receive a wildcard for the second – of a total of four – Freeride World Tour women’s stop, the Scott Big Mountain Fieberbrunn in Austria. The contest, also a Freeride World Qualifier for the men, took place this weekend in generally good weather conditions. The quality of the snow on the Wildseeloder face was good, however due to the lack of a good snow base, options were limited to three to four main lines. As many competitors discovered, there was often only a thin layer of snow on relatively rocky terrain.

Female riders who chose a relatively easy line with good snow conditions, but able to ski fast and fluid, came out on top. Norway’s Ane Enderud, Freeride World Champion from 2009, dominated with a fast line in the furthest couloir on the skiers right, incorporating several airs.  Sweden’s Janette Hargin also showed great skiing with no hesitation in a similar line, while I was placed third by the judges for a fast and smooth line with one big air. New Zealand’s Janina Kuzma was close on my heels in four place with a well-skied, creative line she seemed happy with.

In the men’s field, Austria’s Matthias “Hauni” Haunholder, a local of Fieberbrunn, and Switzerland’s Simon Andermatten, shared the podium with two quite different, but very impressive runs. Third place went to Austria’s Stefan Hofer, followed by my skiing buddy and fellow Austrian Stefan Häusl.  —Lorraine Huber

Next up the Freeride World Tour heads to Squaw Valley to compete on the permanently-closed and legendarily steep Tram Face on February 27.

For more from Lorraine, read our interview with her or check out her blog.

 

Guests at Aspen/Snowmass can enjoy the competition and excitement of the Helly Hansen Colorado Freeride Championships (CFC) February 26th through 28th. This event is for expert skiers and snowboarders who hit the terrain and snow of their formidable skills. This event is an annual sell out in the ski division, so don’t wait to contact the resort. As of right now there are slots available in every category, but they go quickly. The last day for athletes to register is February 26th, but at least in the ski division there may not be a slot remaining by then.

This is the 8th annual Colorado Freeride, where freeride skiers and snowboarders hit the steeps, hucks and cliffs in competition for the top prizes. Qualifiers are held on February 27th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hanging Valley Headwall at Snowmass. The competitions themselves take place on the Burn Side Cliffs on the 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can watch the events at the top of the Alpine Springs lift at Gwyn’s High Alpine. In the event of weather than prevents the competition, it will be rescheduled for March 1st.

Some of the top competitors at the 2010 Helly Hansen Colorado Freeride Championships will include Jennifer Allen, Frank Shine and Jesse Wright. Past competitors and champions include many local skiers and Rex Wehrman, 2-time US National Freeskiing Champion and Freeride champion. Don’t miss the star athletes and tough competition on February 26th 27th at Aspen/Snowmass in Colorado.

Filmed in North and South America, Brighter has an often overlooked, unique approach to filmmaking: we’re here to have fun!

From the co-visionary of the underground cult classic Stripped, the online web series Stund, and a past editor for Freeride Entertainment, Tamas Forde/New Wave Cinema is delivering this spring exactly what you’ve been missing: A feel good, pro quality film…that won’t break the bank. We believe in giving good deals, and that’s all there is to it. Shot in pristine hi definition and 35mm d.o.f, Brighter features some of the world’s best riders, shredding and sending it for their love of riding bikes.

http://www.vimeo.com/9606536

source: Tamas Forde
newwavecine.com

At the start of the winter, I was lucky enough to receive a wildcard for the second – of a total of four – Freeride World Tour women’s stop, the Scott Big Mountain Fieberbrunn in Austria. The contest, also a Freeride World Qualifier for the men, took place this weekend in generally good weather conditions. The quality of the snow on the Wildseeloder face was good, however due to the lack of a good snow base, options were limited to three to four main lines. As many competitors discovered, there was often only a thin layer of snow on relatively rocky terrain.

