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Nice Work Shoes That Won't Get Messed up in Toe-Clips I'm a commuter and I'm looking for shoes that won't get totally messed up by my pedal toe clips. I've been using something similar to these . Any other suggestions? <Q> Don't change the shoes, change the pedal. <S> A hybrid pedal would satisfy both needs. <S> It f... | If you want foot retention without switching to clipless shoes, you could use pedal straps (like these , or these , or just search for "pedal straps"). If keeping a 2nd pair of shoes at work isn't an option your best bet would probably be to get overshoes.
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Helmets with dedicated mounting system for lights, cameras etc.? I have came to the conclusion that headlights work much better for me for cycling than handlebar-mounted lights. This is because: A headlamp illuminates where one is looking, not where the bike is turning towards. The angle under which the light fall... | Most lights with separate battery packs should be able to mount to a helmet.
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How can I develop my abs while I ride my bicycle? I have a mountain bike, and I wonder if I can develop my abs if I take my bike to work everyday. <Q> Since cycling doesn't put your abs through a large range of motion, you're not likely to develop your abs by only biking to work. <S> However, depending on how in shape ... | While you probably wont engage your abdominals in cycling very much, cycling as an endurance activity will increase your caloric needs and make it easier for you to reduce the amount of body fat covering your abs. Ride standing up and you'll use the required muscle group for balance (as a person standing is harder to b... |
Tightening torque: 5Nm, 40Nm... how do I tell? I have wonderful new manuals everywhere, of brakes, wheels...In these manuals I see "tighten up to 5Nm", "tighten up to 40Nm". There must probably be tools with such measurements on them, but I don't have any.Is there a way, an equivalent I can use to know the approximate... | But, if you have some objects for which you know the weight, it is possible to lift the "reference" weight, getting a "feel" for it, and then apply the same force to the lever.
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Can I leave a suspension fork upside down? I currently have my mountain bike disassembled, I broke a tire and needed some space in my room. The frame is resting upside down on the saddle and handlebar. The fork itself is a Rock Shox SID Dual Air (pretty old model, I guess 2001). As this fork relies - to my best knowle... | You will not damage a suspension fork by hanging it upside down. Oil may leak if your seals are degraded.
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Should I oil new cable housings? When installing new cables and housing, is is wise to oil the housing? If so, how? Here Hicks recommends spraying (but for re-newing old cables). On the other hand, I have found it intuitive to put a drop of oil onto the entrance of the housing, then thread the cable through it. ... | I would suggest leaving new cable housings as they are.
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Benefits and drawbacks of Dropper posts? From what I've seen, the last couple of years saw a new product type come into light, and since its inception it has started to appear on bikes (such as this one , this one , or this one ) as a stock item. I'm talking about the "drop seatpost". For the un-initiated, these... | A hydraulic seatpost on the other hand uses hydraulics to move the seatpost and thus allows you to place the seatpost at any height you like. Mechanically simple and easy to maintain + Low weight + Of the current crop, the consensus seems to be that the Rockshox Reverb is "the one" (and comes specced on a lot of new bi... |
Why does cable routing utilize alternation of sections of shielded and unshielded cable? Why do manufacturers do this? What's even more interesting, many a bike have the middle cable fully housed, while the other two are "interrupted" as shown above. IMHO those are the pros and cons of interrupting cable housing: Adv... | It's much easier to just have the cable running straight under tension. This could lead to crisper shift and brake feel. quieter (much less slapping against frame tubes) for the maker and seller, more frequent servicing, more frequent replacement (due to water getting in) A couple of others: Pros cheaper to manufacture... |
Daily Adjusted Seatpost for Trainer Bike I just got Nashbar's Ascent Fluid trainer and put an old big-box store bike on it that nobody was using, so now I've got kind of a permanent trainer bike which is nice. The problem: me and my partner are different heights/sizes, though close enough that all I really want to do ... | Another suggestion is, instead of using the quick release clamp, you may like to make a few side to side perforations in the seatpost and using a pin to keep it from going down. : If it is really being changed/regulated daily, and the post slides really easily into the seat tube, there is no need for lubricant.
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Reverse center pull cantilever brakes (how to set up and issues) Questions Q1. For rear cantilever brakes, are there any off-the-shelf parts or brake designs that route a rear brake cable from underneath the saddle cable instead of above? Q2. If not, then can anyone suggest an improvised, but proven setup using exi... | I installed cantilever brakes with a cable route that simulated the direct-pull cable routing.
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what will happen if I change gears on a mountain bike at a standstill? Will it break? My boyfriend just bought a brand new bike and was trying to teach me to ride it, and (I, being a complete noob) when I was standing with it I messed with the gears using the handle at a standstill. Changed the rear one from 3 to 1. He... | if you change gears while standing still then forcefully push down on the pedals when getting started, since the chain isn't on the right cog. Over time this can cause issues, but unless you ride a lot and do this frequently, it would be a very long time.
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My front deraileur needs adjustment after every ride I have a Cannondale Women's Adventure 1 that I got this spring and have been riding on local (paved) trails every weekend. I started off riding about 6 miles a weekend and recently have progressed to 20-25 miles in a day. About halfway through a ride, my front der... | Another is that if at some point the LBS replaced the cable and adjusted it properly, the cable will naturally stretch, also causing it to lose tension and stop shifting properly. The barrel adjuster should have a lock nut or something to hold it in place.
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Rear wheel odd shape (goes up and down) fixit or buy new? I have what I think is Specialized Hardrock mountain bike. Recently, when riding on a flat surface the back wheel has a noticeable up-and-down movement with each spin. It is like ridding a horse in the merry-go-round. When inspecting the wheel spin, I don't... | It is also perfectly possible that you need a new wheel. An experienced mechanic would have to visibly inspect the wheel to be sure. Provided that you are "not a fix-it-yourself bike person", you should have a LBS that you trust, to turn to in such cases. If you need a new wheel, I would expect it to be around $75-125 ... |
Should I fear cows? I know that sounds like a silly question, but I really need an advise. Recently a herd appeared at my local trail. Often they block the trail, and I (being a city boy) don't know how to behave toward them. I don't feel comfortable to shout at someone who can easily brake half of my bones with a sing... | The longer version: normally cow herds aren't really aggressive so it is quite safe to just go around the herd (if it blocks the trail) or pass them if they're close to the trail.
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Is it possible to mount a disk brake hub to a rim-brake rim? Suppose I have a disk-compatible hub and frame, but want build a wheel based around a very specific touring rim, which is labelled as being for rim brakes. My understanding is that you cannot attach a rim brake to a disk-compatible rim, since the sidewalls a... | The one thing to be aware of is that disk brakes put more force on the spokes during breaking than rim brakes. You will want to make sure your road/touring rim is not an asymmetric rim, designed for dishing on one side and not the other. Mostly this is not an issue as long as you do not use radial spoking.
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Is it normal for a fixed gear bicycle's rear wheel to slip forward in its dropouts from time to time? My fixed gear bike has a track fork with a chain tensioner, and uses Pitlock's solid axle nuts to secure the wheel in the dropout, though I had similar issues with the stock nuts. After tightening the nuts with a torq... | If the torque is less than it should be then the nut is working loose somehow.
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Chain really quite stretched, should I change cassette at the same time? I measured my chain last night - 10 links were 25.8-25.9 cm. So I ordered a new one, tools and spare link pins (Shimano 8-speed HG). I'm thinking this amount of wear might explain why my least favourite gears feel and sound not quite right, whil... | There's no magic ratio that if a chain is worn x amount, the cassette will be worn too. But shop around, you may be able to find a better deal.
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What are the consequences of riding a bicycle tire backwards? When putting a new tire on a bicycle, there is usually a note somewhere on the sidewall showing the direction the tire is supposed to rotate when you are on the bicycle. However, the last time I changed my tire I already had the tire mounted on the rim and ... | So there will be no damage done if a tyre is on 'backwards', but depending on the design, the tyre can work optimally if it is fitted the way the designer intended.
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Can bicycling cause runner's knee? I'm a longtime runner who has never, I mean NEVER, had any running-related injury before. About 2 1/2 months ago, I started bicycling to my new job, about 5 very up-and-down, stop-and-go urban miles each way, a significant increase over my previous job where it was 1 mile each way, f... | Going down hills I'd be spinning my legs so fast that I would hurt my knees, so there is that to consider as well. As Andy mentioned however, you should definitely speak with your own Doctor about the matter. Also if I ride for more than 50km I tend to also get the same sort of pain.
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Sunglasses anti-fog solutions safe for cycling I wear full sun protection when I ride, including sunglasses and a tube wrap around the lower half of my face. The issue I have is that in cool weather the wrap tends to channel air from my lungs up through my sunglasses which then fog up. This is mainly a problem only w... | Another thing that I've noticed lately in my own riding is that long-ish hair that covers over the top of the glasses increases fogging. There is a breed of ski masks that do the same thing, and one that comes to mind is made from neoprene, so it is quite warm.
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What tire should I put on my road/commuter bike to prepare for a New York winter? I have a road/commuter bike (Specialized Tricross) I use for commuting daily in New York City. The roads here can be quite harsh, with everything from leaves and branches to glass and potholes. The roads here gave me plenty of flats on ... | Bigger tires with knobbies on them work better with thicker snow.
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does anyone sell bicycle trailers with brakes? I recently was involved in a wreck, because I was unable to slow my trailer. I am thinking about building a refit kit to install brakes on a trailer, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel. <Q> I'm not aware of a commerically made one, I suspect the barrier is liability is... | The point is that using a brake on the trailer does help us ride our bicycles without worrying about the heavy trailer affecting any kind of slowing and stopping distance.
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Rear Rack for Cannondale Trail 6 with Disc brakes I was having a real trouble finding a suitable rear rack for my bike, a Cannondale Trail 6, with disc brakes. My usual bike use is to the office (bag containing laptop, lunch, rain jacket, etc. with approx 7-8 kg. weight), but sometimes I do take my bike outdoors, whic... | Might not be quite as easy to remove/install if you don't have rack mounts.
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Pedaling causes rear wheel/pedals to slip When I start to pedal, say up hill or have to move quickly, my pedals slip and I can't get any movement except for a really bad slip. When I'm on a flat straightaway and have to pedal I hear an awful clanking. <Q> There could be several possible reasons for this behaviour - ... | Because your chain is stretch it no longer fits the teeth of your freewheel/cassette. You will have to replace it.
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How can I remove a stuck rear cassette? I've been trying in vain to remove a rear cassette that I myself installed about a year ago. I may have over-tightened the lock ring and now I can't remove it no matter what position I hold the wheel-chain whip-wrench combination. Any advice on what to do to get this cassette o... | Otherwise use a vice in place of the wrench (spanner) and just turn the chain whip counterclockwise when looking from the side of the wheel not fixed in the vice.
