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INFO: |
Welcome to
www.bicyclemania.co.uk the best place on the net
for cycling Info &, FREE trail routes plus cycling events in
North East Lincolnshire. |
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 Here's
some great top-tips from the
mountain biking world.
Some
you may know & we bet
there's some you don't.
If you have any good cycling
top-tips pass them on, you
never know you could get
them listed here for all to
see. |
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~
RIDE
SCUFFS ON RACE DAY ~
 New
tyres have a glaze
that is very
slippery.
Run
a brand new pair of
racing tyres for the
last two practice
runs on the course
to scuff them in.
This
will eliminate the
greasy film.
Your
tyres will have the
maximum traction
just when you need
it, for all those
gnarly tree roots. |
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~
FAST TUBE CHANGE IN
A RACE ~
Top
tip, when fitting a
tyre to the rim
always match up the
tyre logo with the
value stem on the
rim.
If
you suffer a flat &
the wheel/tyre is
covered in mud, you
will know instantly
where the value
holes are.
It
will shave vital
seconds off the
whole tube changing
exercise. (Especially
in a race event) |
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~ USE THE RIGHT TYRE
PRESSURES ~
The
tyre pressure makes a
difference with everything
on your bike. If your tyre
pressure is low, the bike
feels lethargic. Here's a
scale to go by, If you're
under 100 pounds, riding
cross-country, use 30 to 35
psi of pressure. If you're
100 to 125 pounds, use 35 to
37 psi. If you're 125 to 150
pounds, run 37 to 42 psi of
pressure. If you're 150 to
175 pounds, run 37 to 45 psi
of pressure. And if you're
over 200 pounds, use 50 psi
or more. If you're riding a
trail where there are a lot
of rocks, run higher
pressure. If you're riding a
downhill bike with wider
tyres and full suspension,
go five pounds less than you
would with a X-C bike.
If you're getting
pinch-flats go up in
pressure. And here's another
tip, when climbing on a long
rocky trail drop the
pressure, so the rear tyre
moulds to the contours of
the trail. |
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~ BABY POWDER THOSE
TYRES ~
Run
baby powder inside your
tyres.
It
helps the tubes float better
& keeps them from binding in
the tyres and
pinch-flatting.
Also
use when putting a new tube
in and putting a new UST
tyre on?.
When
fitting an old or brand new
tyre, slightly in-flat the
tube.
Remember
to start from the valve stem
and work around.
Keep
the tyre logo next to the
valve stem, so next time you
can find it faster
especially if in a rush. |
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~ FITTING TUBELESS
TYRES THE EASY WAY ~
Squirt
a small amount of
Fairy liquid around
the inside of the
wheel rim.
Spread
it around the rim
with your grubby
fingers, then wash
your hands.
With
clean dry hands it
will be a lot easier
to work the tyre
onto the rim.
Always
pull and stretch new
tubeless tyres
before trying to fit
them. |
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~ SECRET FORMULA
ENERGY DRINK ~
As
used by a member of the
Bicyclemania.co.uk
mountain biking
team.
Discovered
by chance as all good things
are, the secret recipe is as
follows.
[1] 1 x High
five energy powdered drink (
must be blackcurrant )
[2] mix with
Buxton mineral water. (
must be con gas / fizzy to
you & me )
[3] And hay
presto human rocket
fuel...!!! |
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~ GRIPPING GRIPS
HARD TO GET ON & OFF
SORTED ~
As
all bikers one day
will find out,
getting handle bar
grips on or off is
not so easy, unless
you know cunning
little top-tips
you'll be struggling
like a demented cat
& most likely to
have blood running
from your paws too.
(1)
Hairspray, use a
screw driver, lift
the end of grip,
spray down shaft,
twist & turn off.
(2) Hairspray
bar & inside of grip
and twist & turn it
on sorted.
(3) Put new
grips in Very warm
water, soften up,
stick on.
( Don't be a
Muppet & stick them
in a boiling kettle
) |
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~ LEVER GRIPS ~
Keep
all parts tight on
your bike but not
overly tight,
constantly check
them.
Tighten
your levers so that
they won't move
while you're out
riding.
Leave
them just loose
enough so you can
move them with your
hands in the event
of a crash.
That
way they won't break
when you crash,
they'll move on your
bars instead of
breaking.
You
can reposition them
with your hands when
you get back on your
bike and resume
racing / riding. |
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~ GET OFF TO THE
RIGHT START ~
Practice
starts to find the best
gear, crank angle and
off-pedal tilt that allows
the quickest lock-in.
Rehearse
a few starts during the
morning warm-up and stick to
the procedure at the start
line kick-off.
Remember
to make sure those pedals
are serviced well, it could
make or brake a race win. |
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~ WARM UP AND WARM
DOWN ~
You
see them all doing
it half an hour
before the start,
and all you do is
just mince around.
All
you have to do is
simply pedal up &
down the track and
get your body up to
operating
temperature.
You'll
not waste your
energy doing this,
it's a good way of
making sure your
body is ready for
the start.
