Archive for February 2008


US Top 10 Bike Models

February 26th, 2008 — 12:01 am
bike
Mountain bikes, BMXs, Tandem Bikes, and Children Bikes belong to the top ten bicycle types and models sold by leading bike sellers in America.

The following is the list of bicycle types and models that are very popular among riders in United States.

Road Bikes

Road Bikes are built for vigor and velocity. They flaunt glossy, plunge handlebars and slender tires. These bikes are made up of comfortable, tough components, like steel, aluminum, and titanium. There are several types of road bikes and the 3 commonly utilized are performance, fixed gear/single speed, and sports road bikes. The 3 widely purchased brands of road bikes are Specialized, Cervello, and Cannondale.

Mountain Bikes

A variety of options are available for mountain bikes. A Cross Country mountain bike is typically lightweight yet durable. A Downhill mountain bike is ideal for stunts and trail challenges. A Dirt Jump mountain bike is designed for pulling off stunts and typically has hard tails.

Commuter Bikes

They are available in various designs, and are fashioned for strength and ease of maintenance. These bikes come in single-speed and geared models. Majority of commute bikes have fenders to protect the user during wet season and others have racks to hold items. Bianchi and Gary Fisher are well-known brands of commuter bikes.

Children’s Bikes

These bikes are obtainable in multiple designs and sizes, from pedal bikes to tri-bikes. They may feature training wheels or may not. Some even have customizable parts that are designed to keep pace with the kid’s growth. Gary Fisher, Electra, Trek, and Kettler offer some of the finest bikes for you child.

BMX

BMXs (Bicycle Motocross) are robust and compact. Different types of BMXs are made for competition, jumping, tricks, and for skate park rides. You can trust the names MirraCo and Haro for BMX bikes.

Cyclocross

Cyclocrosses are types of racer bikes. They’re frequently ridden in cross races. They look like road bikes but with twisted tires that can withstand gravel and dirt. However, these bikes aren’t for races only. You can ride on it through woods and rough terrains. Redline Conquest Pro and LeMond Poprad series offer quality cyclocross bikes.

Recumbent

Recumbent bikes are comparable to road bikes yet feature back brace to let users lean back. The pedals are parallel to the bike’s seat, placing the rear end of the user parallel to his feet. Comfort is one best advantage that recumbent bikes offer. The reclined position is perfect for extended rides. Bacchetta supplies a complete array of recumbent bikes.

Tandem Bikes

Tandem bicycles provide velocity as two individuals can pedal simultaneously. Front riders maneuver and brake, while the rear riders are free to have fun gazing around while sitting hands-free. The rear rider however should keep the pedal rhythm of the front rider. There are tandem models that feature individual pedaling structures wherein the riders don’t have to perform that. Co-Motion PeriScope and Trek series are smart tandem bike brands.

Folding

Folding bikes offer a smart way for people who need a bicycle to ride to a public transport stand and after that need to have another bicycle to ride to reach the aimed destination. Folding bikes can be dismantled, folded, and stacked in minutes by the use of interlocking hinges.

Stationary

These bicycles are athletic tools that do not go anywhere. Generally, stationary bicycles feature sturdy back inverted T-shaped support placed on the ground plus a front wheel positioned just off the floor that rolls by pedaling. Indoor stationary bikes are competent and are extensive exercise habits. Spinning and Belmont Wheelworks have different stationary bike models for any fitness fan.

The following are ten bicycle stores featured in Bicycle Retailer & Industry News leading bike sellers in the United States for 2007. They sell quality bicycle brands and models mentioned above.

• Belmont Wheelworks

• Bicycle Garage Indy

• Breakaway Bicycles

• Chainwheel Drive

• Dahon California, Inc.

• Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle

• Kozy’s Cyclery and Fitness

• Marty’s Reliable Cycle

• Orange Cycle

• Toga Bike Shop



By: David H. Urmann

About the Author:
For more information on Bike Supplies and Shops please visit our website.



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Comment » | Automotive

What car is good for converting to an electric car?

