MtnBikeRiders.com

We are testing a couple of revolutionary products at www.bikecommuters.com that are worth mentioning on this site:

RL is testing the Nirve Streamliner Ultra, this bike features an electronic automatic 3 speed transmission. Click here to read his observations.

I’m testing the NuVinci Hub, this hub has a 350% gear ratio and it’s super smooth. Click here to read my first impression.

We can see how these products may revolutionize comfort/hybrid/commuter bikes, who knows, we may see them on light trail bikes.

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Found this great article from Mountain Bike Action Magazine.

As soon as Gary Fisher rigged a multi-gear drivetrain on his Schwinn Excelsior and scaled Mount Tam, the debate began over whether it’s better to climb seated or standing. As a rule of thumb, climbing in the saddle is easier, while standing delivers more power at the cost of more effort. With today’s hooked-up componentry, though, the rule of thumb is no longer valid. Watch the pro peloton tackle a climb during a World Cup race and you’ll rarely see a racer out of the saddle. The modern climber is far better off pedaling up hills glued to the saddle. This raises the question: When is it proper to hammer out of the saddle and when should you resist the temptation?

WHEN TO SIT OR STAND?
There are still situations where standing is best. Refined climbers can smoothly alternate between standing and sitting without wasting a heart beat. Those who make the most of their climbing effort scale hills the quickest and last the longest. This is the MBA wrecking crew’s guide to assuming the position.

Sit: Approach the hill in the middle ring and select a gear that maintains a moderate, 70 to 80 rpm cadence. Hydrate at the bottom and before the aerobic effort becomes too extreme and breathing too heavy to sip fluid.

Shift early while seated: If you are running out of gears in the middle ring, shift early to the granny while still spinning a moderate cadence and apply light pedal pressure.

Assume the cosmic crunch: Move up on the nose of the saddle and crouch down over the handlebar with your head forward and the elbows low. Keep the rear wheel churning and move the upper body forward to keep the front wheel down.

Stand: On long, consistent grades, it is sometimes helpful to stand to relieve pressure off the back and to relax the legs by shifting the load to another muscle group. Select the next taller cog before standing.

Remain seated: Continue eying straight up the hill for the firmest packed and smoothest route. Steer around soft terrain and overly difficult sections. Relax and use gears to sustain the healthy pedal tempo.

Definitely stand: If you find yourself entering into a roller or moderate grade in the big ring at speed, rise out of the saddle, sprint and use speed to bring you up the rise. Back off the pedal pressure or sit before making chainring shifts.

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I meet tons of people all the time on the trails. Some have older bikes and some newer. Ofcourse there’s a bunch of them that have the nice bling bling bikes. You know what I’m talking about, its the bikes that are over $1500 and can be as expensive as $5000.

When I talk to people on the trails I always ask about their bike to break the ice. So first question that I fire away with is, “How do you like your (insert brand and model of bike)?”

And ofcourse if its a bling bling bike, they are going to say….”It’s da bomb!” or “It’s the shiznitz!”

Now that got me to think. Do people say that in order to feel good about their expensive purchases?

I mean if I were to ask a guy that is a veteran bike rider that has ridden all sorts of bikes, do you think he’d answer that the cheapest bike he owned was the best bike he’s ever ridden?

I’m no 20 year mountain biking veteran my self, but to be honest with you, I’ve had more fun on my old $200 Gary Fisher Tarpon than some of the most expensive bikes that I’ve tested or ridden.

This whole thing kinda reminds me of a time when I was a kid. I specifically remember mixing coffee, cocoa powder, soda, chocolate syrup, sugar all together in a glass thinking that it would taste good. Then my dad questioning what I was doing and warning me that this concoction I was about to drink was going to taste bad. But I tell him no it won’t it will taste good!

I drink it…gag…turn to my dad trying to cop a smile, but this stuff was so nasty and say…”see its delicious!”

Anyhow, in a way bling bikes are in that same situation as my nasty drink. If some dude spent tons of money on his bike, then he’s obligated to say that his bike “is the shiznitz!”, right?

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