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What are the advantages of the different clipless systems? In the past I have used the Look road pedals and the SPD system, however I know that there are many other systems, including some that work purely on magnets. What are the advantages of the various systems, and when would you recommend them? <Q> I have used SP... | Easy to clip out of, you can walk in the shoes, shoes are cheaper, you can still (just about) use the pedals with ordinary shoes in an emergency.
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Heavier Thicker Chains and Gears for Winter due to Salt? I have two bikes: one having gear-things outside and one with inner-hub. The gear-outside-bike has suffered a lot due to the salt during this winter, the other hilariously looks like a new one. I noticed that some XC bikes have very thick chains and the metal use... | People have many different views on how to keep your chain happy and prevent it from wearing, my advice would be to either invest in a full chaincase (for a singlespeed bike) or to dry and lube your chain after it has gotten wet. The best option for protecting a bike chain from the elements is a fully enclosed chain gu... |
Brakes periodically make "finger nails on chalk board" sound Both my rim brakes --- front and back --- have started to make a periodic noise when I engage them. They will be silent for a little bit, then gradually start to make noise. As I brake, the noise will increase and eventually culminate in a very loud noise, an... | You can ignore the sound, or adjust your brake pads to restore a degree of toe-in. You'll probably see something embedded in the pad that you can pry out with something pointy (screwdriver, tip of a knife) or scrape out with a razorblade.
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When is Cyclometer useful? Some call it speedometer or odometer but I mean the thing to measure velocity, trip distance and such things. When you come up with a usage-case, please, point out the function which you use. The only thing where I may need a speedometer is to know when to lubricate e.g. after every 500km and... | When riding long distances (e.g. touring, randonneuring), it's often important to know how far you've traveled, so an odometer comes in handy.
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How do I stop my brake from sticking? The rear brake (calliper) on my road bike sticks. When I pull the brake it pulls down but only half springs back and there's then slack in the leavers. This is causing rubbing on the rim. It's a fairly new bike (last year) so I wouldn't think it's just normal wear and tear. I've ... | This is very likely if it's fairly new and hasn't been tuned up -- brake cables stretch over time, especially when new. Might be harder to find, you'll need to inspect the cables and housing for damage (may need to pull the cable out completely).
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How can one prevent a tube from sticking to the inside of a tire? I was cleaning my cruiser today , and as part of that I removed the tires from the rims to give them a good scrubbing. As sometimes happens, the tubes were stuck to the insides of the tires. (This also happens with some of my other bikes sometimes.)... | The other benefit of using talc (or cornstarch) is that it also helps to install the tire. The French chalk prevents the repair from sticking to other parts of the tire.
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How to know a good pump? It's painful to pay the local price of 15-30€ for a pump that is "very good, durable and small". To me, it is just consumable that I will use until it breaks, so I have no interest in investing too much in such a thing. How can I know what the pump is like? Are there some factors to look at to ... | Good, durable and small is tricky - personally I would get a track pump for home and a small cheap pump to carry with you. Size Bike fitting (may not be that important) You might also want to see if your local bike shop can let you try out a demo.
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A test ride for a new bicycle Update... What should I actually do on the test drive? The LBS has been kind enough to allow me to try out a brand new bicycle. What things should I consider when test riding bikes that I am considering for purchase at a LBS? And what should my procedure be while on the test ride? Als... | The most critical aspect of your test-ride is the comfort on the bike. As long as price and model are similar, I think it's a good idea to get a bike at the most convenient shop, or the shop where you like the people the most -- you will be going back there (repairs, clothing, helmet, lights, accessories, etc). The thi... |
Should I replace all wheel bearings when only some are worn? I just ripped apart my mom's mountain bike's rear hub. One of the bearings was incredibly rough, so I replaced it, and the other one was smooth, but didn't turn very easily. Since I didn't have a replacement for it on hand, I just put it back, but I'm not s... | If there is pitting on either, change it and the bearings out.
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What to do about hypothermia on a long ride? Recently, I had a long ride in winter, about 100km (62 miles) and was about 5-8 degree c (41-46F). I was wearing a windstopper jacket and basic cycling pants. At later stage of the ride I felt legs aren't producing enough pedaling force and muscles feel quite painful and so... | Be sure to wear a warm layer and a wind blocking layer.
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Attaching a stem to a carbon steerer: how much torque? So I decided to travel with my bike this week and to my surprise discovered that the steerer is carbon fiber. I had removed the stem from the steerer for packing but naively assumed it was aluminum like my previous bike (both have carbon forks). I would like to r... | Additionally, the use of a thin layer of carbon grease / carbon friction compound between the stem and the steerer tube can help you ensure that at even low Nm you get a solid grip. Torque 10Nm" as opposed to just "10Nm" then start with a lower setting around 6Nm and work up slowly until the stem clamp will not slip on... |
How can I build my own open-source cyclometer? I am interested to build a bike but I would also like to have free software/hardware. How can I build a cyclometer with open-source software? Would it be possible to find reflashable hardware or open schematics? <Q> Those pages contain detailed instructions for building a ... | The most detailed account/details I've come across for building your own bike computer is here on PIClist .
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Are there Open-source bikes? By 'open-source', I mean where people see the internals of each other's designs, and build on each other's works, as they do in science (or in 'open-source' software development). I am a bit tired of 'black box, it's just magic' methods where I'm expected to simply believe in something, wi... | openbike.org (itself open) has inspired independent projects such as Jetrike (whose author makes plans available).