Female riders who chose a relatively easy line with good snow conditions, but able to ski fast and fluid, came out on top. Norway’s Ane Enderud, Freeride World Champion from 2009, dominated with a fast line in the furthest couloir on the skiers right, incorporating several airs.  Sweden’s Janette Hargin also showed great skiing with no hesitation in a similar line, while I was placed third by the judges for a fast and smooth line with one big air. New Zealand’s Janina Kuzma was close on my heels in four place with a well-skied, creative line she seemed happy with.

In the men’s field, Austria’s Matthias “Hauni” Haunholder, a local of Fieberbrunn, and Switzerland’s Simon Andermatten, shared the podium with two quite different, but very impressive runs. Third place went to Austria’s Stefan Hofer, followed by my skiing buddy and fellow Austrian Stefan Häusl.  —Lorraine Huber

Next up the Freeride World Tour heads to Squaw Valley to compete on the permanently-closed and legendarily steep Tram Face on February 27.

For more from Lorraine, read our interview with her or check out her blog.

 

Guests at Aspen/Snowmass can enjoy the competition and excitement of the Helly Hansen Colorado Freeride Championships (CFC) February 26th through 28th. This event is for expert skiers and snowboarders who hit the terrain and snow of their formidable skills. This event is an annual sell out in the ski division, so don’t wait to contact the resort. As of right now there are slots available in every category, but they go quickly. The last day for athletes to register is February 26th, but at least in the ski division there may not be a slot remaining by then.

This is the 8th annual Colorado Freeride, where freeride skiers and snowboarders hit the steeps, hucks and cliffs in competition for the top prizes. Qualifiers are held on February 27th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hanging Valley Headwall at Snowmass. The competitions themselves take place on the Burn Side Cliffs on the 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can watch the events at the top of the Alpine Springs lift at Gwyn’s High Alpine. In the event of weather than prevents the competition, it will be rescheduled for March 1st.

Some of the top competitors at the 2010 Helly Hansen Colorado Freeride Championships will include Jennifer Allen, Frank Shine and Jesse Wright. Past competitors and champions include many local skiers and Rex Wehrman, 2-time US National Freeskiing Champion and Freeride champion. Don’t miss the star athletes and tough competition on February 26th 27th at Aspen/Snowmass in Colorado.

Filmed in North and South America, Brighter has an often overlooked, unique approach to filmmaking: we’re here to have fun!

From the co-visionary of the underground cult classic Stripped, the online web series Stund, and a past editor for Freeride Entertainment, Tamas Forde/New Wave Cinema is delivering this spring exactly what you’ve been missing: A feel good, pro quality film…that won’t break the bank. We believe in giving good deals, and that’s all there is to it. Shot in pristine hi definition and 35mm d.o.f, Brighter features some of the world’s best riders, shredding and sending it for their love of riding bikes.

http://www.vimeo.com/9606536

source: Tamas Forde
newwavecine.com

Mondraker has been testing a new FOX 40 Crown and Stem that are integrated into one piece.  Some details inside from the Mondraker site.

Mondraker always is in the offensive and trying to offer new products for the bikes and components. Featuring an integrated crown and top crown for the FOX40 fork.

At the moment we are still testing some prototypes and the plan is use this in the Barel’s Summum and rest of the riders the team are the best platform to get the best feedback product.

The Stem + Integrated link weight according to Mondraker is 253g.  115 g lighter than the Fox Crown + Stem (368g) that they’re using now.

The stock FOX 40 RC2 crown alone weights 207g according to our scale.

The Mondraker one eliminates 4 screws. Other positive point is that the new integrated Mondraker Stem + Link give us better support.

The new Stem + Integrated Crown Mondraker design is flat and offers some adjustability that they couldn’t get out of previous setups.  They say they’ve been able to get the handlebar position 2cm lower which is quite impressive.

Main features of the prototype test phase:
• Set in a single piece: upper deck DH + power.
• Compatible with Fox F40 fork.
• Total weight of package: 253g.

http://www.mondraker.com

I have been doing a few competitions lately on the Freeride World Qualifier Tour, with the goal set on making it back to the Freeride World Tour. I started out pretty well in Flaine, France, where I took a fourth place. The riding went well, but I was upset with myself for choosing a line that was little bit too easy.

