7 Steps to Winter Prep

Here Are 7 Key Adjustments To Make Your Winter Riding The Most Fun It Can Be

 (thanks to Global Cycling Network)

10 tips for winterproofing your bike:

1. Replace Tires

Old worn out tires are far more likely to puncture, especially in the winter months when rain or wind has brought more debris onto the roads, sidewalks, and trails.

There's not much worse than trying to replace a flat tire on the side of the road when it's cold and rainy.

If your budget allows, try to pick up some new tires for the winter season that are a bit wider and grippier to lessen your chances of getting puncture flat.
To even FURTHER reduce your chance of puncture, pick up a tire liner like :        .

2. Check Brake Pads
In gritty conditions, the pad can (and probably will) wear much faster than in great weather. Make sure to check them more regularly and replace if necessary.

3. Buy A Set Of Winter Wheels

Because of that same grit, the braking surface of your rim can see some extra damage too. Winter wheels are designed to be extra durable in this and other areas. It may be a good idea for you to pick up some wheels for this purpose.

 
 
4. Mount Fenders

Not only does it keep the spray and mud off of your face, hands, feet, and backside, it also protects your frame, your headset, and your drivetrain which will help these components to last longer.

5. Use Lights

Of course, it's important to use lights during the dark hours of all seasons. In winter months, however, it is a good idea to run some inexpensive lights at all times of the day, as it can quickly become dark and gloomy.

 
6. Replace Worn chains

Buy an inexpensive chain that you can replace more often, as the grime and debris from the road will get into the track and ruin your other drivetrain components faster.

7. Keep Moving Parts Greased and Lubed

Moving parts such as headset bearings, hubs, pedals, chain and bottom bracket. Not only will this be help your moving parts keep working properly, but it will also help prevent moisture from penetrating.

What else do YOU do to get ready for winter riding?

Top 5 Motivations For a New Helmet

Got a Questionable Helmet? Just Replace It.

 But we should remember why we wear helmets in the first place. Protecting that all-important noggin. Now, obviously, if you have been in a crash, or if the helmet is in two pieces, you will have to get yourself a new one. But maybe you haven't considered one of the reasons on this list. Be informed. Be safe.

 

5. It's not a cycling helmet

It's a good idea to wear a different helmet for each sport you participate in. Even if you ride BMX, or if do some activity where you crash regularly like skateboarding, you may not want to wear that helmet for road or mountain cycling, as it could be less prepared for the types of falls that can occur when riding.

4. Helmet manufacturers recommend replacing helmets every five years. 

And it's not so they can sell a bunch of new ones. It's because the materials in a helmet break down over that time causing the helmet to lose some of it's impact-absorbing ability, which means in a crash, you're at risk!

3. Helmets are constantly improving. 

Today's designs are drastically superior to those we were wearing just a few years ago. Helmet manufacturers have engineered features like better cooling vents, feathery weight, and extra protection against concussions, all of which make it worthwhile to upgrade regularly.

2. Significant Accidents or Falls

EPS foam is made to compress upon heavy impact. This disperses the force of the impact sothat the helmet, not your skull, is taking the brunt of the blow. However, EPS foam does not completely regain its shape after a major impact. The bottom line from every source is that, if the helmet has been in an accident, replace it, even if it does not look damaged.

1. The outside is just foam or cloth instead of plastic, or it doesnt have a CPSC, ASTM or Snell sticker inside, or you just can't get it to fit!

Obviously foam and cloth are not protective enough, but there are still some helmets floating around out there that aren't up to the safety code that manufacturers established in the 1990s. And anything that doesn't fit is probably not good for your ride.

[VIDEO REVIEW] 2014 Trek Dual Sport 8.3

The Bike That Does It All!

Lloyd from Bumstead's Bicycles in Ontario, CA brings you a review of one of Trek's most versatile bikes: the 2014 Dual Sport 8.3.

This model has a lightweight aluminum frame. One of the things you will notice is that Trek has spent a lot of time doing hydroformed tubing. The tubes are not round, they are custom shaped in order to be as light and strong as possible. They also have designed the tubes to give you the best strength to weight ratio.

