Biking

This is the never-ending debate among people new to mountain bike riding – and plenty of riders who’ve been doing it for a while - ‘should my next bike a hard tail or full suspension?’ 

Ultimately the choice between a hardtail and full-suspension mountain bike is fairly simple. It depends on terrain, your body, and your budget for purchase and maintenance. 

Bike frame geometry is one of the most important parts of bike design and has a huge impact on how a bike looks, feels, handles, and performs. In this introduction...

Mountain bikes, especially dual suspension bikes, are sophisticated pieces of kit with lots of moving parts that are exposed to the mud, dust and sand. When they get dirty, they work less smoothly and get worn a lot faster because dirt deposits can be extremely abrasive. 

Gravel bikes are the latest bikes to arrive at Outside Sports – in both our sales and rentals departments. Because they’re new a lot of people aren’t quite sure where they fit into the scheme of things or if a gravel bike is for them, so let's take a look at what makes a bike a 'gravel bike.'

Whether you’re hiring a bike or taking your own bike on your New Zealand bikepacking adventure there are essential items you need to pack to keep your bike in motion and keep you safe and healthy out there on the trail.

Wanaka is known for its breath taking untouched scenery. With over 750kms of mountain bike tracks to choose from, there is something for everyone including plenty of family-friendly off-road trails by the lakes, rivers or through the forest.

To ride with flat bike pedals and shoes or clip bike pedals and shoes, really is a polarising issue among cyclists. There is a lot of information out there and it can be mind boggling for someone getting into cycling. So here we discuss the pros of each in an attempt to make your decision easier.

Outside Sports sell and hire bikes that are tailor-made for local trails and we also hire out the bikepacking bags you need to carry your gear. 

In Part 1 we’ll start with personal items and then, next time in Part 2 we’ll explore what you need equipment wise. 

Having the right seat height makes riding more comfortable, your legs more powerful, and can prevent muscle fatigue and cramps, saddle sores, back pain, and joint injuries – so it’s really, really important that you get it right. It also affects how your bike handles on the trail. 

Brake pads are one of the easiest ways to fine-tune a bike for where you’re riding.   Resin brake pads  Resin pads, also known as organic or semi-metallic pads, are made from...

The question we get asked a lot is: What’s the difference between a full face downhill helmet and a full face enduro helmet? The short answer is that full face...

With so many options it can be a bit daunting buying a bike. But if you take it step by step, you’ll be out there loving life on a new...