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Bicycle Parking

What to look for – What to avoid

With today’s bicycles costing a small fortune, cyclists now look for bike racks that will not damage their bikes and allow locking of the wheel and frame with a ‘U’ lock.

Unfortunately, many parking facilities provided for cyclists are poorly designed and remain unused. Cyclists are forced to lock their bikes to trees and posts, or lean them against building fronts and windows. This not only creates an eyesore, but causes damage to property and becomes a hazard to pedestrians.

The key to providing a safe and effective bicycle parking program is to specify high quality, attractive bike racks. In Australia, this means bicycle racks must at least meet the parking device guidelines established by Austroads Part 14 and AS2890.3.

Here are some guidelines to help you select a bike rack that cyclists will use.

What to look for…

* Bicycle racks should attract cyclists, and by design should encourage use.

* Security – racks must allow the bike frame and wheel(s) to be locked securely.

* Protection – racks must support the bicycle frame and not hold the wheel.

* Most racks are misused to some degree. Look for racks which provide the same opportunity for security whether the bike is on the end or middle of the rack.

* Racks should be built from heavy duty, weather & tamper resistant materials.

* Attractive designs encourage property owners to install secure parking facilities.

What to avoid…

These are the main reasons why cyclists will not use some racks:

* Damage – If a parking device can damage a bike it won’t be used. Some racks, so-called wheel benders, can damage the wheels or frame of a bike. If a rack will bend a wheel it won’t be used.

* Security – As many bicycles have ‘quick release’ front wheels, security of the wheel and frame is essential. Do not buy a rack which does not allow for both the wheel and frame to be locked with a ‘U’ lock.

* Capacity – If a specification says a rack will hold ten bikes and knowing what you know now, check it. Where some rack designs are misused the stated capacity may be reduced by as much as 90%.

* Look Around – See how some rack owners have wasted their money. Cyclists won’t used devices that don’t secure or support their bike by its frame.

Examples of Good Bicycle Parking Facilities

* Bike parking racks that provide secure spaces for multiple bikes can offer a great solution to maximize capacity in a given area. Make sure the bike rack design supports the bike frame (not wheel) and encourages locking of the wheel and frame to the rack. Select a high quality, attractive design that is easy to install, will compliment your setting, and encourage cyclists to use it.

* Bicycle parking rails are suitable for narrow footpaths and difficult spaces. The standard parking rail supports the bike frame and allows secure locking. Bike rails can be fixed in-situ, or fixed onto an existing concrete surface.

* Wall mounted bike racks are a great second choice when space does not allow for surface mounted options. By allowing bikes to park either vertically or horizontally off the ground, you may be able to park bikes where you didn’t think possible. Make sure the rack design supports the bike by its frame (not wheel) and allows easy locking.

Other Parking Devices

* Bicycle Lockers – These enclosed units can offer a deluxe storage system. Each unit should have a door for single bike access. These units are expensive and usually require ongoing maintenance and inspection due to vandalism and security concerns.

* Bicycle Rooms & Compounds – Secure grounds are a deterrent to theft but unsecured bikes in a bike room or compound are an invitation for theft. A room alone isn’t enough – place high quality bicycle racks in the room for the security of each bike.

Finishes and Materials

Most good bike racks today are available in a variety of finishes.

Paint – Racks that are painted chip and rust. Stay clear.

Colour coatings – High density colour powder coatings can produce an attractive colourful product that is scratch and corrosion resistant. Colour powder coatings applied directly to a steel frame will rust, while colour powder coatings on a galvanised frame will chip very easily. If you want a colour finish, ask for powder coatings on a zinc electroplated frame. Not recommended for areas within 2km from salt water.

Galvanised steel – Virtually maintenance free and weather resistant. Products that have been ‘hot-dipped’ galvanised post fabrication offer the most durable galvanised finish. Avoid pre-galvanised tube unless using strictly in undercover/underground areas.

Stainless steel – Attractive and expensive. Well suited for plazas and for buildings with stainless accessories. Ask for high quality Grade 316 or 304 Stainless Steel. The addition of an electropolish finish increases the shine and adds additional protection.

Conclusions

* Don’t waste your money.

