New to Fixed Gear

What's so special about riding fixed gear. I view about this today while I was out pedaling. I have six bikes. Road bikes, Recumbent, Mountain bike and single speed. (I work in a bike shop).

So why is it, my popular bike is the fixed gear? It's probably the cheapest bike I own. It's surely the simplest. So what is the magic of this bike that draws me to it? Then it hit me Satori! A Zen like enlightenment! When you ride any other bike it feels like a separate machine. You are operating a machine. If you stop pedaling the motor will continue to run like a car you are basically driving the bike.

Fixedgear Bike

Now the divergence : With fixed gear you are one with the bike. You are directly associated to the road through that bike! The bike speeds up and slows down according to your pedaling... You flow. You can not stop pedaling unless the bike stops. You have become the bike! That is the difference!

New to Fixed Gear

So for all the money you spent on that costly carbon fiber road bike you can never palpate the same connection that you can on that uncomplicated fixed gear.

Now grasshopper you understand the essence of fixed gear

Once you've decided you want a fixed gear and you want a new bike. Well your lucky most of the bike manufacturers now offer at least one fixed gear model in their line. Most prices range from 9 to 00. Things you want to look at Frame size find out your correct size. Frame material Steel, Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Everything else can be changed or upgrated. Frame material- I propose steel.

1) it offers a better ride than aluminum. More shock absorbing.

2) Holds up better in a crash than aluminum or carbon.

3) commonly a better price than aluminum or carbon.

Only negative which is not of course a negative - it weighs more. Weight on fixed gear bikes is not that crucial since they commonly weigh less than most Road Bikes. Remember Fixed Gears have no shifters, derailleurs, freewheel or cassette thus lighter. If your racing on the track then get an aluminum or carbon fiber race frame. For the street go steel or aluminum.

The only advantage an aluminum frame has over steel is weight. With aluminum you have a harsher ride and in a crash it doesn't hold up as well as steel. Also steel can be bent back in shape and welded. Not commonly the case with aluminum. It's your money so ride both and see what you like. Here is a list of new model fixed gear bikes. Bianchi- Pista, Cannondale- Capo, Giant- Bowery, Khs- Flite 100, Raleigh- Rush Hour, Schwinn- Madison, Specialized- Langster, Surly-Steam Roller a incorporate others worth finding at Dolan and Felt also have models. These are just a few of the better known bikes available.

New to Fixed Gear

Specialized Hotwalk goods present

It was safe bet that my son would ride.  He wants to emulate his "Dada" and that means riding a bike.  He commutes to his school on the back of my fixed gear, he "helps" me pump up my tires, and he knows that at least two mornings during the week "Dada" is out riding when he wakes up.  Luckily, he has taken to it which is largely the succeed of the way he was introduced to cycling.  More accurately, it is the type of bikes he has been given, namely push bikes (a.k.a., balance bikes) that have gotten him off on the right foot.  If you want to teach your children to ride, the push bike is the only way to go.

For the uninitiated, a push bike has no pedals.  Your child uses their feet to "push" the bike forward.   Otherwise, it looks like every other bike out there.  There are three overarching benefits to the push bike.

Fixedgear Bike

When a child is learning to ride, pedaling a bike is not the hard part.  That comes later when they resolve they want to race.  The hard part is retention the bike upright and learning to balance.  While they look nice, bikes with training wheels and pedals do not help a kid learn to balance themselves.  In fact, it only gives them a false sense of security that is speedily eroded the day the training wheels come off.  The push bike, on the other hand, is all about balance with the benefit that your child can put a foot down to stabilize themselves when they lose control.

Specialized Hotwalk goods present

Perhaps more importantly, the push bike also teaches your child handle their bike.  Clearly learning to steer is a key component, but even more so is learning to take corrective action while riding.  The push bike helps not just with using the handlebars, but with body positioning and shifting weight.  I am enduringly amazed at the situations my son gets himself out of while riding his bike in our local park.  A cautionary note, kids get the hang of the push bike pretty speedily and start flying around in no time which means they're more likely to put themselves in positions that require good bike handling skills.  It is a good idea, I'd say imperative, that your child wears a helmet when riding any bike, together with the push bike.

The third benefit is one fully for the parents.  The push bike acts like a stroller, only it is a stroller you do not have to push.  Your child is able to keep up with you on walks around town which would otherwise require you to bring a stroller or carry them.

So now that you have decided to get a push bike, which one should get? 

