http://articles.bicyclegearandaccessories.com/rss.xml A blog about bicyclegearandaccessories.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.bicyclegearandaccessories.com/?a=35886 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Can you remember back to when riding our bikes was the most fun a kid could ask for? Zooming down the street, enjoying that fleeting moment of freedom when the wind was your, that is how the good ol' days of bike riding went. I couldn't wait until the school day would pass so that I could come home and pull out my bike. This was the closest thing to having your driver's license. Your bike was your vehicle, transporting you to wherever you wanted to go and whatever you could squeeze out of the rest of your day. <br /><br />I often took trips to the neighborhood grocery store so I could observe the daily rush of an after work crowd. The local park was my next stop to hang out with some of my friends from school. I was not restricted to where I could ride as long as I was home before dinner was on the table. In my days, one of the most popular bike brands was Huffy. Every one of my friends had one with their skinny tires and bright colors. Another popular brand was Mongoose. Do you remember the kind of bike you pedaled as a child? <br /><br />Choosing a Bike<br /><br />During my childhood days, there weren't as many bike brands to choose from as there are today. The market is saturated with many different choices, from selections offering flowing pink streamers to cartoon themed rides like the Rugrats. There are mountain bikes for the more rugged individuals, as well as two seaters for those who like to ride with a friend. When choosing a bike from today's market, you need to pay attention to the quality. In my day, a lot of planning and thought went into the creation of the bikes we loved. <br /><br />Craftsmanship is an important aspect of a bike purchase. It's not about running towards the latest fad or a name brand; it's about choosing a bike that will last. The use of lightweight metals usually produces a bike with a long shelf life. Heavy bikes only slow you down and decrease the versatility of your bike riding experience. This means doing a bunny hop, leaping ramps or popping a wheelie is much more difficult than on a bike with a lighter weight. <br /><br />Online Advantages <br /><br />Some of the best selections of bikes are not found in your local Toys R Us, but throughout the information superhighway. The Internet offers a wide range of bikes to consider, including a variety of makes, models, styles and colors. This is also a great way to compare the prices of several potential bike options, which is quite helpful for those looking for a bargain. Another plus to using online means to obtain a bike are some of the reviews attached to the product description. Some of the best advice can be found through professional, as well as peer analysis. In no time, you should be zipping in and out of traffic or cruising throughout your local park with the help of a new bike purchase.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as bicycle accessories at <a href="http://www.bicyclegearandaccessories.com/">http://www.bicyclegearandaccessories.com</a></p> 2006-09-26T00:44-04:00 http://articles.bicyclegearandaccessories.com/?a=35885 <p>by Gregg Hall </p><p>The excitement I felt as a young boy when I received my first, &quot;grown up&quot; bike was indescribable. Coming from the ranks of a tricycle and smaller bike that I used to learn the basics, I was ecstatic when I moved up to a full size bicycle. I was turning ten years old and the three speed bike served as a coming of age milestone. This meant that I would have to get used to shifting gears, as well as using the hand breaks. You couldn't get me off of that bike, I was on it all of the time. <br /><br />With the birthday money I received, I purchased a basket to put on my brand new bike. This meant I could help out my mother by running errands for her. I could ride into town to pick up some of the things she needed from the store and carry them back in my basket. It also marked the beginning of exploring new territory and enjoying a variety of experiences that would last a lifetime. <br /><br />Every day, I went biking with my friend, meeting him halfway down the street so that we could embark on exciting journeys throughout the neighborhood. We often visited a lake located a couple miles outside of town. The entire day would be spent searching for odds and ends like rocks, polished pieces of glass and any other &quot;treasures&quot; we could find. My buddy didn't have his own bike basket, so all of the things we found were placed into mine. <br /><br />Once we found a very large fossil rock that we thought had the imprint of a dinosaur. We were excited to take the rock home to hit a few times with a hammer. We hoped to find more fossils and maybe a bone inside the