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Feet on the middle of the pedals I am 1,85m tall, have shoes sized 58-59 (European) and have classic non sloped frame with seat tube 55cm. Problem is that my feet land with their middle on the pedals, not with the front part where the toes are. I will try to move seat more to the back, but other than that, is it possi...	You could always add some toe clips to your pedals they will keep your feet positioned on the pedals better. At 185cm, I would think a 58-62cm frame is better suited depending on your leg length.
Buy a new cycle or assemble new parts? My budget is $300 - $400. I live in India. My doubt is whether, its better buying a new bike or just assemble different good company spare parts (used or new). I am very new to cycling, so please help... <Q> Don't know about India, but assembling from parts in my end of the world ...	First, my own experience is that the cost of the new bike is generally a lot less than if you bought the parts separately.
Is it safe to ride with bent fork? My bicycle went from this when I bought it: To this when I crashed (note the front fork bent where it attaches to the stem; front wheel almost touches the down tube): Update: Just looked at the frame and saw cracks in the paint on top tube and down tube . <Q> besides the struc...	The steel fork can likely be bent back, provided that there are no frame fractures and wheel damage (hard to imagine the wheel being perfect with forks bent). If you can, I would advise against riding the bike, particularly on low traction surface since a small jerk can put it a handle-bar lock and you into an endo.
Tips on buying a beginner mountain bike I hope this question isn't too subjective or open-ended, but I would like to know what I should look out for when buying a beginner mountain bike. My aim is to ride off-road and downhill tracks, but I don't know what type of bike I should be looking at. Should I look at a hardt...	At your level all brands are equal and you can find a suitable bike for yourself in almost all brands.
Are frame changes needed to switch groupset from Shimano to Campagnolo? I want change the groupset on my Scott Addict R2 from Shimano to Campagnolo. Is Campagnolo fully compatible or will I need to make frame changes? <Q> I don't think you will need to change the frame, I looked at one of the bianchi series a while ba...	As already mentioned, you will need to either change your wheels (or the freehub body if possible on your current set) so that they can take a Campagnolo specific cassette. That said, nothing should need to be changed on the frame itself. The only time I could imagine this would be required is if you are looking at the...
Is riding shirtless safe? During the summer, I like to go for rides on trails without a shirt. Is this safe? Also, related: is it rude to other people on the trail not to wear a shirt? <Q> Safe is a relative term in this instance. <S> A shirt might protect you in a fall, but only just. <S> You'll know immediately whet...	A shirt will give some protection from the sun, bugs/insects, and those who share the trail feel being shirtless is best saved for the beach or pool. Depending on the terrain some special protectors might make sense when thining about security.
How can I ride a bike having severe spinal disease and pain? I am 27 years old and bound to a power chair due to severe back pain and spinal disease. I have had multiple surgeries and will soon have more. I would like to be active but I know that is nearly impossible due to me being bound to a power chair and the inabi...	There is always the hand crank option.
Does rear-shock placement affect suspension characteristics? I know that suspension type(Horst-link, Four-bar etc.) affects how a full-suspension mountain bike handles, but you can often see these same types of suspension systems used with different shock placement. Some have a shock that sits under the top tube, while...	There is also, of course, the physical stiffness and durability of the shock mounting scheme, and the simple fact that some schemes facilitate a good frame design better than others.
Can I store my mountain bike + suspension hanging from the front wheel for the winter (in an unheated garage)? Switched over to my winter bike to keep my favorite away from the salt. Can I hang my bike by the front wheel for the winter? Will be in my unheated storage-room/garage/shed. My ownly real concern is the ...	Regarding the possibility of stress on the suspension, there will not be any problem, unless of course you hang yourself from the bike being upside down :) The oil will definitely stagnate at the top of the fork, on the seals.
How many fingers on the brake lever? I have seen people stop with one finger, two fingers or the whole hands on the levers. Is there a recommended number of fingers on the brake levers when stopping/anticipating an emergency stop? Do brake types or riding style (DH, road ..) affect this number? <Q> For downhill and all...	On a downhill, you should only need really "light" pressure on the brakes to stay under control. Also, riders position the levers closer to the stem (leaving 1 to 2 inches space between the grip and lever clamp) in order to enforce that only 1 finger can go on the lever.
DIY computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamics? Has anyone experimented with using consumer 3D software to do CFD -like aerodynamics simulations? Specifically, I was thinking: Setup the bike on a trainer (with rider) Take a series photos, and plug them photos->3D model software (something like AgiSoft PhotoSc...	If you want to try the full fluid mechanics simulation thing you would have to use a 3D scanner or some other very accurate method to produce the 3D models of you on your bike, and then I'd still try and find an actual scientific fluid solver.
Front Derailleur Not Working I recently bought a new bike off of BikesDirect. http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/wellington2_IX.htm However, no matter what I do, I can't seem to get the front derailleur to do anything. The bike came in on the smallest cog, and no matter what I do, I can't shift it to even th...	You need about three millimeters of clearance above the big chainring when the derailleur is trying to bring the chain over and lift it onto the large chain ring.
Fixed-gear bike: How to ride backwards? I have flipped over my hub to try out the fixed wheel for a change, I am finding it very difficult to keep balanced while attempting to ride backwards! Does anyone have some advice or is there any trick to learning how to go backwards? <Q> Bicycles are designed in a way that mak...	Trying to do it very slow aids to gain inside as to which movement you actually have to do, since this movement is very counterintuitive: when you are leaning SLIGHTLY to one side, you have to point the handlebar the opposite way, so that the bike will go under you again. The most common fixed-gear geometry (inspired i...
