Voilà des images prises de l'avion durant le trajet Nissa-Alger. Nice Algérie Alger Avion Air Algérie France Vol Monuments Port Alger
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
The 20 Most Popular Bike Brands Sold in the US
Well, this is certainly a controversial, complicated and constantly evolving topic. There are so many bicycle manufacturers, bicycle types and popular brand names sold in the US, that it can be difficult to find a comprehensive summary and to sort it all out.
The top 20 most popular bike brand listing that I've compiled here is not based on the number of bikes sold alone or on the quality or perceived quality of the bicycles. Most of the bike manufacturers listed here also sell different bike types (road, mountain, hybrid, etc.) and the list below is not broken down by bike type or category.
This listing is intended to be a guide as to what bike brands are currently the most popular in the USA, at the time of this writing (since bike brands come and go and the sales of various bike types rise and fall).
The Top 20 Most Popular Bike Brands and the bike types that they sell
Trek - Road, Triathlon , Mountain Hardtail , Mountain Full-Suspension , Urban , Bike Path, Cruiser , Women's , Kids Schwinn - Road, Commuter, Comfort, Cruisers, Electric, Mountain Bikes, BMX, Kids Giant - Road, Mountain, Giant for Women, Lifestyle, Hybrid (HCT), BMX, Kids Cannondale - Road, Mountain, Women's Recreation (many sub categories) Mongoose - BMX Bikes (Team Bikes, Freestyle Bikes, Dirt Street Bikes) Mountain / Pavement (Dual Suspension, Jumping, Hardtail XC, Comfort, Commuter, Road Alternative, Raleigh - Road, Performance Hybrid, Hybrid, Comfort, Mountain, Cruiser, Women, Youth Specialized Road, Multi Street, Globe (commute, comfort), Dirt/Street/Vert (BMX), Kids ATB Diamondback - MTN Full Suspension , Mountain Hardtail , Devine Designs , Comfort ,Cruiser , Performance Hybrid , Hybrid , Youth , BMX Fuji - Road, Mountain, Specialty, Women's, Lifestyle, Kids Haro -All Mountain-Freeride, Dirt Jump/ Urban, XC Trail / XC Sport, 650B, 29er, Metro, Comfort, Cruiser Shimano - Road, Mountain, Comfort, BMX Huffy - since 1892 - Mountain, BMX, Kids, Road Gary Fisher - 29ers, Full Suspension, Genesisters, Hardtails, Kids, Pavement, Road Ellsworth - High end Mountain Bikes Klein - High end Mountain and Road Bikes Jamis - High end Full Suspension, Hardtail, Road, Street, Sport Comfort, Youth Bianchi - Hors Categorie (HOC), Born for Performance (B4P), Coast to Coast (C2C), Dama Bianca, D2, Special, Classica, Road Steel, MTB Performance, MTB Leisure, Sport, Cross-Terrain GT - Mountain, BMX, Road, Womens Rocky Mountain - Mountain, Road, Urban & Path, Ladies Only Scott - Mountain, Road, Women's Junior's
Some of the popular bike brands listed here can only be purchased at specialty bike shops or independent dealers. Although this marketing technique makes these brands harder to find, in some cases this it improves the perceived quality of the bikes over brands that are distributed to the mass market or that can be easily found at sporting goods stores or even online.
I have included the bike types or bike categories that each manufacturer sells under the brand names listed. The bike type descriptions were, in most cases, taken directly from each bike manufacturers website in order to not only let you know what kind of bikes they make but also how the company perceives the bike types that they make and how they market them to you.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
New to Fixed Gear
What's so special about riding fixed gear. I thought about this today while I was out pedaling. I have six bikes. Road bikes, Recumbent, Mountain bike and single speed. (I work in a bike shop).
So why is it, my favorite bike is the fixed gear? It's probably the cheapest bike I own. It's definitely the simplest. So what is the magic of this bike that draws me to it? Then it hit me Satori! A Zen like enlightenment! When you ride any other bike it feels like a separate machine. You are operating a machine. If you stop pedaling the machine will continue to run like a car you are basically driving the bike.
Now the difference : With fixed gear you are one with the bike. You are directly connected to the road through that bike! The bike speeds up and slows down according to your pedaling... you flow. You can not stop pedaling unless the bike stops. You have become the bike! That is the difference!
So for all the money you spent on that expensive carbon fiber road bike you can never experience the same relationship that you can on that simple fixed gear.
Now grasshopper you understand the essence of fixed gear
Once you've decided you want a fixed gear and you want a new bike. Well your lucky most of the bicycle manufacturers now offer at least one fixed gear model in their line. Most prices range from 9 to 00. Things you want to look at Frame size find out your correct size. Frame material Steel, Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Everything else can be changed or upgrated. Frame material- I recommend steel.
1) it offers a better ride than aluminum. More shock absorbing.
2) Holds up better in a crash than aluminum or carbon.
3) Usually a better price than aluminum or carbon.
Only negative which is not really a negative - it weighs more. Weight on fixed gear bikes is not that crucial since they usually weigh less than most Road Bikes. Remember Fixed Gears have no shifters, derailleurs, freewheel or cassette thus lighter. If your racing on the track then get an aluminum or carbon fiber race frame. For the street go steel or aluminum.
The only advantage an aluminum frame has over steel is weight. With aluminum you have a harsher ride and in a crash it doesn't hold up as well as steel. Also steel can be bent back in shape and welded. Not usually the case with aluminum. It's your money so ride both and see what you like. Here is a list of new model fixed gear bikes. Bianchi- Pista, Cannondale- Capo, Giant- Bowery, KHS- Flite 100, Raleigh- Rush Hour, Schwinn- Madison, Specialized- Langster, Surly-Steam Roller a couple others worth looking at Dolan and Felt also have models. These are just a few of the better known bikes available.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Used Tandem Bicycles
Used tandem bicycles are an affordable option to buying one new. You can usually save between 50 and 75 percent off list price by buying a tandem that has been used. However, before you buy a used bike it is important that you examine it.
First of all look at its appearance. Look for paint chips, rust spots, missing accessories, dents and scratches. If the bike looks overly worn then chances are the mechanics are also going to be in bad shape. Next you will want to examine the bike's mechanics. Make sure the timing chain is making both cranks turn at the same time, that the steering is easy to use and that the bike can be peddled easily. Also test the shifting. Remember to try all of the gears. Finally, when you are test riding the tandem, make sure that the bike doesn't wobble, that the frame doesn't flex and the ride is relatively smooth.
Before buying a used tandem bicycle you will also want to do a little background research on the models you are interested in. First of all you will want to make sure that there is a user's manual or repair manual still available. This will help you to diagnose and fix common problems that tandems can develop. Next you will want to make sure that your tandem is common enough to make finding parts easy to do.
The final consideration that you will want to make before selecting a used tandem bicycle to buy is the type of tandem you are interested in. There are several types to choose from including upright tandems, recumbent tandems, tricycle tandems and bicycle tandems. Base your selection on the number of people that will be using the tandem, by the ages of the tandem riders and the style of biking you and your family are most comfortable with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |