A growing trend in cycling is the oval chainring (also known as an elliptical chainring). These chainrings have an oval shape instead of being round like traditional chainrings. Oval chainrings can improve your pedaling efficiency by reducing dead spots in your pedal stroke. They make climbing easier. They may also reduce stress on your knees. …
Mountain Biking
When choosing a new mountain bike, one of the more important decisions you’ll have to make is which type of suspension system to go with. Mountain bikes come in full suspension and hardtail options. Full suspension mountain bikes have both front and rear shocks while hardtail mountain bikes only have a front shock and a …
Your mountain bike’s suspension fork plays a major role in the handling and comfort of your bike. For years, air forks have been standard in pretty much all disciplines of mountain biking. Thanks to some performance improvements, coil forks have begun making a comeback. Particularly for enduro and trail riding. This guide outlines the pros …
For years, air shocks have been standard on regular trail bikes and enduro mountain bikes. Coil shocks were reserved almost exclusively for downhill mountain bikes. Some believed that air shocks would replace coil shocks completely. After all, if you walk into any bike shop, you’ll notice that pretty much all the mountain bikes on display …
When buying a new bike, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is whether you want to go with a more road oriented bike or an off-road oriented bike. This guide lists the pros and cons of riding a road bike vs mountain bike. We’ll compare weight, efficiency, handling, durability, versatility, cost, …
When choosing bike wheels, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is which material to go with. Bike wheels are made from either aluminum or carbon fiber. Upgrading from aluminum wheels to premium carbon wheels can reduce weight, increase speed, and improve the overall performance of any bike. There are some drawbacks. …
Fat bikes are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to mountain bikes for off-road riding and bikepacking. They are fun, unique, and allow you to ride places that no other bike can go, like deep snow and loose sand. This guide outlines the pros and cons of riding a fat bike vs mountain bike to help …
In 2012, Sram introduced the first off-the-shelf 1x drivetrain. In the years since, 1x drivetrains have increased in popularity to the point that the majority of all new mountain bikes, adventure bikes, and gravel bikes come with them standard. Some road cyclists are even switching to 1x. That said, most manufacturers still offer 2x and …
Over the past decade, gravel bikes have become an increasingly popular alternative to mountain bikes. They are fast, efficient, and versatile. At the same time, they do have some limitations. In this guide, I’ll outline the differences between gravel bikes and mountain bikes. I’ll also list the pros and cons of riding a gravel bike …
Hybrid and mountain bikes share many similarities. Both types of bikes feature flat handlebars, wide tires, disc brakes, and front suspension. Even though they may appear similar, they are actually designed for completely different types of cycling. Mountain bikes are made for rugged off-road riding. Hybrid bikes are designed for a mix of both road …