Mountain Bikes Frames

Jamis Bicycles' Dragon Comp hardtail mountain bike turns the job of creating a mountain hardtail into an art form. While some companies have all but shunned steel for their frames and relegated them to the lowest bicycles in their lineups, Jamis has created a stunning hardtail that revels in its exquisitely built steel frame. Utilizing traditional craftsmanship with all the advantages of current bike building technology, Jamis has given this bike the most frictionless cable routing system possible, perfected the 853 steel welding process to provide for the strongest frame possible (853 steel becomes harder when it is welded, creating a nearly unbreakable frame.) One of the frames available is Jamis' 15th anniversary Team frameset, essentially the culmination of twenty years of off-road racing knowledge.

The Frame is made from Reynolds 631 and 853 chromoly steel, whose weld zones are stronger than other bikes, and thus allow for the tubes themselves to be drawn thinner. Torsional stiffness is increased 30% by means of heat treated chromoly rear stays and investment cast (lost wax) dropouts. The double-butted chromoly stays and reinforced head tube collars help, too, and all this adds up to a light, stiff frame with the sort of feel that can only be found in a steel frame. Available sizes for this frame are 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 inch, and colors are gloss black and bone. All together, the bike weighs about 28 pounds.

The component set is equally impressive for a mountain hardtail under $1300, including such parts as a Shimano Shadow Deore XT rear derailleur, Deore LX 28.6mm front derailleur which is a top pull unit. These are controlled by Shimano Deore LX Rapidfire plus SL 27-speed shifters. The crankset and bottom bracket are Shimano, as well, utilizing the Deore M532 175mm crank and Deore integrated, respectively. The brakeset is a Shimano 485 with hydraulic disk brakes and 6" Center Lock rotors. The Easton EA30 MonkeyBar is the low rise type, and is 685mm wide, just enough to keep the whole rig under control down any hill. Easton also supplies the Stem and Seat post, while the saddle is a WTB Rocket V Comp with SL top and steel rails. The bike rolls on Shimano centerlock hubs, WTB speed Disc double wall rims, and WTB ExiWolf 2.1 tires

Riding the Jamis Dragon Comp mountain hardtail down a trail inspires a feeling of confidence and control that sometimes slips out of the grasp of aluminum bikes. While its weight isn't noticeably higher than an aluminum frame bike, the Jamis Dragon Comp feels sturdier, as though there's a bike with some substance beneath you that you can squirrel around logs without too much flex, and rocket off jumps knowing that there's enough flex to land comfortably. This bike is an A+ effort for Jamis and well worth the $1300 asking price for those riders who don't need titanium frames or the price associated with them, and like the feel of steel.

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Mountain Bikes

Full suspension mountain bikes are usually the top of the range models and every year manufacturers make better, lighter and cheaper full suspension bikes. If you are in the market for a full suspension mountain bike, read on and find out the most important factors to consider.

It is usually best to strat your search for a new mountain bike by considering the sort of riding you will be doing – what type of terrain will you cover? For typical cross country (XC) riding a full suspension mountain bike may not be necessary and the extra weight could slow you down. A hardtail bike (no rear suspension) could be a good alternative. However for downhill riding or over very rough terrain a full suspension bike would be the preferred choice.

Decide on the amount you want to spend a keep to this figure. Ideally, you should aim to buy the best bike that fits within your budget. It is often suggested that if you have less than 500 euros to spend on a bike you might want to look at a hardtail bike as full suspension models are more costly. Another option would be to look at buying a second hand full suspension bike at a reduced price.

If you determine that a full suspension mountain bike is what you need and want then consider the different frame designs. Single-pivot, sweet-spot and horst-link are a few popular designs and each has their advantages and disadvantages. The best way to truly understand the difference is to go to a few bike stores and test ride the different designs. The bike store guy will be more then happy to explain and point out the pros and cons of each design.

Don’t forget that full suspension bikes can be significantly heavier than hardtail bikes. Full suspension frames are also a little heavier and they carry more parts than hardtails.

Take a look at some online mountain bike forums, where you can learn a lot from what other riders are saying about their own bikes. You can find out many useful things from the experiences of other people.

Remember to take account of maintenance costs. Full suspension bikes will require more maintenance due to the more complex linkages involved. If you are a do it yourself type you will need a few extra tools as well.

Finally, test ride as many bikes as you can before buying. Also do not forget to test ride a full suspension mountain bike with the front and or rear shock locked out.

For a whole load more ideas about selecting the best mountain bike, visit Roue VTT, a really great website full of great articles on all aspects of mountain bikes and related equipment. Also take a look at Roue VTT which has an additional selection of useful facts and figures.

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Other than spending a small fortune on a hybrid car or electric car, commuting by bicycle is probably the best way to save gas and improve the environment. When selecting your next (or first) bicycle, it’s critical to understand the different bike types. Here’s a few tips about the most basic categories.

Road bikes, also known as racing bikes, are generally built for speed and riding on smooth surfaces like pavement. Because of this they often sport very narrow tires, drop handlebars (to put the rider in the most aerodynamic position), and multiple speeds (12-24 gear positions is common). Racing bikes follow the same basic layout, but with a very lightweight frame. Although road bikes and racers can be used for commuting, most riders opt for comfort rather than speed.

Mountain bikes are built less for speed and more for durability and control. These bikes have much larger tires, raised handlebars that put the rider in a more upright position, and are generally (but not always) heavier. Since mountain bikes are intended to be used on trails and steep inclines, the gear ratios are generally lower than that of road bikes. Some mountain bikes have up to 36 gears, advanced suspension systems to handle bumpy and rough terrain, and it is now common to find disc brakes on one or both wheels. These bikes are fine for commuting, especially if some of that commute is over uneven or rocky roads.

Hybrid bikes attempt to combine the best of road and mountain bikes, and are intended to handle most commuting situations. These bikes have narrower tires than mountain bikes, shock absorption systems for the occasional bumpy road, comfortable seats and handlebars, and often come with pre-fitted fenders and luggage racks for bicycle bags. Many hybrids are geared much like road bikes, while others limit the number of gears to a minimum (5-7 speeds) or have the gears “sealed” in the rear hub (3-5 speeds). Hybrids are often the best selection for most commuting situations, and are a great choice for casual riders.

Many other specialized types exist, from single speed cruisers to very specialized off-road “rock riders” and BMX racers. However, most cyclists will do well to start from the list above. Use this guide as a starting point, try out a few models of each type to see what’s good for you, and then start riding. You won’t regret it.

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