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New headset cups loose against the frame Trying to replace the headset cups and race faces on a steel frame for 1" fork. Removed the old cups by gently knocking them in a circle with a steel pipe of the correct diameter. However, the new cup are a hair too small - although no wobble, they are freely inserted and remove... | They are most likely going to try and shim it with a small piece of metal, a bit of old beer tin or similar. Once everything is assembled and clamped down it should be as good as new. The space may be due to machine tolerances with the frame being on the large side of the spec and the headset on the small end of the sp... |
Is it normal for disc brakes to smell of burnt plastic? So, a new bike, Avid Elixir 5 180mm front and rear. My second ride was on a short dirt road, 340m denivelation. I held the brakes (mainly the front) more than 50% of the time, as the road was too steep for my skills. At the end of the descent, there was slight s... | You bed your pads simply by consistent, hard braking.
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How to minimize wear on pants I commute on bike and I wear jeans (which I work in). I find that after about 500 miles of bike commuting in a single pair of jeans I've got holes in my pants from the saddle-jean rubbing. My problem is probably accelerated by the fact that I have a fabric seat, the "Jamis Aurora Sport" ... | So, my advice is to change the saddle only if you don't particularly care for the one you have now, and consider buying tougher jeans. I do think that a cushy, fabric covered gel saddle would be more conducive to wearing out a piece of fabric than a smoother plastic or leather saddle. In addition to the other answers, ... |
How to clean a rear derailleur? This has always bugged me. At the end of the season I'm breaking down my bikes and cleaning every inch of them and I get to the derailleur and can't seem to ever get all the junk out of the middle of it! Anyone have any good strategies for getting in by the springs and around the moving ... | Use an old toothbrush to clean and low pressure water to rinse.
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How do I clean my bike in winter? How or where do I clean my bike in winter? I live in Michigan, USA and winter can be very harsh, along with the added salt used for ice removal. I am not commuting or anything, just occasionally riding for fun. Not cleaning my bike after a ride does not really seem like a good idea,... | Cleaning and then lubing the chain before washing it will help a great deal too. As a bicycle mechanic in the Netherlands, I always advice not to use a waterhose.
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Is cornering in snow any different? The general advice about cornering is to lean the bike, not the body , to put pressure on the outside foot, and not to brake or brake only with the rear brake if absolutely needed. Well, does this advice hold for snowy terrain? Today is my second day riding in snow this winter... | However, if you are cornering at speed the best idea would be to stick a dabbing leg out if you feel the tyres are slipping away. Studded bike snow tires will help the most with this, but even switching to a tire with a more robust tread and wider profile can help. In terms of the physics and techniques involved, they'... |
What is a good bike for college? I'm looking for a good bike for college. I need to be able to go across paved roads, brick roads, cut across grass- and possibly jump down 5-6 stairs. This video is from the school I plan to attend: Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My price range is $400-$600 Do I ne... | The most important thing for a college campus (and commuting in general in places where there are a lot of potentially not nice people) is to have a cheap bike and locking it properly - in particular, one that doesn't attract attention. Ask around the community and see whats there for used bike shops and try to find a ... |
Will mounting a camera on the handlebar instead of the helmet make the picture more shaky? I do a short commute in Paris (about 7 km / 30 minutes each way) and I am seriously considering adding a camera (maybe 2) to my bike to be able to report dangerous behaviour and also generally because it's fun and interesting. I... | The helmet mount provides the most stable video because any terrain roughness has already been absorbed by your body. In addition to shakeness the handlebars mount will provide a not so pleasant video because it will constantly be panning left and right due to the automatic microadjustments you do to keep you riding st... |
Can I put a road bike tyre on a mountain bike? I am finding it difficult to ride a Mountain bike, I feel that it may be more comfortable to change the tyre to that of a road bike, which are thinner in size. Please advise if I can do so. <Q> They make slick tires for mountain bikes used as commuters (and fat slick tire... | Mountain bike tires are typically more comfortable than road bike tires. You'll need to look at http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width or similar for what widths are compatible, and for urban riding (debris) or light off-road tracks (thorns) The short answer is yes (with apologies to jimrings).
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Why is my freewheel slipping? My freewheel tarted slipping this week. It slips most from a stop with no pressure snapping to significant pressure on the pedals. Slipping may be the wrong term as it really isn't engaging. Once it "hooks up" and pressure is continuously applied there is no slippage. Bike is a 3 years ol... | Freewheels and chains (which needs to be measured with a ruler, due to some issues with most chain checking tools according to Sheldon Brown), (and less frequently, the chain rings) are wear items - they don't last forever (and the ratcheting mechanism can go and make a lot of noise). Not too many people ride when its ... |
How do I know if there is water in my fork I have a SunTour XCR fork. Not wanting to ruin it I am worried that a significant amount of water has penetrated beyond the seals. I have recently ridden the bike in rain, snow, and washed it in a bathroom with a showerhead. The symptom that I am observing is the following.... | If after this procedure water droplets have appeared on the stanchions, then there is some water inside the lowers and they need service as described by other answers.
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Gap between lower headset cup and fork. Is this likely to be a problem? Yesterday I had a headset and fork fitted by my LBS. Lacking the specific tools or knowledge, I thought it better to leave this job to a professional; as a consequence of my inexperience, however, I have no idea whether they've actually done a good... | That seems like a big gap, but it may be normal, especially if you've inspected how the bearings seat against the crown race and all seems well.
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Vintage Peugeot pulls towards left when riding I've bought a second hand old Peugeot, I really enjoy the bike, but I'm having a balance problem with it, pulls to the left when riding. Could it be related with the handlebars? They are crooked. <Q> Straighten your seat. <S> It's pointed a bit to the right, causing your... | I have a vintage peugeot and one characteristic of older steel frames like them is horizontal dropouts.
