Crooked Necks

Archive for the ‘Mountain Biking’ Category

Ever get into a “slump” where you are not riding as confidently as normal?

I have spoken with and email a lot of clients who are in a “slump” and not riding up to their potential. Slumps can be really hard to break out of but if you can identify the cause of the slump it is easier to reverse.

Often slumps are a skills issue brought on by losing competence in the core skills, if you think this may be the cause of the slump return to your drills and spend a little more time practicing the core skills.
If you are riding well but crashing in races or when losing focus it is usually a mental issue. In the mental case there are usually one of two things going on. The first issue is often a lack of focus or concentration. If you find yourself riding the tough sections well and crashing on the easy parts of the trail this lack of concentration is often the culprit. To control your focus create a pre-ride/pre-race routine that helps you put away your everyday life and focus on the ride.

Cycling mega-stars, Orbea-For Goodness Shakes! have officially announced their men’s and women’s team for the 2010 biking season, and they include some pretty impressive stars including Rebecca Romero, an Olympic Gold Medallist. The teams were officially announced at Redbridge Cycling Centre in the UK and Orbea’s commitment to domestic talent is evident in their support for their riders. Both teams will be competing in domestic competitions and rides on the continent in 2010 with the medal hopes for the world championships and the Olympics also focusing on international competitions.

Orbea-For Goodness Sakes! have always been committed to nourishing young biking talent as well as supporting experienced riders in their cycling career. Steve Charles is the manager of the men’s team and is excited about the prospects of the individual members and the team as a whole. The guys have already clicked on and off the bikes in preparation for their training camp in Mallorca at the end of February. With a hard winter of training behind them the team and the coaches are hopeful that they will be bringing some medals home after the European and domestic competitions have finished.

Mountain biking is one among those sports that are widely enjoyed by many people especially those who love adventure and thrill. It is a recreational sport loved by many people. Mountain biking cannot be done by ordinary bikes. This sport requires some special bikes which can be used on rough terrains. These bikes are comparatively strong and flexible to ride smoothly on uneven landscapes. These bikes are usually used by those people who take part in various competitions because these bikes offer more professional approach. Many people also prefer to purchase these bikes just for recreation.

However, if you are using this bike for competitions and for rough terrains then you should keep in mind its proper maintenance and upgrading time to time. Recently, standard mountain bikes are available with quality material and all required features. However, if you do not have some features, you can simply upgrade your bike according to the demands and needs. Moreover, if any part of your bicycle is damaged, you should upgrade it immediately to keep great efficiency while taking a ride.

One of the most important decisions to make when buying a mountain bike is the type of suspension to choose. Essentially, there are two options: full suspension (front and rear wheel) vs. front suspension (front wheel only, also known as ‘hardtail’).

If you’re going to spend money on a new mountain bike, it is absolutely worth considering what kind of suspension you want. The difference can be fairly substantial. So let’s take a look at the two options:

Front Suspension

There are advantages to a front suspension bike. Pedaling is generally more efficient, especially on smooth ground (ideal for road or light off-road riding). They are also lighter than their full cousins, and in tend to require less maintenance. If you plan on doing long distance biking, on generally smooth conditions, the hardtail is probably the optimal choice. They are also prized for dirt jumping, because they provide better performance jump to jump.

Full Suspension

Front-and-rear suspension mountain bikes are generally more comfortable and controllable to ride. By combining front- and rear-wheel shocks, a full suspension ensures maximum distribution of weight, which means hitting those bumps is a lot easier on your body. This is especially important if you plan to do rough-terrain biking or serious downhill rides.