* Be aware of capacity claims and avoid racks which are misused.

* Do not buy products which hold (pinch) wheels.

* Buy products which permit the bike frame and wheel(s) of the bike to be locked.

* Locate racks where the cyclists will go – not where you might like them to go.

* Avoid racks that have a low profile or could cause a hazard to pedestrians.

* Buy only quality products.

Cora Bike Rack is Australia’s leading manufacturer of bicycle parking racks. Designed for ease of use and installation, Cora Bike Racks are suitable for all applications and comply with AS2890.3 and Green Star requirements. If you have any questions on bicycle parking or require expert advice, contact Jon Rutledge at Cora Bike Rack, or visit our website where you can see examples of good bike rack designs, download product specifications, generate quotes and place orders! Simply go to http://www.cora.com.au

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This article will present the Mountain bike review; one of the most well-known type of bicycle we know today. Unlike road bikes, mountain bikes are specifically designed for rough terrains. Almost all mountain bikes have common characteristics that offer great performance on rough terrains. They are quite heavier as compared to the road bicycle which gives them more durability. Mountain biking is roughly broken down into four categories: cross country, downhill, free ride, and trials/street riding. Each has differing levels of safety-consciousness with different types of mountain bikes and riding gear.

For the purpose of shock absorption and additional traction, all mountain bikes uses wide and knobby tires. In the past few years, full front and real suspension is gradually becoming a common feature of all mountain bikes. As you can see in the picture below that the handlebars has got bar ends. But today, lower handlebars or risen handlebars ( as in case of road bicycles) is becoming more popular in comparison with straight handlebars.

Mountain bike Design

Mountain bikes are available in different designs but it can be classified into various categories like

Hard Tail: with this design, the bike has no rear suspension. It only has front suspension.

Soft Tail: Unlike hard tail, it has some rear suspension and uses flex of the frame rather than pivots.

Fully Rigid: this type of mountain bike has got no suspension. It is fully rigid and has a fixed gear.

Full Suspension: This type of mountain bike has got both rear and front suspension and it also has got rear shock and linkage to move the rear wheel on pivots.

Tire design

Most of the mountain bikes uses 559 mm wheels, although the measurements are not necessarily accurate. In some countries, mountain bikes have got 28 inch wheels like in Europe. For dirt jumping, 24 inch wheels are generally used. Sometimes both wheels of the bikes have got varying sizes to offer more variety and design.

Most of the mountain bikes have a 24 inch wheel for the purpose of dirt jumping. 24 inch wheels are also used for freeride bikes as well. But in these free rides, a 24 inch wheel is used as a rear wheel which makes the bicycle more maneuverable. Once, 29 inch wheels were used for Cross Country. However, these 29 inch tires are now becoming more common.

For more information about mountain bikes, please visit our site:

Bike Review

Article also available at: http://bikereview.info/MountainBikeReview.html

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You may not see it right away, but bicycle wheels are actually composed of three parts: the rims, spokes, and the tires. Rims are responsible for securing the tires to the wheel and may be made from aluminum alloy, steel, or lightweight carbon fiber, whereas spokes connect rims to the bicycle’s hub, made up of a nipple that is used in adjusting tension. Spokes may be made from chrome-plated metal or stainless steel materials and there can be between 12 to 48 of them, depending on the bicycle. Tires, on the other hand, can be tubular or clincher and covers the outermost parts of the wheel.

Types to choose from

Racing Wheels: Racing bicycle wheels are made from aerodynamic and lightweight spokes and tires that let you swiftly ride through different tracks. They are thin and lean with and typically feature 28 spokes in the rear and 20 spokes in front. Some wheels are made from aluminum while others are made from super-lightweight carbon fiber.

Mountain Bike Wheels: Specifically designed for mountain terrains, mountain bike wheels normally feature clincher tires and rims that are 26 inches in size, which is the standard for mountain bikes. Mountain bike wheels use tires with lower air pressures to increase traction and shock absorption. Newer models also have begun to use tubeless tires.

BMX wheels: BMX wheels are shorter but wider that mountain bike wheels so they provide better pressure and shock absorption, which makes them great for jumps and for use on dirt tracks, catering specifically to the needs of BMX enthusiasts.