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Most suitable and tasty ride food? I ride relatively long distances on a road bike on Sundays, usually around 90-100 miles and have experimented much as to what to eat. Here's what I've found so far. Soreen - tastes good, full of carbs, although must be buttered other the slices become a little stodgy after the fift... | Target's fruit/yogurt bars are also very good, and almost pure sugar. Kelloggs Nutri-grain Elevenses On longer outings, I'll take the Gu and a Clif Bar per 2 hours, and lots more water.
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Cheap prototypes for bicycles? Got the idea to this question from this one , guiding in framebuilding. I cannot jump directly to welding before I have a cheap working prototype, due to tight budget. In architecture of houses, they use balsa or bass woods to build scale models. Bicycles are in a way more complicated ... | Cheap MIG gear will not do nice-looking welds, but operating the expensive gear is a highly skilled task. Most of your prototpre requirements can be addressed by bolting cheap bike parts together. There are also physical modeling tools like Legos or erector sets, and virtual computer tools like AutoCAD or Rhino.
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What to put on or inside winter-SPD-boots to keep toes warm? Where I live we have very cold winds blowing in from Russia's Siberia. It is freezing despite the fact that I have all kinds of extra winter clothing like commando balaclava , SPD winter shoes , ESS goggles -- but my toes are still freezing. So what wou... | If your shoes are pretty windproof but are still getting cold toes, make sure that your feet aren't too constricted.
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Is it safe to remove "lawyer tabs" on a carbon fork? Is it safe to file off the "lawyer lips" - the little tabs on the end of the fork dropouts - on my carbon road fork? What about cyclocross forks? I've heard it's "common sense" to remove them... <Q> Depends on the fork and the brake type used. <S> With disc brakes, ... | The lawyer lips worked as a fail safe but their removal only saved seconds from a wheel change. Of course, you will void the warranty.
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What does the term pannier really mean? Does how the bag is hung matter? This question drew my attention to pannier here . I just thought that panniers are things that hung on bike. The Wikipedia definition with Google gives: A pannier is a basket, bag, box, or similar container, carried in pairs either slung over... | Even if it's one unit, something that hangs on both sides would be pluralized as "panniers" while a single bag on one side is singular ("pannier").
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Properties with Belt-driven Chains? This reply about belt-driven belt got my interest here . It does not need lubrication at all according to the replier. What are other properties with belt-drive chain? Where does the idea come from? Are belt-driven chains used in cars or some machines? Are they durable? Do they last... | This makes retrofitting a belt drive impossible on most bikes. Once you get mud or dust in there it's going to grind away the belt and pulleys, and parts are usually expensive (because they're uncommon). belt does not need lubrication (less maintenance) as it is not lubricated, it attracts less dirt, and is cleaner, ev... |
Carrying water during touring? The earlier question, here , raised this question about carrying water. How do you carry water during touring? Do yo carry it in panniers, water-bags, bottles, containers or elsewhere? How does your carrier change in different location. You can see from earlier question that it is not t... | You can carry bottles of water in your panniers as well Water is actually extremely dense, and heavier than people think; it can be difficult to carry.
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How can I tell which size chain my bike uses? After learning how to break a chain and reattach it, and also how to add and remove a master link, I find that I can now do much more in the way of maintenance at home. I'll no longer need to bring my bikes into the shop simply for a new chain... if I can only figure out ho... | So in principle you can measure the outside width and work it out that way, but in practice its much easier just to know how many gears are on the bike you want to use it with. The brand will probably be printed on the chain links. The length and number of links doesn't matter - as all chains are sold too long
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What types of mountain bike handle bar grips are available and how to they affect comfort and handling? This question has been floating around in my head for a while, mainly because I don't know anything about grips (edit to resolve confusion:covers for the part of the handlebar you hold on to). Are there different t... | In terms of how they attach to the bike, there are grips that glue on and grips that screw on.
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Friction in the free hub? I have noticed there's some friction in my free hub on the TCR - when I pedal backwards slowly, I can get the rear wheel to roll backwards (while on the stand). This strikes me as a bad thing - means when I'm coasting on the bike, I'm losing more speed than I should be. Is there anything I ... | I do think it's important to use grease rather than oil, because grease will protect the parts from water and dirt more effectively than oil will -- just be sure to use a very thin film of grease, and you're good to go.
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Can I put bullhorn bars on a bike with hydraulic disc brakes The most comfortable bike I've ever owned was a road bike with bullhorn (aka pursuit) bars. I actually had a pair of STI levers on it, mounted upside down (with the handles pointing forward). They looked kinda scary, but they were really good that way - I f... | There are also now cable actuated hydraulic disc brakes (like the TRP Hy/Rd) which may be worth looking at (though obviously, replacing mechanical disc brakes (which are quite good these days) lets things like interrupter levers and what not work
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Replace Brompton folding pedal - what tool is needed? I've managed to completely break the folding left-hand pedal on my Brompton. The bit where it fastens onto the crank* is fine, but the rest of it gone. What tool(s) do I need to remove the broken pedal and fit a new one? I'm asking this because I want to compare ... | An 8mm Allen socket combined with a larger socket wrench is a better tool. As per an email from Brompton: ...the folding pedal needs a 24mm socket to remove unless it is a superlight bike, the titanium folding pedal bolt uses a 10mm hex.
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Do road bikes use the same width headsets? I know that most commonly MTB's use 1 1/8" steerers and older non-suspension bikes use 1" but I don't really know anything about the width of modern road bikes. Do they now use 1 1/8" or do they use a different width? <Q> Most modern bicycles, be they road or mountain, use 1 ... | You will occasionally find bicycles, particularly in the lower cost ranges, that will still use an old 1" threaded headset and a threaded quill stem, but these are becoming more and more rare every year. Tapered headsets improve stiffness and strength.