How to inflate a tire with a Presta valve? My new bike has these thin tires with a type of valve I haven't usedbefore. I searched online and found out it's called a Presta valve , and it's pretty common and popular. I'm finding it annoying and fiddly and don't know how to use it properly. I have a floor pump, and I kn...	Sometimes, I find it useful when pumps aren't functioning as I'd expect them to, is to use an inner tube with a known working valve without it being installed in a tyre.
What are good ways to dry shoes? I ride through the winter in the Pacific North West and get soaked about every other ride. What are the best way you've found to dry your shoes? I've found that stuffing them with wadded up newspaper works well to draw the moisture out, but if I don't swap the paper out every couple o...	Then (always theoretically) one possible way to dry a shoe quickly would be to force-circulate warm, dry air inside a newspaper filled shoe that has been previously centrifugated/squeezed after being rinsed in warm water with a bit of alchohol. My solution is to wear cycling sandals (I use Shimano SD-66 ) in combinatio...
How to convert a multi-speed bike to single-speed with coaster brake? Now I don't want to take all the credit for this bike, but I'm pretty sure Trek must've lovingly had me in mind when they made this. I mean come on. This bike is awesome. Buying their beach cruiser was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Now I'...	So the solutions are: Use a chain tensioner but not a coaster brake; Choose a magic combination of chainring and cog size (very difficult : Find a similar bike from a different manufacture that comes specked with a coaster, there are a LOT of bikes out there nowadays I suggest a tensioner like this, of DMR brand (with ...
How to avoid sore nipples while riding I have a recurrent problem when riding in high humidity climate, either with hot or cool weather: after some hours riding, my nipples (in the chest, not in the wheel :o) get very sore from friction against the shirt's fabric. It seems that it has to do with salty sweat, the wavin...	Heat Gear (odd naming, but actually cools the skin too) in the summer just to prevent friction between cycling jersey and the nipples. You can easily find lots of t-shirts that are 50/50 cotton & polyester blend which helps a lot, they can still be a problem, but I find they stay dryer longer. Regular bandaids come rig...
How do Mini V-brakes compare to cantilever brakes for Cyclocross bikes? I've got a surly cross check with straight bars, v-brakes, and mountain shifters. I was considering a switch to a drop bar setup for cyclocross racing so I have an alternative to my single speed cross bike. I'll be switching to STI shifters, so I h...	I feel like the mini-v had a bit more power and could lock the rear wheel more easily, but I never felt that I couldn't feather the brakes in a similar fashion to my canti brakes.
Stop SPD shoes from grinding I have a pair of Chrome Midway Pro SPD cycling shoes. These look like sneakers, but have a cleat mount embedded in them. Mine have worn down a bit and now the cleat crunches against the ground all the time. What can I do to make the cleat stop grinding? Maybe build up the front of the...	A cobbler (i.e. a shoe repairman) can glue a new layer of sole (e.g a non-slip rubber sole that's suitable for winter) onto a pair of shoes' existing soles: so perhaps ask a cobbler.
How to handle an attempted bike theft TLDR; I chased down a bike thief and caught her. Turns out she's a juvenile. She claims she mistook the bike for her own. The police say if we press charges, nothing will likely come of it because it's a he-said/she-said situation. What should I do? Last night, my beloved racing b...	If this was one of many attempted bike thefts then pressing charges (which as you say will almost certainly not result in any litigious action), won't change her behaviour - you will have just wasted your own time. Additionally, there is no way she would be able to pedal away with a bike that doesn't fit her, so her he...
How much faster can i go after moving from 2x10 to a 3x10 gear setup? My 26" mountain bike currently has a 2x10 gear setup with SRAM components: a SRAM S-1250 crank with 38/24 chainrings, and a SRAM PG-1030, 10-speed, 11-36t cassette. I feel that when riding on non-technical dirt trails I am maxing out my drive-train, ...	If you're spinning out frequently, you'll want a higher top gear, but you can only go so high with those cranks-- probably 42, max, on the big chainring. Apart from that it is often easier to maximize downhill speed by optimizing aerodynamics instead of pedaling.
Affordable security nuts and bolts I don't ride particularly fancy bikes, but I do ride in New York City, so I'm interested in securing the components on my bikes without using a ton of locks. Most security bolts products cost a bunch of money, though. Anyone know of affordable sources for security button-head or sock...	I figure putting a security bolt on one side of each of my racks, in the binder bolt and seat bolt, and in the headset bolt would be pretty good deterrence while still making the bike easy enough to adjust. There are cheaper replacement skewers which are not as safe (basically variations of allen key bolts).
Bicycle for 2 x 30mins commute I plan to use my bicycle 5 days a week to get to work and back, approximately 30 minutes(~6 miles /10 km) one way, mostly good/ok roads but with some bumps here and there. Should I care about cx bicycles because of not perfect road conditions or typical road bicycle would be able to end...	A CX bike might fit fenders better, which are a really nice option on a commuter. Nobody so far has mentioned a single-speed or fixed-wheel bike but if your commute is pretty flat it may be worth considering. Some comfort -a good saddle and fenders- will save you time and pain. Think about the appointment you will miss...
Is it possible to glue or patch tire sidewalls? This morning I discovered that my commuter folding bike had a bad flat tire, and I ran out to buy a new tube, no problem. I didn't notice until after I'd changed the tube that the tire sidewall was beginning to crack. I need this bike for my commute tomorrow, and am not...	If you've got a small sidewall cut you can actually use the rubber glue type patches to seal the hole from the inside. Check the tire in the repair area to see if the crack is spreading. Superglue typically dries into a stiff,hard non-flexible film.
Tire slips off the rim when inflated to 8bar I bought new wheels for my roadbike (shimano wh-rs80 which have c24 alu/carbon rims). I was mounting tires on them yesterday and inflated them to 8 bar (~116 psi). After a few moments (30 seconds or so), the tire started to slide off of the rim at a certain place, resulting ...	It's possible in several scenarios to have a tire and rim that are simply not compatible.
