I live in Northeast Georgia where the horizon is hidden from view by Billions of trees, and impressive mountains in all directions. We pay in loss of sight distance for cooler summers than the remaining sections of the state.

This is where the trip to the mail box becomes healthy. My mailbox is approximately 1.2 Miles from my house, and three times weekly I ride my mountain bike on gravel roads out to the black top where our mailboxes are located.

I park my bike, open my mail box, then retrieve mail  which I stuff into a black pouch which I wear around my waist for this purpose. Then I make the return ride which includes a fairly long steep climb which ends just before reaching my driveway.  As I dismount I am high as a kite, and thank the Lord for my good fortune for first of all; being a Southern born American, and second Living in the mountains.

WallyGater

Weather Wrap Bicycle Covers Protect your ride with a heavy-duty, form-fitting Weather Wrap(R) bicycle cover. This durable cover preserves your bike from harsh summer sun, bitter winter cold, ice, snow, rain, dirt and debris. Not just an off-season storage solution, use these easy bicycle covers all year long to keep your bikes clean and dry. Made from tear- and puncture-resistant PVC fabric, our bicycle cover lets you leave …

SpareHand Triple Bike Parking Stand $36.94 This unique space saving device is suitable for indoor or outdoor storage. Great for kids! Now everyone can park their own bike at the proper place. You may assemble all the pieces together and use as triple bike storage, or use can use it as storage for 1 and 2 bikes for those tight spaces. It measures 48″ wide. 14″ wide and 14″ tall. Chrome plated. Assembly required….

Challenge: Mountain Bike Motivational Art Poster Print, 28×22 $9.99 Art.com is the world’s largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you’ll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotco…

NSX 6 DIGGIN IT ( Mountain Bike) [VHS] $7.65 …

Chainsmoke (Mountain Bike) [VHS] $9.95 Shot entirely on 16mm film, Chainsmoke is packed with racing, freeriding, interviews, crashes, and an awesome soundtrack. Featuring shaun Palmer, Tinker Juarez, Alison Sydor, Myles Rockwell, Missy Giove, and many others! This film will make you want to ride! …

1997 World Mountain Bike Champ [VHS] $19.95 …

Princeton Tec – Quad Headlamp, Black $23.99 ATTRIBUTES Batteries Included: Yes Bulb: LED x 4 Burn Time: 105 Hours Carry System: Head Strap Finish: Black Material: Zytel Output (lumens): 45 Power Source: AAA x 3 Special Features: 4 Modes Submersible: 1 Meter Switch: Push Button On/Off/Modes…

Nite Ize SpotLit L.E.D. Carabiner Light $7.15 See and be seen. Stainless steel carabiner attaches to keys, zippers, jackets, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents and more….

Nitro Circus 7 Country Fried $21.77 Nitro Circus Country Fried is the latest adventure of motorcycle legend Travis Pastrana and his gaggle of backwoods buddies. Join Travis and the rest of the Nitro Circus Crew as they do the only thing they know ride dirt bikes, attempt big stunts and wreck $%#&! As if the double backflip was not enough, Pastrana has pushed the limit even further by landing the TP7 (Backflip 700), redeeming himsel…

Roam: The Collective 2 $15.95 Roam DVD… Roam: a 16mm Mountain Bike film from The Collective. Description: The Collective, after two years of filming with theWorlds best riders in the most amazing locations is releasing their next film, ROAM. The Collective still ranks as one of the top adventure sports films of all time. ROAM will be an evolution of those skills honed over the past two seasons. ROAM will help create the ne…

Titan Fusion Mountain Bike $241.49 Exercise in style with this rugged all-terrain dual suspension mountain bikeBicycle features 18-inch unisex frame styleIncludes front disc brakes

Titan Trailblazer Women’s 21-speed Mountain Bike $228.99 All-terrain mountain bike26-inch women’s bike designed with front suspension fork21-speed friction gear systemTwist shifting systemV-style braking system28-38-48 tooth chain wheel

Titan Trailblazer 21-speed Mens Mountain Bike $200.99 High performance all-terrain mountain bike18-inch frame, men’s bike designed with front suspension fork21-speed friction gear systemTwist shifting systemV-style braking system

Titan Punisher All-terrain Bike $224.99 Titan 18-inch deluxe unisex mountain bike provides years of quality riding21-speed Shimano gearing system lets you ride on any terrain or conditionsDual suspension frame provides maximum comfort and support

Titan Trailblazer 18-speed Mountain Bike $184.99 Titan 18-speed all-terrain bike features twist shifting systemTrailblazer features suspension coil shock on forkSports & fitness or pure recreation, this bicycle does it all

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I’m fairly new to the mountain biking sport.  I’ve been working out on my bike for six years now due to knee’s wearing out from running heavily during my military career and afterward. I now take triple strength Glucosamine + Chondroitin to maintain cushion in my joints, which is very effective. That said I must pass on the up-hill-stall I experienced this morning while climbing a steep graveled road in the north Georgia mountains.