After that we headed straight to Engadin (see www.engadinsnow.com for more info).

The comp took place in the Pentes de l’Hôtel face in the Brevent area of Chamonix, and riders faced not only one of the gnarliest descents in the legendary valley, but also the prospect of some pretty sketchy conditions.

James said: “I was really nervous up top after the fall of Raphy [Gillioz, who landed a cliff jump on a rock and broke his elbow] so I changed my line a bit. The landings where pretty harsh but it worked out really well for me. I am really happy to be on this podium as I live here and it is the third contest I have ever done!”

Watch out for James on the forthcoming stops of the Freeride World Tour, and check out the trip he took to New Zealand last summer, which will you will soon be able to read about in the March issue of Whitelines.

Tags: chamonix, Freeride, james stentiford, nissan, world tour

Mondraker has been testing a new FOX 40 Crown and Stem that are integrated into one piece.  Some details inside from the Mondraker site.

Mondraker always is in the offensive and trying to offer new products for the bikes and components. Featuring an integrated crown and top crown for the FOX40 fork.

At the moment we are still testing some prototypes and the plan is use this in the Barel’s Summum and rest of the riders the team are the best platform to get the best feedback product.

The Stem + Integrated link weight according to Mondraker is 253g.  115 g lighter than the Fox Crown + Stem (368g) that they’re using now.

The stock FOX 40 RC2 crown alone weights 207g according to our scale.

The Mondraker one eliminates 4 screws. Other positive point is that the new integrated Mondraker Stem + Link give us better support.

The new Stem + Integrated Crown Mondraker design is flat and offers some adjustability that they couldn’t get out of previous setups.  They say they’ve been able to get the handlebar position 2cm lower which is quite impressive.

Main features of the prototype test phase:
• Set in a single piece: upper deck DH + power.
• Compatible with Fox F40 fork.
• Total weight of package: 253g.

http://www.mondraker.com

I have been doing a few competitions lately on the Freeride World Qualifier Tour, with the goal set on making it back to the Freeride World Tour. I started out pretty well in Flaine, France, where I took a fourth place. The riding went well, but I was upset with myself for choosing a line that was little bit too easy.

After that we headed straight to Engadin (see www.engadinsnow.com for more info).

The comp took place in the Pentes de l’Hôtel face in the Brevent area of Chamonix, and riders faced not only one of the gnarliest descents in the legendary valley, but also the prospect of some pretty sketchy conditions.

James said: “I was really nervous up top after the fall of Raphy [Gillioz, who landed a cliff jump on a rock and broke his elbow] so I changed my line a bit. The landings where pretty harsh but it worked out really well for me. I am really happy to be on this podium as I live here and it is the third contest I have ever done!”

Watch out for James on the forthcoming stops of the Freeride World Tour, and check out the trip he took to New Zealand last summer, which will you will soon be able to read about in the March issue of Whitelines.

Tags: chamonix, Freeride, james stentiford, nissan, world tour

If you are looking to pick the right mountain bike, there are plenty to choose from. What is perfect for one person may not be for the next person. There are many things that affect finding the right mountain bike. Going to a bike specialty retailer and talking to an expert will make this decision much easier.

First, you must decide where you are going to ride the mountain bike and exactly how you will ride it. Also, since Mountain Bikes come in a wide variety of price ranges, you must set your budget for it. The cost of added bike accessories such as helmet, gloves, cycling shoes and shorts, emergency repair kit, lights and hydration system must be factored in the cost of purchasing a bicycle.

There are four types of mountain bikes to choose from. They are a rigid which is a no-frills bicycle. This is good for all around riding on roads and trails. The front suspension or hardtail will increase the comfort level for the rider even on the roughest trails. Dual Suspension has front and rear suspension and gives awesome comfort, less impact on the body and great control. Freeride is a reinforced frame for the serious cyclist for downhill's and steep drop-offs.

