Posts Tagged ‘bicycles’

Difference Between a Bike Tubular Tire and a Bike Clincher Tire

Monday, March 15th, 2010

When debating what the differences are between a tubular or clincher tire the more knowledgeable person may reply that there is a right time for everything. Knowing which one to choose is the question.

Fundamentally, the way a clincher tire is secured to the rim of a bike is by using air pressure. This is how the wheel gets the name of “clincher” by pneumatically sealing the tire between the outer rim bead and inner tube. The tube itself is completely separate from the tire. The largest example of a clincher tire is a drag radial as used by fuel cars.

For many years using a bike tire that has an independent inner tube makes for a much safer and easier to maintain wheel. You may query why car tires do not use seperate tubes. Simply because during continuous high speeds, a tire with a separate inner tube can create friction by rubbing the inside of the outer wall of the tire thereby softening the rubber. Even though a bike moves using high pressured air in the tire, because a bike doesn’t carry a heavy load the problem doesn’t arise.

On the other hand a normal car has a tubular type tire where the outside tire tread is an integral component to the air chamber of a tire. The differences between a car tire and a bikes tubular tire is that the bicycle tire is actually glued to the rim of the wheel whereas a car tire is held in place using the same technique as a clincher wheel. In past years the performance cyclist had only the tubular tire as a viable option but recently with the progress in the technology of wheels and tires, coupled with the approval in the racing market, the clincher wheel has become the main tire choice in bike racing today.

The only real advantage to using tubular-style tires is their reduced weight, as this style of tire does not need the thick rim bead that clinchers require to seal. However, with widespread usage of lightweight alloys and composite materials, most racers have become willing to accept the negligible weight difference between the two in favor of the clincher’s added reliability and ease of maintenance.

Learn more about bike clincher wheelsets. Stop by Steve James’s site where you can find out all about campagnolo wheelsets and what they can do for your bike.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in outdoors | Comments Off

Bicycles For Free – Where You Can Find Free Bicycles

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Bikes are a great way to get around cheaply and effectively. They also are great for exercise and weight loss. When used often, you can get where you need to go and lose weight. Instead of getting into your car and lazily driving everywhere while not burning any calories, you can enjoy the weather and burn off calories on a bike. While you may not have one because you can’t afford one, this article will show you a couple of places to go where you can sometimes find free bikes being given away in your area.

I am friends with a trash man and in his job he comes across all sorts of working and useful stuff that people put in the garbage. Working stereos, fans, portable heaters, TVs, microwaves, are just a few of the things he has found in the trash and used for himself. His boss even has a storage shed full of stuff that he finds in the trash. You know what his boss does with some of the stuff that he finds? He sells it in a garage sale for extra cash.

The Internet is a great place to start your search for a free bicycle. There are two web sites in general that should be checked for bicycles that are being given away near you. Of course, you’ll find much more free stuff being given away than just bicycles, so you should definitely check these out even if you don’t want a free bicycle!

Freecycle.org is a site that is all about getting and giving free stuff. If you live in or near a city, your chances of finding a free bike are much better. Even if you aren’t looking for a bike, you can check out Freecycle.org for all the other things being given away. I have seen furniture, exercise equipment, books, bikes and much more be given away for free on this site.

The next site to check for free bicycles is Craigslist.com. This is a very popular site that is used by tons of people. While I like Freecycle.org because it focuses only on free stuff, Craigslist.com is used for much more than finding things being given away. Again, it depends on where you live, but for people living in or near a populated city, you should be able to eventually find someone that is giving away a bicycle on Craigslist.com. The “Free” section is located in the “For Sale” area.

Those are two great sites that you can often find a free bicycle on. If you can’t find one right away, check back later, as you never know when someone will decide to give away their bicycle!

For extreme toys, alternative transportation, and human powered fun, check out ActionIsle, a web site filled with the latest and greatest, scooters, electric skateboards, cycles, sleds, luges, watercraft and more.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in outdoors | Comments Off

A Little About Electric Bike Kits

Friday, January 29th, 2010

An electric bike kit is simply an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery. It converts an ordinary bicycle into an electric bike. The battery is simply recharged by plugging to the electricity mains. If you already know how to ride a bicycle, you don’t have a problem using the electric bike. Just pedal and allow the motor to kick in, then relax and enjoy your ride.

