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Tutorials How to Set Up Your Mountain Bike for Cross-Country Racing
Tutorials How to Set Up Your Mountain Bike for Cross-Country Racing | How to Set Up Your Mountain Bike for Cross-Country Racing |
Many mountain bikes are race-ready right from the showroom floor. Whether your bike is brand-new or not, these tips will help get your mountain bike into cross-country race shape.
Step One Remove any additional accessories from your bike including racks, reflectors, mirrors, bells or lights (leave lights on if you'll be racing at night).
Step Two Inspect the frame, fork and all components on the bike for cracks or other signs of trouble. Repair or replace any obvious problems.
Step Three Set your saddle height by placing your heel on your pedal (in your riding shoes) and raising the seat up so that your leg is straight on the bottom of the pedal stroke (6 o'clock position). Your seat should never be so high that your hips rock when you pedal. You may want to lower your seat if the course is very technical and has many steep downhill slopes, but you may pay for that on the uphill portions. When your seat is at the optimum height it allows you to get full leg extension and full use of your leg muscles.
Step Four Set your saddle position - start by having it level with the ground and try it that way for a little while. If you are putting too much weight on your hands, raise the saddle's nose by a degree or two. If the nose is uncomfortable and you experience any numbness, lower the nose a degree or two. It may take a while to find the perfect saddle position for you.
Step Five Set your saddle's fore/aft position by adjusting it so that when your are seated and have your pedals in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, your forward pedal spindle is in line with the small bump just below your kneecap.
Step Six Position your handlebars so that they are between an inch and 2 1/2 inches below the seat. The lower they are, the more control you'll have when climbing, and higher bars give more control when descending. Look for the perfect balance of the two to find the best handlebar position for you. You can adjust your handlebar height with riser or flat bars, different stem heights, and spacers under the stem.
Step Seven Be sure that the ends of your handlebars are covered by the ends of the grips or are filled with plugs.
Step Eight Position bar ends anywhere between parallel to the ground and a 45-degree angle from this parallel. Go to the lower end of the spectrum for more performance-oriented positioning.
Step Nine Inflate your tires to a tire pressure that works with your weight, the tires that you are using and the course conditions.
Step Ten Choose clipless pedals over platform pedals with toe straps. Although clipless pedals are a bit intimidating at first, you get a better connection with the bike, and they are much easier to get in and out of than toe straps.
Step Eleven Check to make sure that the chain is clean, lubed and not stretched. Chains stretch over time, and this will lead to bad shifting and gear slippage.
Step Twelve Check the front and rear derailleurs to make sure that they are shifting properly and cables are in good condition. Bad shifting is not only very frustrating but can also blow the race for you.
Step Thirteen Be sure that your brake cables, pads and levers are in good condition and working well.
Step Fourteen Turn your handlebars from side to side and see whether there is any play in the headset or whether you hear any grinding noises. Disassemble, clean, grease and adjust if necessary.
Step Fifteen Check your suspension fork for smooth performance and no play in the fork legs. If your fork isn't sliding easily, refer to your owner's manual or check with a local shop for maintenance.
Step Sixteen Ride your bike after doing any adjustments or repairs. You'll want to feel comfortable and confident at the start line.
Tips & Warnings
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