NXT MTB: MTB terminology.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

MTB terminology.

HARDTAIL

A hardtail mountain bike is simply a mountain bike without rear suspension.
Originally, no mountain bikes had any rear suspension. So in reality, they were all hardtails. It's a little funny that now that most serious mountain bikers ride on bikes with rear suspension, the term hardtail was created to describe these original bikes without rear suspension, but that is how it goes.

Example : Giant XTC Composite

Also Known As: stiffys, rigid, uncomfortable

FULL SUSPENSION

Definition: Full suspension simply refers to a mountain bike with both front and rear suspension. Suspension means it has a damper or shock to help smooth out the ride. A mountain bike with no rear suspension is called a hardtail. A mountain bike with no suspension is said to be rigid.

Example : Marin Quad XC

ALL MOUNTAIN BIKES

Definition: All mountain mountain bikes, also known as trailbikes are the workhorse category of mountain bikes. An all mountain bike is a mountain bike built to handle almost everything a mountain biker will run into on a full day of riding.
The all mountain category consists mostly of bikes with about 4 to 6 inches (100 to 160 millimeters) of travel. While they are designed to climb hills very efficiently, they are generally heavier and a bit more stout than the typical cross county mountain bike. They can handle a lot rougher terrain as well.
Trail bikes are what most people should be riding. They are an excellent balance between efficiency, comfort, and control. All mountain mountain bikes are light and efficient enough to get you to the top of the hill, have soft enough squish in the suspension to keep you isolated from rough terrain, and have enough travel to suck up the bigger hits that can leave a cross country racer tasting the dirt.

Example : Ellsworth Epiphany
Also Known As: Trailbike

CROSS COUNTRY

Definition: Cross-country or XC mountain bike riding refers the type of terrain the riding is being done on and what type of ride it is. Most mountain bike trail riding is XC riding. These are rides where you usually pedal along the whole ride without lift access or shuttle and don't need any extraordinary equipment to complete the ride.

Picture : KTM cross country bike (Hardtail)

Picture : Scott Spark 10 ( Full suspension XC bike)

Picture : Orbea Occam (Softtail xc bike)

FREERIDE

Definition: Freeride mountain biking refers to a type of mountain bike riding style. Freeride usually involves large drops, jumps, and manmade stunts. The trails are often accessed by shuttle or ski lift but can be pedaled as well. Freeride bikes usually have large amounts of suspension travel (6" to 8"+) and are built to take a beating.

Picture : Specialized Big hit

DOWNHILL

Definition: Downhill mountain biking refers to a specific type of mountain biking. Downhilling usually involves very high speeds over very dangerous and technical terrain.
Downhill racing records a racers time to complete a course. The shortest time wins.
Downhill bikes are designed specifically for downhill racing. They are built to take a beating, and as efficient as a 40lb. bike can be for fast acceleration. They are all about performance, especially suspension performance, and are not built to really go up hill at all. These bikes are built to get down a downhill course as fast as possible, whatever it takes.
Also Known As: DH

Trek Session

29ER
Definition: A 29er is mountain bike with 29 inch wheels. Standard mountain bikes have had 26 inch wheels for as long as it's mattered, but 29ers are starting to make some serious headway.
Not to be confused with a 96er ( 29 inches up front, 26 inches in the rear).
Pronunciation: twenty nine er
Also Known As: Twentyniner, Bigwheel, Twenty Nine Inch Bike
Alternate Spellings: Twentyniner
Common Misspellings: 29er, 29'er, 29"r

SINGLETRACK

Definition: Singletrack is a term used to describe a trail that is only wide enough for one person or mountain biker at a time. Singletrack is the most popular or sought after type of mountain bike trail.

Singletrack at Wang Panjang

CLEANED

Definition: When a mountain biker makes it through a section of trail without putting a foot down they have cleaned that section. Everyone wants to clean a trail when they can.