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Correct way to pedal I've managed to break my bike frame, and after doing some reading, it is possible that I'm not pedaling correctly by putting too much into my power stroke (see the related question I keep breaking my road frames - why? ). What is the correct technique to pedal, and what is the best way to get up ... | It sounds pretty unbelievable to me, but you could try pedalling with easier gears and spinning legs faster instead of applying lots of power.
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What's the most secure type of bike lock that costs less than $30? I already have the cable cable kind with the combination lock. It just seems cheap and easy to break into. Is that sufficient or are the U shaped ones better? <Q> Honestly, I must say that there is no such thing. <S> Sometimes you can find a U-lock ... | The larger locks make it easy to lock the rear wheel + frame to a poorly located pole or fence, so are often more secure in a specific situation because they can lock your bike correctly where a smaller lock cannot.
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What should I look for in a cycling undershirt for warm weather? Road season is about to start here and I think that it is time I stopped using my cotton singlets as an undershirt and start using something more specific for cycling (and racing in particular). What is the best material for me to get? <Q> My favourite b... | Pearl Izumi Quest Sleeveless Jersey is my favorite on a hot day.
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Amateur Bicycle Racing outside of the US I'm interested in taking a trip to Europe (although perhaps this question can apply to other areas of the world) and do some bike racing at a really amateur level like the equivalent of Cat 4 or Cat 3 in the US. Mainly interested in road races. Any ideas on where I can find in... | Checking the website of the national cycling federation in your country of interest should point you in the right direction in terms of races.
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What are the benefits of external bottom brackets? Pretty soon, I plan to replace the bottom bracket on my early 90's Sakae Litage road bike. It takes a standard, English-threaded bottom bracket. Right now I think it contains loose bearings --I was planning to replace it with a decent-quality cartidge. I see a ... | Smaller bearings reduce the longevity of a bottom bracket, so the typical bottom bracket design allows a narrow range of suitable spindle sizes and bearing sizes - to get the weight savings from a larger spindle you need to sacrifice durability. So in a nutshell, external hubs are 30% lighter and 40-45% percent longer ... |
How long should cycling shorts last? As a follow-up to " What should I look for in a good pair of cycling shorts? ," how long should I expect a good pair of cycling shorts (regular or bib) last? I think that an estimate in hours or km would be more useful than months or years(?). Is there an objective way to know when ... | If the shorts develop large holes, lose their stretch or the stitching starts to come undone, then it's time to say goodbye. I regard anything over 6 months as a win.
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Should I eat breakfast before or after morning ride? I am planning to do some (1-2 hours) base training rides in the morning before work. Should I eat something before the ride? From my knowledge, there should be enough glycogen in muscles to power me. Are there any other considerations? What if I increased load to st... | Interval training will strain the body more than long, slow, distance, so you'll definitely want to look at the refuelling strategies (you can buy specific post-exercise energy drinks). I think that is question can at least be partially answered by whether or not you can tolerate food in your stomach.
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Where can I get some rags? As I'm getting into the habit of cleaning and maintaining my bike more often, I am burning through my stockpile of rags. Up until now I have been using worn-out clothes as rags. I am going to run out soon and I need to get some more. My LBS (big chain store) just said they get a large, vacuu... | For the not-so dirty jobs, the baseline is "not dirty enough to throw the rag away after", I use rags. When you go buy rags, you should take t-shirt rags made from cotton.
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What causes my front wheel to twist when I apply the brake? I have a 2005 Specialized HardRock Sport with disc brakes. When I'm slowing down from a reasonable speed with the front brake, I noticed that the top of the front wheel appears to deflect sideways toward the disc. I can't tell when I'm riding but I suspect ... | Try lifting the bike up at the front and try moving the wheel from one side to the other. Caliper brakes, of course, distribute the force evenly, so you don't notice any deformation, even though there is some from the wheel pushing backwards on the fork. I suspect it's the fork that's deforming and causing the "twist".... |
How to avoid wearing out gears? I have a Specialized Tricross which I bought new last year. In that time (approximately 1K miles), I wore out my chain and gears. At least two of my gears are still slipping, even with a new chain. I think I spend the majority of my time in one or two gears. Should I avoid this? Ar... | Buy yourself a chain wear gauge and this will indicate to you when to change your chain before it causes excessive wear on your other drive components. To answer your question - No you aren't going to do any damage by using only one gear, if it's the correct gear.
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Can I just change straightforward wheel axles to QR skewers? I've just bought a second hand road bike which doesn't have Quick Release Skewers. Can I just buy a set of QR Skewers and fit them? Are they a standard size? Are there any gotchas waiting to bite me if I do change to them? Is there anything specific I n... | To replace the axles, you will need to find QR axles and skewers to match your hub spacing. Typically, hub spacing on modern bikes is 100 mm (front) and between 120 and 130 mm (rear).
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How to warm up / stretch and cool down? I'm starting to ride again after a couple of years of not doing any sports at all. I dimly remember some stretching exercises back from school, but I don't know if I'm doing it right at all. Instead of listing what I'm doing and asking for "correct, yes/no", I'd like to know how... | Pre-ride - I do an upper body dynamic stretching/warm-up routine similar to this one.