February 17th, 2008 — 02:20 am
car
Lizzy K asked:


What car is good for converting to an electric car?
I’m interested in a car that is lightweight, has a manual transmission, and has room for batteries. I’m trying to convert a gas car to an electric car, and I need one that is light, has manual transmission, room for batteries, etc, etc. Has anyone done that and has advice/know a good car for it? I have a limited price range, and I need a relatively cheap car for it. Any suggestions? Thanks.

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5 comments » | Alternative Fuel Vehicles

What is the best boat length for near shore fishing?

February 14th, 2008 — 09:00 pm
boat
Carolina Fishing asked:


I am interested in purchasing a boat for fishing off the cost of North Carolina with. I would like to fishing mainly nearshore, sound and an occasional gulf stream run. I am tring to figure out what the best boat set up would be. Things I am considering are boat length, beam, single or dual outboards, what horse power, center consol or walkaround, etc. Any opinion of a good boat set up would be a great help.

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1 comment » | Fishing

Heated Boat Storage

February 12th, 2008 — 07:37 am
boat
Everyone’s dream boat storage is heated boat storage. Just think about it. Storing a boat in heated boat storage would make every sailors boating experience ever more pleasurable. Those people who don’t own a boat vision boats as fun, relaxing, and exciting. They are jealous of boat owners; however, little do they know. Boat owners know this is far from the truth. Boats are high maintenance and are the reason for empty wallets. Ask any former boat owner what was his best boating experience, and he will tell you it was the day he got rid of the boat. But there are some boat owners who are able to keep a balance between boat fun and boat maintenance. The key to this balance is finding the best boat storage possible.

Heated boat storage is the answer to that balance between an angry boat owner and a happy boat owner. Storing a boat properly is the solution to many boat problems. It ensures that when Spring arrives your boat will start with no issues. When a boat sits for a long time, engine parts, electronic parts, and other metal boat parts begin to corrode from moister trapped inside the boat. Moister is also the cause for mold build up. Mold is hard to clean and smells when the cover is removed. Heated boat storage or climate control boat storage is dry and set at a consistent temperature. Moister building up under the boat cover is not an issue. This prevents mold and corrosion from growing on your boat.

Heated boat storage increased the longevity of all boats. Boats in heated boat storage are preserved better than boats stored in any other type of storage. This means less boat maintenance. Heated boat storage cuts down on the winter storage preparations suffered by other storage options. Because it is stored at a steady temperature, you don’t have to winterize certain boat parts from freezing temperatures. Don’t worry about the engine block cracking, are bursting plumbing lines since they won’t be subject to freeze. This will save you, the boat owner the time and energy it takes to winterize a boat. Or it will save you lots of money if you have a boat mechanic do it for you.

There are many types of boats you can store in heated boat storage. River rats prefer bass boats because they are small and easy to maneuver in shallow areas. Motor boats or speed boats are geared to the water sport enthusiast. Owners of motor boats and speed boats can water ski and wakeboard on the ocean or bay. Jet boats are like speed boats except they are driven by jet compulsion, not by a propeller. House boats cater to the leisure lifestyle of the retirees. Fishing boats are equipped for those who boat for sport. Whatever is your boating preference, heated boat storage caters to all boat fanatics.

It is no dream; heated boat storage really exists. It’s up to you to find heated boat storage at a self storage business near you. Heated boat storage may even tip the scales toward the fun side, rather than the bad side of boating.



By: Kamyar Shah

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4 comments » | Travel

Mountain Bikes – Perfect Hill Heroes

February 9th, 2008 — 06:08 am
bike
Mountain bikes are specially meant for rough and rugged terrains. These extra traction and shock absorbing mountain bicycles are provided with fat knobby tires. However, a full front and rear suspension is becoming quite a common factor nowadays with bikes meant for mountain rides. Some bikes of this particular variety are fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, but with recent trends the use of handlebars and extensions are becoming less and less popular.

Mountain bicycles have both 26 and 29 inches wheels. The larger wheels of this bike type have better rolling capacities over rocks and boulders. Moreover, wheels, which are larger in diameter, also bring about an enhancement in rotational weight giving way to stable acceleration.