What to look for when buying bicycles for children I have young children (5 - 7 years old), and having taught them to cycle on some really cheap bikes, I am looking to get them something more road worthy with a view to cycling to school with them. (~1 mile). I looked briefly at a chain store (Not my regular local bik...	Wider tires are more stable because of the wider surface and because the higher tire weight that comes with width increases gyroscopic stability of the tires. Be sure that you use a bike shop you trust, not a shop just trying to clear bikes off of the floor because they've sat there for awhile. You may even get lucky a...
Advantages / disadvantages of freecoaster and cassette hubs I've been reading a lot over the past few days about BMX, and last night I watched a few videos like this one . I have been seeing the words "freecoaster" and "cassette" around a lot, and I was curious what they were, so I looked them up - freecoaster does no...	As you have to back pedal when you fakie it makes it much harder to balance compared to a freecoaster. The only bad thing with freecoasters is the higher price and the extra pound. The bad thing about the cassette is that it is much harder to fakie out of a trick.
Recommended handlebar style for short daily commute? I am looking to buy a bicycle for a San Francisco city commute totalling 4.1 miles (about 6.6km) in each direction. My question is, what handlebar position (and riding position) would be recommended for such a ride? I notice drop bars are very popular here, but I a...	Once you get your bicycle set up correctly...seat height and position forward or aft and tilt angle, and the handlebar height, any position you use with drops should be fairly comfortable for your short commute. I believe I'd opt for the drop bars.
Replacing brake system on a bike Is it possible to change the braking system from rim brakes to rotary. I want to replace them because I hate how after a while the pads wear out and I need to replace it so I think the rotary might be better. What would I need to do? <Q> In general, you can't replace rim brakes with hub...	The most practical solution would be to upgrade your brake pads.
Good pedal and shoe combination for summer touring First off given that I will be sightseeing as well is it worth the extra weight to take a dedicated cycle shoe and a walking shoe or is the extra hassle of having something else that can go wrong not worth it? I'm wondering what are some good combinations of pedal and...	I'd say an extra pair of light weight shoes are a good idea if you prefer to use clipless pedals and plan to do a lot of walking.
Finding store selling SM-PD64 reflectors for the Shimano Saint PD-MX80 flat pedals? I've bought the Shimano Saint PD-MX80 flat pedals. According to the user's manual, an optional reflector set is available for them. In Shimano's dealer's manual one can read that the reflector set is called SM-PD64 ( according service...	so I looked up this item in Amazon.co.jp, and it's available but out of stock -- and is being sold by a third party vendor.
How often should I change my mountain SPD bikeshoe cleats? I bought a pair of Shimano PDA600 SPD pedals along with a pair of cheap-ish Garneau Terra MTB shoes in early 2012. I wear them for my daily commute (approx. 18 Km) and semi-regular long distance rides. I also walk on the street with them - to the office, ...	Close inspection to the pedal clamp mechanism is all it takes, scratch the ramps with your fingernail and if you feel a little stop near the end of it, then you file it and repeat the fingernail test until your nail can freely slide out of the ramp... I've always heard that they should be changed when they're either ha...
How should I train for a century while still commuting by bike to work? I'm going to start training for a May gravel century at the end of March. This is my first century. I plan to follow this training schedule here: http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=54755 . My concern is that I commute by bike to work, whic...	So in other words, if your century route includes 4000 feet of climbing, try to find a 70-80 mile training ride that also includes about the same amount of climbing. Ignore the commute miles and follow the training schedule. You also need to make sure to keep munching on stuff during the ride, like Power Bars or some e...
Higher cadence or lower cadence for long distance cycling I am going to ride long distance like 200 km on my hybrid. I am not sure if I should pedal in a higher cadence (a lower gear, pedaling more frequently) or a lower cadence (a higher gear, pedaling less frequently) for the same distance. Or should I mix between b...	Climbing hills obviously takes it out of you as you're climbing them but generally speaking it should only be a short while (minutes) after you've passed the summit before you're able to pedal as normal.
Preventing rust in bolt heads I have several bikes and use them more and more in bad weather. I have no problem with rust on the chain, but I am seeing little bits of rust in the various hex bolt heads on the bike. What can I use to remove this rust and how can I prevent it from happening again. Note I ride things like...	A mini grease gun is also what you use for maintaining Speedplay pedals. But most fasteners on a good quality bike are stainless to begin with, so it may be that you're not seeing "rust" per se but rather a sort of corrosion that can form on stainless. After cleaning I give the bolts a small squirt of WD40 followed by ...
What are some Routes to riding from Los Angeles to San fransisco? I'm a fixed Gear cyclist and I'm trying to set up a big ride with a group of friends from Los Angeles to San Fransisco. I am aware this is not an easy ride but we are willing to go, but I'm not sure Google Maps is giving a very good route for cyclists. I...	If you look around the Web, there are many sources of bicycle route maps.
New 26" inner tube different size to old 26" inner tube The new 26" MTB inner tube is much bigger than my 26" wheel (and old 26" MTB inner tube). I don't understand why. How to shopcorrectly for new tube? The bike is 1990s Raleigh mountain bike. Edit : the new tube is very loose both deflated and inflated. The new tu...	Generally, also, tubes are marked for a certain size of tires, so try to match that too (if the tube is too big of a size, you may have it fold over itself, while if its too small the tube may be effectively a bit thinner than you like, but there is some tolerance in this - one or two sizes either way from the tire pro...
Cable routing and why is there no optimum solution This is a general question, regarding the routing of the cables of both brakes and derailleurs on a frame. I find it highly practical to mount all cables along the bottom of the top tube . This offers the following advantages: The wide down tube protects the ca...	In a cyclocross race, you will get off and shoulder your bike, the cables would get in the way on the underside of the top tube.