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Is there anything similar to motorbike roadbook holders for bicycles? Does anybody know if there may be in commerce anything similar to the roadbook holders they use on offroad motorbikes, but for use on bicycles? I know there are some electronic versions in commerce that include a GPS system, but I was looking for ... | Get a handlebar bag that has a map case on top.
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How to clean consumable metallic parts cheaply while touring? By the term consumable metallic parts I mean things such as derailleur pulleys, chains and cassettes. I have met tourers that suggested me cooking oil for cleaning the metallic parts, more here . The irony is that this frugal question ignited the tip but ... | I have tried it and it is a bit more effective to hand-cleaner stuff to take the oil out, particularly with running hot water.
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Adjusting rear derailleur - shifts to lower gear, but not to higher Well, it will shift to a higher gear, but it takes two clicks of the shifter and it skips over a gear when it does shift. With one click the chain hangs on the current gear by the slimmest if threads. It's quite amazing really. This is a new derailleu... | You can test for this by pulling the derailleur out while shifting, and if the extra force from your hand makes it shift then this is the issue.
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Disc brakes squeak on Trek mountain bike I have a Trek 3900 mountain bike with disc brakes, and I just took it out of winter storage to start riding it for the season. Everything works well, except for one very annoying problem: when I stop the disc brakes make an extremely loud obnoxious squealing sound. Any ideas of ... | Cleaning them with a bit of rubbing alcohol or a specific disc brake cleaner might clear it up for you.
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What should I expect from a GPS logging device? During the last years I do a lot of mountain biking tours. To record this tours I currently use my Android phone and a GPS tracker application. I'm happy with it, but the problem is, the battery life is not long enough for whole day trips. So I thought about buying a rea... | Battery life is what mattered to me in the end - I was uploading every few days and recharging when I did it.
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iPhone app to follow/navigate an imported .gpx Is there an iPhone app that allows one to follow an imported .gpx track, in a car navigation-like way? The apps I found so far, like Trails, can only display the track on a map. What I am looking for is a "download-and-forget" experience for my bike trips. I want to impor... | You can also drop pins and get directions to random points as well.
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Mount additional water bottle on bike frame with only one water bottle mount I only have one set of water bottle mount screws on my bike. I would like to have an additional water bottle. Ideally I would like to mount the bottle on the frame (preferably on the vertical tube). Bonus: Can I order/build in Canada? <Q> G... | If not, there are options for mounting a cage on the seat rails , seat post , and handlebars . I went with the KLICKFix solution, and couldn't be more pleased.
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Will regular removal, cleaning and re-placing of my chain weaken or damage it? When I'm cleaning my bike, the quickest way to degrease my chain is to remove it and degrease it in a small tub. Will constant removal / re-adding to the bike cause damage? I don't have a quick release chain. <Q> Depends on the chain. <S> If... | If it's a chain with profiled pins you'll need to use a new replacement pin every time and the replacements can't readily be removed (doing so damages the side plates).
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Mapping the most gentle route for my single speed I commute to work on a single-speed road bike, so it's a lot easier if I avoid any steep hills (preferring to cover the same gradient gradually). Taking a look at a map, there are seemingly 3-4 sensible routes to get from point A to point B. Short of trying them all, is... | One electronic solution would be to use google streetview to survey each route.
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How can I improve my stamina? Generally I'm doing a lot of sports, (volleyball, hiking, soccer, swimming, etc.) and while hiking I have no problem to do 3000 meters or more in a day (uphill ;)) but when I go mountain-biking I have some problems. I can cycle the first 500-600 altitude difference more or less in a normal... | One of the best ways to build stamina is through interval training.
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Will cycling off-the-trainer with the trainer's steel skewer damage my bike? I recently bought a cyclops trainer. It is annoying to switch the skewers. I know the steel skewer that came with the trainer is heavier and stronger, but I don't know if it will damage my bicycle off of the trainer. I do know that riding on... | No, using a "trainer" skewer on the road has no negative impact on your bike or safety.
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Why aren't sportive' 'bikes popular outside the UK? I recently bought a 'sportive' bike , i.e. very much like a road bike but with a taller head tube to give a slightly more upright, more relaxed, less 'heads-down' riding position, and a triple chainset rather than a compact double. I think this is a great bike (I'm... | So 'sportive' bikes are available in the US, just by different names. Claiming that the ¨sportive" bike is somehow special because it has those features suggests ignorance rather than a giant gulf in the market that somehow everyone else has missed. Basically it comes down to "comfort geometry not race geometry"; compo... |
Rack (& Pannier) for a bike with disc brakes I'd like to get a rack for my bike ( Haibike Land ). The problem is that the bottom screws are blocked by the disc brake: (If it is not obvious from the photo, the brake and its mounting screws are in the way of the rack.) Are there any solutions for this problem? In my L... | There are racks made to go on bikes with disc brakes. Would be much better if you could find a rack that could use both holes. Get a seat-post (or similar)
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What are the advantages of owning a Unicycle? What are the advantages of owning a Unicycle, as opposed to owning a bicycle? I can think of several: They are lighter and smaller than bikes Easier to maintain, fewer moving parts They provide good practice for balancing <Q> Presumably a 50% reduction in punctures? <A... | A unicycle is almost the ultimate cross-mode transport system. One less obvious advantage is that they are not a bicycle, legally speaking. So while you can't ride on the road in most places, you can take one on public transport and into buildings etc. They work a different set of muscles, and train a differet set of r... |
Back wheel skidding out On my cycle to work this morning I noticed my back wheel was skidding out as I was going up a fairly steep hill. It did it enough that I thought I'd probably gotten a flat, however upon inspection it seemed fine. I'm a bit of newbie (perhaps done 25 rides on my new-ish road bike) - am I right i... | Much of the hill-climbing technique off-road is keeping enough weight over the rear wheel to prevent spinning, and enough over the front wheel to prevent wheelies and lack of steering.
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How to objectively evaluate torque wrenches? My local bicycle group bought very nice but very expensive torque wrenches (if I can remember right they cost about €300–500). My local discount store markets them for about €50. My local auction site has them ranging from a few euros to many hundred euros. I don't care ab... | A wrench with too large a range will give you limited precision in the range you need. The accuracy of the reading may also be important.
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What is the cheapest option to fetch a person over a long-distance with bicycles? I need to fetch an outsider from about 20km far away and I want to use my bicycles. I have used roller skaters with a bicycle to fetch my friend, I let my friend to use the bike while I will stuck to the back at the destination -- it is v... | You can hold onto another bike while you're riding, wheeling it along next to you, but that's not very safe (especially for rides of any distance).
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Trouble getting the right cup and cone hub adjustment I have a pair of Shimano XT wheels and recently had issues with the hub on the rear wheel requiring new cones and bearings. These were fitted carefully but I've had issues getting the right adjustment tightening the cones. On the one hand I can tighten it to a poin... | I always set mine so that the axle rotates freely and there is no perceptible play. The lever between the bearing surfaces and the rim is quite large - a small amount of bearing play translates to quite a lot of movement at the rim. Technique when adjusting the cones is also important.
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Bent Chainring causing chain to attempt changing gears I was riding my road bike last night when something strange happened. I stopped at a stop sign. (I didn't have time to slow down so I was in my highest (fastest) gear. When I started I had to press a lot of power into my pedals to get the bike moving again. I w... | Bending it back into shape is possible, but be careful - bending metal back and forth weakens it. If your chainrings are not removable that means a new crankset but it also means your crankset is cheap, so it should be in that price range as well.
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How many chain links do I need? Looking for chains at ebay, I see, that they have 106, 114, 116 links and so on. I have a racing bike (2x7) and see, that chains are often announced as 6-7-8-speed, 10-speed, 11-speed. Since there are some prime numbers, I guess it is only back gear, which is taken into account? I fo... | The length isn't as important because you will usually have to shorten the chain to fit your bike.
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Bike is shifting on its own Ever since I got my bike (Surly Long Haul Trucker), it has been prone to shifting on its own. This is almost guaranteed to happen when I stand up on the pedals, and happens regularly when sitting as well. I have the feeling that this is a dangerous condition. It seems from reading about t... | Often it is better to shift the derailleur onto the small cog on Cassette, to wind the Barrel-adjust all the way in, loosen off the clamp pull the cable finger tight, and then use the barrel adjust after one shift-click to get the chain onto the next cog. I've heard this referred to as ghost shifting, and a proper setu... |
Age-specific information for cyclists I was reading a discussion ( Cycling: mashing versus spinning ) in which someone commented ... In the big picture, winning against other age-groupers is pretty unremarkable. ... which implies that cycling performance is affected by one's age. Now ageing might be, to quote th... | On the positive side, if you're a competitive cyclist your increased experience and tactical judgement help to offset your lower peak power output until well into your 40s.
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Which footwear is the safest for summer cycling? This morning I could not find my training shoes. So, I used my sandals. I found that the sandals not only kept my feet cool but there was no pedal slippage as I had expected. The more I think about it, having no laces is probably another advantage. So, which footwear is ... | Sandals at low speed may have good traction on a pedal, but sandals at higher speeds are unlikely to maintain good traction between both the pedals and the sandals, and between the sandals and your feet. Even better, consider a pair of cycling shoes, with pedals made to fit.
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Why is it common for cheap bikes to have the frame sawn in half below the saddle? These days cheap bikes often seem to come with the frame sawn in half below the saddle. What does the manufacturer gain from this design, and why is it associated mostly with cheap, low quality bikes? What disadvantages are there to t... | That's the cheapest, easiest way to make a rear suspended bike. It costs nothing apart from a few lumps of ugly metal. Worse, some manufacturers use the same design for a rigid rear end, giving you all the disadvantages of both.
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Disk brake has never worked properly from new, pads replaced - still rubbish! I've got Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and ever since I've had the bike (from new) the front brake has never worked properly. It used to squeak really loudly and perform badly but I assumed they just needed bedding in (taking the bike back to... | Make sure the rotor is on the wheel the right way round (it should have arrows in the centre). If they've never worked properly I'd suspect they need to be bled, or you could have a very small leak-you don't see any fluid then around the drums that press the pads into the rotor.
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Why is the rear wheel of my tandem bike skidding? We have recently bought a tandem and the rear wheel skids out when riding. Any idea why this happens? Comment below: When we are riding along in a straight line and there is an uneven surface it does this a lot. The heavier rider is on the front of the bike. <Q> If the... | Also, if you and the other rider are not leaning into turns correctly with each other, then this can be causing skid/balance issues. The captain's weight hardly pushes the rear wheel down at all, while the stoker's weight is almost completely on the rear wheel, so check their weight is positioned correctly.
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Drop handlebars with drops that don't fit. Replace or adjust? I bought a Surly Long Haul Trucker a couple years ago, and it has the stock handlebars. My hands don't really fit in the drops, and I sometimes would like a lower handlebar position where I can still reach the brake levers. For windy days, going down a hill ... | You have a strange drops, upper curve of he bars is very short and does not allow to change the position of the brake levers, with your big hands Your hand does look rather cramped in those bars... It might be worth while to have your position analyzed
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Is my pressure gauge broken? I recently got an xtech pressure gauge that reads up to 160psi. My bike is a road bike that uses presta valves on the inner tubes. Here's the gauge (the one at the bottom): http://www.moruyabicycles.com.au/contents/en-uk/d377.html When I pop it on the valve the reading only seems to go up... | Also, considering getting a floor pump as 90psi might be a pain with my hand pump. Sometimes the valve will stick and you'll get false readings.
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Vegetable oil to oil a bike? Is vegetable oil as good as motor oil to oil a bike? <Q> Vegetable oils tend to "polymerize", that is become sticky and solid. <S> Castor oil, for instance, is an excellent lubricant that was favored for racing autos and motorcycles for a long time. <S> The reason it never became popula... | FWIW there is a vegetable oil based chainsaw bar oil on the market, and I've used cheap corn oil with a little used motor oil as a bar oil for months. The reasons I wanted to try vege oil were basically environmental, and because I don't want to use products produced by the petroleum industry. Fats go rancid because th... |
Child seat: how to keep the child's head from falling forward? When my child falls asleep in the child seat, his head falls forward. How can I keep his head back? The child seat is a modern type with a back that can be tilted back to prevent that. It works, but only as long as the bike isn't moving. But at speed, the ... | What we did was to loop a thick soft rubber band around the helmet's headband, and then secure the other end of the rubber band to the seatback using a bit of string through one of the shoulder-strap openings, to achieve a horizontal pull.
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How to properly calculate wheel diameter (rim+tire)? Is it true that 26" rim actual diameter is 25.625"? How does tire size affect wheel diameter?Is there any special formula to calculate wheel diameter? <Q> You could calculate the effective diameter by measuring rollout and dividing that number by pi. <S> To measure... | Your wheel diameter can vary depending on: tire model you are using tire wear air pressure
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What is the maximum weight that "normal" racing wheels can withstand? I was recently in a bike-shop where the proprietor told me that the "normal" racing wheels of the more advanced bikes are normally only rated to carry 85kg. For example, he mentioned the Bianchi Maddux RX 5.1 as being unsuitable for a 95+kg person… y... | Lightweight wheels definitely come with weight limits and you should respect them. Check with your mechanic to discuss whether the wheels that you have selected are suitable for your use, and to determine the frequency of inspections.
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How to straighten a bent derailleur hanger? I've bent (again) my derailleur hanger. It's a replaceable hanger but for this summer I can't get an original one and I know that the non-original one I can get is made in a harder material and could possibly damage the frame. So I'm left with the choice of straightening thi... | Bike shops have a derailleur hanger alignment tool that does this much more accurately by screwing into the derailleur mounting hole and letting you gauge position against the wheel rim.
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Can I jump from small heights on my bicycle? I have recently bought a Merida Matts 40-D bicycle. I didn't buy it for extreme sports, rather for a recreational cycling, etc, but as I'm only 22 years old, it's too tempting to jump down from small stairs when riding through the city. Let's say the height to jump is less... | With good technique you can drop this thing off of whatever you want (within reason of course) with little risk to the bike or you - but not none :) Have fun! The only issue I see is that your rear-wheel might take a beating if you land on a sharp edge such as the edge of a sidewalk.
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How practical is an unicycle on uneven surfaces? From my experience riding a bicycle the fact that a bicycle has two wheels makes it rather easy to ride over minor obstacles like minor cracks in the road. Segway also looks promising in this aspect although it's rider's guide is full of "don't do this [usually refers to... | I think the unicycle in motion would be reasonably stable over most "pavement"-type obstacles; cracks, seams, that sort of thing. Riders usually wear helmets and shin/wrist guards due to the high likelihood of a UPD (unplanned dismount).
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Should I use gloves or track mitts? What are the differences between gloves and track mitts? (other than the obvious lack of covered fingers) <Q> Fit <S> : Track mitts have a very different fit around the palm because the cut does not have to take care of finger length, especially the change of finger length when bend... | The difference between full-fingered gloves and track mitts, besides for the obvious fingerless part, is that with the mitts you have the added advantage of material that flicks sweat off your hands giving you a more comfortable ride.
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How do I know which derailleur I need? The derailleur on my sons mountain bike is mangled, how do I know what to replace it with? I understand they aren't one size fits all. There are 6 sprockets on the rear cassette and 3 on the front. <Q> If you have a six-speed rear cogset the bike is either inexpensive or serious... | If you still have the old derailer see if you can find one that matches the size, and if you are fitting it yourself make sure that it has just enough clearance to clear the largest chain ring. Just take the old one with you to the bike shop and they should be able to find a good replacement. At any rate, the important... |
Bike Size to Human Size Conversion Chart I am just shopping for used bikes right now online. I want to try and save myself a trip to visit the bikes by determining which bikes will fit me. Does anyone have an approximate height-bike size conversion chart or inseam-bike size conversion chart? I know that this will ... | You should be able to look up the frame geometry (useful for comparing to an online fit tool) on the manufacturer's web site if the bike is new enough. Yes, you can adjust the seat and bars (much like you can adjust the laces on a shoe) but you still need to get the size right in the first place.
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Are there any cyclocross/road bike rims that I could buy that will fit on my Cannondale F600 mountain bike? I want to be able to ride my mountain bike on roads, but the sound of the mountain tires on the road is annoying. Can I just buy rims that will fit cyclocross or road bike tires? My bike has disk brakes. <Q> Do y... | There are road bikes with 26" rims, typically made for shorter people (especially women and children), so it would be possible to find rims in that size (but would make more sense to simply buy new wheels than to build wheels with new rims).
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Should the laws be amended to allow cyclists to run red lights? Ignoring the question of whether or not cyclists should or should not break the law by running red lights, should the law be changed such that cyclists are somehow exempt from stopping and waiting? For example, the Idaho Stop Law provides that cyclists m... | Redesign road intersections instead of making new laws In most situations where the discussion centres around "there are some examples where cyclists can safely jump a red light" rather than changing the law, often it is an easier to discuss redesigning the road layout, e.g. with slip roads and paths which are not red ... |
Which tires are best for on and off road use? My tires are worn out so I want to change them. When I am trying to change them, I want them to be to the best fit for the conditions I cycle in. I cycle about 30 km a day on roads ranging from smooth pitched roads to very rough roads consisting of pits and stones in the ... | I might suggest you look for a "touring" tire, which I expect is made for reliable long distances on roads including rough roads. Having used them for this time with one flat caused by a large shard of glass, I'm happy to recommend the 'Panaracer T-Serv PT'.
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Why don't most MTBs have rear shocks? This keeps me wondering. I normally see front and rear shocks on downhill bikes, but when it comes to touring, road, or mountain bikes, almost every one has only the front shock. What is the reason for this? <Q> Price - a suspended frame is much more complicated and expensive to ... | In addition, weight is a factor: Suspension makes a bike heavier, and this is a particular concern with road bikes.
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What child seats have a quick-release mechanism? I'm looking to purchase a rear child seat for my almost-two-year-old. The main feature I'm interested in is being able to very quickly and easily take it on and off. This Yepp Maxi I saw in a store here in NYC fits the description but it is $210+ and that's more than... | In my experience almost all of them have some form of quick release, but few are really lockable.
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24V Vs 36V Brushless DC HUB Motor For Electric Bike I am considering buying an electric bicycle using brushless DC Hub Motor. What is the difference between 24V Vs 36V motor? Is it related to the maximum torque produced by the motor? If yes, what does that mean to a bike rider? <Q> As far as motors go, usually the high... | Lower voltages need larger conductors because for the same power level they need more current (amps, I) I don't think you will be able to strictly say one is better than the other, you will need to compare the specs and a whole package and figure out what package suites you best.
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Are bicycle helmets repairable or disposable? Suppose I wear a bicycle helmet, and I fall hard and my helmet cracks. Do I buy a new helmet or can I try repair the old one with some glue? <Q> They're designed to take the impact of the fall, once they've done the job they can't be used again and you must buy another. <S>... | You might want to replace the helmet if it is getting old (a few years or so) even if there has been no crash.
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Which waterproof overshoes would you recommend for use with clipless pedal shoes? Last Winter I bought some waterproof overshoes on the internet to keep my feet dry on the daily commute. Unfortunately these overshoes fastened with a velcro strap which fastened underneath the shoe obscuring the cleats in both my road sh... | Look out for some bargain bin Altura (or other make/models). I used to use the Endura neoprene overshoes commuting through the UK winters.
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When is a good time to change tyres due to age? When should I consider changing tyres due to age? The tyres in question are five/six years old Continentals. <Q> I've found that tires that haven't been used or many years can sometimes get cracked and the rubber loses its flexibility, particularly in the sidewalls. <S> I... | You can tell a tire is ready to be changed when the rubber is brittle or when you're losing tread.
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What benefits does a tapered head tube afford? I've just read a review of Tom Zirbel's Jamis Xenith SL on Bike Radar and flicking through the pictures there is one of the head tube with the following caption : Tom Zirbel's (Jamis Sutter Home) Jamis Xenith SL features a tapered 1-1/8 to 1-1/2in head tube - especial... | Look, who has the longest unbroken history of carbon fiber frame making in pro road racing, uses the tapered fork steerer design to eliminate the narrow waist at the junction of the fork crown and steerer. The lower bearing receives a greater part of the load as most of the time it carries
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Whatever happened to solid bike tubes? As a child I had solid rubber inner tubes in my bike. They were a pain to get on but after I never had a flat again! Now I've recently started biking again and have had two flats in two days, each resulting in a three-mile walk back home. I've been searching for solid rubber tube... | Since a solid tube or solid manufactured tire can't by definition inflate against the bead, they were both abnormally hard to install, and prone to rolling off the wheel in use. So they were considered unsafe, and are no longer sold anywhere that I am aware of. I found quite a few of them on Google Products , although ... |
Brooks B-17 isn't breaking in, how to accelerate the process? I have two bikes with Brooks B-17 saddles on them: My full-frame touring bike: The saddle has a nice patina of age, having been used for several tours and some commuting. My Bike Friday Tikit folding bike: This one doesn't get used for rides of nearly t... | Of course, saddle time is the only thing that will get your leather saddle broken in and more comfortable on the "sit-bones. You'd probably end up using the less used bike more and the less broken in saddle more too. In addition to the traditional conditioning methods, he also suggests a rather radical 2-step process t... |
What are the advantages and disadvantages to chain wax? I recently bought a new chain for my bike and it came full of chain wax. I was wondering if this was a better lubricant then regular chain lube, or if it had some other qualities that the manufactures thought would be better than lube? <Q> I suspect that it's chea... | Broadly: oil-based (wet) lubes are more water resistant but attract gunk and turn into black sticky goo on your chain, grease-based (wet) lubes are more water and mud resistant but attract even more gunk, and wax (dry) lubes attract little gunk but wash off more easily. The different types of chain lube have been discu... |
Useful and accurate mapping websites: United Kingdom What are your favourite regional online websites or blogs relating to mapping or routing that you find useful and accurate. See also: What are the most useful or interesting cycling-related websites or blogs? Please vote up or down based on the accuracy/usabilit... | The most useful feature, the Journey planner provides information you would normally get from any free mapping service, turn-by-turn directions, journey time and distance. Sustrans Sustrans has created a network of 12,600 miles of walking and cycling routes across the UK.
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SPD shoes that look like normal shoes We all know that SPD shoes can be worn off the bike (that is why they were designed), however there are not many SPD shoes that you would want to wear off-bike. There are even fewer (if any) SPD shoes that look presentable in a smart workplace. As for getting into one of those nigh... | If you need more than that there's apparently a company in Italy that does hand-made leather cycling shoes that look very nice (and for the price they should). I get the feeling Shimano always have one "street shoe" in their range, other manufacturers are less consistent. One trick is to replace the laces with plain bl... |
Recommendations for clipless pedals that can be used with regular shoes Does anybody have recommendations for clipless pedals that can be used with regular shoes? I only have 1 bike, but I use it enough that I think clipless pedals would offer a nice advantage. However, I want to be able to just hop on my bike with a... | Take a look at the newer "hybrid" pedals that have both a clipless side and a platform side with grip for regular street shoes. Another option would be to look at a downhill style pedal with a large platform on it.
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Frequent flats with Michelin Pro3's Since switching from the Michelin Pro2's to the new Pro3's I've experienced an increase in puncture flats. Nothing has else has really changed in riding style or conditions. The Pro3 ride much nicer. A bit more supple. But I'm tired of flatting. Are these tires particularly pron... | I have both sew-ups and street tires and it stops the nagging flats from small things that don't puncture on the first pass. I put on tire savers. While it is too early too tell durability, I have not flatted on either set and the road feel and handling is adequate, but not up to par with Michelins or Conti's.
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Which size spoke tool. Currently size 14 I have this spoke tool. The number I use on this tool is 14. I use it on a hybrid mountain bike. . I want to get one which is easier to use but I do not know which size. Here are the available sizes. For 3.20mm/80 ga./0.127" nipples, black vinyl coated. For 3.45mm/80 ga./0.1... | These days there are fewer spoke sizes in common use and only one common thread and nipple size. I don't think you have the right guess. If you cannot get to the shop and you are unwilling to gamble on the red 'Spokey' being the right one, just order all three.
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What is the recommended procedure for adjusting the fit of my bike? I have a road bike which is a reasonable fit, what is the recommended procedure for adjusting the seat position and handlebar height to get the "perfect fit"? A complete answer should include what order to make adjustments; how to determine height of ... | Seat height should be such that you can easily pedal "circles" without rocking or stretching, nor by over-flexing the knee. The final tweaks I make come from riding around noting changes to make and then when I take a break or am ready to turn around I make adjustments. Again, the classic measurement is that with the p... |
Train cycling legs for a long walking trek Cycling is my sport. I'm training for a multi-day ride (four days). Each day will we be hard riding but not too long. The week before the event however I'm going on a four day trek with a 20kg backpack. I'm happy to lose some form for the event and have a great time treking ... | The fact your legs hurt is good. The second thing is to cross-train between hiking and cycling; but that depends on your personal time constraints and goals. If you were able to do resistance on Day 3, then spin 60-90 minutes extremely light.
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Best brake pads for long distance travelling? Me and a friend of mine are going on a long bike trip (which will take us a month) and we're finetuning our bikes for this. We will be bringing about 14kg of luggage each, only riding on paved roads (with the occasional badly paved road). We leave here in Belgium, riding a... | Hands down, the best pad for touring that I have used is the Kool-Stop dual-compound mountain shoes but they are unfortunately for linear-pull brakes only. The trick with rim brakes is to get ones with replaceable blocks.
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Bike Repair Information in Germany I have been riding a bike for many years now, but I am embarrassed to tell you all that I am an novice when it comes to repairing and maintaining bikes. I have always had a problem with repairing bikes. I am very interested in learning about bike repair. I want to build a custom bik... | I would start by asking bicycle advocates, at bike shops and searching the internet. If you have a cycle person in your local government they would be an excellent person to ask, even if their title suggests they only deal with infrastructure (bike paths) or law enforcement. Since you don't have the tools or workshop y... |
Choosing a foldable 20" bike: Schwinn S2280 vs. Citizen Bike Miami At the moment, I'm in the market for a foldable 20" bike, for commuting purposes. I've done my research, and have found two appealing models: Schwinn S2280 Citizen Bike MIAMI Which of them would you recommend? How are they different? Any differ... | I would be concerned about the wheels on the Schwinn, the "6 spoke" pattern wheels look like a gimmick to me. But I think the Citizen is a (slightly) better bike - they've focused on a basic bike with basic components rather than paying extra for marketing bullet points ("sprung saddle", "pretty wheels"), so they can s... |
Effects of design on speed? I'd like to understand more about how the design of a bike affects its speed (assume a normal, two-wheeled bike with gears). Can I assume that weight has little effect, on level ground, except when starting and stopping? If not, why not: what is the effect and how big is it? Are the two b... | Note that though impractical for most uses, the speed figures for streamliner and other highly-aerodynamic designs are far greater than anything obtainable from a "normal" bike. Also of interest is that colder air actually causes more resistance as it is less fluid than hot air.
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