The weather is extremely beautiful this morning; a cloudless, crystal clear sky and sunshine bright with the temperature in the upper sixties. During my revelation of a wonderful, but taxing, ride before me I began to climb at least a 30 degree hill on one of our graveled roads, I was standing on my pedals for power, not paying much attention to where any loose gravel was accumulating when I spun out due to stones being torn from the compacted road eliminating any friction with the drive tire causing an instantaneous loss of forward momentum.

I braked quickly and lowered my left foot to the ground.  I dismounted to check on the spot on the road that bore the scars of the spin.  I noticed there had been a cluster of rocks three to four inches square just under the surface of the run that were obviously not compacted enough to hold together while being forced down hill by the torque of the drive wheel.  I made a mental note to always pay attention to the surface conditions at all times.

WallyGater

Tension Mounted Aluminum Bicycle Rack (Classic Black) (7′ – 11′) $103.99 Keep your bicycles off the floor and out of the way. This sleek and slender bike stand stores up to 2 bikes as is – or add on the extra bike kit accessory to hold one additional bike. No-holes tension adjustment secures the bike rack without hardware or damage to walls or ceiling. Ideal for apartments, condos, garages, homes and anywhere space is limited or permanent markings are prohibited. Adjus…

Black Diamond Dogbones $5.90 Build your quickdraws with the Black Diamond Dogbones for easy-clipping performance when it matters most. Dogbones use rubber inserts to keep carabiners correctly oriented. Don’t blow the redpoint because of a rotated biner and botched clip. Dogbones are available in 12cm and 20cm lengths in both Dynex and nylon.Product FeaturesMaterial: Nylon or Dynex Strength: 22kNDimensions: 12cm, 20cmRecommend…

Extra Bike Kit Only – pole sold separately (Black) (Holds 1 extra bike) $19.99 Keep your bicycles off the floor and out of the way. This sleek and slender bike stand stores up to 2 bikes as is – or add on the extra bike kit accessory to hold one additional bike. No-holes tension adjustment secures the bike rack without hardware or damage to walls or ceiling. Ideal for apartments, condos, garages, homes and anywhere space is limited or permanent markings are prohibited. Adjus…

Mud, Sweat & Gears: 1996 UCI World Mountain Bike Championships in Cairns, Australia $24.89 …

LED Front / Rear Safety Bicycle Light by Nite Ize The Nite Ize BikeLit Safety Bicycle Light is the perfect complement to other bicycle lights including spoke lights and headlights because it produces visibility that other bike lights are unable to provide. The front and rear bicycle lights install easily and can be carried in a backpack or pocket when not in use. Further, the L.E.D. lights can be turned on in two modes: steady glow and flashing. …

Bicycle Helmet Lock for Cable, Chain, and U Locks by The Helmet Lock $12.98 Lock a bike helmet by sliding the wire loop through an air vent and then passing a cable, chain, or U-lock through the protruding loop. The zinc-plated steel metal stopper will securely hold a helmet in place. The Helmet Lock is more secure than simply locking a bike helmet by its straps because straps can be unhooked. What’s more, The Helmet Lock is easy to carry while riding because it securely …

Dermatone Tin SPF 23 .5oz Dermatone Tin SPF 23 .5ozActive ingredients: 8% Padimate O, 4.5% Benzophenone-3, 4% Octinoxate (sunscreens); 75.5% Petrolatum (skin protectant)Inactive ingredients: carnauba wax, lanolin, melalevca alternifolia (Tea Tree) leaf oil, fragrance, retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A), sorbitan sesquiloleate, tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E)Protects exposed skin two-times longer against frostbite than any other …

Polar WearLink+ Coded Transmitter and Belt Set (Medium-XX-Large) $49.95 The Polar WeerLink™ transmitter combines advanced Polar technology with a comfortable fabric design. The electrodes, which pick up the heart’s signals, are engineered right into the fabric strap. This allows the it to fit individual body shapes while maintaining full freedom of movement….