The frame doesn't matter as much, but there are several choices. The choices are aluminum, steel, carbon fiber and titanium. The last two are by far the most expensive.

Another thing a mountain bike rider must decide, if it will be used mainly for short or long travel. If you decide short, it takes the bite off the rough stuff while preserving efficiency. For longer travel, it is able to withstand huge hits.

Handlebars can be flat or a riser. The flat handlebars sit lower, lighter and favored by long-distance riders. Riser handlebars come in many different shapes and are swept back a bit to make easier to reach. It allows the rider to sit more upright.

Pedals can be the basic pedals with toe clips and straps or clipless pedals. If you go with clipless pedals, they spin the pedals faster, but you need a special cycling shoe with cleats on the bottom to lock feet to the pedal. Most mountain bikes have the clipless pedals.

For brakes, there is the choice of rim brakes or disc brakes. The rim brake is the traditional brake that rubs on the rim to slow down. It is easier for service and or repair. One potential weakness with the rim brake is the possibility of wearing down the rim. Also, the rim brake is not effective in muddy and wet conditions.

Wheels that are lighter and easier to pedal plus have fewer spokes are more expensive. The tread will differ depending on the riding environment. Tubeless tires are becoming more popular. This is due to many tires getting pinched flats from the rim.

This was a brief overview of the many things to consider before you purchased a mountain bike. Having answered these questions before you visit a bike store will save you time and help in finding the perfect bike to consider. One last thing is to test ride any bike you have an interest in. The bike must be comfortable for you to ride or down the road; you will regret buying it no matter what bells and whistles are available.

Did you know that there are nine categories that mountain biking can be split into? Each category offers the rider a different experience either as a hobby or as a sport. The different mountain bike reviews are broken down into these categories:

1. Dirt Jumping

This style of mountain biking is known for the high jumps over manmade dirt hills. While in the air, tricks are done on the bike. Six or more jumps are usually done in one run and the jumps are close together so that the biker can get a flow going with their trick riding.

2. Cross country
In this style of mountain biking, you ride your bike up and down hills. It is not the most extreme form in the mountain biking world, but most of this type of ride is in great shape due to the long rides.

3. Cyclo cross
This biking category is a cross between mountain and road biking. The riders learn how to race on and off the course, ride obstacles, and go through rivers.

4. Downhill Biking

Racing downhill the fastest is the goal of downhill mountain bikers. The name of the game is extreme and intense riding, to help give the riders maximum excitement and thrills.

5. BMX
This style of mountain biking uses 20-inch wheels. You can very commonly see this kind of bikes at skate parks or areas with dirt jumps. These BMX bikes are made for performing tricks and doing stunts because they have a shorter wheel base and smaller wheels.

6. Trials
The bicycles used in trials do not look anything like mountain bikes. They have 20 or 26-inch wheels and they have smaller, lower frames than mountain bikes. In trials, riders jump their bikes over different obstacles. This kind of biking takes a great deal of practice, focus, and balance.

7. Freeride Biking

This type of mountain biking involves finding a path down the side of the mountain where you can use all of the terrain to do tricks, stunts, etc. This is a very popular competition, because the riders can express themselves.

8. Street and Urban Biking
Manmade obstacles, ledges, and other urban areas are what this type of biking revolves around. They will do great stunts and tricks on these manmade items, too, including grinds and stalls.

9. Single Speed
This kind of biking is done on a bicycle with only one gear and few other components. This is not to be confused with a fixed gear bicycle. The basis behind this kind of biking is simplicity. This helps the pedaling to be more efficient and the bicycle is lighter and has fewer problems mechanically.

As a mountain bike press editor, one of the most common questions that lands on my desk each week is the request for a better understanding of the classification of the bikes on the market and their intended riding purposes. In effort to address these issues, the following is general guide to each mountain bike label and its respective purpose.

