Extreme Sports

So, you want to get fit, experience the joys of the great outdoors and have a few thrills and spills along the way? Sounds like you need to get out there and buy yourself a mountain bike. But with full suspension, hardtail and a myriad of mountain bike models from a huge variety of quality manufacturers, what type of mountain bike is right for you? Here we offer a few simple tips that may just help you decide.

Firstly, is it a mountain bike you are really after? A mountain bike is great if you want to ride off the road and get into the great outdoors. If you will mainly be riding along the road or pathways, then perhaps you need to look elsewhere. But for now, we’ll assume that a mountain bike is what you’re after. So, the first decision you will have to make is whether you want a mountain bike with, or without, suspension.

If you want a bike that will provide a smooth ride when you’re travelling up and down on rugged, rocky trails, then you might consider a full suspension bike. A hardtail bike on the other hand has no rear suspension and may or may not have front suspension forks. Hardtail bikes generally weigh less than full suspension bikes and are usually cheaper. Hardtails are often a better choice for beginners. Another advantage worth pointing out is that you will use less energy when you’re pedalling on a Hardtail. This is because on a full suspension bike, when you push down on the pedal, some of your force is lost when the rear suspension compresses. If you’re not sure which way to go, ask your local bike dealer and test ride both a hardtail and full suspension bike.  Read more...

Skateboards, especially customized ones, can be very expensive. Have you thought about building your own? Think how proud you would be of your skateboard knowing you made it yourself. By building your own skateboard, you can get everything you want on it and not have to settle for a board that only has some of the features you wanted.

The deck is the first part of the skateboard for you to think about. The size of the deck is important and depends on your physical size and what you want the skateboard to be able to do. If you are smaller, you can usually use a deck that is less wide than if you are a bigger person. Make sure you select a deck size that will comfortably fit your feet. Depending on the kind of skating you are going to be doing, the deck should be smaller (for more tricks and stunts) or larger (for less complicated moves).

You can customize your skateboard deck any way you want including paint and decals. You can paint the deck all one color or you could use stencils to add some details. Also, think about adding stick-on decals to make your board unique. Once your board is painted and decals have been applied, the next step is to apply a clear coat of paint to protect the board’s surface and prevent it from damage.

You can choose from any number of wheels, the types and sizes are nearly unlimited. Wheels also come in any color you can imagine. It’s important to find wheels with the right hardness, or durometer. Most skateboard wheels have a hardness or duromter of 99a. The average diameter of skateboard wheels is between 52mm and 55mm. Depending on how unique you want your skateboard to be, though, you may want to go with something different.  Read more...