On his first birthday, we gave my son the Radio Flyer Scoot-About, a four-wheel push bike, which he took to like a fish to water.  For his second birthday, he graduated to the Kettler Sprint, a two-wheel push bike that was all wrong.  It was too big, too heavy and poorly designed.   No matter what I tried, I could not get the saddle to stay straight.  So I went and got him the Specialized Hotwalk, part of their kids HotRocks line.  It is all the Kettler was not.

Most push bike manufacturers make toys which come with all sorts of molded plastic parts and call them bikes.  Specialized takes a different approach.  They make actual bikes with the same attentiveness to information as they do in their road bikes.   

The Bike

The Hotwalk has an aluminum frame.  It comes with an aluminum fork with a 1" threaded steel steerer.  The 1" stem connects to an alloy bar which is nice and wide.  The seat post connects with a proper seat clamp.  The wheels have 12" alloy rims with 14 gauge steel spokes.

The Ride

I am not sure about comfort because I have never ridden it, but my son has not complained about his rear end hurting him.  The low standover height let me get the saddle low sufficient for my son, who is a bit above 50% in height for his age group.  This was not potential with the Kettler.  The aluminum frame means the bike is lighter than most (it comes in under eight pounds where the Kettler was over 11 pounds) which makes it easier for to get going and articulate balance.  The wide bars make for good operate and easy corrections.  My son was zipping around on the Hotwalk the first day he got it, unlike with the Kettler, which he indeed could not ride.

Set-up and Maintenance

There was no set-up other than adjusting the saddle height.  Because Specialized uses actual bike components, you will not need anyone but a set of allen keys.  You can also use floor pump for the tires because there is sufficient clearance between the tube stem and the wheel axle to fit the pump head (unlike the Kettler which required a hand pump.)   There indeed is no maintenance to the Hotwalk, but with allen keys and a wrench to take off the wheels, it will not be a big deal should the need arise.

The lowest Line

If you indeed want to do a aid to your kids and teach them to ride well, push bikes are the way to go.   When a child is learning to ride retention the bike upright and learning to balance is critical.  Enter the push bike.  For my son, he will move right to a bike without training wheels next year, and I do not expect to have to do much running alongside him because he has already figured out the balancing part.

There are many push bikes out there.  The Specialized Hotwalk is the nicest of the push bikes around.  It is light, easy to maneuver and easy to maintain.  It is somewhere near the middle of the range in terms of price point, but well worth it.  Plus, just like the pros in those Specialized commercials, your kid can say "I am Specialized" to all her friends.

Specialized Hotwalk goods present

dependable Berkey Water Filter Products

My family has been loyal and satisfied customers of Berkey water filters since 2006. Their products are astounding and we've enjoyed drinking pure, clean water every day. Just knowing that we don't have to worry about ingesting harmful contaminants from tap or bottled water is a relief.

Since I have personal palpate with some Berkey products, I'd like to share my thoughts with you. I understand that a testimony from man who uses the goods often is valuable?

Fixedgear Bike

The first Berkey buy we made was the stainless steel trip Berkey. Standing 20 inches tall, it has a 2.1 gallon water storehouse capacity. We couldn't believe how pure and delicious the water tasted. At that point, we knew we could never go back to the other filter we were using.

dependable Berkey Water Filter Products

Not only did it provide tasty water, the theory was also intelligent and dependable. All of our business was intelligent about our tall, stainless steel system. We proudly shared our filtered water to get their opinion.

We upgraded to the Berkey Light water filter when we started having children. This theory is designed for outdoor use, but we have it in our kitchen. It meets our family's needs and the water is equally delicious. Although this theory has the selection of purchasing Led lights, we choose not to get them.

We've also enjoyed using the Sport Berkey movable bottle. This bottle is convenient for hikes, exercising or even just times when we needed water while driving. The filter is just as dependable as the larger systems and the great thing is that it can be taken anywhere!

All of our experiences with Berkey have been great and we've never been disappointed. Berkey water filters are elegant, powerful and dependable products. We're inescapable that if you use a Berkey you'll feel the same way. After all, it's all the time a good feeling knowing you're doing something salutary for you and your loved ones.

dependable Berkey Water Filter Products

Are Steel Bicyle Frames Advisable For Light Weight People?

Heavier riders all the time need sturdier and more rigid bike frame to preserve their body weight. But with light weight people there are no such issues. It can be bit of a hassle for light weight people, managing a heavy bicycle or one made from heavier material.