Because it is a dual sport bike, it has front suspension for the possible light trails you may encounter on weekends with your buddies, as well as the potholes and broken sidewalks you will definitely see in the city. If you are on nicely paved roads and don't need the suspension, there is a very simple lockout lever located on the fork. Trek also put disc brakes on the Dual Sport bikes this year, which are much better in wet or muddy conditions.

Shimano Acera 8-speed rear derailleur, with rapid fire shifters which are going to last and are just right for most riders. Shimano's crank also includes a slight chain-guard to protect your clothing or legs from chain grease.

If you're looking for a bike to do a little bit of everything, this is the best one you could possibly get.

Come in to Bumstead's Bicycles today to take a test ride! We'll be seeing you!

Bumstead's Bicycles

 Located at 1038 W. 4th St. in Ontario, CA. 
You can reach us by phone at (909) 984-9067

www.bumsteadbikes.com

How To Pick The Right Mountain Bike

How can you possibly choose the right mountain bike when they come in so many different shapes and sizes, and are used for so many purposes?

Numerous manufacturers provide bikes that are specifically developed to tackle tough terrain and rigorous riding. The most important factor when determining which mountain bike to get is your personal riding preference.

The first thing you have to do is ask yourself a few questions.

Are you going to ride in the mountains?

Are you going to just ride on some dirt roads?

Do you just like the idea of a mountain bike and you're just going to ride on the street?

All of these things will determine which is the right mountain bike for you.

Let's start with the easiest of those.

You like the look and style of a mountain bike, but the reality is the most you will be doing with it is going on some dirt roads. At that point anything that we carry that is basic and looks like a mountain bike is going to be a good buy. It's still going to have a more dual purpose tire that will be knobby, but it will still roll smooth on the street.

That would be the first thing. Most of the time you will have 21 speeds, an aluminum frame, Shimano or SRAM components. Pretty basic. At this point you don't even need disc brakes. You can get a linear pull brake or a v-brake, and you'll be fine. It would be much better for you to get an upgrade in components than to opt for an upgrade to disc brakes at the entry level. 

Take the 2013 Trek 8.2 Dual Sport for example. It's a go-anywhere machine that is road-bike fast, hybrid-bike capable and fun everywhere. It's lightweight aluminum frame and 63mm travel suspension fork so it floats over roads and paths. 21-speed Shimano Gears and safe, grippy brakes are at your disposal. 

Or the 2013 Trek 3500 Disc! Trek's Silver Series aluminum frame makes for nimble handling, easy 

acceleration and quick climbing. 80mm travel suspension fork dispatches bumps with ease, grace, and confidence. Quick shifting 21-speed Shimano Drivetrain that will make easy work of the hills. Bontrager tires and disc brakes in all conditions and any weather.

For the ladies, Trek has their 2013 Skye. It's a fun, all-around bike ready for any and all adventures. It's got their great-riding, lightweight aluminum frame in a relaxed, upright riding position. The downtube is not as tall as the boys frame, allowing you to stand over the bike easier. It comes in "Washed Denim," and "Canary Yellow."

Next, for the guy or girl that wants to do a little bit of mountain biking, but not to do extreme jumps or dropoffs. Maybe you just want to hit some local trails with your friends. One of the first features you'd look for is: an adjustable front fork. You want a front shock that has enough travel and enough adjustability to hit those bumps and take up the shock and abuse of hitting rocks and potholes and rain-ruts. The next thing would be looking into disc brakes. The more serious you get about riding, the better brakes you're going to need because of the dirt, mud and grime. You will need better stopping power in those dirty conditions and on steeper descents. You will probably still get an aluminum frame but will get an upgrade from 21 gears to 24(8 gears in the rear). Going up and down hills requires a little more precise shifting than just on flat ground. On this type of bike you can go mountain biking often and expect it to live up to the use or abuse on the trail.