rock. At this time, a nasty rainstorm was developing. We raced to our bikes, placing the fossil rock into my basket. On our way to the house, the rain started to pour. Riding our bikes as fast as our legs could take us, we tried to beat the worst of the storm. We were only halfway there, stuck in the middle of the country with nowhere to hide from the rain. <br /><br />My buddy and I had to go down a steep hill to reach our homes. Just as we reached the top, the wind started to blow hard and the rock shifted from side to side in my basket. I couldn't control my bicycle and fell over. Blood flowed from scrapes on my arms and legs. Everything that was in the basket had fallen into the road. We didn't want to leave behind all of the things we found, so we gathered them up and put them back into the basket. Through the pouring rain, we furthered our trip back to my house. <br /><br />When we returned to my house, my mother was on her way out of the driveway. She was getting ready to look for us, but we reached the yard before the car took to the street. While my mother cleaned me up, my friend called his parents to let them know he was ok. When my mother caught sight of the large fossil rock in my basket, she couldn't believe the size. Soon after, we set out to break the rock open. Since my arm still hurt from the fall, it was up to my friend to reveal what was inside our find. As he began to pound on the rock, a piece of it broke off and hit him in the eye. My mother transported both of us to the hospital to see a doctor. Our adventurous journeys were put on a pause for quite awhile on the account of the eye patch my friend had to wear and the broken arm I received during my fall.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as bicycle accessories at <a href="http://www.bicyclegearandaccessories.com/">http://www.bicyclegearandaccessories.com</a></p> 2006-09-26T00:41-04:00 http://articles.bicyclegearandaccessories.com/?a=32667 by Gregg Hall<br /><br />Like all mechanical contraptions, your bicycle is vulnerable to wear and tear caused by regular use and exposure to the elements. Routine preventive maintenance will keep your bicycle in peak condition and safe for riding throughout the year. Although some bicycle repair and maintenance is best performed by a qualified bike mechanic, you should be able to do routine maintenance using a few basic tools. Here are some of the things you can do to keep your bike in perfect shape. <br /><br />Tires <br /><br />Check the pressure of your tires to make sure they are inflated to proper specifications. Consult the manual or the tire's sidewall for information on the range of acceptable pressures for your tire. Note any splits or fatigue marks in the sidewall or tread. Inspect the rim for dents, twists or kinks. Spin each wheel to make sure it is true and centered in the stays. If the wheel wobbles from side to side when spun, then it needs truing. Check if some spokes need to be replaced or tightened. If your bike is equipped with quick-release mechanisms, make sure they are securely fastened. <br /><br />Steering <br /><br />The handlebars, saddle and pedals must be securely attached. Check the height of the handlebar stem. Make sure that the handlebar stem and seatpost are fastened such that their minimum insertion marks are not exposed. Handlebars should be tight and in line with the front wheel. Check if handlebars and front fork are properly stabilized. You should be able to rotate the handlebar post freely in the front fork. Tighten the bolts that attach the pedal crank-arms to the front bearing. Pedals should be tight, with no binding. Check for looseness in front and headset bearings. <br /><br />Brakes <br /><br />Squeeze both brake levers and try to roll the bike to check if the brakes are operating properly. If the bike moves while the brave levers are squeezed or if the brake levers touch the handlebar, then your brakes are too loose and need some adjusting. Make sure brake cables are taut. Check the brake cable for breaks or frayed ends; replace any worn or frayed brake cable. When brakes are applied, the brake pads (shoes) should contact squarely with the rim and should not touch the tire or the spokes. <br /><br />Chain <br /><br />Keep your bike's chain clean and properly lubricated. Use a rag soaked in de-greaser to remove dirt and grease buildup. Lubricate the chain after cleaning. Bike maintenance experts recommend using a web lube in wet environments and a dry lube in dry environments. Make sure that the chain moves smoothly without sticking or jumping. <br /><br />Tools for basic bicycle maintenance <br /><br />Proper inspection and maintenance of your bike requires a few basic tools.<br /><br />About the Author<br />Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with is 16 year old son. Get bicycle parts and accessories at http://www.bicyclegearandaccessories.com. 2006-03-17T17:50-05:00