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Do merino wool base layers need to be skin tight? I have bought a Merino wool base layer for all the obvious reasons, they're raved about and have been sworn by by many a rider, and I was getting not only chilly in the winter weather but also wearing a cotton t-shirt and getting caught in the rain caused it to very qui... | So you want the base layers to retain some insulation when they get wet.
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Why would tube patch sometimes peel off with backing? Sometimes, when patching a tube, the newly placed patch will peel off when removing the backing. Sometimes I have this problem and sometime I don't and I'm not sure what the difference is. Is it the age of the glue/solvent? Not sanding enough? The temperature? The a... | Regarding the backing of the patch, when on the go I just leave it in there, as it prevents glue from sticking to the tire an it does not affect anything in any way.
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What type of bicycle is closest to European city bike? I am looking for a bicycle that would be closest to the design that was popular in Russia , something with a high handlebar, relatively large wheels, and relatively short distance from the saddle to the handlebar. Which types of American bicycles should I look for... | In the US, such bicycles have the name "Dutch" bike.
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What are the advantages of filling tires with Nitrogen instead of air? I am completely new to riding bikes and know that are usually filled with air but nowadays some people fill them with Nitrogen instead. I don't know why they prefer to fill their tires with nitrogen as it is more costly than filling them with air. ... | Also, if you ride your bike a lot in many different weather conditions, Nitrogen can save you money in the long run since your tires wear slower (assuming you always keep the tires at the ideal pressure).
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Is it harmful for a hydraulic brakes bike to be put upside down I have heard that bikes with hydraulic brakes should not be left upside down. If they are, 15 minutes should be allowed before the bike is used. Is there any truth in this? What process could be happening? I am asking this because I sometimes leave my bi... | If your brakes become squishy then they need to be bled. 15 minutes is perhaps a pessimistic estimate, and it's not that much of a risk unless you get on your bike and right away need to brake very hard.
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How are the wheels spokes laced in the bikes you buy at shops? Is there a machine that does the lacing or does it have to be manual work?And in the first case, what does it look like and how does it work? <Q> So in summary. <S> New bike - wheel was most likeley build by machine. <S> Repairs - wheel was almsot certainl... | Manufacturers will use machines to build the wheels, however on top end bikes the manufacturer will build the wheels by hand (a skilled wheel builder's work is considered better than that of a machine).Your LBS will unlikeley have a machine to build wheels and this will be done by hand.
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How to ride under obstacles Commuting by an MTB, there is a trail at the local park, that is partially blocked by a tree. It has fallen over the trail, forming a triangle with the living trees on the sides. The highest point is maybe 10cm higher than my saddle height. How can I ride under the tree (at speed), without ... | Drift/Dab - While generally not recommended on most trails and dirt types, you could try turning the bike sideways (with the bike towards the tree), hanging your far foot out (away from the tree) and sliding under it. , I strongly recommend alerting whatever trail maintenance person/body is responsible to have the tree... |
Down tube and seat stay I've noticed that in a lot of bikes (though certainly not all), the seat stay and the down tube are parallel or nearly so. Is there any structural reason why a manufacturer might make that choice or is it a more or less arbitrary choice? <Q> The two are not directly related. <S> On a convent... | I'm sure there's also some structural reasons about balancing forces and stresses on nthe bike (which probably explains why the seat stays usually meet the seat tube around the same spot as the top tube). Yes, I'd say there are structural reasons for those lines being roughly parallel and it is not arbitrary.
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Can I pedal my bicycle backwards to move it backwards? Is there any changes I could do to my cycle so that I can make it move backwards?Just a question out of eagerness. <Q> To sum up all the comment answers, which provide you with a wealth of options: <S> The backwards bike Retro-direct gearing <S> The Tri Via g... | Just to actually answer the question, even though it's not as interesting as some of the comments: yes, you can probably convert your bike to a fixed gear, and then if you can learn to steer backwards and not fall over, you will be able to pedal it backwards.
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Does tire pressure matter when the bicycle is in the trainer? I keep my bicycle on a trainer in a 'cool' room during the winter months. The tires don't seem to maintain pressure after days of non use. Does this matter, and should I be checking/filling the tires often? What pressure would be recommended? <Q> Like ... | You can run them up to the pressures suggested by the manufacturer on the sidewall or how much your rim can bear or possibly a bit more (though these are not necessarily optimal - play with them) - since there are no bumps or terrain on a trainer, you don't need to worry about overly bouncy tires or pinch flats or othe... |
Lighter bike slower than a heavier bike, possible reasons? I have access to two mountain bikes, a lighter one (lapierre) and a Giant. The maintenance I do to both is really similar, just tires and oiling the chain every few weeks. I always though that the lapierre was harder to ride but the other day I did an actual te... | The variation of a single bike is an important factor - e.g if bikeB was slower, but GPS isn't perfect. If you're measuring via Strava, keep in mind there are a lot of factors that can play into your time.
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Any issues with wearing leg warmers over tights? I want to add a layer over my bike tights for warmth. Leg or knee warmers seem like a nice versatile option. I am just wondering if there is any issue with wearing these over tights as opposed to over bare skin with shorts. <Q> I've worn my knee warmers under my tights... | Personally, If it's colder than my comfort zone with just tights, I'll usually wear a pair of stretchy synthetic knickers on warmer days (like chrome telegraph knickers) or some breathable shell pants (north face resolve) on colder days over top of my tights to help kill the wind and retain more heat.