TRAIL-
The universal, most well rounded and largest market segment of the mountain bike industry. Trail bikes are typically sturdy framed, outfitted with a potpourri of worthy components, and can handle most riding conditions thrown at them. It is versatility and competitive pricing that makes these bikes appeal to a vast majority of riders in all disciplines. Options generally include front or dual suspension setups, disc brakes, 2 to 5 inches of fairly supple suspension travel, and overall weights in the middle of the spectrum.

All Mountain (AM)-
Many industry insiders criticize the All Mountain label as being derived by marketing departments of bike manufacturers in effort to trick riders into believing they need more than one bike to be happy. While this may be true to a degree, the fact is the All Mountain bike earns its name due to its alleged ability to handle all aspects of the mountain (climbs, descents, jumps etc.) They are typically beefier than a trail bike with anywhere from 4 to 7 inches of suspension travel. Components are typically a mix of lighter cross country gear and beefed up downhill bits in effort to smear the lines between the classification system. Like the trail bike, this is a fairly large (and upcoming) segment of the market despite being a bit heavier and more sluggish than the true trail bike.

CROSS COUNTRY (XC)-
Whereas on paper both a trail and cross country bike appear quite similar the versatility of today's trail and All Mountain bikes are forcing a true cross country setup into a category of its own. The basis of the cross-country approach is component selection of the lightest possibly available. Since the goal and usage of this setup is centered on endurance racing, attributes such as durability and long-term reliability are bartered for shaving off pounds, ounces, and grams. Suspension travel is very soft and kept to a minimum, existing only to smooth out trail conditions rather than absorb big hits. The cross-country bike is the proper choice for the rider looking to race endurance or trail-sprint on the lightest possible bike (at the cost of frequent maintenance and a generally disposable attitude). Here the hard tail (lack of rear suspension) is still a contender.

Dual Slalom or 4X-
Just as specific as the Cross Country division is to racing on flat ground,the Dual Slalom or Mountain Cross or Four Cross (4X) bikes are designed specifically for race applications giving up reliability and long-term durability for a light-weight efficient pedaling platform designed especially for carrying speed and cornering. Truly a mixed bag of options, rigids, hard tail and dual suspension set-ups are all commonly found. Like in skiing, dual slalom or 4-cross racing is typically gated and involves racing against other competitors down the side of a jump laden, berm filled, mountain. This bike is literally disposable and is designed to win races then be totally rebuilt or replaced making it a very purpose-driven choice.

Down Hill-
The downhill bike is, in essence, the exact opposite reasoning of the XC setup in that suspension travel is at an absolute maximum (hovering around 9 inches of ultra beefy, extra-stiff travel) and overall bike weight that can easily approach the 50 pound mark. However, consider gravity working with the rider and it becomes clear how downhill bikes are capable of pounding through seemingly impossible rock gardens, swallowing up massive rain wash-outs, and hucking unrealistic hang time off dirt doubles, tabletops, and cliff drops. However as with any specific setup, there are cons to counter the pros. In this case, it is trail riding that suffers. Many true downhill bikes lack gearing low enough to allow a rider the ability to tackle anything other than gravity-assisted riding. As such, downhill riders typically ride the ski lift (or are driven via car or truck (called shuttle-runs)) back to the top of the mountain once they reach the bottom. With such incredible weight under the rider, pedaling uphill is nearly impossible. Supposedly, the All Mountain bike came into being in attempt to remedy this reality.

Freeride-
Some riders appreciate the idea of flying down the mountain side with gravity sucking the wind from their lungs but rather than racing against a stopwatch (as is the case in downhill riding) these individuals seek out jumps and stunts from which to go big. This is where the Freeride bike comes into play. Physically it looks a lot like a downhill race bike. However, upon closer examination, the freeride bike contains components thats aren't as light-weight as its downhill-only cousin in effort to make the bike able to withstand repeated hard landings. Although still quite heavy and overbuilt, these bikes are at least capable of being pedaled on multi-use trails but come equipped with enough suspension travel and braking ability to tame North Shore style construction loaded with drops, wooden obstacles and chutes. Other details that separate them from their their downhill cousins are slightly shorter overall lengths, stubbier ergonomics, and less attention to wispy weight-saving components that are essential to competitive racing.

Dirt Jump/ Stunt & Urban-
What if someone took a lightweight, single speed BMX frame and outfitted it with 4 to 5 inches of stiff yet lightweight mountain bike forks and replaced the tiny 20 inch wheels with 24 inchers? You would have a jump-specific mountain bike, that's what. At home in skate parks, BMX dirt tracks, wooden vert ramps, and urban assaults everywhere, these bikes represent the rider looking to show off some freestyle. Simplicity to the bike's design is the key and riding styles that favor body English are most at home here. Being able to land smoothly on the transition (landing ramp) is an essential part of mastering these bikes as they rarely come equipped with rear suspension and in some cases, have none at all.

If you are looking to pick the right mountain bike, there are plenty to choose from. What is perfect for one person may not be for the next person. There are many things that affect finding the right mountain bike. Going to a bike specialty retailer and talking to an expert will make this decision much easier.

First, you must decide where you are going to ride the mountain bike and exactly how you will ride it. Also, since Mountain Bikes come in a wide variety of price ranges, you must set your budget for it. The cost of added bike accessories such as helmet, gloves, cycling shoes and shorts, emergency repair kit, lights and hydration system must be factored in the cost of purchasing a bicycle.

There are four types of mountain bikes to choose from. They are a rigid which is a no-frills bicycle. This is good for all around riding on roads and trails. The front suspension or hardtail will increase the comfort level for the rider even on the roughest trails. Dual Suspension has front and rear suspension and gives awesome comfort, less impact on the body and great control. Freeride is a reinforced frame for the serious cyclist for downhill's and steep drop-offs.

The frame doesn't matter as much, but there are several choices. The choices are aluminum, steel, carbon fiber and titanium. The last two are by far the most expensive.

Another thing a mountain bike rider must decide, if it will be used mainly for short or long travel. If you decide short, it takes the bite off the rough stuff while preserving efficiency. For longer travel, it is able to withstand huge hits.

Handlebars can be flat or a riser. The flat handlebars sit lower, lighter and favored by long-distance riders. Riser handlebars come in many different shapes and are swept back a bit to make easier to reach. It allows the rider to sit more upright.

Pedals can be the basic pedals with toe clips and straps or clipless pedals. If you go with clipless pedals, they spin the pedals faster, but you need a special cycling shoe with cleats on the bottom to lock feet to the pedal. Most mountain bikes have the clipless pedals.

For brakes, there is the choice of rim brakes or disc brakes. The rim brake is the traditional brake that rubs on the rim to slow down. It is easier for service and or repair. One potential weakness with the rim brake is the possibility of wearing down the rim. Also, the rim brake is not effective in muddy and wet conditions.

Wheels that are lighter and easier to pedal plus have fewer spokes are more expensive. The tread will differ depending on the riding environment. Tubeless tires are becoming more popular. This is due to many tires getting pinched flats from the rim.

This was a brief overview of the many things to consider before you purchased a mountain bike. Having answered these questions before you visit a bike store will save you time and help in finding the perfect bike to consider. One last thing is to test ride any bike you have an interest in. The bike must be comfortable for you to ride or down the road; you will regret buying it no matter what bells and whistles are available.

Whether you're looking to get in shape for 2009, looking for a thrill that can keep you grounded, or just love being outdoors and off-road, women's mountain biking makes for a great sport or hobby. But with so many choices, how do you know which is the right women's mountain bike for you? Well, here is a guide of what women's mountain bikes out there that can help.

First you'll want to know the kinds of women's mountain bikes and what they're good for.

Rigid: This is your no-frills mountain bike, great for riding anywhere.

Front Suspension or Hardtail: This is a Rigid but with a front end suspension fork which makes it easier to control on rough terrain.

Full Suspension: With suspension forks at the front and back, this bike offers great comfort and control on hard trails and causes less impact on your body.