Polar RS100 Heart Rate Monitor and Stopwatch $103.99 If running is what you do to stay in shape, the RS100 will give you valuable feedback that can help improve your fitness or lose those last few pounds. It combines all the heart rate features you need with the stopwatch you’re used to. Track your average heart rate and time for each lap, so you can integrate heart rate easily into your fitness running program. Maximum heart rate of total exercise …

Probar – 12-Bar Box by Probar $39.60 114186 Features: Stuff one in your pack for energy on the trail; each 3-ounce bar packs a serious nutritional boost All Probars contain at least 15 fresh, organic, whole food ingredients; 100% vegan May contain allergens: please check the ingredients to ensure that your choice is safe for you or your group Specifications: Servings: 12 3-ounce bars per box For nutritional information, ingredients, …

Titan Pathfinder Womens All-Terrain Mountain Bike $169.99 High performance all-terrain mountain bike17-inch bike designed with hi-tensile frame and fork18-speed friction gear system28-38-48 tooth chain wheelV-style braking system

Titan Trailblazer Women’s 21-speed Mountain Bike $228.99 All-terrain mountain bike26-inch women’s bike designed with front suspension fork21-speed friction gear systemTwist shifting systemV-style braking system28-38-48 tooth chain wheel

Mighty Rack 2-bike Bumper Mount $58.99 Conveniently carry your bikes to the mountains or anywhere on the Mighty Rack 2-bike bumper mountCycling accessory is made of solid steel constructionBicycle rack carries up to two bikes

Mighty Rack Four-bike Bumper Mount Rack $0 Conveniently carry your bicycles to the mountains or anywhere on the Mighty Rack 4-bike bumber mount rackCycling accessory made of solid steel constructionBicycle rack carries up to four bikes

BIKE USA Bicycle Stabilizer Wheels $191.03 Kit designed to balance your bike and let you rideMounts to any bike with a 24 to 27-inch tireFits bikes with multiple gearsUses 16-inch tires and tubes

Standard Roof Rack Fork Mount (Pair) $50.99 Take your bike wherever you go with a standard roof rackCycling accessory is best for square or OEM bars9mm skewer attaches to the front fork of your bicycle once the front wheel is removed

Mighty 2 Bike Universal Mount Rack $50.99 Hang up your bikes in style with a Mighty 2 bike rackCycling equipment features a universal mount to connect with any step bumper or existing receiver barSports and fitness gear carries two bicycles

Locking Upright Roof Rack (Pack of 2) $0 The Upright has a universal mount that fits original manufacturer’s roof racks, as well as Yakima and Thule roof systems.

Mighty Three-bike 2-inch Receiver Rack $0 Mighty three-bike 2-inch receiver rack is the hitch rack that started it allBicycle rack offers a clean and simple design with great valueCycling accessory carries up to three bikes and mounts into any 2-inch vehicle hitch

Force Rax Car Bike Spare Tire Rack $119.99 This Force Rax car bike rack was designed to work with vehicles with a spare tire on the back. This bicycle rack requires no tools to mount it.

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Choosing a Shimano Mountain Bike Component

Mountain bike components are designed to withstand more abuse and extreme riding conditions. These components are heavier, sometime larger and more durable then road bike components. Sometime you are riding on dirt, rock, or in water, etc and the components need to be durable enough so they can withstand abusive treatment.

It just so happened that my rear derailleur broke on my full suspension mountain bike. I was riding a down hill trail and lost control of my bike. The rear of the bike ended up hitting the face of a rock and I was left with a mangled rear derailleur. So I looked at the positive side of the accident and said to myself now is the time to upgrade.

I could find new or near new parts on Bike Servant which is a mountain bike classifieds website and lists mountain bikes for sale, bike parts and race events but I was in the car with my bike so I decided to go to the store.

On the way home from the trail I stopped at my local bike store to buy a new derailleur so I can resume riding as quickly as possible. I told the bike shop guy my situation and she asked me which aftermarket Shimano derailleur I wanted to buy. Not knowing anything about the different categories in the Shimano product line I asked for help and this is what she relayed to me.

Shimano Deore is their entry level category. These products are inexpensive and meant for the occasional or enthusiast rider. These components are stocked on entry level mountain bikes.

Shimano Deore LX is their next level in higher quality. This category level consists of a more durable product. The main difference that I noticed is that Deore LX is lighter then Deore. My derailleur was a Deore LX and it has shown me proven quality and reliability for many years.

