Cycling For Beginners

Extreme Mountain Biking Video!

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:35:39 +0000

Extreme Mountain Biking Video! is a post from: Beginner Cycling

Recently came across this video of some extremely perilous mountain biking — hold on to your seat! So, would you like to ride a singletrack mountain biking path like that? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

SE Draft Lite Riding Review

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:17:17 +0000

SE Draft Lite Riding Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

SE Draft Lite

It’s been a while now since I published my initial SE Draft Lite Review, in which I went over the components and other specifications of the SE Draft Lite fixed-gear/single-speed bike in detail. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to ride the Draft Lite many times and get to know how it performs, so I’ll now present my SE Draft Lite riding review.

As mentioned in our prior review, the Draft Lite’s frame and fork are made of high-tensile (Hi-Ten) steel, which can be a bit heavy — and at around 26 pounds the Draft Lite is certainly no air-weight carbon road bike. However, I believe that for most people the bike will not feel too heavy, especially for bikes in its price range (while MSRP is $389, you can often find the Draft Lite on sale for much less). The Draft Lite certainly weighs less than many of the single-speed or fixed-gear conversions you’ll find on Craigslist.

On the plus side the Draft Lite’s frame feels really sturdy, and when I was standing up to pedal up steep hills I felt more stable than I’ve felt on some lighter, more expensive bikes. In fact, I really enjoyed climbing hills on the Draft Lite. The “caged with clips” pedals also added to my confidence while climbing, without requiring special shoes to ride.

The sturdy frame and the hardy 700x28c tires also absorbed some of the sting from bumpy roads, and also felt stable on gravel paths. The bike also felt just right around turns, and the Draft Lite’s gearing was perfect for the somewhat hilly area where I ride. It’s also nice to have the flip-flop hub where you can switch from fixed-gear to freewheel by flipping the rear wheel.

I kept both brakes on the bike, as I like to ride freewheel (and even like having brakes when riding fixed), and the Draft Lite’s brakes consistently did a fine job. I found the bikes’ SE saddle to be decent, and I liked the feel of the SE grips. During my review period, the Draft Lite became my go-to bike for general riding, and I really came to enjoy the bike because the Draft Lite felt good and was a lot of fun to ride.

The Verdict
The SE Draft Lite is a simple, fun bike to ride and is a good value for the price. You can find more information about the SE Draft Lite on the SE Bikes web site.

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 Bike Riding Review

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:50:07 +0000

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 Bike Riding Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0

It has been a while now since we posted our preliminary Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 review, and you can refer back to that post for details about the Nevada’s components. Since that time, we’ve been out on the Nevada 29er many times in a variety of trail conditions. So, what follows is my Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 riding review.

The Nevada 29er’s aluminum frame gave the bike just the right amount of stiffness, while still being comfortable to ride and felt good climbing hills — especially when I locked the Nevada’s front suspension fork (locking the fork keeps it rigid, which helps while climbing hills). Unlocking the fork certainly helped smooth bumpy trails, including one I ride that is filled with big roots sticking up at various angles. Really, the combination of the 100mm (about 4 inches) of suspension and the big 29 inch tires make a world of difference versus how mountain bikes with the old 26 inch tires handle bumpy trails. And despite the large wheels, the Nevada 29er felt agile on curves and handled well overall.

The Nevada’s shifting was a non-issue, and that’s a good thing: the gears shifted quickly and smoothly where I wanted them to be, even after several runs through muddy terrain. Though I believe Fuji is upgrading the Nevada 29er’s brakes to hydraulic brakes for 2012 models, the mechanical disc brakes on my test bike also performed flawlessly, bringing me (a pretty big guy) to a stop quickly and consistently (again, even after getting the bike very muddy).

Saddle selection is a very personal choice, but I was comfortable on the Nevada 29er’s stock saddle. I also found the Nevada’s grips to be comfortable, and used them without riding gloves most of the time. So, with a good feel, good shifting, good handling, good brakes, and comfortable saddle and grips, the Nevada 29er was everything it should be and a lot of fun to ride.

