“FULL SUSPENSION” – means 34psi front and 36psi rear - TIRE PRESSURE. “HEAD PLANT” - means involuntary dismount (usually over handlebars) with your head being the first body part to touch ground. ============================================================ IN MY STALL - TWO WHEELED HORSES - MY MOUNTAIN BIKE is a DiamondBack Apex circa 1993. It has “full suspension” (see glossary) but does not have shocks. It has seen a lot of technical riding and little pavement. It is best suited for serious technical single track trail riding that even hikers would find difficult. MY HYBRID BIKE is an econo GT Passage circa 1992. It likes to go on 50 mile loop rides covering 4 counties in Northern Virginia. It loves gravel roads and lesser traveled asphalt. MY MOTOR BIKE is a Honda CBR1000F circa 1993. It likes to carve through ribbons of asphalt with only the twist of the wrist (no pedaling needed). ======================================================================= NATURE TALES - It is bear hunting season now (December). You may encounter bear hunters while riding your favorite trails, as I did recently. If you ride during bear hunting season, I suggest yelling periodically to: 1) Let hunters know you are there; and, more importantly, 2) To scare away the bears so they won’t get killed. I’ve been fortunate enough to have encountered and observed bears while trail riding. It is truly amazing to see such an animal living off the land and in the wild. Everyone should have such an opportunity. We need bears, not bear hunters. Remember, we are just visiting the forest>> plants and animals call it home. ============================================================ YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR – DECEMBER 1999 - RECALL – Disturbing news from Huffy and Royce Union, manufacturers of low cost “mountain bikes”. Both Huffy and Royce Union are recalling their mountain bikes because of “frame failure” problems that have resulted in serious injuries. Huffy bikes are having welds break at front forks causing “HEAD PLANTS” (see glossary) and Royce Union bikes are having frames break causing involuntary dismounts resulting in serious injury. Save your money and buy a good mountain bike, not cheap imitations. |
