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Hill climb Time Trial pacing strategy for short steep hills? There are several hill climb events in my area towards the end of the year, from august onward. Most of the hills are no longer than 0.8km long and well above an average 6% gradient. The main ones I will be targeting are three climbs ranging from: 0.7km, av...	So, more than pacing I would say that finding your ideal gearing for the climb is the point.
Will my bike hold my weight? I'm pretty heavy (~150kg/330lbs) but being fond of cycling in the past, I decided to buy a bike, and maybe try to lose a few kilos with it. I didn't have too much time for looking around, so I bought a used (but in excellent shape) Scott Aspect 20 from some guy living close by. Now I'm ...	You may also want to look at some bike forums for big riders riding similar bikes. Of course, you will be stressing the wheels and tires, in particular, beyond what's "normal", so you may experience broken spokes and the like. But since you won't be going offroad and probably won't jump too many curbs, you shouldn't do...
How do you use a power meter to pace yourself during steep hill time trial events? The events in questions are no longer than one kilometer and have a gradient that fluctuates between 7% and 13%. <Q> First thing to do would be to get some data about your max power outputs over different gradients & conditions. <S> So...	Tests you might try are variations of constant power, matching your power to the expected duration of the climb.
Hydraulic Disk brake piston not fully retracting My front disk brake's piston doesn't fully retract. While I can ride the bike, the brake is slightly rubbing. (IE, if I just spin the wheel with my hand, it'll go around about one and a half times and then stop.) It's definitely slowing me down. If this fixable? The...	Still holding lever lubricate the retracting bit of the piston with a bit of brake fluid (DOT 4 or 5.1, not oil, as this may damage the seals and/or might work through the seals and mix with the brake fluid) You should try bleeding the brakes first before binning them and buying new ones. Please note, never pull the le...
Fork shakes on braking I reanimated an old city bike. The front brakes work fine but the brakes squeaks. So I cleaned the rim and brakes, now the fork shakes on braking. What is wrong and how can I fix this?Change the brake pads? <Q> What did you clean the pads with? <S> The angle of the pads also matters. <S> You sh...	One more possible reason for your issue is that your pads have not been tightened enough. if like me this is no longer possible then look at getting a replacement wheel or rebuilding your existing one with a new hub. If there is residue left on them, this can cause the stuttering that you speak of.
ANT+ to Bluetooth Low Energy bridge? Does anyone know of a stand alone ANT+ to Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) bridge device? I have a Garmin Edge 810, which uses ANT+ ... but I would also like to track my rides on my iPhone 5S (which has BTLE, but ANT+ is a hassle). I'm looking for a device that will correctly bridge AN...	As a BTLE user I can tell you you're better off with ANT+; I get far more sensor drops than my ANT+ co-riders.
"Creaking" noise from headtube/handlebar I have a steel frame (Columbus steel, made by Dancelli), and when I put weight on the ends of the handle bar, I hear a creaking noise from the headtube. It might not be the handlebar because I tried applying force on the headtube while holding the top tube and I heard the same c...	With the old style headsets this symptom was generally due to the handlebar slipping slightly inside the reenforcing tube that surrounds the center on most bars. After eliminating simpler problems like skewers and bolts not tight enough (too much), or bearing issues, I would suggest disassembling whole stem/headset/for...
How to choose protective cycling gloves? Yesterday I failed to make a turn and rode into a thorny bush, which cut my hands. I have often feared similar situations. For example, when descending, I often need to take a difficult line, in order to evade some hanging vegetation in one half of the fire road. I fear that a...	Recently in my country the only DH gloves that the shops are selling are made of skinny fabric with no padding, so I've turned my head towards motorcycling gear.
What should I look for when buying a bike from an auction? I'm going to an auction to look for cheap gems. Each bike is shown only very briefly and the bidding starts immediately. No hands-on inspection is allowed. What should I pay attention to when trying to decide how much / if to bid? Are there some immediate sign...	But a quality bike with few miles will be a better bet than a low quality bike in new/shiny condition. You will most likely see Shimano and SRAM gear. Since we live in the advent of the smartphone, you can likely look at the brand and model of a bike and quickly google it. Learn the rear derailleur models for the type ...
Should I not use a trail because of poor conditions? I spoke with someone and they said they were staying off certain trails because snow melt and mud would ruin the trails. I had never thought of this and really want to be considerate. Is this a valid concern? Should I avoid a trail because of this? How do I know ...	It's common etiquette, at least everywhere I've been, to stay away from wet and muddy trails (unless they're supposed to be or always are a mudfest).
What do I need to know about fitting new wheels on a bike? My girlfriend has had the wheels stolen from her bike. I'd like to replace them, but we're working with a limited budget so I'm going to do the work myself and source the parts second hand. I've done a basic bike maintenance course but beyond that I'm relative...	Cassette size, you need a hub (unless using a free wheel) that is spaced for the cassette you'll be using. Axle width, the width of the rear drop outs, generally 135mm on road bikes but older bikes may be less, 135 or 142 for mountain bikes. If you have 8 cogs (8 speed) you also have to make sure what ratio you want, t...
How to protect rear derailleur while mountain biking? I am a college students, and I live right next to an amazing rocky area (picture below), I bike every day, and while I am getting much better and more confident I still take a pretty hard fall every so often. My derailleur has been crushed so many times, and I ha...	Another thing that should be mentioned that every time you bend the derailleur back into its correct position, it gets a little weaker. Typically the Shimano Deore level is what gives you the best hit taking ability for the price, though it depends on how you fall and how the derailleur gets hit and stuff. As Batman po...