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NXT MTB

We welcome any suggestions from all of you in objective to improve mountainbiking scene here in Malaysia generally and Perlis specifically. As we can see nowadays the public has started to realize the importance of exercising and one of the way is cycling. It doesn't matter if it is road cycling or off road cycling as long as we give a hard time to our heart and let the sweat flows from our body. So, don't stop cycling and let us make this scene as big as ever. Cheers!

"NXT WELCOMES EVERYBODY "

RIDE SAFELY AND INTELLIGENTLY.

Setting Your MTB for Race!

Setting/Preparing you MTB for race.

Let's Try This At Home.

Step 1
Remove any additional accessories from your bike including racks, reflectors, mirrors, bells or lights (leave lights on if you'll be racing at night).

Step2
Inspect the frame, fork and all components on the bike for cracks or other signs of trouble. Repair or replace any obvious problems.

Step3
Set your saddle height by placing your heel on your pedal (in your riding shoes) and raising the seat up so that your leg is straight on the bottom of the pedal stroke (6 o'clock position). Your seat should never be so high that your hips rock when you pedal. You may want to lower your seat if the course is very technical and has many steep downhill slopes, but you may pay for that on the uphill portions. When your seat is at the optimum height it allows you to get full leg extension and full use of your leg muscles.

Step4
Set your saddle position - start by having it level with the ground and try it that way for a little while. If you are putting too much weight on your hands, raise the saddle's nose by a degree or two. If the nose is uncomfortable and you experience any numbness, lower the nose a degree or two. It may take a while to find the perfect saddle position for you.

Step5
Set your saddle's fore/aft position by adjusting it so that when your are seated and have your pedals in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, your forward pedal spindle is in line with the small bump just below your kneecap.

Step6
Position your handlebars so that they are between an inch and 2 1/2 inches below the seat. The lower they are, the more control you'll have when climbing, and higher bars give more control when descending. Look for the perfect balance of the two to find the best handlebar position for you. You can adjust your handlebar height with riser or flat bars, different stem heights, and spacers under the stem.

Step7
Be sure that the ends of your handlebars are covered by the ends of the grips or are filled with plugs.

Step8
Position bar ends anywhere between parallel to the ground and a 45-degree angle from this parallel. Go to the lower end of the spectrum for more performance-oriented positioning.

Step9
Inflate your tires to a tire pressure that works with your weight, the tires that you are using and the course conditions.

Step10
Choose clipless pedals over platform pedals with toe straps. Although clipless pedals are a bit intimidating at first, you get a better connection with the bike, and they are much easier to get in and out of than toe straps.

Step11
Check to make sure that the chain is clean, lubed and not stretched. Chains stretch over time, and this will lead to bad shifting and gear slippage.

Step12
Check the front and rear derailleurs to make sure that they are shifting properly and cables are in good condition. Bad shifting is not only very frustrating but can also blow the race for you.

Step13
Be sure that your brake cables, pads and levers are in good condition and working well.

Step14
Turn your handlebars from side to side and see whether there is any play in the headset or whether you hear any grinding noises. Disassemble, clean, grease and adjust if necessary.

Step15
Check your suspension fork for smooth performance and no play in the fork legs. If your fork isn't sliding easily, refer to your owner's manual or check with a local shop for maintenance.

Step16
Ride your bike after doing any adjustments or repairs. You'll want to feel comfortable and confident at the start line.

Tips & Warnings

i.) The best upgrade that you can make for better performance is lighter tires and wheels. The rotational weight has a huge impact on how a bike accelerates and climbs. Start with kevlar-beaded tires and then go with a nice light wheel set. You'll notice the difference on your first ride.

ii·) When selecting a tire for racing, choose a tread design that works with your riding style and the course conditions. Semislick tires are great for racing, but they do take some getting used to, and they aren't for all riders and courses.

iii·) Higher tire pressure gives less rolling resistance and reduces the chance of pinch flats. Lower tire pressure gives better traction.

iv·) Many full-suspension bikes have different settings for the rear suspension, ranging from firm to soft. The firmest setting is usually best for cross-country racing.

v·) If you're unsure of how to check or adjust anything on your bike, such as the shifting or the suspension, bring your bike to a local shop.

vi·) Mountain bike racing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.