Sturdiness is normally mixed up with heavy weight. Sleek finding frames can be as sturdy as any. It all depends on the material used. The manufacturers are continually developing new materials for bicycle frames. Bicycles are not only used a neighbourhood knockabout means of vehicle or for travelling short distances.

Fixedgear Bike

People are buying bicycles to take care of their fitness as many go riding every morning or on weekends instead of jogging. Others are interested in its sporting value and use the bicycle for hitting the roads, the off roads, doing cross country and for rolling up gargantuan terrain.

Are Steel Bicyle Frames Advisable For Light Weight People?

But there are no statistics of only heavy weight people opting for mountain bikes. Even those who are light in weight indulge in this most adventurous sport. Mountain bikes are a heavier duty and normally made from titanium; this is more costly but lighter than construction with steel. But still compared to general bikes, the mountain bicycle frame is heavier as it undergoes use and abuse.

Bikes that are of heavy weight are those made from steel and it has been the original material for bicycle frames over many years. In a way if you are not doing cross country or biking up the mountains, you would prefer lighter bicycles. But that does not again mean that people who weigh less are not favorable for heavier bikes made from steel.

How do you think people managed decades ago when steel was the only material frames were made of? In the past, were more bicycle riders heavy? It does not depend on the material as long as you are not into some definite activity. For adventure riding you would all the time wish and of procedure prefer to be on a heavier bicycle frame. Then again, you could argue that in those days there was no alternative to steel and even light weight people had to go about in those heavy bicycles.

With lots of technically developed bicycle frames coming into the shop nowadays, options are many. The most wanted and favorable bicycle frame for light weight people is made from lighter material. It's straightforward to handle, while using steel for the bicycle frame can be harder to manipulate and steer. It's mostly because there are many more options now rather than the mystery of managing a steel bike frame.

Steel bicycle frames are all the time long persisting and have a high tensile strength. For lightweight people a bicycle frame would depend how much time they would be on their bikes. If they ride long hours even on suburban or city roads, then Chromoly steel could be a preferred option. Longer rides are difficult on steel framed bikes. Chromoly molybdenum steel is light, yet a strong steel alloy.

Copyright (c) 2009 Bikepartscentre.com

Are Steel Bicyle Frames Advisable For Light Weight People?

Tools For eBay Buyers - Snipe Auction Tools describe

How many times have you lost auctions on eBay at the last possible second? You were there early before the auction done with a high bid, feeling good. Then the clock hits 1 minute, and you were still on top, (hey, this is looking good you think). Maybe even a few bidders put in a incorporate bids, but you are still the winning bidder (so far so good).

Then as the auction clock hits 10 seconds your heart starts to race (it is approximately in your grasp), any way as the clock ticks down and the auction closes you are met with discontentment and a feeling of loss (you see that the winning bidder is in fact not you). You lost the auction and more importantly wasted a lot of your time and vigor for nothing. Why or how do these other bidders get their bid in at the last tiny and steal the item away from other bidders? Well, they are using auction software and buyer tools and you should too.

Fixedgear Bike

You see, I was playing the bidding game too, which sellers assuredly love because live bidders drive up the price on items. However, getting in a bidding war means that you have to assuredly be online and monitoring the auction. It also means that you have to "show your hand" (meaning once you are outbid you have to get back into the bidding war and growth your bid).

Tools For eBay Buyers - Snipe Auction Tools describe

For years I was reluctant to use a snipe aid to win auctions on eBay. I guess I didn't trust it or maybe I idea it was cheating. The fact is though once I did try it I was hooked. Snipe services like justsnipe give you (the buyer) the occasion to place your bid at the last possible second. What you will do is give the auction snipe tool the highest price you want to pay for the item. As the auction winds down to the last 5-10 seconds the snipe tool will execute (send) in your highest bid for you automatically (and best the current highest bid).

Let's look at an example. I recently purchased a 2009 Felt Tk3 track frame on eBay using a snipe tool. With a incorporate of days left to go in the auction the price of the frame was up to about 0.00, with a few bidders already placing bids. In the old days I would have jumped in on the bidding auction. However, now instead of putting in my high bid early and perhaps triggering a bidding war (thus driving up the price), I use snipe tools. So with a day to go in the auction for the bike frame I went to my justsnipe list and entered the highest estimate that I was willing to pay for the item. I entered 5.00 as my top price into the snipe software and sat back.

This time I was not the poor guy on eBay who had watched the auction for a week, gleefully thinking he was the one who would be soon occasion a large box and putting together his new fixed gear bike. No, this time I won the auction and even got the Felt frame well below my 5.00 cap, I got it at 9.00.