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'Best' Gear inch to start with on a fixed gear? Moderatley hilly area For a starting fixie rider, what is there a 'best' Gear inch to start with? Moderatley hilly area. <Q> Then change your rear cog by one tooth at a time till you figure out what works for you. <S> I would stay within 65 to 75 gear inches for most on-... | I prefer to ride slightly higher (about 74 gear inches) since I live in a hilly area and want to be safer when spinning on decents. I'd start with a 70 gear inch ratio for a while and adjust from there. It may take a few weeks to get used to riding fixed, but your legs will adjust quickly, so don't be too hasty to swit... |
Is this a puncture protection thing? I got a vintage bike to commute with (I wanted a heavy one for the exercise) and I was hoping for a flat so I would have an excuse to spend money on a puncture resistant street tire to replace the knobby tire. After more than a year of hoping for a flat, I got one. While inspecting... | In addition, many claim that tubeless tires are more puncture-resistant, but this may be because they're often loaded with a Slime-like sealant.
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Discouraging motorists from stopping at an intersection when they have the right-of-way Where I live, bicycles are widely accepted in traffic; motorists are on balance considerate and careful around us. But on an almost daily basis, I run into motorists who are too "polite" at intersections. They stop and try to wave... | In the mean time, since explaining the situation rationally to every driver that makes this error (good-intentioned as it may be) is likely impractical, you may want to consider avoiding the situation in the first place if at all possible.
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Suggestions for winter cycling glasses? I'm looking to get another pair of glasses for winter commuting. I currently use simple ski googles with my snowboard helmet...the problem is they are tinted. Since it's quite dark for the return, i would like to find some clear googles. Also, the temperature is around -15 to -30... | Ski goggles are a good option, but the main problem with ski goggles is that they block your peripheral vision, even if you have clear lenses.
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Would learning to ride a unicycle boost biking skills? Unicycles are not particularly expensive, seem to be light and portable, also fun. This gets me wondering if spending a couple of months to learn riding such a thing would boost a mountain biker's coordination, balance, timing, reaction, fall handling, etc. Or woul... | So while unicycle will improve your balance, actually mountain biking will improve your mountain biking. I would think that riding the intended type of trails on a mountain bike would make you better at mountain biking.
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Which rack top bag fits an 11" MacBook Air with space for a little padding? The goal is to carry a change of clothes and the MacBook Air (1.7 cm high, 29.95 cm wide, 19.2 cm deep and 1.06 kg) on a 14km commute. I've used Ortlieb panniers (on a Tubus rack) but I don't like the way my heels can hit them, they way they st... | I changed from using a pretty nice laptop pannier to the Topeak Office bag about 2 years ago.
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How to nail clipping into race pedals without looking? I was persuaded to switch to race SPD-SL pedals after losing the old MTB pedals to theft (along with the bike!). They're one-sided, though, unlike the MTB pedals, and I find that coming off of a red light full stop, I either pop my down foot right into the pedal, o... | If you spin the crank to slow at the start of the pedal stroke, the unclipped pedal may remain with the clip surface down making it impossible to clip-in. So to clip in without looking, I put my toe underneath and roll up from the back, staying in contact with the pedal the whole time. The best way is to practice, prac... |
Planting a foot when cornering: when and how? Recently I have noticed the following. When doing extremely tight turns e.g. 90 degree trail turn, I tend to: Get out of my high saddle, position in front of it and low over the top tube Stick the inside foot out, a couple of inches over the ground (easier on concrete, b... | Lean the bike towards the inside of the turn, pushing your weight to the outside pedal. There are different styles of riding and some riders won't put to the limit of needing to dab. So the long and the short: use a foot whenever you need it.
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Do rubber bike pedals or rubber pedal covers exist? I'm in a position where bringing my bike into the apartment is my best option at the moment. However, it is possible for metal edges of the bike pedals to catch the wooden edges of doorways. To prevent damage, I'm looking for some sort of rubber bumper to put on the... | A short length of foam pipe insulation should do the job. Other pedals have a bit of platform, which you may or may not like, such as the Crank Brothers Candy . There is a product called “Pedal Sock.”
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How to carry sunglasses, so that I can easily put them on or off? Has someone discovered a way to carry sunglasses, so that they can be put on or removed while riding? I have tried two approaches, and both have drawbacks. Carrying in a pouch, attached to the shoulder ring of the backpack results in scratched lens, b... | If you are lucky/careful with your combination of sunglasses and helmet, you can store them quite securely in helmet's vents , which makes it easy to put them on/off with a single hand: (quite hard to find a decent picture of this, screen-capture is from the Vuelta a España 2013, stage 14)
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restoring the finish of an oxidized polished aluminum frame? In the context of restoring the finish of an oxidized once-polished aluminum finish, is there anything better (easier) than 0000 steel wool with Marvel Mystery Oil? I am restoring an old Cannondale aluminum frame. Over the years, the environment has taken i... | I think that polishing paste like Mother's Magnesium and Aluminum should be your first choice. I would use sanding of any kind only when some scraping of the surface is necessary, to remove nicks and dents for example.
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Does a hybrid pannier / backpack exist? From reading around on the internet I understand that pannier bags are comfortable to ride long distances with on a bicycle. In my current rough travel plan I decided I also want to (hitch)hike a large part of the journey, so I would need a regular backpack (±70L). To keep the ... | Especial Viaje backpack/pannier for commuting, and it works well for that but is already pretty heavy on one side of the bike when loaded up. Bontrager market bag pannier.
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Snow Tire Wraps for Bicycles In some areas of the world, cars are allowed to use snow chains (or cables) in order to increase traction on ice and snow. This is slightly complicated on bicycles , but has been done. The main problems seem to be the chain being fixed to the tire while avoiding the rims (for brakes; pre... | It's kind of goofy and requires a bit of time to do, but you can zip tie your wheels to make snow wheels. However, I've got an idea that might work: place a larger volume tire over the current tire.