A good example of this type of bike is The 2013 Trek 4300 Disc. It's perfect for this category because it has the Gold aluminum frame, and is plenty tough to hold its own in the durability department. It has been bumped up to a 100mm-travel SunTour suspension fork for control, easy pedaling 27-speed Shimano drivetrain, a plush seat, and versatile tires on dependable wheels. It aso comes with Hayes disc brakes. 

The next level up means you have been riding the trails a bit and now you need a new bike. You're going mountain biking every weekend, hitting all the local trails and going to harsher conditions to ride. At that point you're going to be looking for something with longer travel on the front fork that will be larger in diameter. You may get many more features on the front fork, including lockout or damping control. The better the front fork, the better the bike will handle in adverse conditions. You may want to go to hydraulic disc brakes even rather than cable disc brakes, kind of like upgrading to  power brakes on a car. The rims on the better quality bikes are double walled, and the spokes come out of a reinforced  "eyelet" rather than just a hole in the rim. This makes them much stronger and better able to handle rougher terrain. At this point you may want to get that full suspension bike, whereas for a first time rider would want to stick to a hardtail. 

Read about the 2013 Trek Fuel EX here

Another consideration when purchasing a mountain bike would be whether to get 26" or 29" rims. This is completely based on preference. The larger diameter (29") wheel is gaining popularity amongst experienced and novice alike. Having 29" wheels allows for better traction due to a larger contact patch with the ground as well as the ability to roll over trail obstacles with more ease while maintaining momentum. The novice rider may find more confidence riding through technical terrain.

The trade-offs with bigger wheels are slower acceleration and increased weight due to the mass of the larger wheels and tires. 

The last consideration is weight. When you are selecting a mountain bike for racing, it's important to keep the weight of the bike down. Mountain biking at a higher level requires riding up and down hills of all sizes, over obstacles with frequent braking and acceleration. The lighter your bike, the easier it is to accomplish these feats. Never sacrifice strength and durability for weight. 

Remember that you can always come in and demo a bike to find out what works for you. We have a lot of options and sometimes you just need to sit on different bikes to figure it out.

Another great bike not listed here is the 2013 Trek Mamba 29er. Learn all about it here.

We are Bumstead's Bicycles, located at 1038 W. 4th St. in Ontario, CA. If you come by the shop we can discuss your needs and plans for your mountain bike and let you test the one that catches your eye. 

Or, you can give us a call at: (909) 984-9067

Visit our website here.

TOP Cycling Tips #11-20

Follow Any of These Rules To See Improvement in Your Ride!

Stay On The Lookout For the Rest of The Rules!

1. Train Your Weaknesses

Even though this may seem vague and obvious, this is much more about identifying your weaknesses and THEN training them. Professional endurance racer Mark Weir makes his living blasting through corners, but that wasn't always the case. "I was a semi-pro downhiller racing in Park City, Utah, and there was a corner that I thought just sucked," he recalls. "I told Jan Karpiel, one of my sponsors, about it, and he said: 'The corner doesn't suck, you suck at that corner.' I realized then that training my weaknesses is far more important than sticking with my strengths.

 

2. Check Your Tire Pressure Before Each Ride



3. Learn to Bunny Hop on Your Road Bike

Doing an unclipped hop shows you how changes in body position affect your bike's behavior — knowledge that will boost your confidence on steep downhills, rough roads, and in corners.



A. Replace your clipless pedals with platforms and your cycling shoes with soft-soled sneakers.

B. Ride across a flat, grassy field at slightly faster than walking speed, standing on your pedals, cranks level with the ground, elbows and knees slightly bent.

C. Push down on the handlebar while bending your knees even farther so you are crouched over the saddle. Then immediately pull up and back on your bar as you shift your weight back to get the front tire up.

D. With the front tire off the ground, shift your weight forward as you push the handlebar ahead and hop up with your legs to lift the rear wheel.


4. Fitness Takes Time

No crash diet or hell week of training will magically propel you into top form. "You've got to work toward it all season long," says Pierre Rolland, the best young rider of the 2011 Tour de France.

5. If something is painful like your knee, back, or wrists, you should consider getting a professional fitting. 

Many websites and blogs offer instructions to "do-it-yourself," however —it's a much better idea to let a professional fine tune your bike toyour anatomy.