Buying tip

When you’re looking for bicycle wheels, choose one that works best with your riding style. For example, racers should go for lighter wheels since they don’t drag too much and will allow for swift pedaling through race courses. For stunts, stronger and thicker tires are better.

Important buying tips

More information on Bicycle Wheels is available in Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer reviews and information.

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When you go to shop for a hybrid bike you are in for a treat. When you go shop for a road bike or a mountain bike there are a ton of high end options costing up to 5000 dollars. Luckily for you, there are no ultra high end hybrids and there are a ton of different options to choose from in the range of 300 to 800 dollars. The more you spend on a hybrid, the lighter it is going to be, making it easier to pedal and it will include more durable and long lasting components. Many hybrids offer a lot of easy options for customization and color choices, so be sure to ask around if looks are going to be important for you. Often times they make 4 or 5 different color choices of each model each year. Just because a bike shop does not have it on the floor does not mean they cannot get you your dream color choice.

Some models will come with a slightly knobby but still narrow tire. Do not think that means you can really ride this bike off road. It will be fine for crushed gravel trails on parks and old rail beds, but for steep climbing and descending or turning at speed, they will quickly lose grip causing you to crash. The disadvantage for you of running these tires is that while they don’t perform that well on dirt, they do not perform that well in the street as well. They have a much higher rolling resistance than a narrow street tread. The knobbies also do not offer any sort of good cornering on pavement. When you go into the shop, unless you know you will be doing a lot of light offroading, ask the shop to change them for a regular street tread tire. You will be more comfortable riding on road as well as faster and safer.

Read up more on the webs number one mountain bike and hybrid bike website. We have a ton more useful articles on purchasing a bike! http://www.mountainbikesuspension.net/BuyingaHybridBike

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There is no better way to spend a weekend than to go on a leisurely ride on a bicycle on a quiet track in the woods. Bicycles have an old world charm about them and even in this fast-paced world has its own prominent place. Of all the parts of the bicycle, it is the bicycle wheels which are the most important ones. Bicycle wheels are the ones which carry the entire burden on them and thus need to be very carefully observed.

Types of Tires

Almost 99% of the bicycles have the clincher kind of tires. The clincher tires consist of an outer tire with a cross section which has a typical U – shape while there is another inner tube within the tire. Apart from these parts there are three key parts which create the tire. The first part is the Bead which is basically the rim of the tire. Normally, the beads contain hoops which are made up of steel wires which are very strong. The second very important part is the fabric. Tire manufacturers weave this cloth fabric between two beads to make the basic framework of the tire. The third major portion is the rubber. Rubber is used as an outer layer to the fabric. Rubber is used only after the basic framework is complete.

Apart from the clinchers, the bicycles also have wheels which are known as tubular tires. Unlike the clinchers, the tubular tires do not have any beads. In the tubular tires, the two rims of the tires are actually stitched together around the inner tube.

Other Tire Aspects

Bicycle tires have a part called traction. This traction is basically the resistance capacity of the tires which avoid skidding or slipping. Another very important aspect of bicycle wheels is the width and pressure of the bicycle wheels. The width and pressure of the wheels are inversely proportional. This implies that if the width of the wheel is greater then it has a low pressure and if the width is not very wide then it has a high pressure. Also generally, the wheels are made up of two basic types of rubber, namely natural latex rubber and butyl.

There are several other points apart form the features mentioned above. However, these are the most important features which make up the basic framework of the wheels of the bicycle and without which the wheels cannot work.

Andrew Caxton is a reliable journalist who has published more articles on this issue for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com. He provides tips and advice about bike rims as well as on how to align bicycle wheels.

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If you are one among those who think its mandatory to perform mountain bike jumps for those who are mountain bikers. Then you are wrong because it entirely depends on ones expertise level and the desire and even ones comfort level. However if biker rides on mountain trials then the jumps aren’t purposeful but are a part of the trial.

The one who constructed the trial jumps is aware of its pros and cons. So do not dare to change or alter the trial if you are using trial which is constructed by some other individual. Always keep in mind that you must think of others also. Lets say you face some problem do not wish others the same instead do something that keeps them away from what you faced. Make sure you mark and signify danger in one way or the other on the broken trial to make sure others safety who are on the way riding behind you.