Now
you shouldn't
pass-out yard's down
the course, and
remember to warm
down after the event
too. |
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~ SAVE YOUR ENERGY
GOING UP HILL ~
When
you're climbing,
concentrate on
relaxing your upper
body & pouring all
your energy into
your legs.
Bouncing
wildly around on the
saddle and jerking
on the handlebars
will waste your
energy levels.
This
will cost you in
climbing speed, so
try to stay relaxed
and focus on keeping
it all nice and
smooth.
Sounds
simple, but do
remember to breath
as well. |
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~ HOW TO KILL
CAMELBAK BLADDER
BACTERIA ~
Tip
1
After
a ride rise the
bladder out
thoroughly with
water and then place
the bladder in the
freezer until you
need it again. As
the water freezes,
it does not allow
bacteria chance to
form & therefore
create mildew or any
other form of mould,
so sterilizing
tablets are not
required. (
tip by Mud-Junkie )
Tip 2
The
next top-tip is to
stop the bladders
inside walls from
sticking together.
Don't buy an
expensive CamelBak
insert, just pop in
two Zip-ties zipped
together and bobs
your uncle the
Zip-ties will keep
the bladder walls
from sticking. (
tip by Bicyclemania
trailfinders
)
Tip 3
On
a hot day, try
popping a couple of
ice cubes into the
bladder before you
set off on the
trail. That way you
will have a nice
cool drink to help
you on your way for
at least an hour. |
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~ HOW TO MOUNT A
COMPUTER SENSOR ON A
LEFTY FORK ~
( The cheap
way )
<<<< Thumbnailed
picture
There
are one or two
companies offering
Lefty computer
add-on's at a price
for your bike.
Here
at
Bicyclemania.co.uk
we show & tell you
how to do it the
cheaper way, but
just as effective.
Turn
the sensor
up-side-down & zip
tie it to the disc
brake calliper
making sure it is
squared, so it will
not rub against the
wheels spokes. For
the best results use
two small size zip
ties & pull them
tight with pliers.
Wrap the computer
cable around the
brake hose in a
spiral fashion. Use
insulation tape to
secure the cable
to the brake hose
wrapping the
insulation tape all
the way up the brake
hose. Line the
computer sensor up
with the computer
magnet. You can
still remove
split-pins & change
the pads without
taking off the
sensor & that's it,
sorted. |
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~ CHEAP CABLE -
CUTTERS ~
You
do not need special
tools, like cable
cutters. All you
will need is a
lighter and pliers.
[1] heat the
cable with the
lighter until the
cable turns black
[2] cut the
cable with some
pliers where you
heated it
[3] the cable
will not fray, it's
as easy as that, job
sorted ..... cheap
as chips. |
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~ FORCE FEED YOUR
CHAIN ~
Let
your bike chain dry
off over night after
that wash.
If
you lube a chain
immediately after a
wash, the oil will
lock in the water
and moisture inside
the links.
Place
the oil across each
roller from the
inner run of the
chain.
When
you start pedalling
the centrifugal
force will help lube
the rollers. |
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~ THE BEST BICYCLE
MEDICINE ~
Purple
Extreme is an
advanced, high
performance,
synthetic bike chain
lubricant.
It's
excellent protection
for chains, gears
and exposed metal
surfaces subjected
to severe loading.
In
addition, it works
extremely well even
in abrasive, cold,
wet or acidic
environments.
Now
there's a chain lube
tough enough to
stand up to any
conditions you can
ride in.! |
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~ EASY WHEEL REMOVAL
AND RE-INSTALMENT ~
Flick
the right-hand
shifter into top
gear.
Undo
any V-brake system
if you have one &
then turn over the
bike, lay it on it's
back.
Remove
the rear nut /
quick-release.
Lift
& pull back the rear
Mech, then lift out
the wheel keeping it
straight so you
don't damage
anything.
Repeat
to re-install the
wheel.
If
you have disc
brakes, insert a
piece of card
between the pads
when transporting.
A
piece of old
cardboard or a
Pringles plastic top
folded in half will
make a good pad
spreader. |
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~ CHAIN HOLDER ~
<<<< Thumbnailed
picture
When
you work on the
chain try hooking
together two points
of the chain to
create a little bit
of slack.
When
you come to
splitting the chain,
it will make the job
a lot easier to do.
Try
using some thing
like an old spoke,
coat-hanger, or any
stiff wire.
Just
bend it into shape
and clip in into the
two ends of the
chain.
We
keep an old bit of
gear cable in our
tools for just this
job, excellent for
stiff Sram chain
links. |
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Important Stuff: No part of this web site will be reproduced
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Neither is any liability assumed for damage resulting
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have been appropriately capitalized.
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® ©
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web site as complete and as accurate as possible. But no
warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided
is on an, as is, basis. The author and publisher shall
have neither liability nor responsibility to any person
or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising
from the information contained in this web site. |
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Charities we support & promote:
 Scope,British Heart Foundation,L.I.V.E.S.,Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research,St. Andrews Hospice. |
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Bicyclemania.co.uk
© ®
&
Bicyclemania Challenge
© ® are copyright
protected, Website built & maintained by Chiefy. |
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