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Why don't race bikes have solid front triangles? I know that cutting material out makes a bike lighter, but at some point there must be a crossover between weight and aerodynamics. Since tri-bikes and track bikes have more oval/flat shaped tubes, you'd think that closing off the entire front triangle would improve aero... | Moreover, at the mountain parts of the race aerodynamic plays no role in the race, but weight and stiffness of the frame do. A few brands have mode non-UCI compliant race bikes, mostly designed for triathlon. The primary reason is weight. The other factor is a large flat panel can be affected by cross-winds, very dange... |
Thru Axle and Quick Release Fork/Frame Compatability? Without using manufacturer specific parts: Can I use a wheel with a thru-axle hub on a standard quick release fork or frame dropouts (with an adapter)? Can I use a wheel with a quick release hub on a thru-axle fork or frame dropouts (with an adapter)? We may al... | Through-axle hubs have a larger inner diameter to accept a 15mm or in some cases 20mm spindle, so many of them can be purchased with adapters that accept a 5mm spindle and fit in a 9/10mm dropout I haven't seen and can find no evidence online of an adapter that allows you to run a 9mm hub in 15mm TA drop outs. You coul... |
Are deep V wheels only for fixed gear bikes? I'm in the market for a new set of wheels. I've been noticing a style which I think is called "Deep V". I plan on adding gears to my currently single-speed bike (not a fixed gear). However, searching online, the majority (if not all) are advertised as being for fixed gear bi... | There's no strong argument why you shouldn't use a deep-v wheel on a geared bike, but if you examine the way you ride a bike with multiple ratios (fewer forehead-vein-popping climbs) you may find that it makes more sense to use a lighter rim with a more conventional cross section. I don't know about the detail of the p... |
Are there any manufacturers of steel road bikes today? Is there any major bike manufacturer that still makes steel road bikes today? The frame of my old Bridgestone got cracked and the crack is too close to the alloy BB lug for me to be able to weld it. I need a new training bike and it has to be steel because aluminiu... | Depending on what you consider a "major brand", there really are a lot of nice steel bikes around these days. Taiwanese sellers also often sell bikes and frames directly via eBay, if there isn't a local brand. Jamis (lots), Bianchi (lots), Surly (everything), Trek (520), Specialized (AWOL/Tricross steel/allez steel/etc... |
Should cheap suspension forks be oiled often? Should a cheap fork be oiled / lubricated from time to time? If yes, how? <Q> Lubricating the forks wont affect performance by may increase life and preserve cosmetic looks. <S> Cheap forks typically have a coil spring and a sealed damper unit, neither will perform any bett... | More expensive forks are different where oil dampers can get damaged if seals are not well maintained.
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How to mark a tire I've got a few sets of tires for my road bike, some of which are the same type of varying ages, others have been used on the turbo trainer, or have a suspected sharp object in them which I could never find. I'd like a way of marking the tires themselves so that I can keep track of their age and what... | Alternatively, you could just hang tags (like repair tags) on the tires and attach
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Why would each patch produce a new leak before resintalling tube? I got a puncture in my tube (size 700c x 23c, Kendra, came with bike) and applied a vulcanizing glue and patch, then checked it. Before reinstalling the tube, there was now a new leak right next to the patch, but the air is definitely not escaping from t... | You may have a sort of systematic effect, such as debris (puncture causing material) near the patch site, or missing rim tape or something depending on where the patch is. This kind of thing is common.
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Front suspension on a cyclocross bike? Is there a reason why no companies are manufacturing front suspension for cx bikes? Is it limited by the UCI rules? Would weight mean it would offer no additional value? I would like to know if a light weight, low travel (<80mm), skinny stanchion (<28mm) would make any diffe... | So consider running larger tires at lower pressure if you are concerned about the jarring effects of the ride without suspension. Pedaling is obviously more important in cyclocross than MTB, hence no suspension.
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How can I prevent or mitigate the front wheel coming off the ground when climbing steep hills? On one of my bicycles (a 2012 Trek Madone 4.7), when climbing very steep hills, I have had problems with the front wheel coming off the ground. This creates an extremely dangerous situation because when this happens one loses... | The front wheel is lifting as when your bike is on a slope the wheelbase is effectively shortened, bringing your weight closer to the rear axle, and the most vertical part of the wheelie is already done. Shuffle forwards on your seat and bring your chest closer to the bars.
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Physical limits for a fixie rider As fixie-biking is really trendy at the moment, i often see fixie riders 'skidding' and stopping their bike by blocking their backwheel. As this only works by shifting the riders weight to the front of the wheel i recently wondered if there is a physical limit (like weight) where t... | I would assume that rider weight wouldn't prevent this as a heavier rider is going to have more momentum to maintain the skid.
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Can I swap a shimano free hub body for a campag one and be able to attach it to the existing Deore hub? I want to convert my Surly Cross Check into a Campagnolo set up. The problem I am having is i have Shimano Deore Hubs on Mavic rims at present. I would rather not buy new wheels, so I am looking at the possibility of... | Simplest 'good' solution is probably getting a conversion cassette - campagnolo spacing but with a shimano spline so it'll fit on your existing hub.
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Garmin Edge Touring - Quality of the maps I currently have a Garmin Edge 200, which I like quite a bit. But I would like a GPS that has mapping capabilities. I don't need the training features. I'm curious about the quality of the maps in the Garmin Touring. It looks like they are based on some sort of open source maps... | The map-capable Garmin cycling units come with a solid basemap with the ability to add additional maps, and the Touring unit has a micro SD slot to make this even easier.