V-Brake levers for drop handlebars? I would like to try the drop handlebar on my touring bicycle that has V-Brakes, and Shimano 9x3 speeds. Are there drop handlebar levers (integrated shifters would be great), that have correct pull ratio for V-brakes? If there are brake levers but no shifters, where would be a good ...	Sounds like you want to use your current V-Brakes, but if getting new brakes, TRP makes mini V-Brakes that are STI lever compatible, sometimes called a brifter (brakes and shifting in one lever). The TRP CX9 is for Shimano STI levers
Do all stems have the same stack height for the steerer tube clamp? Does the height of the steerer tube clamp differ between stems, or is there one standard height used on all modern mountain bike stems? In my particular case I want to replace the stem on a mountain bike with a shorter one, but can I pick any other thr...	The only situation where you could run into trouble is if you have no spacers and a steerer that is already nearly too short and you move to a stem with a taller steerer clamp (stack height). No, the clamp that mounts to the steerer is not a standard height.
Fixed gear wheel hard to spin My wheel feels harder to spin than usual. I just put new tires on, and at first I thought a tire must be rubbing, but that's not the case. Seems like the hub might just be gunked up inside, but I'm just speculating. From this video, does anyone else think this is higher-than-normal resis...	It may be that, with the wheel off, you somehow overtightened the wheel bearings.
More freehub removal problems. So helpful folks here helped me get the cog and lockring off, and now I'm stuck with this. I looked on Park's website again for "removal of freewheel" help, but mine didn't fit with any of the methods. No hex wrenches, screws, bolts or anything. The ratcheting mechanism just seems sort of...	The two notches are to remove the bearing race and dismantle the freehub body often resulting in tiny bearings going everywhere However, yeah, you'd be better off with a new rear hub.
Reflective tape instead of rear reflector, in Australia I currently have not enough room on my seat post for a saddle bag, rear reflector and a rear light. My question is if replacing the rear reflector with reflective tape on the saddle bag would be enough to satisfy the law here? The law states: "a red reflector tha...	Good quality reflective tape is always a good idea. Nitize also makes a plastic red light that has heavy duty wire like twist ties to secure it on unusual surfaces.
Do shops that sell used bikes normally also sell used parts? Background I'd like to buy some used bike parts. I don't want to shop online. I'm not very good at bike repair. I want to ask the seller if the part is the right shape and size to fit my bike. If they say "no", then I'll know not to waste my money and time ...	The likelihood that your local bike shop has the exact part you need is pretty low.
Is 650b a better platform than 26" or 29"? I have seen more and more reference to the 650b (27.5") mtb wheel size. Whilst I don't see any need for a new standard, does anyone know of any benefit to have a 27.5" wheel over a 26" or 29"? While I understand there are currently 650b specific frames and wheels I haven't se...	I'd agree with what Kibbee said that the 650B is essentially "somewhere in the middle" and it really DEPENDS on the type of riding you do. The only thing I would knock the 29er on is really tight twisty technical turns, but honestly it is not nearly as bad as I was lead to believe (or at least imagined in my mind). You...
How to avoid turning the spokes while tuning the wheel When I tried to practice tuning my wheels, I found my spokes turn with the nipples. I tried to drop some lubricant on on the nipples, but I had the bike for two years now and there are a lot of dust clog in it. So the lubricant doesn't help too much. What can I do ...	Now if your nipples are so rusted that you just can't turn the nipples in anyway, then you should CUT the spokes out with a wire-cutter and replace them for new ones, before you need to true the wheel and discover you can't.
Bicycle lights- Indicating in the dark I am a product designer and am currently working on a bicycle lighting project and would really appreciate your valuable feedback. In England, turning left on a bicycle is not really a problem as you would just follow the road, but turning right can be an issue as often you woul...	I think by clipping on additional lights to your sleeves, you can better indicate your destination/direction of riding.
Fixed gear Biking, how to ride properly? I Have been riding bikes since I've been 6 years old, and I don't mean riding up and down the street - I mean touring with my sisters for 10-20 Km. Later on, I really got into Downhill. Over time I have collected an assortment of bikes and then I moved to America (from Germany...	You'll find that reversing pressure on the pedals is a very efficient way of slowing down without using your brakes, but without a way to keep your foot attached to the pedal (cleats, toe straps) it can be pretty easy for your foot to slip off.
Do brake hoods come in different sizes? I have a Ribble Sportive Carbon road bike. The brake hoods are much smaller than most other bikes whihc makes them much less comfortable than other bikes (Scott, Specialised etc.) Can I just replace the hoods to make them more comfortable or put larger hoods over the top of my ...	Different makes and models of hoods are going to be different sizes, but as far as different sized rubber replacement hoods for a particular make and model of lever, I believe you are out of luck. You may benefit from changing the position and angle of your levers on your bar for extra comfort.
Safety Bike Tail Light with Directional Signals I am a urban rider that I ride locally on a regular basis but I am always concerned about fighting with cars on the streets. When I traveled aboard last year I ran into a manufacturer who has a tail lamp that has some unique safety features including: 1) Light-sensing h...	You get much better visibility from blinking/ flashing lights. I'm not sure what market you are talking about, but in UK you can get very different price range for the lights, top models priced at £144 ($227) .
Can too many electolyte supplements be dangerous? I know riding and drinking only water can potentially lead to dangerous Hyponatremia or minor issues like muscle cramping. So I often supplement with electrolyte pills in my water like nuun or gu-brew, especially on long rides in hot weather and when doing multi-day tou...	Letting thirst guide what you drink will prevent you from taking too few or too many electrolytes. If your kidneys are functioning properly the body will eliminate excess amounts of "electrolytes" -- potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, etc -- without much difficulty.