Shimano Deore XT was referred to as their heavy duty category. This product category is not considered race quality performance but they are light weight and more durable then the LX category. The price difference between the LX category and the XT category was noticeable.

Shimano XTR is considered their high performance category. Again these parts are lighter then the XT category. As a consumer I took notice to the price increase from XT to XTR. It appeared to me that this category appeals to the racers that demand light weight and high performance.

Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of Shimano’s product line. It is the list that my bike store carried.

So in my quest to buy a new derailleur I decided to purchase the Shimano Deore XT because of its light weight, durability and price. I had the bike shop install it for me and I was back on the trail in no time.

Posted by Bike Servant: Experience with full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, bike parts and organizing race events for mountain biking.

Chainsmoke (Mountain Bike) [VHS] $9.95 Shot entirely on 16mm film, Chainsmoke is packed with racing, freeriding, interviews, crashes, and an awesome soundtrack. Featuring shaun Palmer, Tinker Juarez, Alison Sydor, Myles Rockwell, Missy Giove, and many others! This film will make you want to ride! …

Full Medal Status – The Shockingly True Story of Mountain Biking’s Rise to Gold Medal Status $48.50 In the shadows of Mt. tam, mountain biking’s founders realized that following the path less traveled did wonders for the adrenaline system and a sport was born. Since then, tens of thousands of others have ardently agreed. And now, less than two decades later, mountain biking proudly accepts its inauguration as an official Olympic sport with full medal honors. Full Medal Status serves up awesome r…

Klunkerz – A Film about the Development and Birth of Mountain Bikes $21.75 Brand new, in the shrinkwrapper never been opened or played this Klunzerz. A VD about the birth and growth of mountain bikes. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s a handful of hippie cyclists literally reinvented the wheel. These early pioneers scavenged frames from dumpsters and junkyards and lifted parts from road bikes and motorcycles to build a better way down the mountain. Little did they real…

Bike Garage $19.95 Bike Garage is the best way to teach yourself basic bike repair and maintenance. Learn how to tune your bike like the pros. Fully interactive menus allowing you to watch itemized repairs. Tons of tips and tricks, emergency repairs, parts diagrams, and much more! Saup to date gear, mountain or road this film has it all. Start saving money today and fix your own bike….

Kranked 7 The Cackle Factor $13.20 Kranked 7 -The Cackle Factor ! MTB Extreme DVD. Since the release of Kranked – Live to Ride, Radical Films has been at the forefront of the freeride mountain bike world. Our mission is to produce amazing mountain bike videos. We accomplish this by featuring the world’s top mountain bike riders, developing fresh and provocative storylines and wrapping it all into the highest production standards. L…

FSA MEGA EXO CERAMIC BOTTOM BRACKET SET, ENGLISH THREAD $185.99 Ceramic ball cartridge bearings for maximum life, smoothest balls, and lightest weight Oversize Ceramic Cartridge Bearings Forged and CNC machined external cups Alloy center sleeve w/ double o-ring seals English threading – 68 width (1.37? x 24T) Italian threading ? 70mm width (M36 x 24T) 2 year warranty 130 grams BB comes pre greased and kit includes service grease to use when needed…

Hutchinson Toro 26 x 2.35 black tire Aramid Bead $32.00 Hutchinson Toro 26 x 2.35 black tire Wire Bead Low profile tread design for decreased rolling resistance and to help shed mud. Greater space between side knobs for increased grip. Hardskin technology Tire Use: Mountain Color Tread/Side: Black Tire Type: Clincher Tire Diameter: 26″ ISO Width: 55 mm ISO Diameter: 559 Tire Bead: Folding PSI: 35-55 PSI Weight: 460.0 g…

HJC CL-X5 Arena MC4 Helmet, X-Small, Green/Black/Silver – 16-543 $34.48 …

Smith Full Waffle Grip $8.99 Smith Full Waffle Grip Smith Grips are constructed from two advanced thermoplastic rubber compounds, medium and softFull Waffle design minimizes vibrationMinimum diameter for maximum gripping powerGrooved for safety wireMade in the U.S.A.Note For use with ATVs, PWCs, and Snowmobiles without a twist throttle….

Mountain Bike Magic: The Complete Full-Color Book on Mountain Biking $15.00 …

Derailleur $10.46 When Cheryl joins an American mountain bike team, she and Will face smugglers, hit men, and rabid environmentalists — as well as a more engaging distraction: their attraction to each other.

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