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Using a series of hub gears I have an idea and I'm wondering if it's feasible. For an upcoming recumbent cargo touring build, I wonder if I could say use an 8-speed hub gear connected directly to an identical 8-speed hub gear, or three hub gears 4*4*4, to get logically 64 gears. What sorts of problems might there be?... | My Velomobiel Quest has triple front, 9-speed rear derailleur and that covers enough ground for me.
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What happens when a bike has not had maintenance for a long time? I recently traded my Kent BMX bike I got from Wal-Mart: for a Ross road bike ). My friend tells me the bike sat in his back yard collecting rust, I see it has rust on the chain, the gears, brake lines and the chrome handlebars. The bike rides ok but... | Check the tyres aren't perishing as the old ones tend to - you can see this by cracks in the surface which appear when you pinch the material. Check for movement in the headset - check
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How to use a vapor barrier with cycling shoes for cold weather riding? I've heard many people like to use plastic newspaper bags or grocery bags as a vapor barrier when cold weather cycling. I'm already wearing winter cycling boots which prevent outside water infiltration, but I've been considering this for really cold... | If you do go for a vapour barrier, you need enough packing (in the form of socks) in there that your feet don't move around - another reason for boots over shoes, even if just ankle boots.
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Wheel bust after 10 months, is this normal / usually covered by warranty? Not sure if this is the right place to ask... I bought new bike about 10 months ago. The past few weeks I've had no end of trouble with the rear wheel (Mavic Aksium) in regards to spokes. About 4-5 spokes on the non-drive side consistently come... | If you notice the wheel go out of true, break spokes, or has loose spokes, you need to STOP riding on the wheel and have it trued before riding on it again, otherwise it will degrade rapidly. Spokes generally break when the spoke tension is not evenly distributed or by a sharp impact.
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Will using a pannier rack mounting kit damage a carbon frame Axiom vs Tubus I am hoping to buy one of these in the next few weeks: Specialized Roubaix SL4 Expert Disc Di2 2014 Road Bike But I will be using it for commuting and need some luggage so I need to fit a pannier rack (I'm going to ignore all the shouts of ho... | Consider a bike that is designed for a load. The Specialized Roubaix is a racing machine.
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How to relate wind chill, temperature, and cycling I'm interested in how wind chill and temperature come into play while cycling. If I rode on one day with the temperature at 15°F (-9°C), but the wind chill was 1F (-17°C), how would that relate to a day where the temperature is 10°F (-12°C) or 20°F (-6°C) with the sam... | I think it will help the most to simply having a better understanding of wind chill .
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Camera alternatives for commuting (2014 version) After a few near misses by cars and two mates actually being hit I want to start using a camera for taping video footage . These are my requirements: Long battery life (3h+) Inconspicuous (absolutely no fancy GoPro-stuff on top of my helmet) Small & lightweight ... | I use a contour roam 2 & found the on/off button brilliant, can use with any gloves.
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if my height is 5'9" what mtb should I buy? I am rookie and I want to know about mountain bike and want to know that if my height is 5.9 which mountain bike works for me. So guys please help to know about mountain bike. <Q> This is impossible to determine via the internet - the fit of a bike depends on inseam, arm leng... | Go to your local bike shop and ask for a bike fit and try out lots of bikes in realistic riding conditions and find one that works for you.
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Can Shimano 600 front derailleur handle 3 chain wheels? I have a 48-38-28 chainwheel and I wonder if Shimano 600EX Arabesque has enough leeway to accommodate it. If you know another derailleur from the same era that could do it that would be also useful to me. <Q> Usually racing front derailleurs like an arabesque wi... | While your derailleur may have the extra tolerance to fudge it in some cases, if your spindle is longer than shorter, then it may push your crank too far out for your fd to reach, even with the limit screws taken completely out.
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Does 1.2cm of additional frame stack make a large difference to the ride of a bike? I don't like the amount of handlebar drop on my current road bike. I am looking at a new bike that has an additional 1.2cm of frame stack (height). Would this 1.2cm make much difference in the ride of the bike? <Q> I've found that the m... | My own personal experience is that small changes can make a big difference, but you should be able to get the bars 1.2 cm higher a lot cheaper than a new frame. If you have a bike a little big or small for your stature, you can try to adjust the seat or you can also try a stem of the handlebar with a different lenght
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Are bikes more prone to punctures after a spell of rainfall/flooding? We've had an unusually wet winter and flooding has been a problem in my area. Now that the weather has improved and cycling is possible/pleasurable again I'm finding I'm getting many more punctures than I would normally. The kids too, on their bikes.... | Yes, it's because the rain washes more debris onto the road which can then cause punctures.
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Regulations regarding Braking redundancy on single speed bikes. Recently there have been an increase in the number of fixed gear bikes in my (U.S.) city. Increasingly they tend to have one or zero brake levers, justified by their ability to stop with pedal power alone. Even more recently, I've noticed even larger num... | Fixed gearing counts as a braking system, so a fixie is only required to have a front brake, but a single-speed with only one brake (or a bike with only a rear coaster brake) would not meet the regulations .