There's also Dirt Jumping, Freeride, All Mountain, Downhill, 29ers, and Singlespeed bikes. There are other things that may come into play such as types of frames and materials used, but now you know the basics. If you want to learn more about the kinds of bikes available, visit beaconcycling.com.

You can do your bike shopping in many places. You might have a locally owned bike shop in your area. Sporting goods stores carry a wide selection. There's even the internet. If you'd like to know where the best bike shops are, visit bicycleresearch.com for a list of the top 100 bike shops in the country.

A “Yahoo!” search for “2009 women's mountain bikes” brings up 18MILLION hits, proof that mountain biking isn't just a guy thing. The first link to pop up will take you to an ordering page for the Marin Bear Valley Women' Bike, priced at $729. It's a hardtail made of aluminum with 24 speeds. The shock support system and the padded speed seat were designed with the contours of a woman's body in mind. It can be found at Rei.com

Also on the Rei website, you'll find the Scott Contessa 50. A similar frame and material, this hardtail bike is also designed for a woman's comfort while still offering a rugged ride. This model runs at a cheaper cost of only $499.

Other bikes made for females include the Novara Piedra for $459, the Cannondale F9 at $429, and the K2 T:9 Trailhead at the reduced price of $310. These are all hardtails.

If you'd rather go for a full-suspension bike, things can get a little pricier. The Novara Bliss 2.0 runs at over $1,300.

Depending on the brand name and style of mountain bike you're after, you could spend anywhere from $300 to $3,000. Some of the brands you might want to check out are Cannondale, GT, K2, Marin, Novara and Scott.

In the Hartford, Ct area,there are several very good bicycle dealers who stock a wide variety of two and three- wheeled bicycles. At these bicycle shops, consumers can find bikes for the entire family,including children's and adult's conventional- style bicycles,BMX,mountain and freestyle bikes,tandems, tricycles,unicycles,hybrids,recumbents and folding bikes.

In addition to selling brand- new bicycles,most Hartford,Ct area bicycle dealers and shops also offer parts and accessories and often perform bicycle repairs as well. Expert bike fitting and custom bike building, including jumping and triathlon models are other services offered by some of the bicycle dealers and shops in the Hartford, Ct area.Because each bicycle dealer offers specific policies regarding financing, guarantees and warrantees, it is a worthwhile endeavour for the Hartford, Ct area consumer to shop around when seeking to purchase a bicycle. In an effort to assist the consumer in that process, here is a guide that briefly profiles the top bicycle dealers and shops in the Hartford, Ct area.

The Bike Shop..681 Main St, Manchester, Ct..(860)647-1027
This trusted and reliable Hartford, Ct area bicycle dealer provides a complete selection of adult's and children's bicycles.
BMX,comfort,hybrid,mountain,recumbent and road bicycles are some of the types available for sale here.A wide variety of bicycle accessories and skateboards are featured, and they also do repairs on all makes and models of bicycles.

Biker's Edge..384 Farmington Ave,Bristol,Ct..(860)585-0140
With over 800 bikes on display in their expanded showroom,Biker's Edge has a bicycle to suit every consumer's needs.Many road bicycles and BMX and freestyle bikes are featured here.Additionally, one of the largest selections of mountain bicycles in the Hartford, Ct area is offered here.This bicycle shop is also the home of the “Largest mountain bike club in Connecticut.” Open seven days a week,they offer service on all brands and 24-hour service is available.

Bloomfield Bicycle and Repair Shop..38 Tunxis Ave,Bloomfield,Ct..(860)242-9884
For over forty years,this Hartford,Ct area bicycle dealer has been providing top-quality sales and service to local residents.Their large shop features new Giant,Mongoose,Schwinn and Trek models and many others, as well as a selection of rebuilt bicycles.Adult trikes,BMX and folding bikes,joggers,motorcross,tandems,tricycles and unicycles are all featured at this excellent facility.Mountain,road and hybrid bicycles are available,as are car racks,exercise equipment and bicycle rentals.This bicycle dealer provides expert repairs on most models,easy financing and a 10 year guaranty on all new bikes.