Has a bike been made with a rear derailleur above the chainstays? The question title pretty much sums it up, but has a bike with an alternate drivetrain style like this been made? This would mean a derailleur mounted essentially upside down with the tension pushing the chain upward. I could see where this would protec...	The derailleur needs to guide the chain into the sprocket - which means it goes on the bottom.
What is the best way to stop and restart at a stoplight? Since your feet should hardly touch the ground when the saddle is at optimal height, what is the best approach to stopping at a stoplight and then quickly re-starting when riding in traffic. <Q> These are the options I use depending on the circumstances: <S> T...	If you're riding a geared bike, it's also a good idea to shift into the appropriate gear before you actually come to a stop. Set the pedal for your stronger leg a bit less than 45 degrees from vertical. When the light turns green, all you have to do is stand up, which puts your full weight on the pedal, and you're off....
Do I have too much chafer strip showing after fixing a puncture? I have had two innertubes explode on me on my bicycle, on the same wheel and tire. The first time I was inflating my inner tube after aquiring a puncture. On this occassion I was pumping my tires (rated at 50-90psi) beyond 70psi. After the first explosio...	Once you've got the tire relatively well centered, inflate in increments of 20 pounds or so, roll along the ground, and inspect/align again, until you reach your desired pressure. Anywhere where the strip is not showing the "average" amount, tug on the tire to pull it out. The amount of Chafer strip showing would not b...
Why doesn't Shimano use shadow technology on road derailleurs? Shimano has been using their 'Shadow' technology on their high-end mountain bike rear derailleurs (> Deore) for many years. In addition to the benefit described in the images below (from here ), Shadow derailleurs have a more direct housing routing near t...	the cost of retooling all their road bike dérailleur manufacturing to get a very marginal gain in reduced cable friction probably makes it not worth it. The whole purpose of the shadow tech is to reduce chain slap, which isnt a problem for pavement road racing. The benefit of the Shadow Plus friction clutch is that rou...
Will These Bike Racks Fit a 2002 Citroen Berlingo? Could someone please advise me as to whether either (or both!) of the following bike racks will fit on the back of a 2002 Citroen Berlingo? 3 Carrier with Clips 2 Carrier without Clips Please note: these are links to eBay (UK) listings - I realise that this is irr...	Those style of racks are pretty versitile, I would be surprised if they do not fit. The only problem may be that as you Citroen has a near verticle rear, the bikes may sit further out from the rear than needed, depending on rack design and adjustments. Also the ones with the rubber clips that hold the bike, do not trus...
Shifting can't keep up with my acceleration I noticed that when I really give it hell after stopping or riding slow (I do that all the time on commute), I have to shift two gears at a time in the lower gears, to keep up with my acceleration. I then asked myself whether there's any better way for the shifting to keep u...	Change to a higher gear before you stop.
MTB with gears or non gears, suspension or non-suspension for stunts? I am planning to buy an MTB for learning stunts...(BTW my family wont allow me to buy a BMX because of its height).So my question is shall I go for MTB with front suspension or not and with gears or not? What i think is i should consider bike with g...	I will interject that there is a whole discipline/style of riding called "trials" and they have bikes that are tuned/designed for "stunts". I would recommend visiting your LBS and having a in depth conversation with someone knowledgeable to find out what kind of riding you are planning to do.
Tough road or touring frame/bike I recently had my bike destroyed by a car. I love cycling, and since I'm no longer a research fellow, I'm considering replacing it with a bike with great longevity (N.B. I know that until a process is perfected for constructing self-healing, Adamantium bike frames, no bike is guaranteed...	Today's cheap aluminum bikes also likely have thickwalled tubing, and are thus probably less vulnerable to dings, and are even less vulnerable to corrosion than steel. I own two ED-coated bikes: an All-City Space Horse I believe is wet-painted and a Surly Ogre that is powder coated.
Is there a polite way to take the centre of the road without antagonizing motorists? The city I live in isn't especially well designed for cycling. There are some streets with parallel parking on the sides, and in this situation it's safer to ride in the middle of the lane as to force cars to pull right over to pass,...	You can safely pass parked cars up close if you slow right down.
How bad is this fire damaged alloy frame? I got this Shimano Ultra groupset bike for free, all I need now for it is shifters as the carbon and rubber melted in them and the original seat. But now I am wondering if I can get away with it, I don't want the top/down tubes to brake off the head! The cable adjuster on th...	Its just not worth the risk. I would chuck the whole bike - its nothing more than scrap metal now.
1980's bike vs New(er) Models? (Should one stay with an ancient bike?) I have been cycling on a Centurion Pro Tour that was constructed sometimes in the 1980's - probably late 1980's, but still. It works great. It coasts downhill far faster than my hybrid, it doesn't weigh very much and I have definitely gotten per...	also, older bikes had weird drop bars that are uncomfortable, replace that with a new bar, with a shallower drop could help or flat bars even. You might also raise the handlebar and/or shorten the stem. I've been testing a 1984's Centurion Elite road bike, but I'm more a crosscountry and downhill rider, so a the beguin...
Is it bad etiquette to ride road bike through a small residential area? Is it considered bad etiquette to ride a road bike through a small residential area? Not talking about a cheap bike and riding on the sidewalk but a nicer road bike at a decent pace. I don't want to upset anyone by cutting through their neighborhoo...	I wouldn't consider it to be bad etiquette I would just try to be a considerate and careful cyclist. You have the right to use the public roads (and the obligation to stop at stop signs).