The Verdict: The Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 functions flawlessly and provides a much better ride over bumpy trails than most mountain bikes with 26 inch tires — and is a good value for the money for a 29er. To learn more about the Nevada 29er 1.0, please see the Fuji Bikes Website.

Other Posts of Interest:

Wabi Lightning Riding Review

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:16:37 +0000

Wabi Lightning Riding Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

Wabi Lightning Fixed Gear Bike

The Wabi Lightning is a fixed-gear/single-speed bicycle made by Wabi Cycles in Los Angeles. In our preliminary Wabi Lightning review, we detailed the Lightning’s frame and component specifications. I’ve had the opportunity to ride the Wabi Lightning a good bit in the past month or so, so now I’ll share my riding review of the Wabi Lightning.

The Wabi Lightning feels good on the road, with a ride that is quick and nimble. With its light scandium frame you do feel bumps in the road a bit more that you do with the plush ride of the steel frame on the Wabi Classic, but that is a trade off for the Lightning being 3 pounds lighter than the Classic. And you really feel the weight difference when climbing on the Lightning — there was a noticeable difference in the amount of hills where I could stay seated on the Lightning, where on those same hills I usually need to stand up to pedal on other single-speed bikes I’ve ridden. The Lightning loves to climb hills.

The Wabi Lightning felt very responsive in turns, and I quickly became very comfortable with the bike’s handling. The gearing was perfect for the hilly area in which I live, and when using the freewheel it was quick to engage. The Lightning’s brakes also worked flawlessly and consistently.

In fact, the only nit I can pick with the Lightning is that the “racing” saddle that is the default saddle is not super comfortable to me (even in padded cycling shorts). However, saddle preferences are a very individual choice, and Wabi also has other saddle options at no extra cost.

I used the Wabi Lightning for training rides in place of my geared road bike to get a great workout, and I also put a rack on it and used it around town for errands (and I rode it a lot just to ride). Whatever the purpose, the Wabi Lightning was always a lot of fun to ride.

The Verdict
The Wabi Lightning is a super light bike with nice components that handles great on the road and climbs hills like a champ. For more information about the Wabi Lightning, be sure to check out the Wabi Cycles website.

Planet Bike Blaze 1 Watt Headlight Review Update

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:17:34 +0000

Planet Bike Blaze 1 Watt Headlight Review Update is a post from: Beginner Cycling

It has been a while now since we posted our preliminary Planet Bike Blaze 1 Watt Headlight Review. Since that time, I’ve used the Blaze 1 Watt headlight a good bit — both during the day and at night. So, I’ll now provide an updated Planet Bike Blaze 1 Watt review.

Planet Bike Blaze 1 Watt - Click for More Reviews or To Buy

You can read about the technical details of the Blaze 1 Watt in our prior review. I wanted to update you on how the light has been performing on the road.

Let me start by saying that battery life has been excellent. While I haven’t specifically counted the hours of use, I have to believe that this light has well exceeded the the 7-20 hours (depending on light mode) of service that is estimated from the manufacturer. I do almost always use the light on strobe, so that certainly helps with battery life.

And speaking of strobe, this light really commands attention from drivers when used in strobe mode. During the day time, the Blaze has kept drivers from ignoring me on shady roads — and at least a couple of drivers have decided against turning into my path because of the Blaze. At night, I have noticed cars slow down even around a quarter of a mile away when they see the stobe.

While Planet Bike has come out with a more expensive 2 Watt Blaze headlight recently, I would imagine that 2 watts would be (1) possibly too powerful a strobe (we want drivers to notice us, not be blinded and run into us), and (2) still not bright enough as your sole light to see by at night. I regard the Blaze 1 Watt as an excellent “be seen” light for getting noticed by motorists, but as “see by” bicycle lighting it is really not bright enough for the dark streets I ride on. [To see my full night riding set-up, see Night Cycling for Beginners]

I really like the quick mounting cam on the Blaze 1 Watt, which makes it really easy to switch the light from one bike to another. In fact, there’s nothing that I don’t like about the Blaze 1 Watt headlight — it’s a really great light to help you be seen both during the day and at night. As mentioned in my first review, at a price less than $40, these bicycle headlights are definitely worth the price. Click Here for More Planet Bike Blaze 1 Watt reviews or To Buy.

