Finding The Right Mountain Bike Frame
It is crucial, and you will already understand if you have a mountain bike, that you have the right mountain bike frame. This will be determined by the sort of biking you will be doing. If you are just riding your bike to the station then a simple one will do. If you are going off road then you will need one with more suspension.
Your mountain bike frame will also by determined by whether you are male or female. A male frame will be different from a ladies mountain bike frame. You can tell the difference because the female one has a lower bar.
It is important that you get a mountain bike frame that is the right size for you. You have probably seen people on bikes that are not the right size for them and they don't realise how bad this is for them. I have seen it so often... adults that are on bikes that are too small and children that are on bikes that are too big.
You should really check the size of the frame size before you buy it. The easiest way of doing that is by sitting on it. Even if you want to buy men's or ladies mountain bikes on the internet then you can. Just make sure that you check out the size first.
When you sit on the seat have one foot on the floor and the other one on pedal. Position the pedal so it is as low as it will go on its cycle. If your leg is almost straight then it is the right size, if not just adjust the seat slightly. Try a different mountain bike frame if you can't find a comfortable position.
You should be performing regular checks on your bike once you have bought it. If you fail to do this then it could be unfit for the road. It is important that you check the tire pressure, the brakes and oil the chain at regular intervals.
How Important Is A Mens Mountain Bike Frame?
I read an article the other day asking if there was an ideal mens mountain bike frame. The subject of the article was while it would be good to have the perfect bike frame that would meet everybody’s needs, it doesn’t exist because we’re all different. What might be great for me, won’t do for you. There maybe different categories of frames that many different people would find beneficial, but there’s not that one ideal bike frame out there now and will not exist in the future.
So that got me to thinking about mountain bike frames in general. How important is the bike frame to a rider. Almost all frames have the same basic design, but there are a few that deviate even from the standard design for whatever reason. If you had to choose a particular feature or component for your bike, how high would the frame be? Since there isn’t much difference between them, to me, I don’t think it would be very significant. But I don’t know.
Does the frame really make a difference in the different terrains that you might ride? How much can a frame do if you’re in a mountain desert area versus a terrain that is in a wooded flat area? Yes, there’s some factors of the flexibility of the frame and how much it gives or doesn’t give. And yes, I suppose that the structural soundness of the frame would be important in a more demanding environment, but would there really be a frame that couldn’t handle a challenging environment?
Since the frames are specifically designed for mountain biking, if the manufacturer produces quality frames, shouldn’t they be able to withstand demanding conditions in general?
So to me, I’d say that while the frame is essential, I wouldn’t think it was that significant related to the other components that are part of the bike
Mountain Bike Frames – Different Materials For Different Applications
The cost of a mountain bike frame is directly related the material used in its construction, as well as the treatment that the material has received.
Currently, there are five types of material used in mountain bike frames - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber.
High tensile steel is a very durable and inexpensive alloy that's found in entry level mountain bikes. It features a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so more material is needed to make it stiff enough for a frame, which will in turn make it that much heavier.
Chromoly steel or more commonly know simply as chromoly, is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is probably the most refined framing material, giving many years of dependable service. Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can find this material in bikes of all price ranges. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.
Aluminum has been refined pretty much in the same way as chromoly. There have been various alloys developed, as well as heat treatment and butting. Aluminum is a light material, so some frames are available in an oversized in diameter to increase stiffness without adding much to the overall weight. A dual suspension mountain bike frame is often made with aluminum, since it's generally the stiffest and most cost effective.
Titanium frames remain expensive because it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame. Titanium is considered an alloy, usually mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it better weldability and ride characteristics.
More compliant than chromoly, it offers better fatigue and corrosion properties.
Carbon fiber is a man made composite material, and is extremely light, strong and stiff. The frame can be custom designed to increase strength in specific areas, and reduce weight in others. A carbon fiber frame was used initially for the professional level sport rider, due to their initial high cost, but they are now available on more everyday bikes.
The material you choose for your bike, all depends on where you ride, what style you use and how much you are willing to pay.
Almost all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with some respect.
Free Article About Mountain Bike Frames
You will find the cost of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to the material it’s made from, and the treatment the substance has been given. Currently, there’s five types of substance used for bikes - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and of course carbon fiber. Extended diameters, heat treatment, as well as butting are tubing material treatments which will increase the overall cost of the frame as well.
High tensile steel
Here is a highly sturdy alloy that's employed in lower priced mountain bikes. It provides a raised carbon count which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, therefore addtional materials are required to make it tough enough for bicycle frames, and that will in turn make it that much heavier. Broadly speaking inexpensive to make, you will realize this material in trail bicycles, city bicycles, and actually entry level mountain bicycles. There are some bikes which are made with a seat tube made from chromoly, while the rest is high tensile steel.
Chromoly steel
Abridged for steel alloy, chromoly is better known by its dominant additives, chromium and molybdenum, this is probably the highest refined framing substance, providing well over one hundred years of dependable service. Based on the kind of treatment and butting, you can locate this material in bicycles as low as four hundred dollars and even up to 1,500 and beyond. The chromoly steel material renders very good durability and a good ride distinction.
Aluminum
For the last 15 years, aluminum has been treated in pretty much the same way as chromoly. There’s been various alloys developed, in addition to heat treating, oversizing, and butting. With dual suspension system bikes, aluminum is the preferred material as it's the toughest as well as most cost effective. Aluminum is stiffer than the material chromoly, and as such it will crack faster that chromoly, but of course, this reckons on how you cycle and how much abuse you give that frame. A advantage of aluminum is the fact that the overall frame is very light and quite sturdy throughout.
Titanium
While it's a bit outlandish, the prices for this metal have come down over the past few years though frames made of titanium remain costly as it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame. Titanium is thought of as an alloy, commonly combined with small portions of vanadium and aluminum to provide it better weldability as well as ride aspects. More amenable than chromoly, this supplies greater fatigue as well as corrosion features.
The material which you choose for the bicycle, all depends on where you’ll bike and what style you utilize. Almost every material will last you for several years, as long as you care for your bicycle and be respectful of it.
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mountain bikes
Author: trixstr53
Keywords: mountain bikes cannondale bikes look bikes marin bikes mens bicycles mens bike mens bikes mini bikes mongoose mongoose bikes mopeds mosquito bikes motor bikes motorbikes motorcycles mountain bicycles mountain bike mountain bike frames mountainbike mtb new bikes
Added: April 25, 2009
mountain bikes
Author: trixstr53
Keywords: mountain bikes cannondale bikes look bikes marin bikes mens bicycles mens bike mens bikes mini bikes mongoose mongoose bikes mopeds mosquito bikes motor bikes motorbikes motorcycles mountain bicycles mountain bike mountain bike frames mountainbike mtb new bikes
Added: April 25, 2009
mountain bikes
Author: trixstr53
Keywords: mountain bikes cannondale bikes look bikes marin bikes mens bicycles mens bike mens bikes mini bikes mongoose mongoose bikes mopeds mosquito bikes motor bikes motorbikes motorcycles mountain bicycles mountain bike mountain bike frames mountainbike mtb new bikes
Added: April 25, 2009