My bike after a new spray paint, gets scratched easily I completely sandpapered my bike a few months back and repainted it with a coat of primer first, and then matt black. The paint was sprayed only after sandpapering the bike with the appopriate gritt so as to make sure that the primer would stick great. With the or...	You need a different type of primer (etching primers specifically intended for aluminum), such as this Rust-Oleum Automotive etching primer . If I was restoring a really nice/expensive bike, I would get it professionally painted, but this reduces the amount of pride you have for you bike.
Are there sirens/horns that are like a car horn? I am going to start commuting on my bike, but I often use busy roads that are not cycle friendly and cyclists are not often noticed. I need a horn to be noticed. (and to vent my anger without losing my voice!! - I'm joking here. One of the only highway code rules I remem...	Scared/confused drivers behave even worse than normal drivers, and a loud noise coming from a bike can confuse them. ORP Smart Horn – Gary E Of course if you are yelling so much you damage your voice then I would suggest a course of yoga and meditation to calm yourself down... or possibly plan to use a different route....
Single pivot brake with handlebar levers (Resurrecting an old Colnago) I have an old Colnago I want to resurrect, which after some Google-ing I have discovered is very similar to the bike here (but in blue): I want to replace the drop bar brakes with "standard" brakes on the handle bar (this bike isn't for racing, ...	The "suicide bars" mentioned in another answer are well named : they flex badly so while they provide a little slowdown with your hands on the tops, they won't provide the braking you need when you really need it - in the wet you will slide helplessly into the obstacle at almost your original speed. Another option to c...
When riding with a single pannier, does it matter which side it's on? I read somewhere that when riding with a single pannier, the pannier should be mounted on the left side (traffic side in the US). However, the article didn't give a reason behind that. It's been quite some time and I can't find the article again for ...	Having the panniers on the drive side means that I am not bumping my legs/hips against the panniers.
Is it possible to predict when roads will have less traffic? I'm planning a two day trip down the UK country roads. I'd like to time and plan my route so that I'll have a pleasant ride. Is it possible to tell which days of the week would see the least traffic? I'll be cycling from dawn till late afternoon on both days....	Generally speaking if you planned a cycle tour that avoided A roads you should have a reasonably quiet run for most of the day. The Department of Transport collects various statistics on road use .
How should I train for a hilly ride while living in a flat country? I'm kicking around the idea of riding the Curadmír in the spring of 2015 (almost 600km over 3 days across Northern Ireland), a ride that would obviously have a lot of elevation changes in it (~2000m/day). A year is a lot of time to prepare for it, ex...	A headwind tends to be a constant steady effort, whereas most hills vary in grade and you need to learn to pace yourself on the steepest parts.
Route planning and avoiding gravel/unpaved roads? I've got a Garmin Edge 810. Sometimes when using routes created with Garmin Connect or Strava Route Builder, I unfortunately find myself on bad gravel roads. Is there a route planning tool that allows you to only select asphalt/tarmac? <Q> As part of the route finding ...	Use Bike Route Toaster and make sure you are using Open Street Maps Cycling version ("Open Cycle Map).
When Mark Cavendish says he's sprints at 1500 watts how long is that for? In an interview with Cycle Sport, Cavendish said he puts out over 1500 watts of power. “You’d be surprised at my watts,” Cavendish says. “Most people who say that their maximum is 1,600 watts won’t put out 1,600. My maximum is 1,580, and th...	Based solely on these data, it becomes obvious why there were no correlations between absolute power (Watts) and race results Tactical variables may be as important as, or even more important than, power alone.
How long for legs to get used to fixed gear 15 mile daily ride Due to a car accident and the extended time insurance has taken to get my car handled, I pulled my fixie out of the garage and started riding it to my university mon-fri; it's about a 15 mile round trip, no hills. I have been doin this ride for 3 weeks now ...	If you can, try taking a bus or carpooling or something on Wednesday, to give you a midweek recovery day— muscles need a chance to recover to strengthen.
Tire Gauge to Avoid Over-Inflation I just purchased a tire floor pump with a gauge for my bike. The gauge seems to start off at 0 PSI when I connect the pump to the tire. So, do I need to use a separate tire gauge to first measure the current pressure of my tires prior to using the pump so as not to over-inflate them? ...	Prestas will click open when the pressure in the hose surpasses that in the tube. I've found using a gauge often causes more air loss than the reading was worth.
Disk brake squealing after bike shop changed my pads. Is it enough reason to ask them to re-service (for free)? I recently took my bike to the shop, since it started making a weird metal on metal (not squeal, just hard brushing sound). After checking it out they saw that the back brake pads were really (REALLY) worn do...	Disc brakes (even on cars) work best when there is enough of the brake pad's friction material deposited onto the face of the rotor. Then if you still have problems coming to a stop, take it to the shop and have them look at it.
When to lube a chain? Should a chain be lubed each time after riding in the rain*? What about a 100km mudride (occasional water up to the hubs)? Should I stop in the middle of the ride to re-lube the chain? If so, is it essential to wipe the chain? Note that wiping with a piece of paper will be much less effective th...	I will basically lube the chain every time after I've cleaned it. If you are hearing excessive noise from your drivetrain then a dry chain may be culprit. I use Finish Line Cross Country for all my bikes except the Velomobile, where I use a thinner lube because the chain is entirely inside the fairing.
