iya i have got a barracuda big air bmx can anybody tell me how i can make it lighter...?
Style: Boys 20" BMX Freestyler
Wheel size: 20"
Frame size(s): 12" (30cm)
Min. inside leg: 21" (53cm)
Colour: Black & silver 2 tone
Frame: Oversize BMX freestyle
Forks: Oversize freestyle
Chainset: Single, 1 piece crank
Bottom bracket: Full ball bearings, adjustable
Freewheel: Single speed
Headset: Oryg 360 Gyro system
Stem: Alloy 4 bolt BMX Freestyler
Handlebars: BMX Freestyler
Brake front: Alloy V type
Brake rear: Alloy U brake
Brake levers: Alloy, adjustable
Rims: Alloy
Hub front: Steel oversize
Hub rear: Steel oversize
Spokes: 48
Saddle: 2 tone colour, padded
Seatpost: Straight, with alloy seat clamp
Pedals: Alloy platform
Extras: Front stunt pegs included
comepare and contrast your hep to a pro bike check... you know... perhaps you would be best off going to
http://www.bikeguide.org/
go into the some of the message boards and you may run into someone who will give you the ansure you want to hear.
my opinion is that you should begin buying REAL bike parts starting with hazad light casset wheels with a 12 tooth coge. it will set you back a few hundred dollares but for you... they will never die. next big step is to get a frame. just about every thing on the market right now is between 2 and 4 hundred dollars and is less than 6.5lb. as it stands with your bike as is, take your brakes off, saw your brake mounts off, get a 3pc crank asap, and forget what pegs are. you can get a 25 or 26 tooth chain wheel with wheels that take 9 to 13 and anything inbetween mixed and matched is just preferance in riding style.
With modern bike parts, a little technical knowledge can go a long way toward keeping them in good shape and getting the most use for your money. One of those useful concepts you should understand if you plan on installing your new bike parts or giving your ride a tune-up is torque.
Torque /tork/ n: The measure of the force applied to an object to produce rotational motion, usually measured in inch-pounds. Torque is determined by multiplying the applied force by the distance from the pivot point to the point where the force is applied.
As bolts and screws are tightened, the resistance causes bolts to twist and become distorted (they normalize once the force is removed). The measurement of this force is called torque and is measured by multiplying the applied force (pound) by the length (inch) of the fulcrum used to turn the object.
Torque in bicycles is becoming more and more important. As kids, many of us went by the theory that tighter was better, and we would stand on wrenches to make sure that the rear wheel would stay in place and keep the chain tight. Today is a different story. You probably don't ride or work on many bikes with solid steel axles and nuts with seemingly infinite torque limits. Today's bikes are carbon fiber and aluminum and titanium--softer composites that have fairly specific torque limits.
Tighten a clamp around a carbon handlebar too tightly and you run the risk of crushing the bar and stripping or breaking the soft alloy bolt. At the same time, if you are over-cautious, a loose bolt can cause just as much damage; just ask anyone who has had bars slip on a long descent or a seatpost slide into the frame in the middle of a long ride. The key is to tighten using the maximum allowable torque without damaging the bolt or any component that is affected.
How is torque determined? A quick calculation:
Let's say we need to tighten a fastener to 120 in.-lbs. We have a ratchet lever that is 1 foot (12 inches) long. We must apply 10 lbs of pressure to the end of the lever to attain the 120 in.-lbs.
10 lbs x 12 in. = 120 in.-lbs This also demonstrates how a "cheater bar" or wrench extender aids in tightening or loosening a difficult bolt. The longer the lever, the less force needed to achieve the same level of torque. If we substitute the 1-foot lever with a 10-foot lever, how much applied force do we need to reach our 120 in.-lbs?
(X) lbs x 120 in. = 120 in.-lbs
1 x 120 = 120 Luckily, torque wrenches make these calculations for us. You adjust the setting or watch the indicator on your wrench and it tells you when you have reached your desired torque. Beam-type and digital torque wrenches can also easily tell you how tight or loose the bolt was as you are removing it (a good way to test that last mechanic that worked on the bike).
Make sure to check out Bike Wagon for your bike part needs.
About the Author
Jon Carter is an avid cyclist and enjoys writing on the subject. Make sure to check out Bike Wagon for your bike part needs.