Mountain Bicycles – Kings On Rugged Roads

Based on suspension, mountain bicycles are broadly graded into four different kinds:

Bikes with dual or full suspension – These bikes have front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that is ready to make the rear wheels move on pivots

Hardtail bikes – These bikes have frames with no rear suspension and they are often supplied with front suspension forks

Soft Tail Bikes – These bikes have frames with small amount of rear suspension. The bikes are activated by flex of the frame rather than the pivots

Fully rigid bikes – These bikes have a sub-type of hardtail along with rigid fork system

The Different Types Of Mountain Bicycles

The Cross-Country Mountain Bike

This bike variety has small amount of suspension on the front or on the rear. These bicycles are comparatively light because they are constructed with lightweight materials both in frame construction and in components. Some XC bike varieties of this particular type are without any suspension. They make use of rigid front fork that helps in saving weight. Here, the skill of the rider to pass through rough terrains is more important.

Freeride Mountain Bike

These are very similar to enduro bikes and emphasize more on weight and enhanced suspension. These bikes have ample suspension and they are mostly constructed with heavier materials. Freeride bikes are absolutely versatile and they are fantastic for uphill travel. The frame angles of such bikes are usually steeper in comparison to downhill bikes. Most freeride bikes are 30 to 45 pounds in weight.

Trials Mountain Bike

These are trial specific bikes. Most of these bikes are without any suspension. The contemporary trial bikes come without seats as most of the time the rider is out of the saddle. This bike is particularly lighter than other mountain bicycles and it weighs between 15 to 25 pounds. The lightweight makes it easier for the biker to maneuver the bike.

Single-Speed Mountain Bike

This is a kind of mountain bike with one set gear ratio. The ratio of the gear depends on the kind of terrain the bike crosses, the skill and strength of the bike rider and the size of the bike too. A single-speed bike is completely rigid having tough steel frames. If you want to ride a single-speed bicycle on mild to moderate cross-country terrains you have to be strong and active.

North Shore Mountain Bike

North shore mountain bike is genuinely constructed for rough and rugged land surfaces. A rider of this particular bike type has to exhibit lots of skill and balance while riding the bike. This bike is a wonderful combination of freeride and downhill bikes.

The other mountain bike varieties include Enduro Mountain Bike, Downhill Mountain Bike and Dirt Jumping Bike.

Most modern bikes meant for mountains have lighter and stronger frames with innovative design and form. The geometry of these bikes encourages vigorous riding over several obstacles like logs, rocks, wooden bridges and manually fabricated ramps. In the front, the bikes have three gears and it has 7, 8, 9, or 10 gears at the rear wheel position.

Some notable companies who have introduced the latest models of mountain bicycles include Fox, Manitou and Rock Shox along with other significant bike manufacturers. It is quite likely for you to make mistakes while riding a mountain bike. The mishaps generally take place due to equipment failure or misjudgment on the part of the rider. Thus, several companies have come forward with protective gears referred to as armors to provide full protection from injuries. Some essential upper body protectors for riders include spine protector, full-face helmets and backpack hydration system.

It is quite an established fact that mountain bicycles are aptly designed following the present trend and demand. They are in fact the dream of every spirited and efficient mountain biker.



By: Robert Sheehan

About the Author:

Robert Sheehan is a freelance writer and co-owner of
http://www.bicycles-are-us.com Visit Robert And
read more about bicycles at
http://www.bicycles-are-us.com/Mountain-Bikes.html



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Comment » | Fitness

What is the acceleration of the boat just after the rain starts?

February 3rd, 2008 — 05:42 am
boat
RelientKayers asked:


A boat of mass 250 kg is coasting, with its engine in neutral, through the water at speed 3.00 m/s when it starts to rain. The rain is falling vertically, and it accumulates in the boat at the rate of 10.0 kg/hr.

The drag is proportional to the square of the speed of the boat, in the form F_d= 0.5 v^2. What is the acceleration of the boat just after the rain starts? Take the positive x axis along the direction of motion.

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2 comments » | Physics