Innovative technologies are gradually turning two-wheeled vehicles into the perfect vehicle. A confirmation for this is the bike for the downhill. It allows you to ride for fun and at the same time perform dizzying stunts on the slopes from the mountain peaks.
To get full satisfaction from playing extreme sports, you need to understand how to choose a bike for a downhill. Let's try to understand this issue.
In short about downhill
Downhill is a cycling sport discipline, the main essence of which is the speedy overcoming of impassable sections of mountainous and rugged terrain. Often the slopes are overflowing with swirling areas, slippery soil, scattered logs, and they contain slopes with a slope of about 45 °.
To develop discipline at the beginning of the century, reputable manufacturers set about developing special prototype bicycles that feature a high fork with improved cushioning capabilities and a modified rear suspension.
Frame
How reliable, convenient, and effective the downhill bike will be during riding is largely dependent on the material used to make the frame. Consider the most common solutions.
- Aluminum - for the manufacture of bicycles of this category several alloys of material are used. In the frames of the popular sixth series, magnesium is used as an additional component, which helps to increase strength and reduce the weight of the structure. In the last at the moment - the seventh series, zinc is used, which allows to reduce the total cost of the bike.
- Steel - in the production of modern models, the material is practically not used, because, despite the margin of safety, it has a large weight. But if you choose a bike for the downhill of the old model range, such frames can still be found.
- Carbon is an expensive material. However, overpayment here is rather arbitrary, since such a solution allows you not to worry about the stability of the frame to mechanical damage. And the weight of the structure will be significantly lower compared to the same aluminum.
- Chromol - in the past, the assembly of a bicycle for a downhill took place on the basis of such a material, the main advantage of which is the absence of the effect of metal fatigue during friction and bending. In other words, even if cracks appear at the joints of individual parts, they can easily be eliminated by welding without reducing the initial structural strength.
Suspension
A bicycle for a downhill is a means of transportation characterized by a speed development of about 60 km / h and jumping from steep hills. In order to withstand such loads, the design provides special suspension systems.
One of the most common is a four-link suspension, which allows the wheel to move only upward, without shifting towards the saddle. As for the popular single lever systems, the latter ensure perfect passage of uneven sections. In this case, the effect of rocking the bike when pedaling is much reduced.
Fork
The second after the frame of the mandatory component of the downhill bike is a double-sided shock absorber fork. Similar solutions are used in the assembly of motorcycles and can increase torsional rigidity.
Wheels
Durable, weighty wheels are selected for a downhill bike. The indicators of resistance to stress here depend on a competent choice of knitting needles, as well as on the correct assembly.
It is difficult to give specific recommendations on the choice of wheels. Much depends on the style of skiing, the nature of the terrain on which the movement will be carried out. In most cases, it is enough to give preference to wheels of reputable manufacturers.
The brakes
The best downhill bikes contain expensive, high-quality braking systems. It is imperative that they create a substantial effort. Here you have to choose between four-piston and two-piston models. It is recommended that preference be given to the more advanced and reliable first option.
Gear shift
In urban and mountain bike models, both the rear and front derailleurs are actively used. In tough discipline, downhill rely mainly on the back, because on rapid descents there is no need to change values in a wide range.
Among the available systems that are highly reliable, it is worth noting the switches Sram X7 and Sram X9. The choice of such options is due to stable operation and affordable cost.
Finally
Before buying a bike for a downhill, it is worth considering the particular specifics of the discipline. If you wish, you can use the bike in everyday life. However, this is not very convenient and even somewhat difficult. So, for the development of tangible speed will have to pedal for a long time in a standing position. If you need to overcome prolonged steep climbs, such a bicycle will make you walk at all. Therefore, when it is planned to engage in extreme riding several times a month, buying an expensive vehicle looks irrational.