Personally, I believe that in these times of recession, one ought to prefer buying an electric bike conversion kit rather than opting for a brand new electric bike. This decision hs mant dvntages. One of them is that, this conersion kit is very cheap. Instead of spending a huge amount of money on electric bike, I would simply convert my bicycle to n electric one. I don’t need fuel to power my bike. When it runs down I recharge and ride on.

It is obvious that bicycle manufacturers greatly outnumber electric bike manufacturers. So, there are more brands of bicycles than electric bikes. Buying a conversion kit gives you a chance to choose any bike that suits your lifestyle.

An electric bike kit has another advantage. The electric bike is heavier than a bicycle converted to an electric bike. This makes riding very easy and comfortable.

For physical fitness, riding the electric bike is a highly recommended exercise. You can lose extra calories without stress by simply installing an electric bike kit to your bicycle. Certain ailments like arthritis, diabetes and hypertension are best managed by recommending stress less and enjoyable exercises of this sort.

You shouldn’t waste time at traffics. Install an electric bike kit on your bicycle and save yourself a lot of time, fuel and energy. During rush hours don’t use your car for short distance trips. Instead, make use of your electric bike. You will go through any available space on a traffic jam. You don’t have to worry about the need for parking space.

Compared to the electric bike, buying the electric bike kit is far more economical. Do you have a bicycle? Then, spend a little money and buy an electric bike conversion kit. You will not only enjoy it but also will be proud about it.

To find great deals on electric bike kits for sale, hurry and visit the Electric Bike Kits web site.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in outdoors | Comments Off

Razor Scooters

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

The Razor A scooter … What does that phrase make you think about? If you have children, I’m certain that you’ve heard of the Razor A scooter series, but they weren’t about when we were kids. However, the concept was, even though I forget the marques from my youth.

I loved my two-wheeled, kick-powered scooter when I was young. Mum and Dad had their automobile, my older brothers had their bikes and I had my scooter. It didn’t go fast, but then, I didn’t go far either, but it was a vehicle, of sorts and it gave that feeling of freedom. I had my wheels and I was mobile!

Well, the modern variety of that scooter is the Razor A scooter series. And they really are modern too! They are a long chalk from the simple scooters of yesteryear. The Razor A scooter series was brought out in the year 2000 and is tough, strong, collapsible and as safe as you can get.

The Razor A scooter series is sold in several guises to accommodate various age groups, requirements and wallets. For example, the Razor A scooter is meant for children of six years and older, while the Razor A2 scooter, the Razor A3 scooter and the Razor Pro scooter are intended for older, weightier, more demanding and more skilful enthusiasts. With prices starting at about $25 none of them is expensive.

The Razor A scooter series is made from aircraft-quality light aluminium and weighs in at just six pounds. That’s light enough for any small child to be able to carry, if required, without risk of strain. It is also collapsible, which means that it is easy to carry under your arm, in the boot of your car or on the bus. Storage is a doddle too.

The Razor A scooter series is height-adjustable too in that the handlebars can be raised as your child grows up or if an older sibling wants a turn. It also has a formidable braking system, which is naturally very important since these scooters will easily reach speeds of five or six mph on the flat and much more on a slope. Going down hill, that is.

The Razor A scooter series also has lesser and greater stable mates. The Razor Kiddie Kick is meant for children younger than six and has a third wheel for increased stability, although it is just as strong and durable as the Razor A scooter series. The Razor A scooter series is intended for ‘young-minded’ people from the age of six. I say ‘young-minded’ because it is quite the rage now, to put one in the car and scooter the last mile or two into work or college. That mile or two every day will save you fuel and give you more exercise over a prolonged period of time. After all, it all adds up, doesn’t it?

Then, for those who require a bit more, there are the Razor E100(S), Razor E200(S) and the Razor E300(S), which are electrically powered scooters. The (S) denotes that they have a seat fitted.

So, why not introduce your child to the concept of travel with a Razor A scooter? Give your child the chance to look back on his or her youth in 20-30 years time and remember zooming about at three-five mph on a Razor A scooter.

Do you have great memories of your chilhood scooter? The Razor A scooter is the modern equivilent. Come visit our webweb site at http://razorascooter.com and find out more.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in outdoors | Comments Off