Is it safe to use a spacer that reaches above the steerer tube? I have a spacer that reaches from the top of the stem and over the top of the steerer tube. I am able to lock it down with the top cap, but I was wondering if it is safe to ride like this, or if I should get a smaller spacer so that the spacer and top cap ...	If the stem was sitting well above the steerer you would be in trouble, but having a spacer with a big gap should be of no concern.
handlebar setup/selection to mitigate wrist pain on multiday rides On my first multi-day bike tour the only physical trouble I had after a several long days on my bike was pain in the wrists. My current touring bike setup has drop bars with a long fork. I chose the setup so that I would have a couple different positi...	You can angle the aero bars a bit more upright for comfort, experiment a bit to find the right position for you. Consider splurging for a fit session with a qualified bike fitter.
How to cope with boredom whilst cycle touring? I went on a long cycle tour before and I found myself getting bored whilst I was riding at some points. E.g. on monotonous main roads, and areas with not much scenery or people to stop and talk to, or when I got bored of music I was listening to. Does anyone have any advic...	For me, the very act of exercise will stop me being bored, and cycling wins on so many fronts. You're only going to enjoy the ride as much as you enjoy the music. When I'm on my trainer, I like to watch TV shows and movies. on a good day feel the breeze watch the scenery talk to others in your group Get yourself onto G...
Is there such thing as a freewheel that doesn't click? The clicking sound of the freewheel on my singlespeed when it's coasting is annoying for me, so I flipped over my back wheel and rode fixed for a few months in blissful silence. But having to pedal all the time even when going downhill, over bumps and around corne...	Single speed hubs with coaster brakes don't click, at least I have never seen one that clicks over here in Europe. Pretty much with most of the freewheels, if you put a lot of thick grease in them, you'll silent them for some time. As for silent clutch being dead, it would appear not as it's featured on Shimano's Disc ...
Do I need a separate dishing tool for building wheels with park tool TS-2.2 truing stand? I'm trying to get started with some wheelbuilding. I've got a Park Tool TS-2.2 truing stand. Can I just rely on the calipers to provide a guide for centering the rim and dishing rear wheels or will I need separate dishing tool? <Q...	The easiest and most accurate check for TS-2 alignment is a properly dished wheel.
Replacing the Trek Lime I purchased a Trek Lime for my mother a few years ago. Unfortunately, it has now been stolen and I need to replace it. She has terrible arthritis so any bike that would require her hands to do more than hold on would be out of the question. I've considered buying a cruiser and having an autom...	I have ridden a clone of the Easy Rider similar to this , and although I was very skeptical about the cumbersome looks of the bike, the comfort and ease are unbelieavable (to the point of asking myself why have I been torturing myself with regular bikes for so long).
Are velocity A23 rims suitable for building a wheelset for a 29er Mountain bike? I'm was looking to build a new wheelset that I can use on my rigid Karate Monkey 29er using either cyclocross or Trekking tires for gravel / dirt road riding and 29er tires for singletrack (mostly cross country riding). I need a rim I can ...	In your situation I'd probably want more of a mountain bike rim that's skinny enough for the cross tires than a road rim that might be strong enough to stand up to mountain biking, but imagine the lack of good mountain bike options with v-brake compatibility does make the road rims more attractive (along with their lig...
Cross tires on a road bike I want to buy a road bike for commuting, fitness, leisure, etc. and not for professional racing. However, because I live in a "wet" country, I would like to be able to change the tires into cross tires. As far as I know, standard road tires are 25mm and standard cross tires are 30mm. Are th...	The caliper style brakes found on many road bikes will not accommodate the wider CX tires. There are many options under 2-3K, You could even look at cyclocross bikes as many are under the 2-3K in the US. A buddy bought a Kona "Jake The Snake" last year and is a very nice bike and under the 2-3K.
What's best engine to motorize a road bike I have a road bike I use for commuting and I'm about to move 20km further out, so I'm considering fitting a tiny engine to it to assist my ride to work. However, where I live I have a restriction - the maximum power allowed is 200 watts (about 1/4 HP). I've seen some kits ,...	There are some bike hubs containing an electrical motor inside.
Could I switch tires on an MTB to tires with less friction if I mostly use the MTB in a city environment? I thought MTBs were OK to use in the city but the friction from the tires seem to hold the bike back more than other tires would. I got a mountain bike (Scott) and it's less than optimal on flat city roads. It's ...	If you don't plan on riding the mountain bike off road, you might consider another style of bike, however many people are totally happy using a mountain bike in the city as their primary bike. You can certainly switch to a more appropriate tire.
Why do current, entry-level shimano rear derailers have large-diameter pulleys? I have seen (and recently bought) entry-level rear derailers from Shimano (Tourney for MTB, 2300 for road bike), and I keep wondering why they are making these parts with such large pulleys. I don't think this make the parts cheaper to pro...	This large difference in size requires a large derailleur pulley, to make sure that the chain has cleared the teeth on the last cog, in order to shift into this gear.
Are deep rims more durable for a heavy rider? Since I weigh quite a lot (~115kg), and ride on bad roads with many holes and cracks, I am looking for rims that would be able to cope with bad conditions without getting out of true or breaking. My tires are 37x622, maybe I will go to one size wider in the winter. My firs...	The reason a deep section wheel is helpful is that the deeper cross section is much stiffer, i.e. harder to deflect, than a rim with a shallow depth. If it is deflected enough, the spokes in the deflected section may become slack. Peter White Cycles makes wheels that he guarantees.
Refitting Cable to Rear Derailleur Whilst riding recently the cable slipped from the clamp on the rear derailleur. I'm attempting to affect repairs by re-clamping the cable. However by pulling the cable tight I have lost the bottom 2 gears. If I then slacken the cable just a small amount I gain the bottom gears again ...	This happens because when you shift up, you stretch the cable with a rigid lever (the shifter lever itself), but when you release the cable, due to friction, the spring in the derailer is not enough to pull the cable.