There are many snipe services out there that eBay buyers can use for free. Many of the snipe websites give you a few free snipes per week, with fewer options than a paying member would have, such as not being able to adjust your snipe order at less than 8 seconds to go in the auction. It is assuredly worth a try though, and so far I have had no problems winning auctions with a free snipe list and my snipes advent in with 8 seconds to go, it is plainly not sufficient time for a live bidder to react and submit other bid.

Tools For eBay Buyers - Snipe Auction Tools describe

Slowing Down and Stopping Your Bike

Most of us learned how to ride a bike before we were ten years old, and studying how to stop the bike using the brakes followed pretty soon after! However, what you learned when you were a child riding for fun no longer applies when you are riding a racing bike at high speeds, and distinct techniques are necessary.

Learning and practicing the right way to brake brings several benefits, along with increased security and the ability to stop much faster - which also has the benefit that you will unblemished your ride at a higher average speed.

Fixedgear Bike

Most amateur cyclists brake using either just the rear brake, or a aggregate of both brakes at the same time, but neither of these is definite or efficient. Using the rear brake alone will stop you, but will take a long time doing it because it is very inefficient so it can be dangerous in an crisis and is not useful when a quick slow down is required. Using both brakes together is much faster, but very often leads the rear wheel to lock and for the bike to skid out of control

Slowing Down and Stopping Your Bike

We all learned very early on that if you slam your front brake on you go over the handlebars, which is a very painful and dangerous experience. But this is the definite way to brake!

Rather than just jamming the brake on it is requisite to apply it gradually, while modulating the pressure - that is, a rapid series of braking and releasing the brake. Meanwhile you need to keep your own center of gravity as far back and low as possible, since going over the handlebars results from your own centre of gravity inspiring too far forward too quickly. This is achieved by sitting back, sitting low, and putting your weight on the pedals rather than the saddle.

Find a quiet place to practice and very speedily you will find you can slow down and stop very efficiently using only the front brake, as you get a feel for the 'tipping point' - the point where too much weight comes off the back wheel and the bike starts to tip forwards.

It is best to practice on a level covering before trying on a steep downhill, but the same technique applies - just with a itsybitsy more caution and possibly a itsybitsy touch of back braking at the same time, since your centre of gravity is already supplementary forward.

Slowing Down and Stopping Your Bike

Specialized Bikes For Sale - Which Mountain Bike or Road Bike Is Right For You?

The best Specialized bikes for sale are ordinarily either mountain bikes or road bikes that are made of light materials like carbon fiber. There are many motorcycle models man-made by this popular cycling brand. The type of bike that's best for you will depend on many factors together with the type of cycling you'll be doing.

Many people have become familiar with this motorcycle company by the rock solid Specialized mountain bikes that have been ascending and descending the fire road and downhill single tracks for decades. Their most familiar models contain the Rockhopper, Stumpjumper, and the Hardrock. These names are staples in the mountain biking community.

Fixedgear Bike

Another type of Specialized bikes for sale that are widely popular are road bikes. With the popularity of the Tour de France and other cycling matches at an all time high, interest in cycling has increased. This has propelled the availability of high end road bikes from many fellowships all colse to the world. Specialized road bikes produce great entry level and pro level bikes, so there's something for every person with this venerable brand name in biking.

Specialized Bikes For Sale - Which Mountain Bike or Road Bike Is Right For You?

Triathlon has also become a popular sport. With the sport comes a more aggressive biking style that is similar to time trial races where speed and not comfort is the focus to the race and therefore, the produce aspect of the bicycles themselves. This is why tri bikes, like those produced by Specialized bikes, have a level top tube for best aerodynamics versus the more angle one on road bikes that are made for comfortability for riding long distances.

The Specialized bike company is so large that they also yield recreational bikes from beach cruisers, Bmx bikes, and single speed and fixed gear models. All these are variations of bicycles that are popular with the casual biker that admittedly enjoys biking as a form of communication like commuting to work or just for having fun riding colse to the neighborhood with friends. If you're not contentious and just want to ride recreationally, there are Specialized bikes for sale for this purpose as well. You don't have to be a pro or all about racing to own a bike from this great company.

When selecting the right motorcycle for your needs, form out what type of riding you'll be doing and what your price range will be and you'll have answered the most prominent questions with regard to your choice for bikes. Then, think about your price range and pick a color. That's all there is to it.

Specialized Bikes For Sale - Which Mountain Bike or Road Bike Is Right For You?