Wabi Lightning Preliminary Review

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:45:24 +0000

Wabi Lightning Preliminary Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

: Wabi Lightning Bicycle

Wabi Cycles is a bicycle company based in Los Angeles, which specializes in fixed-gear/single-speed bicycles. We reviewed their steel Wabi Classic fixed-gear bicycle about a year ago, and were really impressed. So, we were really excited to recently have the opportunity to review Wabi’s super-light Wabi Lightning bicycle. This article will be our preliminary Wabi Lightning review where we’ll review the Wabi Lightning’s components, and we’ll follow-up with a detailed riding review soon.

Wabi sells their bikes through the internet, so the first thing to mention is that the bike was very carefully shipped with about every bit of it wrapped in a protective covering. The Lightning emerged from these in pristine condition, and its “Dreamsicle Orange” finish really looked like a million bucks, and it felt extremely light lifting it out of the box, weighing approximately 15 pounds.

Wabi Lightning Specifications

One major part of that light weight is that the Wabi Lightning has a scandium frame and a carbon fiber fork which is painted to match the frame. As I mentioned, the paint job is great, with only two Wabi decals that are minimal and look nice, giving the bike a very clean look overall.

The Wabi Lightning frame rides on Kenda K191 Koncept 700x23c tires with kevlar beads, mounted on Jalco rims with machined sidewalls connected by stainless spokes to Joy Tech sealed hubs. While Wabi allows you to choose different gearing configurations, my review bike is set up in the standard configuration of at 46t Andel crank connected with a gold bicycle chain to an 18t Andel fixed cog in the back. Since the Wabi comes with a flip-flop rear hub, I asked Wabi to add an optional freewheel also so I could ride the Lightning in single-speed mode also.

Again, Wabi allows you many configuration options, but my standard configuration Lightning came with a plain “racing” saddle and bullhorn handlebars. The handlebars have top-mount Tektro brake levers connected to Tektro caliper brakes.

The Lightning comes standard with front brake only (since fixed gear riders don’t need a rear brake), but since I knew I’d be using the bike in single-speed mode a lot, my review model has the optional rear brake also (the stainless steel clips to hold the rear brake cable can be removed, leaving the top-tube clean).

So, the Wabi Lightning has a nice set of components and is a great looking bike that feels as light as a feather. Be sure to check back with us soon for our next Wabi Lightning review of the Lightning’s ride characteristics. In the mean time, you can find more information about the Lightning on the Wabi Cycles website. UPDATE: Since this article, we have now published our Wabi Lightning Riding Review.

Schwinn World Market Riding Review

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:55:35 +0000

Schwinn World Market Riding Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

Schwinn World Market Bicycle

It’s been a while now since my preliminary Schwinn World Market review, where I reviewed the basic specifications of the World Market bicycle. Since that time I’ve had a lot of opportunity to become more familiar with the World Market. So now I’m ready to present my riding review of the Schwinn World Market bike.

Schwinn World Market Bike Riding Review

Let’s start with the way the Schwinn World Market feels: without a doubt, the World Market has the most upright riding position of any bicycle that I have ridden. To some extent you can see that from the pictures – the way the handlebars come out to meet you, along with the sloping top tube because of the more compact frame geometry. No doubt, you will not feel hunched over on the World Market. I let a friend of mine who has tennis elbow issues try out several of my bikes, and he said the World Market was much easier on his arms, and he enjoyed riding it. The padded handlebar grips also help make things easy on your hands.

In addition to the upright position, the World Market has a bit of a cushy road feel, due to: (1) the front suspension fork, (2) the suspension seatpost, (3) the cushy saddle with springs, and (4) the 700x38c tires. These items really take the sting out of bumpy roads and trails, though turning/handling feels a bit cushy also: think of the World Market as a luxury car in bicycle form, and not a sports car. You could easily make the World Market a bit more sporty by switching to a rigid seat post and a seat that is a little less plush, but for cruising around town in comfort the World Market is in good form as it is.

Shifting is smooth with the World Market’s 7 speed internally geared hub. As with all internally geared hubs, it is nice that you can shift without pedaling if you forget to downshift before a stop light or sign. The range of gears seemed to be well suited to the bike, and allowed me to stay seated on most of the hills I encountered. I was also pleased with the brakes, which consistently brought me to a quick stop (even on fast downhill runs).

As for the accessories that come with the World Market, the bell was useful and worked just as it should, and the rack on the back with its accompanying bag were nice and functional too. Also, the fenders and chainguard did a good job of keeping me clean.

And let’s not forget about fun. The upright position and plush ride of the World Market makes it a great bike for riding in town or exploring paths and gravel trails. You might even find yourself whistling while you pedal!

The Verdict

The Schwinn World Market is a great bike for those looking for a commuter bicycle or town bicycle with a very upright riding position and a smooth, comfortable ride. For more information on the Schwinn World Market, check out the Schwinn Bikes Website.

SE Draft Lite Preliminary Review

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 06:45:09 +0000

SE Draft Lite Preliminary Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

SE Draft Lite

SE Bikes has a wide range of BMX bikes, several different fixed-gear urban bikes, beach cruisers, and a single-speed 29er mountain bike that Cycling For Beginners reviewed earlier this year in our SE Stout review. I recently picked up an SE Draft lite single-speed bike/fixed-gear bike to review. While it’s too early for a full review yet, I wanted to go ahead and share my preliminary SE Draft Lite review below.

SE Draft Lite Bicycle Specifications

The SE Draft Lite’s frame and fork are made of high-tensile (Hi-Ten) steel, which is a bit heavy but certainly sturdy. The frame has mounts for one water bottle and also has mounts for fenders, should you decide to add them. If you decide to remove the brake cables for fixed-gear riding, the bike can perform bar spins (the clips that hold the brake cables are removable).

The SE Draft Lite comes with Kenda Kwest 700x28c tires riding on wheels with Alex DC-25 double-wall rims and SE’s own brand high-flange hubs. The rear wheel has a flip-flop hub with a 15t fixed gear on one side and a 16t freewheel on the other.

Draft Lite Flip-Flop Hub

As the name implies, simply remove the wheel and flip it the other way to change between fixed gear (which does not allow coasting) and single-speed (which does allow coasting). The crank is SE’s own 42t crankset, that is color coordinated with the bike.

The Draft Lite comes with front and rear dual pivot caliper brakes with quick release, and “2 finger” brake levers. The handlebar is SE’s 40mm riser bar, with SE Racing winged grips. The Draft Lite has an SE brand saddle and pedals with cages and clips. The Draft Lite has an MSRP of $359, but you can often find the Draft Lite on sale for much less.

Overall, the SE Draft Lite is a simple and good looking bike. I’ve enjoyed riding the bike so far, and will provide a more detailed riding review after I’ve had the chance to ride the bike a bit more. In the mean time, you can find more information about the SE Draft Lite on the SE Bikes web site. UPDATE: You can see my riding review here: SE Draft Lite review.

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 Preliminary Review

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:15:36 +0000

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 Preliminary Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 Mountain Bike

The Fuji bicycle company produces a full line of bicycles of every type (road, mountain, hybrid, cruisers, kids, etc.). While the Fuji bike company traces its roots back to a Japanese bicycle company started in 1899, the company is now headquartered in the United States.

I recently picked up one of the newest additions to the Fuji lineup, the Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 mountain bike, which is one of a handful of multi-gear 29er mountain bikes on the market for under $700. While it’s too early for a full review yet, I wanted to share a first look at this economical 29er with my preliminary Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 review below.

Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 Mountain Bike Specifications

Fuji Nevada 29er Mountain Bike

The Nevada 29er’s frame is made of aluminum, which helps the bike feel relatively light for the size it is, and comes with two sets of water bottle mounts. The Nevada’s fork is a SR Suntour XCR suspension fork with 100 mm of travel (for the beginners, that’s about 4 inches of cushion), and the fork has a mechanical lockout switch that allows you to flip a switch and keep the fork rigid, which keeps you from losing energy when riding on roads and paths, and while climbing hills. The white frame and fork give the bike a nice clean look.

The main advantage for 29ers is their ability to roll over roots and other bumps a bit better than mountain bikes with 26 inch tires. The Nevada 29er has 29”x1.95” Kenda tires riding on Fuji’s own brand rims and hubs.

The Nevada 29er has a mix of Shimano components, with 24 speeds in all — 3 rings on the crank (what the pedals turn) and 8 gears on the “cassette” on the rear wheel. The shifters are Shimano Alivio trigger shifters.

Braking is performed by Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes, using Shimano brake levers. The Fuji brand riser handlebars look nice in matching white. The saddle and seat post are also Fuji’s own.

I’ve been out on the Nevada 29er a few times, and have been enjoying the bike so far. I’ll post a detailed riding review after I’ve had a little more time to get familiar with the bike. Until then, you can view more information about the Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 on the Fuji Bikes website. UPDATE: We’ve now posted our Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0 riding review.

Fuji Nevada 29r 1.0

Other Posts of Interest:

Torker KB2 Kickback Riding Review

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:14:28 +0000

Torker KB2 Kickback Riding Review is a post from: Beginner Cycling

Torker KB2 Kickback Bicycle

A while back I posted my preliminary Torker Kickback review which discusses all of the components and specifications of the Torker KB2 Kickback bicycle. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to put the Torker through its paces and really get to know the bike better. So with that background, I’ll share with your my Torker KB2 riding review.

On the road the Torker Kickback rides just like an urban bike should. While it is certainly no lightweight, the KB2 feels sturdy and strong, and the substantial 700×38 tires help to take the edge off of bumps and potholes. Turning is predictable, and I found the grips and handlebars to be comfortable, while at the same time giving the bike a Spartan look that says “why bother stealing me” (a good thing for an urban bike). The saddle looks nice, and rides o.k., but I would have appreciated just a little more padding.

Torker Kickback Bike

Of course, one thing everyone is interested in is shifting with the Torker KB2′s Kickback 2 speed Sturmey Archer hub. As you may recall from my earlier Torker KB2 review, shifting gears on the kickback hub is accomplished by pedaling backward slightly until the hub clicks into the other gear (just before the coaster brake engages).

The kickback shifting takes a little getting used to, but soon you get the hang of it. The hardest part for me to get used to is that the Kickback shifts gears every time you apply the coaster brake, but with a quick kick back it’s easy enough to get back to the gear that you want. It’s certainly handy to have an extra gear without the need for cables and shifters and the maintenance that goes with that (and no cables for vandals to mess with or for others to accidentally damage while parking bikes outside).

The coaster brake on the Torker Kickback does its job as well as any coaster brake does. While it’s generally fine for mostly flat riding, if I were commuting in a hilly city I’d probably make use of the brake mounting holes that the KB2 has and install a front brake for quicker stops down hill.

As I mentioned in my other article, the fact that the brake and shifting are all done by the hubs gives the Torker KB2 a nice clean look similar to a fixed-gear or single-speed bike. It can look even cleaner if you decide to take the chainguard off, however since I liked to use the Torker as my “hop on” anytime bike, I kept the chainguard on and it did its job protecting my pants. The KB2 also has mounting holes for fenders to stay clean when it’s wet.

The Verdict

The KB2 is perfect for use as an urban commuter or bar/cafe hopping bike. It’s not designed to be a lightweight road bike, nor a fancy “cycle chic” bike, but the KB2 is a simple, low maintenance bike that you can hop on and ride, then lock up outside in any weather. And the extra gear is a useful bonus that adds to the fun. The Torker KB2 has an MSRP of $499, and you can find more information on the KB2 on the Torker website.