Will an 1/8' chain and cogs wear slower than 3/32' chain and cogs for single speed / fixed gear setup? Will an 1/8" chain and cogs wear slower than 3/32" chain and cogs for single speed / fixed gear setup? What about using an 1/8' chain mismatched on 3/32" chainring and cogs? <Q> I don't remember where, but I read once...	The combination of a 1/8" chain, imperfect chainline, and an aluminum 3/32" cog would probably be where you'd see the most increase in wear because you add a slight bit of play where the chain interfaces with the cog, but I still doubt you'd notice much additional wear. However, because 3/32" are more flexible, they se...
Chain replaced but bottom jockey wheel "jumps"? I have a 10speed MTB and replace the chain using a powerlink. Now the bottom pulley wheel makes like a jumping kind of movement. It is not smooth. Also when in my small ring in front I get chain suck. It sucks!! I never get chain suck :( <Q> The jumping is either chai...	If you're getting chain suck on the front sprocket after replacing the chain then almost certainly the front sprocket is "hooked".
Can I use WD-40 on my bike? Is WD-40 really bad to apply on bikes? I was told so but still see people doing that. Also I saw WD-40 launching their new products of bike lubricant and degreaser. Did anybody try those? <Q> WD-40 is mostly a solvent with a very light lubricant mixed in. <S> It's great for getting stuck p...	If you're cleaning your chain for re-lubrication purposes with a product other than WD-40, then WD-40 will be fine to use. Some people do use it for loosening up shifters in the winter time ( they stick when it's cold ) or cleaning chains and derailleurs.
Shorten or replace bicycle chain? The chain on my internally geared hub bicycle is now too long even when the rear wheel is entirely pulled back. How do I tell whether it's sufficient to shorten the chain by removing some links, or if I need to buy a new chain altogether? I've done 14335 km (8907 mi) and the chain is ...	If it was an externally geared bike I would say replace it. A chain with this many miles on it almost certainly has a large amount of what's called "chain stretch".
Apart from the size, is there any difference between chains for derailleurs or for single-speed / internally geared hubs? I might need to replace my bicycle chain (see this question ). The store where I've bought components before ( cyclecomponents.com ) seems to be entirely marketed to derailleurs, and I have an inte...	A chain installed on a singlespeed bike is likely a lot shorter than a chain installed on a derailleur bike. Look carefully at the old chain when it's on the sprockets, and look at how the teeth fit in between the inner plates of the chain.
How can I properly replace the hose on this older Schwinn pump? I have the following Schwinn bike pump. It’s pretty old, perhaps 30 years or more. I like it a lot. Some years ago, I changed to Presta valves; for this I needed a new head. I got a Topeak SmartHead Bicycle Floor Pump Upgrade Kit , which is a replacemen...	Yet another option (which could also be used if you try the option above and it fails) - pick one of the adapters that came with the new hose, and make the pump fit it, either by tapping it out to a larger thread that fits a larger adapter thread, or tapping it out to a larger thread and fitting a helicoil.
How do I tell if my cog needs replacing? Two answers to this question gather that after 14335 km (8907 mi) of cycling with a single chain, the cog is at risk of being damaged. I haven't noticed anything unusual apart from the chain being too long. How do I tell if my cog needs replacement? My rear cog on a Rohloff...	The problem is that the chain starts to skip or hang, because the teeth are so short the chain will easily ride up on or over them. From the photo it looks to me as if it's only worn in one direction so far, or at least significantly more worn in one direction.
How to deal with long pre-bled brake line? I bought and installed a set of pre-bled hydraulic brakes onto my bike to replace the mechanical discs that came with it. My future plan is to buy a new bike, transfer the brakes to my wife's bike and replace the old discs onto my bike and sell it. In the meantime I have a ve...	Cable ties should work fine enough, but if the hose is too stubborn or slippery, you might add a loop of duct tape around the hose in two points that once looped will get in touch. As the other answer says, if this brake system is going to be transferred to another bike, it is better left with complete length hoses and...
Employer Duty of Care for cyclist The company I work for provides cycle racks for cyclists in a semi underground carpark that is open at one side. Several cycles have been stolen from this area and one colleage was attacked by a bike thief who he surprised. Another was threatened on another occasion.The company refuses...	In my opinion, this bicycle parking area you describe is in an area that is accessable by a thief, but in an area that is too quiet and provides a thief with the solitude needed to break a bicycle lock unnoticed by anyone passing by. If your employer knows of a threat to your health and fails to warn you or take reason...
Replacing Crankset. Do I need to replace chain? Then do I need to replace cassette? Over the past year, my road bike's crankset has gotten pretty bent up and out of wack. Not due to abuse, just wear and tear I guess. It's pretty bent and has a nice wobble that I can see as I look down at it while pedaling. So I'm int...	A chain wear indicator tool is a great investment as it will save you from using a worn out chain (and possibly ruining your cassette and chain rings).
Different Gear Type when there's no Front Derailleur? I have a 7 speed Jamis Boss Cruiser, 7 gears in back and one up front. I've been using it fine for several months now. Lately, the chain is coming off of the single front gear, usually after stopping at an intersection when I start back up again. I took it to a bik...	If your front ring is aligned too much to either side of your rear cassette, when you shift to a gear on the opposite side (e.g. the highest or lowest gear depending on the misalignment) it could cause the chain to jump off the front ring. Yes, there is a difference between front chainrings for derailleur equipped bike...
My front wheel steers right. How do I solve it? Some time ago I had a little accident with my bike. With the accident the front wheel got unaligned from the handlebar. I simply put it in the right position holding the wheel with my legs and turning the handle bar. Easy solution. Since than the wheel has a strange beh...	If you have an older bike with a threaded headset and fork, you can just loosen the bolt at the top of the stem, adjust the bars so they line up with the wheel, and re-tighten the bolt. In your accident one "tine" of the fork may have gotten pushed back relative to the other.
deore LH crank on 105 chainset I have a 105 triple chainset (hollowtechII) and the left hand side has developed a crack. Now I can't find any replacement 105 LH cranks but there are some Deore ones on the ebays that aren't too expensive. So will they fit? I know since it's Shimano nothing is compatible with anything e...	If you want to replace your cranks on the cheep, I would try to find a second hard pair compatible with your existing chain rings and bottom bracket. All Shimano Hollowtech II road crank arms are compatible , however, the Deore is a mountain range.
What will happen to a roadbike when rode on broken tar? I am planning to buy a bicycle (either road-bike or MTB ). I personally prefer road-bike. I have to travel on broken tar to reach a smooth tar road. On an average I will cycle 200 km per week out of which 15% will be on broken tar (rugged road) with ups and dow...	As to the bike, such conditions would tend to be rough on a carbon frame or exotic rims, but a bike of more ordinary construction (if you can find one anymore) should not experience extraordinary wear/fatigue. Add to that some common sense about the speed you travel in these sections, and you shouldn't have any real ba...
Why do I always get punctures in my rear wheel? I get probably five times as many punctures in my rear wheel as opposed to my front wheel. I run a good pressure and don't get obvious pinch flats. Does anyone have a logical reason why this could be happening? <Q> The back wheel is the wheel bearing most of the weight ...	It is possible that something is stuck in your rear wheel tire.
Gear up-shift not smooth When I am pedaling hard and shift to a larger sprocket, the shift is not smooth or sometimes doesn't happen at all. Sometimes even double up-shifts don't work. There is no problem shifting when I test for it without riding. What could be the issue? <Q> The sprocket into which you have attempted...	If the pulley is more to the right than sprocket, you need to get it aligned to the sprocket, by tightening in the screw on shifter or on the rear derailleur. On ground, after shifting, look at your bike from the back.
Freehub has started slipping, what can I do? I've just gone through the london winter and both my bikes now have a slipping freehub. Admittedly my mountain bikes' freehub is quite old and probably worn out, but I'm wondering if they are seized up inside and I can apply some lubrication to stop it from slipping? Anyone ...	Check for tight chainlinks and excessive cog wear if it skips under load. It can happen that the pawls get sticky and cleaning helps. So before you spend money... take apart the assembly, remove the freewheel, mark the spline position to the wheel.
Can you put disc brakes on road forks originally intended for calipers? I've decided I want a disc brake, at least on the front, which seems a good enough reason to go bike shopping, but am I overlooking the possibility of fitting a cable pull disc brake to my current bike? I've been using a ten year old road bike as ...	To install disk brake, you need brake mount tabs on your fork/frame. As others have suggested, you will need to buy a new fork at the very least. Discs are quieter and require far less maintenance overall, because I'm not sanding my rims down every time I ride on gritty roads in the winter.
Front Fork Bent After Crash I had a little spill after stupidly riding in the dark through a park (my light had just broke the same day), and I didn't have enough time to react, leading to a head on collision at about 27km/h with a small wooden post - I ended up ok, but my bike had some noticable problems like the brak...	I once crashed and broke my fork right above the axle and never noticed the break. : the steerer might be bent, the headtube may be ovalized at the bottom headset bearing, and the headtube may be 'kicked in' a little at the bottom, with a slight kink to the bottom tube. I don't think anyone can give you a valid answer ...
Does any rental car company offer bike racks? We are hoping to take a self guided trip in Wisconsin. We would like to rent bikes there, but can't find a rental car with a bike rack available. Any ideas? <Q> <A> I recommend giving them a call. <S> From their website <S> it says they have ski racks, but doesn't m...	If you could rent a van or SUV you may be able to load the bikes inside the vehicle. Information on this forum is old, but one guy says that Enterprise has bike racks.
Leak only inside the tire I have a tube with a Schrader valve, previously repaired (twice). I needed to use it, so I inflated it by hand until it ballooned to 2x the size, search for leakages in water (valve too) and let it all night to check for slow leakages, but none were found. Later, I put it inside the tire, infl...	Slowly feel around the inner surfaces of your tire (lining up the label on the tire with the valve stem can help you identify where to look if you find a hole in the tube). They may not always be visibly apparent.
New Chain causing skipping on cassette - will this work itself out or is it unsafe? I just installed a new chain on my 2002 Trek 2200 Road Bike. The old chain was a Shimano 9 speed that I installed 18 months and about 5000 miles ago. It had stretched modestly and was full of winter cruft/grime. The new chain is a SR...	When you replace the chain while leaving the old cassette the tooth profile is no longer correct and the new chain will skip off of the teeth, especially under load.
What subtle factors affect performance in unsubtle ways? As a non-professional biker who commutes on a bike daily I've been noticing that some factors that I didn't think would make much difference in how fast I go or how quickly I get tired have a much bigger impact. For example, sideways wind. I did not think that a...	A smooth and freshly paved road vs a worn down road, where the tar has leached away and it is very rough makes a real difference on performance. Some factors that affect day to day athletic performance are: the degree to which your muscles have recovered from previous strenuous work . Small changes in bike fit make dra...
Can I use a shock pump to inflate a tube? I know that shock pumps are meant for high pressure applications so that they can withstand high pressures needed by suspension shocks. However, can I use a shock pump to inflate my tire in a pinch if I run out of CO2? How would it compare to a standard mini-pump in terms of...	A tire pump is designed to fill a large volume of air, to relatively low pressures, pretty quickly. A shock pump will not mate with a presta valve at all.