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Why do full suspension bikes seem to be on average £1000 more expensive than hardtails? I was just looking at the new On One Codeine full suss mountain bike and 45650B hardtail (£2599 vs £899) respectively. However, what is the great difference apart from the shock? A fox rear shock goes for about £300 max. What causes... | There are a lot of variables to consider here, you can't really compare two bikes and declare that all full suspension bikes are £1000 more. A full suspension frame is in all respects more complex (thus expensive)
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Sunglasses for cycling - what features to look for? I need some new sunglasses for cycling - what features will actually be helpful - I've seen ones with vents, polarized lens, rubberised frame, replaceable lens . I just need the best value model that looks good. <Q> Definitely something plastic, as that's going to be ... | I note that you live in London - I'm in the UK too and given our frequently poor light conditions, for the majority of the year I ride with clear (but high contrast) lenses. Another important aspect of fit is if they are too tight a seal around your cheekbones then they will tend to fog.
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Solar charger for iPhone whilst on a bike tour - is it worth it? Are there any feasible solar chargers for iPhone / or with a usb slot that will work or is a backup battery available. Best value (and something that works) is my priority. I found this brilliant link on crazy guy on a bike- http://www.crazyguyonabike.co... | At the time of this posting, the solar chargers out there aren't very robust, unless money isn't a factor. You also need to remember that your battery is just as dangerous as an equivalent sized container of gasoline.
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Specialized bike store or general sports shop I plan to buy a new bicycle. Is it better to buy it at a specialized bike store or at a general sports shop? In case it matters, I live in Vienna, Austria. I know very little about bicycles in general. The bicycle is intended to be used in the city to get me to and fro... | So I would say that if prices are similar between general shops and bike shops, then its a no-brainer to pick the bike shop because they'll (likely) have a higher level of expertise, in terms of listening to your requirements and proposing a suitable bike.
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Should my foot be able to step flat on the ground, when I sit on a bike seat? I was wondering, for a correctly sized mountain bike, or hybrid, should I be able to place my foot flat on the ground, when I sit on the bike seat? <Q> For a standard bike in normal use you should not, from the seat, be able to touch the grou... | As others have mentioned, there are allowances to that rule to increase maneuverability, which comes with having a lower saddle, but if you can touch the ground flat footed, and your pedal is 15-30 cm off the ground at the bottom of your stroke, then you can't possibly have an efficient stroke, and you're hurting your ... |
Transition between hybrid bike and endurance road bike What are the different skills I need to develop when transitioning between a hybrid bike and an endurance road bike? <Q> efficiently and comfortably for the type of riding you're doing. <S> Also, you should be more aware of road hazards, since most endurance roa... | You probably just have to get used to the geometry of the endurance road bike (since most hybrids are closer to MTB hardtail geometry), which can be helped with bike fit, so the drop bar and saddle are positioned in a way where you can use all the hand positions of the bike (hoods, drops, middle of the bar, sides, etc.... |
Best 9 speed cassette for fast & flat I have a road bike with a 26/11 9 speed SRAM rear cassette. I cycle in Cambridgeshire on a daily basis and it's very flat. I find that I never use the hardest cog, leave the chainring on the biggest cog and generally find that the jump between gears is a little too much. My chainr... | If you want optimum gear choice for easy spinning, choose a rear cassette with close gear ratios, like the Shimano Tiagra 9-speed 14-25. If your front shifter is indexed it might not shift as quickly, but it should be OK because it will be a smaller difference between the two rings.
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Can I enter an enduro race on a hardtail mountain bike? I really like the idea of enduro racing but I cant currently afford an enduro specific bike.Is it acceptable to enter an enduro event on an aggressive XC/trail hardtail mountain bike? Are there any rules against it or would it not be recommended due to the terrain... | So, yes, you can probably use a hardtail for enduro, however it may not be the best fit, and you run an increased risk of injury and/or frame damage depending on the course, technicality and skill of the rider. Yes, unless they say no.
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Why do some triathlon seatposts go straight up and down instead of at an angle? Why is it that some triathlon bikes have a seat post that adjusts straight up and down instead of the more standard axis that aims at the bottom bracket? This means that if you raise (or lower) the seat on the special triathlon bikes, the ... | By changing the seat angle, you use your muscles differently and can run faster off the bike than a more traditional seat post angle.
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Cycle tyre and tube burst I pumped my cycle front tyre to 105 psi (700*23c) 5 days back and cycled some 60 km on the same day without any punctures. Afterwards I parked the cycle in my bedroom for the last 5 days (due to security reasons I always park them in my bedroom). Today in the evening the cycle tyre burst and ... | Since the actual tire has burst, I think the most likely cause is that over the course of the 4000km you have ridden, the tire has suffered a cut or other damage that you did not previously notice. Still, in the ferry case (where the temperatures would likely be lower than in a closed car), most likely a case of bad lu... |
Do I need to be concerned about a carbon frame if I attach a bike trailer? We have a bike trailer with the hitch attached to the rear axle. The frame of my wife's bike frame is part carbon (right around the rear axle), which I understand is more brittle than other materials. I would think most forces associated with ... | We haul a BoB behind carbon bikes all the time. it should be okay as long as you are careful about weighting the trailer and try to reduce the rotational forces
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Are road bikes capable of being ridden on gravel? I am new to road bikes and was wondering if these bikes are capable of riding on light gravel or whether I will get flats? Does it depend on the tire material or are generally all road bike tires for road only? <Q> Google 'cyclocross'. <S> The primary difference bet... | So gravel that's not deep for MTB tires is trickier for skinny road tires.
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Air suspension unit for relatively low mass Let's assume I have an object with a mass of 3 kg. I want this object to isolate from vertical shocks and vibrations when I'm riding approximately 30 km/u on my bike. Let's also assume I have an air suspension front fork modified and mounted on top of the bike's frame. This... | This problem has been studied to some extent in cameras for image stabilization on bicycles, where it is suggested to directly mount a camera on a bicycle and having soft tires with some suspension (on the bicycle).
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