If you are an expert and wish to construct a trial do remember the expert level of newcomers and if you are newcomer then remember the expert ones. Do not confuse lets clear. That means, do not place a high stunt trial in between the low stunt ones and vice versa because you will end up causing unexpected dangerous consequences. This may cause the newcomers to interfere in the stunt of an expert jumping on the high stunt trail. Instead construct an average expert level trial which works for both of them.

Do what is taught to you on a new stunt course. Half knowledge is always more dangerous and lands you in troubles. If you act over smart in a stunt course, you will end up losing more than what you achieved so far. Do not attempt to perform high stunts without an expert around you these may lead to disastrous consequences. Remember don’t attempt to walk on the mountain bike jumps because they are mostly broken and are too poor to bear your concentrated weight.

If you are a beginner trying to learn mountain bike stunts and jumps, then you can construct your own mountain bike jumps out of cheap lumber. However there are professionally built mountain bikes available at quite an expensive rate in the market. They can withstand all the wear and tear whereas the home built ones cant bear large number of people using them. They work best if you are the only person using them otherwise they won’t last longer

Alison Addy is a journalist who writes newsletters on mountain bike jumps for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com Read additional info on trek bike reviews or trek madone

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If you want to get the latest information on different bikes, accessories, and other products, then you will want to read the bicycle reviews. You can learn all different kinds of information, including news about cycling all over the world. These reviews are usually written by a mix of different riders, including recreational cyclists, mountain bikers, and road racers. This will help you learn more about the cycling world in general.

You can also find out about national cycling events on websites that offer bicycle reviews. Many of these review sites sponsor and promote these events and will give you information on how to get involved in these cycling events. You will find that the review writers are usually veterans of the sport that can give you a great deal of first-hand information. They will be able to help any level of rider, from the beginner to the seasoned rider to help you find great vacation spots for cycling and other fun things that you can participate in while riding.

If you are a competitive cyclist, then you will find that you can find lots of information about training and riding via bike reviews, too. Some of the helpful hints that you might enjoy include power pedaling, techniques to pedaling, overtraining, resistance training, and much more. All of these topics are written to help you become a more competitive rider and to tweak your riding style to become faster, stronger, and a much more well-rounded rider.

You can find bike reviews in magazines on the newsstand and on different websites. If you are interested in becoming a competitor or are already a competitor, then you will want to read some of these reviews so that you can learn more about the different products that are available. They can help you to become the biker that you only dreamed that you could be.

Your local bicycle shop and online shops can take care of all of your cycling purchasing needs. No matter what you are looking for, they can help you locate it, if they are a bike shop that cares about your business. They will also be able to give you a great deal of helpful information so that you can choose the most important things for your particular riding style and bike.

There is a plethora of different bicycle dealers between the local bike shops and the Internet. Biking is becoming more and more popular and this popularity has increased the options that bikers have. You can find the hottest and newest names in cycling at many of these shops. If budget is a huge issue, then an online shop will usually have the better price, but a local bike shop can offer you the opportunity to see the product in person, which is helpful for some people. Determine your needs so that you can choose the right dealer for you.

The NBDA: National Bicycle Dealers Association

This is a very important organization to the cycling world. This non-profit association of bicycle retailers helps to govern the world of cycling. It also allows product suppliers and other cycling supporters into the organization. The mission of the NBDA is “to aid the growth of cycling by supporting specialty bicycle retailers through research, education, and advocacy.”

This organization also publishes one of the leading magazines completed dedicated to cycling called “The Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.” They also co-produce the Bicycle Business Leadership Conference in conjunction with the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association. They also gave their endorsement to the Interbike International Bicycle Expo. They are trying to bring together all facets of the cycling world. It is a gradual process, but they are gradually achieving this.

Andrew Caxton is the author of many articles on different web publications, with subjects like bicycles published online for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com A website with tips on mountain bike reviews.

Buyer’s Guide editor Sam Moulton reviews this year’s Killer Value in the road bike category, the Pinarello FP2. Watch more gear reviews at outsideonline.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3LCcVr5aN0&hl=en