BMX stem slipping; how to stop? I recently bought a BMX bike that currently has all stock parts. Recently, with the school and weather, I haven't been able to ride it that much. Anyways, when I picked it up from the shop, the bars were positioned leaning forward, not parallel with the forks, so I adjusted them. After ...	Also, perhaps the stem's clamp could be machined to shave a fraction of a millimeter from its mating surface, reducing the clearance in the handlebar channel.
How much smaller frame is ok? I'm looking to buy my first MTB and I had an online calculator tell me to get a 17.5". My measurements are height: 177cm and leg 76cm. Thing is, I found a bike that I REALLY want, but it's the last one and it's a 15.5" hence the good price. If I don't get this particular one I'll have to ...	A too-small bike may (in rare cases) not allow the seat to be raised high enough to attain full leg extension, or (more often) not allow the handlebar to be high enough for comfort. The most critical thing is the "reach" -- how far forward and up/down the handlebars are from the seat, relative to your torso and arm len...
Are tow-hitch bike racks legal? I am considering buying a tow hitch and bike rack for my minivan to transport a few bikes for an upcoming vacation. I've read a few reviews of these bike racks, and many folks have said that their license plate is not visible with these racks. In the US, is there anything I need to get...	Pretty much every state in the US and most countries have some sort of law saying your license plate can't be obstructed. Many trunk racks will also obscure the plate if it is placed on the trunk and not the bumper.
How long will a battery last in a Garmin GSC 10? My relatively new Garmin GSC 10 Speed/Cadence unit has started losing connection to my Garmin 500. I'm assuming that the battery is running out, since I'm still using the original that came with it. I have done about 35 hours of riding. So I am wondering: how long shou...	If you store your bike with either the cadence or speed magnet lined up with the sensor, the GSC-10 may not go to sleep after a short period of inactivity like it is supposed to.
Do I need to take my weight off the bike to lock out the suspension? I've recently bought myself a new mountain bike (my first since my schooldays...) and it has front suspension with a lock-out function. Suspension is new to me and I'm not sure how to use the lock-out. It seems I have to stop and take my weight off ...	Yes, you have to unweight the fork to lock it out. Lockouts are most useful for sprinting and climbing, when your weight moves forwards and your putting in more effort that you don't want to waste.
How to carry skis on a bike? I don't have a car and think about biking to ski resorts. So the question is how to carry my XC skis on a bike. Have anyone tried doing this and what was the solution? Thanks. <Q> I have seen people trailer them, but for a local race here, many people go car free and strap them to the top ...	When ski touring we often carry skis on our backpacks - tied together at top and one each in loops each side. Surfers here in San Diego carry their boards to the beach with this little side or rear-mounted rack on their beach cruisers. However, I recently came across an interesting commercial product called the Gunslin...
Experiences of the Cannondale Headshok system? Does anyone have any experience of the Cannondale Headshok suspension system, where the shock is in the head tube / above the fork? Are they reliable? I'm looking at a Cannondale Bad Boy 2 (2013) and am concerned that if something goes wrong it could be hard to rectify.. ...	So, If you can't service the fork, You should be able to swap out the fork if you get a reducer headset (1 1/2in to 1 1/8in), a new stem, and a new 1 1/8in fork. Headshock is pretty low travel, so you'll probably want a fork with low travel, an adjustable travel fork, or a suspension corrected rigid fork. I have a vint...
I have 27 inch wheels and need new inner tubes what size can I use I have 27 x 1 1/4 inch tires on my bike and need to buy new tubes. Can I use 700c or just 27 inch? <Q> The size of the tube is usually written on the box. <S> Tubes stretch a bit so they fit a variety of sizes. <S> For a 27 x 1 1/4 tire you would ne...	If you don't have any in your area, you should also be able to purchase tubes at any department store that sells bikes. Yep, a standard 700C tube will fit a 27" tire (and most tube boxes bear multiple markings to indicate this).
Getting used to narrower handlebars Just switched from flat to drop bars which are narrower that the original flats. Also, to compensate the "depth" of the riding position, I took a shorter stem (60mm instead of 105mm). Because of these changes: The riding hands position is different (which was the purpose, but I a...	Also, a longer stem adds more stability to the ride, because the weight of your torso, and the direction it is applied over the bars, tend to "self-center" the steering, thus reducing the perceived wobbliness of a narrower handlebar. Agree with last answer - some of it is just getting used to the narrower hand position...
Anyplace sell bolts for SPD cleats? I have more problems with those stupid things getting stripped than you would believe. (Just ruined a shoe trying to get a stripped bolt out.) Anyone know if I can buy just the bolts, rather than the whole cleat? That way I can put a new one in every time I have to adjust it or it...	I had a problem finding a replacement bolt myself recently, including stopping at a local bike shop (which claimed not to have them) and did some searching--a good source I found was Bolt Depot .
How to cut carbon handlebars Last year, I installed carbon bars on one of my mountain bikes and I'm finding them too wide. I've been told that taping over the points you're going to cut at will prevent fraying/roughness, but what type of hacksaw blade should you use? Any other tips? <Q> At the shop we generally use a "...	There are special carbon cutting blades. Let the blade do the work for you- don't bare down on the saw as you make your strokes. The tape will probably help but do take care removing the tape or you might cause the fray you're trying to avoid. I used a 32tpi hacksaw blade with a miter box from IKEA that they sell to cu...
Does a helmet-mounted light affect the safe functionality of the helmet? I am currently testing a bunch of lights for my (slowly) upcoming head lights review. Several of the lights can be mounted to a helmet using a mounting strap, like this: I'm wondering if having a light mounted on the helmet impacts its effecti...	So yes, as far as personal experience has told me, a fixed light on your helmet can potentially do some harm in the event of a crash, but in the rest of the time spent riding, lights make helmets safer, and therefore makes riding safer.

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