Bicycles for street and darts: description, brands, choice, use

Bicycles for Street and Dirt are radically different from classic mountain or city models. These types are associated with a high intensity of loads that fall on the structural elements of the bike. As a result, instead of increasing the number of speeds or the diameter of the wheels, the main attention is paid to the reliability and strength of the frame, fork, depreciation. In addition, the choice of a model for jumping or tricks is unthinkable without the correct definition of the disciplines for which the bike is purchased. The requirements for models for street and derth will differ - universal solutions are designed only for beginners, and are not applicable in real life.

What you need to consider when choosing equipment, which brands of dirt and street bikes are considered relevant, whether extreme bicycles have their own operating rules, how important quality protection is in this case - all these points should be clarified in advance so as not to be disappointed in the future.

Dirt and street bicycles, although they belong to the general group of modified mountain bikes, still have clear differences between themselves. And this is due to the very use of two-wheeled transport. It is worth paying attention to the name: dirt originally comes from dirty - dirty. This term refers to the discipline for jumping on earthly jumps - dart jumping.

Street is an equally popular type of active skiing. But it is associated with performing tricks mainly with the transfer of the center of gravity to the rear wheel. This is a variation of the trial, transferred from rough terrain to the streets of the city. The variety of tricks performed by street masters is really great.But it is directly related to the technical parameters of the bike and its handling.

Absolutely all types of two-wheeled vehicles, positioned as special models for derth and street, in fact, are modifications of mountain or BMX bikes. They are quite heavy, have a wheel diameter of not more than 26 inches, are equipped with a brake on the rear wheel. It is important to take into account that the speed in such a bicycle is often also the same; multispeed models offer no advantage other than weight gain.

It is worth considering the technical features of bicycles for street and darts.

• Frame specifications. It must withstand extreme loads, not bend during jumps and stunts. The best option for this design will be chromol - an alloy based on steel alloyed with chromium and molybdenum. It provides softening of shock loads, professionals often choose such frames with variable wall thickness. Less durable options are aluminum, and they have a lot of fans among experienced riders, compliments are equipped with steel Hi-Ten options.

• The geometric parameters of the frame. They differ between derth and straight, the main difference being the length of the upper pipe - in the first case it will be 570-590 mm, and it will be quite long, the rear triangle is limited by a limit of 410 mm. The steering angle set for the steering column in such models is 68-70 degrees versus 71-74 in versions for the street. The length of the frame in bikes for street-trial is no more than 545 mm, this figure does not exceed 350 mm at the rear.

• The location of the carriage. At sledges, it is at the same height as the sleeve or even below it - this underestimates the center of gravity, provides better acceleration and predictable behavior of the equipment in flight. In models designed for street, the carriage is higher and makes it easier to raise the frame vertically. In addition, with a moderately high carriage, it is easier to mount peg pipes necessary to overcome the railing and other obstacles.

• Wheel size. Diameter 24 ″ is considered universal and is suitable for both disciplines. In the dart, a scheme is often used in which the wheel is put forward at 26 ″, and back - at 24 ″. The 24 ″ diameter is the most popular in the street, providing increased strength to the bike. Such wheels provide maximum lightness and maneuverability, simplify pulling, and allow better control of the steering wheel.

• Fork type. There are two types of them in street and derth bikes - rigid (or rigid) and cushioned with a short stroke of no more than 130 mm. For urban stunt riding, the first option will be the best choice, allowing full control over the management of the bike and giving the maximum amplitude of departure. Shock-absorbed forks are used in the ground, but on compliments they are placed in the cheapest version, which leads to rapid deformation.

• Steering wheel. Its width usually depends on the dimensions of the athlete - for men, the option is 700 mm wide, for women and adolescents 680 mm. The height of the steering wheel for a rigid fork should be from 3 ″, for shock-absorbed from 2 ″. For straight, rudders with a short extension are produced - 36-50 mm.

• Brake. On compliments for beginners, it is absolutely required. On advanced models of individual assembly, a rejection of the brake system is permissible, but only with sufficient rider experience. Good safety is provided by disc brakes - mechanics are cheaper and easier to maintain, hydraulics are more convenient to use.

Among the brands that produce popular bicycles for street and darts, you can find many names that are known only to a narrow circle of bicycle extremals. But this does not prevent them from creating reliable and high-quality bike models suitable for the most intensive use.

A well-known brand from the USA that produces bicycles for various types of freestyle, accessories and components for them. Since 1978, the company has been specializing in the production and promotion of two-wheeled vehicles designed for the most extreme loads. Today, the company's bikes are chosen by the most famous riders. The company has its own line of BMX and MTB bikes, it was the first in the world to produce frames and forks for freestyle skiing, and its street models are considered one of the best.

The American brand, one of the leading manufacturers of bicycles for street and darts. The company has earned the fame of the main innovator and regularly introduces fundamentally different solutions to the market than its competitors. The company has existed since 1974, during this time it has gone from the creation of custom equipment on request to the release of mass production bikes of various types and classes. Brand products are expensive, but for their money, buyers receive, indeed, high-quality goods.

Polish brand specializing in the production of bicycles for various freestyle disciplines. The company successfully competes with American companies and is considered one of the leaders in the European market. Since 2000, NS Bikes has been creating frames for the street, as well as manufacturing a complete set of components for assembling custom bikes. Among the most popular models in the street and dirt class, the Slash Junior budget line, the popular Metropolis, Clash 2, Movement are highlighted. Among the versions of recent years, Snabb and Fuzz are especially popular.

When choosing a dirt or street bike, you should consider a number of important parameters, able to significantly affect the comfort of the rider.

1. Rider height. It is mainly important for choosing a comfortable wheel diameter. People above 180 cm should immediately take the option for 26 ″, everyone else will fit the size of 24 ″. The rest of the size is not so important.
2. Type of rubber. It is also different: rubber with a pronounced tread or hemuslic is used in the derth. In a straight, you can often see the use of slicks. And in any case, the mandatory double rims.
3. Number of speeds. Despite the fact that bicycles for darts and straight in the basic configuration are often offered in multi-speed performance, this option is redundant - it only makes the already massive bike heavier. The savings in this case will be on the strength of the frame and other components. It doesn’t make sense to overpay for an option.
4. Fork material. If this is a tough option for a straight, you should make sure that it is made of chromol, the most durable material, then the savings will be justified. Hi-Ten is definitely not worth choosing - steel without alloying will not withstand intense loads. Soft forks with shock absorption and a short stroke of up to 130 mm are designed for aggressive-style skiing, ski jumping and soft landing on any type of ground.

Street and dart are some of the most dangerous extreme disciplines, and they require maximum control over the situation by the rider. Even experienced bike extremists are not safe from injuries and falls. Before going to the track with jumps or to the city, it is necessary to take care of the full protection of the lower leg, elbows and knees with shields, hands with gloves, heads with a helmet.

You should not arbitrarily replace branded spare parts with cheaper ones, take the most inexpensive bike configurations. Hopping loads involve intense impact. It will not be possible to soften them even with shock absorbers, so the frame itself, the fork must be very reliable.

Before skiing, check all fasteners, lubricate rubbing parts with recommended compositions if necessary.

On how to choose a bike for the street, see below.