Does the age of brake pads make any difference? I recently changed my brake pads with some new ones that have been in my shed for years. They are not packaged, but as I am in the UK, which has a very variable climate. The shed gets very hot and humid in the day, and cools down at night. Does this have an effect on the...	Usually brake pads tend to "dry" over time, turning less flexible and prone to cracks.
How to measure chainring / cog wear? Other than attempting to estimate whether a chainring or cog is worn and needs replaced by eyballing it, is there any way to measure the wear on chainrings or cassette cogs so you can determine whether they should be replaced? What tools can be used to accomplish this? <Q> And of...	Put the old sprocket on top of a new one (you have to purchase a replacement anyway, so buy one as a reference until the old one is worn) and inspect visually to appreciate the amount of wear at the back of the cog. There are tools such as the Rohloff HG-check for measuring cassette wear.
Dropped the Wedge of a quill stem in the head tube Trying to remove a seized quill stem and did a beginner's mistake of removing the stem bolt.I could not thread back the bolt. Is there a better way to thread back the bolt to the wedge for me to start all over again the process of removing the quill stem? Thanks <Q...	If you have not managed to remove the stem then you need to invert the bike and get the wedge arranged and then insert the bolt through the top (that is now on the bottom).
How can I get a bike mechanic certification/where can I learn to be a bike mechanic? I'm interested in becoming a bike mechanic in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I'm hoping there's an industry body which runs courses to certify bike mechanics. I'm really hoping it's not just learn on the job from an existing mecha...	In the UK, Cytech are the most recognised body; Contact them and ask if they're aware of an equivalent organisation in Australia.
What is the difference between a freewheel and a hub? I think these are both just types of cassettes, one all the rings come apart, and the other it's just one big piece all welded together. Can someone please tell me what the difference is? <Q> The hub is the body at the center of the wheel containing the axle. <S> I...	The freewheel was built into the rear gear cluster and that whole assembly screwed onto the hub.
Direction of chain whip Is there an easy way of working out which way round to apply a chain whip to a cassette for its removal? I've taken plenty of them off in my time but always end up having a couple of tries at it before I put it on the right way round. <Q> Not something I do often enough to worry about, but certa...	I stick the lockring remover in and undo it, see which way the cassette turns, and then put the whip on to stop that rotation.
How important is a heart-rate monitor? How important is a Heart Rate Monitor when cycling for weight loss? I have an old Everlast HRM watch, but it cannot display the average HR after a workout. I am using RunKeeper to track my rides and I have noticed that it has a field for average HR. Thanks <Q> The short annswer ...	For someone just wanting to get fit and loose some weight, heartrate monitoring is usually an interesting distraction. If you have a trainier, averages, time in band etc might help them tune your training program, but if you had a trainer, they would tell you if this is needed. if you think there's any cardio risk with...
What's a safer alternative to a flag for marking special bikes? Every year I marshal a family ride organized by my local cycling campaign. As it's targeted at people who don't cycle long distances, the main job of the marshals is to offer help to people with mechanical problems, as well as to give them confidence they'...	I suggest simply installing a couple of rear bike lights (the red flashing type) on top of a moderate length of PVC. At the very least 1 or more streamer (like wide ribbons) would be less likely to snag than a large flag, as well as being less of a shock if it gets someone in the face. Some local recumbent users have a...
Rebuilding a rear wheel My rear hub is damaged. I have not yet inspected the source of the damage, but the wheel is moving sideways when rotating (a LOT), plus I rode it like this for about 35km. Therefore, I find it probable to soon need to replace the hub. The rim and spokes are new (couple of months of commuting). ...	It could be that this was down to a poor build Getting the spoke tensions high & even is on of the most important things – balanced tension makes the wheel stable, high tension keeps the loads on the wheel structure fairly constant as it rolls which helps to prevent spoke breakage. Study sheldon brown's wheelbuilding s...
Are there front looking mirror options? I have the standard drop handlebars on my road bike. When I'm in the lower position, my head is pointing down so my eyes are looking at the road and my front tire. Looking forward requires me to tilt my head up to an awkward angle and I often get a kink in my neck after a longish...	If you handlebars/stem is of the correct length/height, then you shouldn't have any issues seeing in front of you- nor pains in these areas.
Road bikes rim brake or disc brake I am about to buy a new Road bike and there seems to be a host new road bikes with disc brakes, I've had a Mountain bike with disc and it's fine, just wondering what the pros and cons of having a road bike with discs apart from the looks, should I stick with the traditional proven rim...	Traditionally, disk or drum brakes have sometimes been used on tandems and heavy mountain touring bikes, because they can provide more total braking force, but these are conditions that few cyclists experience in "normal" riding.
26" vs 28" wheels for touring I was told by a friend that 26" wheels are better than 28" wheels for touring. Is this true? What are the pro's and con's? I'm told that 26" wheels are stronger for their spoke count. What are the practical implications of this? Are there other reliability concerns? and how much of a ...	It's generally easier to find a 26" wheeled bike that can take larger tires, but if you find a 28" bike that can accommodate larger tires that will work fine as well. Wheel size is the last thing you should be worrying about.
How do I tell the size of my braking discs? Looking to replace my hydraulic disc brakes but intend to use the old discs. How do I tell the size of the discs to ensure I purchase the right brakes? <Q> The disc that you are talking about is in fact called the rotor. <S> Rotor size is measured by diameter, ie. edge to e...	The size may also be etched on to the rotor which would be more accurate than measuring yourself.
What to look for in a bicycle meant for the exercise? I do not need the bicycle for daily commuting or mountain climbing.I need the bicycle for morning and evening exercise and just for roaming around in order to get some fresh air. I also want a smooth ride on non-smooth roads. I am a female. What to look for in a...	You are looking for a "smooth ride over non-smooth roads" - presumably for comfort - one of the holy grail of cycles. You should really go to a bike shop and hop on a few different bikes and styles. The main concern I have with your requirements is your budget. Suspension seat posts an help, but a woman's specific sadd...
Insurance for carless cyclist in California I am a bike commuter without a car in California, that seems to be such an unusual combination that it is difficult to find insurance. I have health + disability insurance, my bike is worth less than $1000. I don't own property and don't have a homeowner's or renter's insur...	You can get liability protection if you purchase a stand alone policy from a bicycle insurance company.
Are Campagnolo and Shimano 11 speed chains interchangeable? I have an Athena 11 speed group set, but can get a good deal on the Shimano 9000 chain. Does anyone know of any reports of issues combining the two? <Q> Leonard Zinn has discussed Shimano and Campy 11-speed drivetrain compatibility several times in response to...	Read this article, all 11 speed cassette works with all Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo drivetrain, meaning chain and RD and crankset, so the answer is the Shimano 11 speed chain and Given that all the manufacturers spend enormous amounts of time & money on R and D to make sure that all their parts are properly compatible...
Is there a cycling equivalent to Naismith's rule After doing some training rides on courses without bigger ups and downs where I didn't make significant elevation gains, a recent ride was in more rough terrain. Of course, the relief changes the average speed one can achieve and I was wondering, if there are some rules ...	For flat roads where aerodynamic forces predominate, you will need to have a ballpark estimate of your "drag area" which mostly depends on your position on your bike.
Is there a way to make activity wristbands read bike rides more accurately? Is there a way to make simple activity tracking wristbands like the fitbit work more accurately during a bike ride. Currently I wear the wristband on my wrist, but the rides tend to read like barely any exercise is occurring during these sessio...	Alternatively, just use something else like Runkeeper or a bluetooth/ant+ cycling computer or enter stuff from your cycling computer in manually after a ride. If I'm going on longer bicycle ride, I simply put my Vivofit around ankle and secure it with sock.
Gears slipping after a chain change I have a Lappierre Zesty 314 (2012). I'm running XT rear mech, an SLX front mech, my crank is XT, rear cassette is XT and XT chain. I went to the Forest of Dean and after the day was over I snapped my chain! I picked up a SRAM chain for my bike and now when I pedal hard it slips wit...	Chain slip, after replacing a chain, usually indicates worn cog(s) Inspect all the drive components.
Adding gears to a single speed Cycle I have a single speed cycle and i want to have minimum of six gears on it, Is there a cheap and good way so that i can get gears on it? <Q> If you're willing to accept 5 gears, it's really not that difficult. <S> Sturmey Archer make a wide-range 5-speed geared hub, with or without c...	Unless your current frame is a conversion, you may have a few cable-routing headaches too (although clamp-on cable guides aren't difficult to find). Part exchange would probably be your best bet, but if you have a good reason to keep the bike A cheap and good way (albeit one that requires some tinkering, swearing, and ...
How do I stop my rear derailleur from rubbing against my chassis? I have a fairly new Shimano rear derailleur on a cheap department store MTB a friend gave me. Recently the derailleur (particularly the jockey wheels) have started to rub against the chassis in high gears. I tried reseating it on the hanger at a larger a...	Get a chain breaker tool (the cheap ones are about ten bucks) and shorten your chain by about three or four links.
Tyre has a 'dip' in it after fitting to rim I'm riding with Continental Gatorskin/Hardshell tyres and they are quite tough to get on the rim. After attaching the tyre and inflating I notice there is a dip in the tyre at the point where I had to lever it on to the rim. I've tried deflating and re inflating the tube ...	One thing that helped solve it in my case was to pull/wiggle the tire side to side with just maybe 15 or 20 psi in the tire and then continue inflating once I'd eyeballed it in place.
What kind of flat is this? I'm stumped. For the last yew years I have been getting flats that look like this: As you can see, it's a tiny, tiny hole that can only be found by inflating the tire to twice its size or so. I know these aren't puncture flats because there is never anything in the tire, and they don't seem...	I'd check the outside of the tyre for tiny cuts, and the inside for barely-detectable points poking through. Each of those had a little bit of glass or something in it once, but most of those work their way back out. I've had Marathon Plus tyres puncture this way, but only once (I use those tyres a lot).
Adjusting over locknut distance with spacers I'm trying to adapt a 130mm over locknut distance (OLD) hub to a 135mm OLD frame. Sheldon Brown suggests that I can just add in spacers between the cones and the locknuts. Sheldon doesn't say, however, where I can find good spacers for this. Can I just go to a bike shop a...	I have figured out two options: The less elegant option is just putting some washers on the end of your axle, such that they lie between your locknut and the dropout when the wheel is installed. You can find them on the internet by searching for "bicycle axle spacers", and they come in a bunch of sizes down to 0.5mm, s...
Is hydroformed tubing good? I've recently saw that a bmx frame was hydroformed.Is it better than not hydroformed? <Q> According to wikipedia , hydroforming is a cost-effective way of shaping ductile metals such as aluminum, brass, low alloy steels, stainless steel into lightweight, structurally stiff and strong pieces....	Not inherently, but hydroformed tubing has more possible shapes and distributions of material, and potentially allows the bicycle designer to design a lighter bike of the same strength, or a stronger bike of the same weight.
Turn signal lights for bikes I am interested in buying turn signal lights for bicycles. I read something about here and in other websites, but I did not find answers for the following questions: For the point of view of a driver, is it better to use a hand signal or if a turn signal light? Is it safer? How much (are...	And you have to deal with the potential of the lights getting stolen. Hand signals, but wear reflective material on your arms to make those signals more visible. Your handlebar area also becomes a bit more cluttered for a turn signal anyway, esp if you have trigger shifters. Motorbikes and bicycles are invisible to car...
Riding a bike on a tilted road I have a dutch city bike (similar to the one shown below) with broad tires that I use for commuting short distances. When traveling on roads with a slight tilt (left to right, perpendicular to the road), I often find myself feeling unbalanced, as if tilt of the road is exerting a force on...	On a flat surface, this force is part of what makes a bike turn when you lean, but having the road tilted when the bike is upright will have the same effect (and so try to turn the bike). If you find the effect unsettling you might be able to reduce it by increasing your front tire pressure 20-30%.
Replacing a chainring - what did I do wrong? TL;DR I thought I could figure out repairs myself but clearly I'm a moron. I replaced the chain and chainring on my fixie last Saturday, and this morning it got scary loose on me. I started to feel what felt like slack in the chain, but when I pulled over to check it out I...	A drop of blue Locktite (use sparingly on each bolt) will fix this problem: http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/t_lkr_blue/overview/Loctite-Threadlocker-Blue-242.htm You want to ensure they are tightened evenly, so that none of them are loose while others are over-tightened.
Am I required as a biker to use the bike lane on the right side of the road? The following is a google maps image of a busy intersection I need to take during my commute: Traffic mostly comes from 2 sides: the South and the West. At the time I pass this intersection, there is a lot of traffic from both sides. There a...	If an intersection or a set of intersections does not permit you to ride safely, walk your bike. But never, ever go on a bike lane in the wrong direction.
Avoid problems with ratchet straps to fasten MTB shoes With shoes like those shown below, when you adjust the buckle to the most tight position, the release handle is blocked (IMHO, this is due to bad engineering but cannot be changed.) Usually, this happens to me during several hour bike rides after readjusting, i.e. ...	Even if this is not the case with your shoes, you should be able to move the position of the buckle using pop rivets. You could wear extra socks so you wouldn't have to tighten them so much, but that would probably make them too warm.
Can I modify the gearing on a 2009 Jamis Aurora? I have a stock 2009 Jamis Aurora . I'm looking to modify my gear set-up to make climbing hills with large loads a little easier on my knees, as I constantly find myself wishing I had one or more low gears. The specs say the crankset is an FSA Vero Forged 50/39/30 wit...	To mitigate that it can help to change front derailleurs (basically buy the front triple derailleur with the widest range you can find), and drop a few teeth on the middle chainring to make the shift easier. If you are doing a lot of loaded touring, I would recommend replacing the entire front crank altogether. A 110/7...
How to keep a huge cargo bike safe in the city? I have been biking for transportation and pleasure the whole time I've lived in Chicago, and I'm familiar with the basics of locking up and storing my commuter bike. Yesterday I added a Yuba Mundo to my stable because I'm getting rid of my car and I'd like to still be ...	If the ulock cannot attach to the rack then just use it to lock the rear wheel. Made sure it was covered on my renter's insurance I'm hoping to deter based on looks also Covering up brand-name info with a unique combination of stickers
How to get a lower gearing My trusty old CF racer was stolen the other day, and I'm looking for a replacement. I saw this bike at PlanetX and was intrigued. It's a full carbon bike with (last years) Ultegra components for a very reasonable price ( < $2k). It comes with a compact crankset and a short-cage dérailleur. ...	You can easily get a 32-tooth rear cog for most groupsets and may even be able to fit 11-34 if you're willing to go with something 3rd party . The problem with putting a large range cassette on that bike is compatibility with the Ultegra 11 spd shifters.
Noticeable clicking from crankset or bottom bracket A few days ago I began hearing a clicking noise coming from the crankset and I can also sense a slight hitch when the right crank is at its upmost position just when it's about to go down. The interesting thing is that it only happens when pedaling. When i have the b...	There is a certain torque required on bottom bracket itself into the frame and also on the crank bolt (if it is solid axel type). It turns out that although tight enough to hold the wheel in place, the rear quick release was not tight enough. It's amazing how hard it is to identify where the noise/clicking is coming fr...
Bicycle Components: What's The Real Difference? I am buying my first 'real' road bike soon and am comparing the Shimano Ultegra vs. the 105. I have read through their websites and marketing literature. What does the semi-vast price difference do for a cyclist, who isn't riding the TDF? <Q> There's a couple of things ...	So if you're the type of rider who will say "if only I had a better bike I could smash my pb", you're better off by going for the superior groupset straight away - it will be cheaper in the long run than getting the lesser groupset and upgrading parts piecemeal. First there are the physical properties of the groupsets....
Why does my bike crank creak and come loose? I recently purchased a Trek FX 7.2 and about 2 weeks after purchase I was riding and I noticed a creaking sound and shortly after the crank fell off. I brought bike back to where I purchased it and they put the crank back on and put the chain derailleur back on as it fell of...	If the crank bolt coming loose is the only issue, perhaps try some locktite on the bolt...go medium strength so you can remove it in the future if needed Take the bike back to the the shop.
Can you attach front panniers to shocks? I'm going on a bike trip and need the extra storage supplied by front panniers. But my bike has front suspension. I can replace the fork with a solid one but that will increase my costs. Is it A) possible,B) a good idea, to attach panniers to forks w suspension? <Q> Yes, it's co...	If you're really lucky your suspension fork will have mounts for standard low-rider racks already (that's very rare though). First, try to put minimal weight in those panniers.
Good Brands for Front Pannier Rack on Suspension Forks I've heard people talk a lot about Old Man Mountain racks. What other options are there? Roughly speaking, in your experience, how do they compare? I'm specifically interested in this for touring but that probably goes without saying given the product. I have a...	Tubus Montageset LM-1, Art. Suspension Fork specific racks: Delta Megarack Front Loader Freeload Touring Front Rack (bought up by Thule) Old Man Mountain Ultimate Lowrider Surly Front Rack VO Porteur Front-Rack Basil Memories Front Gepäckträger
Is it worth it to buy a bike that comes with puncture resistant tires, or add them later? Is it better to buy a bike that comes with puncture resistant tires, or get a cheaper bike that comes with worse tires and then get them replaced? <Q> Don't decide your bike based on the stock tires. <S> Tires are consumable compo...	Either way from my experience whether you spend the money up front or afterward puncture resistant tubes and tires are worth the expense.
Bike trying to jumps gears when I stand My 2014 Norco storm 9.2 has a problem - whenever I am in a higher gear and standing up it tends to click and try to jump gears. When I am sitting down it does not do this. It only happens when I stand. Do you have any suggestions to help me? <Q> I presume you mean the rear der...	When replacing a chain you will most likely need to replace the cassette (rear gears) as well as they will be worn to the same degree as the chain.
Does the National Bike Registry work? The National Bike Registry is an nationwide registry of bikes with identifying information (serial numbers, make/model, owner information) in the US that is intended to help identify stolen or impounded bikes. There are of course other bike registries such as the recent Bike Ind...	The point of the National Bike Registry, and similar schemes, isn't so much to prevent theft as it is to make it (sometimes) possible to recover a bike after it's been stolen. Downside is, police don't have a lot of time for low value recoveries like this, so there's no incentive to use these databases.
Bike gears not shifting how they should So I've not cycled in a while but my step dad was using my bike and he has a habbit of breaking stuff. I have since decided to start cycling to work again and I replaced various parts due to rust etc (Chain, Cassette, brake pads, cables) and seeing as they didn't work properly in...	If that doesn't help, either lube or replace the cable, and lube all the derailleur pivots. Turns out that gear had some teeth worn down which made shifting a little sticky. As for the chain, it just makes sense to put a new chain on a new cassette so that none of the nasties infect the new cassette.
I need help to identify this bike This is my mother in law's bicycle from when she was a child. While cleaning out a lean-to on the back forty I found this bike inside. I was hoping to give her a bike that is identical to hers that is restored for a birthday or Christmas. With that I need to learn more about this s...	If you have rust from the inside then give up. The man above who ID'd your bike as a JC HIGGINS sold by Sears was telling you correct.... One Murray built bike called a Marfield [made for Marshall Field's department store]. The rear of your frame... behind the drop-out... where one is split... My mother in law was give...
What are the most important accessories for a new biker to get? I am a new biker and am going to be commuting to work on a hybrid. There are many cool accessories that help you carry gear, bike at night, track your rides, make adjustments and quick repairs like fixing flats, and more. It's very cool that there's so muc...	bike helmet lock puncture repair kit or spare tube and a mini pump I also will occasionally spray the rain gear with Kiwi's Camp-Dry after washing/drying them if water is starting to penetrate the material. Try to find a jacket with a mesh liner everywhere inside the jacket.
Serial numbers on bottom bracket housing from a 50s era Schwinn? Can someone please explain what these three numbers mean on the pedal crank housing?I believe this to be the pedal crank housing from a 1956 Spitfire Ladies Bike. The Schwinn Serial reads M0D502 (hard to see but top left)The next number reads 46772 (med...	None of the numbers on the BB match the Schwinn serial number formats of the 1950s.
Does it make you safer to use lights during the day? My bike light, the Cygolite Metro 360 , has a "Daylighting" mode which flashes very brightly and is intended to be used during the day. Similarly, many tail lights have flashing modes. Obviously one should bike with lights at night. But is it advisable to bike with ...	Daytime running lights improve cyclist safety significantly A head light addresses cross traffic and head on traffic. Too often vehicles are looking for vehicles and don't see a bike that is in plain site.
How do I get rid of odor from cycling shoes? So I have a pair of: Diadora X-Country 2 MTB Shoes (pic below) How would I go about cleaning them, primarily to remove odor? I am tempted to put this in the washing machine- but the cleet is totally stuck to the shoe (imagine 7,000km, mostly in the wet). Brush + washing up ...	I have found a boot/shoe dryer to be effective with odor. Some people put their shoes in the freezer, as it also kills a lot of the bacteria, which cause the bad smell, but I do not have first hand experience with that. Soaking them in a bucket of very diluted bleach water (~1 cap in a 5 gallon bucket) overnight should...