Central Wheel..62 Farmington Ave,Farmington,Ct..(860)677-7010
Since 1935,Central Wheel has been one of the most well-known and highly-regarded bicycle dealers in the local area.Previously in West Hartford,Ct,Central Wheel has outfitted generations of local residents with all types of bicycles.At their Farmington,Ct shop,they feature a wide variety of bicycles and accessories for children and adults.Top-quality custom bike-building,bike fitting and repairs are all available here,as well as triathlon bikes,wetsuits and gear.Some of the brands featured here are;Cannondale,Jamis,Diador and Raleigh.

Cutting Edge Bike Shop..146 Mill St,Berlin,Ct..1-866-396-3343
For consumers seeking BMX,mountain,freeride and DH bikes in the Hartford,Ct area,this bicycle dealer has one of the widest selections available.Some of the brands featured at this shop are;Eastern,Haro,Hoffman,Jamis,Kona and Santa Cruz.Full service and fast repairs of most model bikes are offered here and they also have a huge selection of parts and accessories.

Manchester Cycle Shop..178 Middle Turnpike West,Manchester,Ct..(860)649-2098
For over fifty years,Hartford,Ct area bicycle enthusiasts have been turning to Manchester Cycle Shop,to fill all of their bicycling needs.This professional bicycle dealer stocks models by Diamond Back,Klein,Schwinn,Scott and Trek.Top-quality repairs of most models of bicycles are performed here and they also feature a wide assortment of accessories.

Newington Bicycle..1030 Main St,Newington,Ct..(860)667-3997
Besides offering a wide selection of new bicycles for both children and adults,this bicycle dealer also provides professional assembly and fit,clinics and classes and organizes community bicycle rides.Some of the brands of bicycles featured at this Hartford,Ct area bike shop are;Bianchi,Klein,Lemond,Mongoose,Schwinn and Trek.They also stock a full line of clothing,shoes,gloves and accessories.

Did you know that there are nine categories that mountain biking can be split into? Each category offers the rider a different experience either as a hobby or as a sport. The different mountain bike reviews are broken down into these categories:

1. Dirt Jumping

This style of mountain biking is known for the high jumps over manmade dirt hills. While in the air, tricks are done on the bike. Six or more jumps are usually done in one run and the jumps are close together so that the biker can get a flow going with their trick riding.

2. Cross country
In this style of mountain biking, you ride your bike up and down hills. It is not the most extreme form in the mountain biking world, but most of this type of ride is in great shape due to the long rides.

3. Cyclo cross
This biking category is a cross between mountain and road biking. The riders learn how to race on and off the course, ride obstacles, and go through rivers.

4. Downhill Biking

Racing downhill the fastest is the goal of downhill mountain bikers. The name of the game is extreme and intense riding, to help give the riders maximum excitement and thrills.

5. BMX
This style of mountain biking uses 20-inch wheels. You can very commonly see this kind of bikes at skate parks or areas with dirt jumps. These BMX bikes are made for performing tricks and doing stunts because they have a shorter wheel base and smaller wheels.

6. Trials
The bicycles used in trials do not look anything like mountain bikes. They have 20 or 26-inch wheels and they have smaller, lower frames than mountain bikes. In trials, riders jump their bikes over different obstacles. This kind of biking takes a great deal of practice, focus, and balance.

7. Freeride Biking

This type of mountain biking involves finding a path down the side of the mountain where you can use all of the terrain to do tricks, stunts, etc. This is a very popular competition, because the riders can express themselves.

8. Street and Urban Biking
Manmade obstacles, ledges, and other urban areas are what this type of biking revolves around. They will do great stunts and tricks on these manmade items, too, including grinds and stalls.

9. Single Speed
This kind of biking is done on a bicycle with only one gear and few other components. This is not to be confused with a fixed gear bicycle. The basis behind this kind of biking is simplicity. This helps the pedaling to be more efficient and the bicycle is lighter and has fewer problems mechanically.