6. Wash Your Bike

Especially after a wet or muddy ride. Mist it with a garden hose or soak it using a bucket of soapy water. Wipe it down and rinse, then dry it with a clean rag or towel. Don't forget to lube your chain.


7. Buy a Torque Wrench and Learn How to Use It

This is mandatory for carbon parts, but will also extend the life of all stems, handlebars, bottom brackets, seatpost clamps, and suspension pivots.


8. Speaking of Your Chain

A well-maintained and lubricated chain could last 3,000 road miles ore more, but check it every 500. Here's how: Take a ruler and place the 0 at the rivet of one link. If the ruler's 12 inch mark aligns closely with another rivet, you're in good shape. If it's more that 1/16th of an inch away, replace the chain.

 



9. Respect Your Front Brake



Applying 60 percent front brake will bring you to a smooth, controlled stop. But on steep descents or during rapid decelerations, you'll want to rely even more heavily on the front.



Be sure to shift your weight behind your saddle to prevent yourself from sailing over the handlebar


10. Stick With Your Group

Whether you're embarking on a 500-mile charity ride or racing Paris-Nice, there's safety in numbers. Teammates and friends can pull if you're feeling tired, share their food, or help fix a mechanical issue. "I've seen this so many times," says Chris Horner. "A guy is leading the race and is really strong and so he goes into a breakaway. But what happens if he crashes or flats? He is all alone. Stay with your group as long as possible.



Stay tuned for more GREAT tips, video reviews and much much more!

Bumstead's Bicycles

 Located at 1038 W. 4th St. in Ontario, CA. 
You can reach us by phone at (909) 984-9067

www.bumsteadbikes.com

Top Cycling Rules Part 1: #1-10 (bicycling.com)

The 50 Golden Rules of Cycling

 (bicycling.com)

1. To corner, enter wide and exit wide.

2. Brake Less
 It sounds counter-intuitive, but the harder you yank on the brakes, the less control you have over your bike. The best riders brake well before a corner. Plus, laying off the stoppers force you to focus on key bike cornering skills such as weight distribution, body position, and line choice.

3. Look Where you Want to Go
"When riding a tricky or dangerous section of trail (or road), focus on the path you want your bike to follow, not the rock, tree, or other obstacle you're trying to avoid," says globe-trotting mountain biker Hans Rey.

4. Avoid Helmet Hair
"For God's sake, make sure your hair is under your helmet and not poking out the front," advises Garmin-Cervelo pro Christian Vande Velde

5. Take the Lane
You have a right to the road, so use it! It's safer than riding on the shoulder which is often cracked, covered in gravel, or worse. But don't be a road hog either.

6. Ride with the Best 
Before he built his first mountain bike, GARY FISHER was an aspiring road racer. But his decision to stay in America rather than train in Europe derailed his chances of joining the pro peloton. "To be the best at the sport, you need to go where the best are riding," Fisher says. "If you're a mountain biker, spend a couple weeks at Whistler and you will be changed forever. If you're a road rider and want to be a better climber, go to Colorado. Find the best, train with them, watch what they do, and learn their secrets.

7. Set your Suspension — And Check It Often
It's frightening how many riders hit the trail with poorly adjusted forks and shocks. Not only will droopy suspension make your bike feel like a wet noodle, it can also be downright dangerous. A few simple adjustments are all it takes to have your suspension smoothly sucking up bumps. Check online or in your owners manual to get specific instructions on how to set your suspension.

8. Clean Your Shoes Monthly. Also, Wash Your Gloves

9. Warm Up
A slow start primes your engine by directing oxygen from your blood cells to your muscles. Spin easy for 20 to 30 minutes before you begin to hammer.

10. Always Carry Cash
Money can't buy love, but it can buy food, water, a phone call, or a spare tube.


Watch out for the rest of the tips in this five part series - every Tuesday right here on our blog.

Bumstead's Bicycles

 Located at 1038 W. 4th St. in Ontario, CA. 
You can reach us by phone at (909) 984-9067

www.bumsteadbikes.com

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