How should I transport Cannondale Bad Boy 5 INSIDE a BMW 4 Series Coupe? So, I have a Cannondale Bad Boy 5 and I'm LOVING it. I'd like to understand how to transport it. I have 2014 BMW 4 Series coupe. Even though I folded back seats (to maximize trunk storage), bike won't fit there (well at least not all the way...	Install a trailer hitch or tow bar and use a hard mount rack. To put the bike in the car, you have to take off at least one of the wheels.
MTB with Road crank I would like to put an Road crank on my MTB, I basically only use it for commuting and I all the time find myself in the highest gear, 42/11... Is it possible to exchange my Shimano Deore HT2 crank with an Road-crank (with 50/34 tooth Wickwerks blade) or Cross-crank (with 46/36 tooth Wickwerks blad...	Adding some spacers to the chainring bolts can help with the clearance issue.
Used-bike: How much to reserve for repairs/upgrades of total budget? Let's say I have 500€ to buy a second hand bike. How much of that budget shall I keep for repairs and upgrades, and how much shall I spend on the bike itself? Of course it depends on the condition of the bike, but I was wondering if there is some ge...	You'll get a more precise answer if you know what kind of bike you intend on getting.
Are the Shimano BR650 brakes really Ultegra spec? Many ebay and other online vendors advertise the long-reach Shimano BR-650 brakes as being "Ultegra" series. However, looking at them they don't seem like they are top-of the line or really all that different in manufacture from 105-line Shimano brakes. The brakes th...	In any case, none of the Shimano long reach calipers are part of a series anymore. These BR-650 is related to the old Ultegra 6500 Series.
Polite/Proper Way To Notify Pedestrians and Bicycles A question on a bell had a lot of comments on how to notify pedestrians. How do you notify a pedestrian you need to pass? How do you notify a bicycle you need to pass? I imagine this will be region dependent so please state your region. This is getting a bit of...	I have bells on my bikes and generally only use them when approaching pedestrians or cyclists who are either making it difficult to pass (e.g., walking wide or in the centre of the path) or who I feel may make a sudden move that could prove not so good for either of us. If it's a runner, or a slower cyclist, who's obvi...
Warranties on cycling clothing in the event of a crash? I recently destroyed the clasp on my pair of Fox Head Demo shorts while riding this weekend (don't worry, I'm OK). Do cycling clothing brands/companies offer any sort of warranty on their clothing for something like this? I am specifically interested in clothing ...	But for "normal" clothing, I don't think you will have great chances on such warranty. Rapha provides a free repair service for their items that have succumb to crashes: https://www.rapha.cc/at/en/repair-service
What can I use for a DIY cable end? I am in a pinch and need something to crimp onto the end of my brake cable to stop it fraying. There aren't any hardware shop's nearby and its a long way to the nearest bike shop. Any household object that'll do the job? Any good stop-gap until I can get a proper part? <Q> You can ...	Anyone with a roll of lead-based solder can hammer it out against an iron plate to make a thin foil, then wrap the cable with it, and finally "swage" it by hammering it down. I have actually used these options: Epoxy glue:
Mountain bike tires vs. road tires - from crushed limestone to pavement I've had my mountain bike for three summers now and I love it. I bought it for the ability to ride on different terrains and build endurance. Since my primary goal is weight loss and cardiovascular health, I've found that I ride mostly on paved s...	A combination tire is one which is nearly slick in the middle with knobs on the sides, so you might want to try one road tire on the back and one gravel tire on the front.
What are some good films about cycling? Can you recommend high quality cycling-centric films? Can you recommend good sources (for example, publishers, distributors, vendors, etc.) to locate these films? <Q> Old but still worthwhile: Breaking Away . <A> A few of my guilty pleasures: Hard-boiled: <S> The Greatest Sh...	Finally I'd also like to recommend Bang Bang, which was a film that sort of revolved around Aaron Chase and the year he broke his back. Where The Trail Ends Strength in Numbers The Triplets of Belleville (originally released in UK as Belleville Rendez-vous ) And of course all the old-school freeride films like Kranked....
Do these pads look contaminated? These are the front brake pads of my bike. Lately I've seen a decrease in stopping force and some shudder when braking at low and very low speeds. I took them apart and they look like this: Do the pads look contaminated? <Q> I agree with @Daniel R Hicks. <S> Those pads aren't terr...	The best way to know if your pads are contaminated is to know if you rode through oil or had some sort of suspension or brake fluid leak. Still, replacing the pads is a cheap and easy check. If you feel or see oily film, contamination is likely.
Can I use cartridge bearings on my wheel hub? I have a vintage road bike, at the moment there are loose metal bearings in the hubs. Some of the bearings are missing. Can I buy cartridge bearings or do I need to buy loose bearings? Thanks <Q> Your hubs will almost surely be classic cup-and-cone hubs, and those will nee...	To use cartridge bearings, the hubs must have been designed to use them (absurd kludges aside). Bearings will wear if you ride a lot.
Clipless pedals: Why clipping in so darn difficult? I do understand that this question been asked million times, and million people have million different opinions and it's all down to personal preferences, yet I am struggling and need to find a solution that would work best for me. So there's no question - clipless p...	Clipping in and out takes a lot of practice, and I mean a lot. I think the key to your problem is the asymmetrical nature of SPD-SL pedals. Don't cheap out when changing cleats, change both of them even if one is less used than the other. Testing an idea is always good before committing silly amounts of money to someth...
What kind of spokes for Giant PSL0 wheelset What specific spokes do I need for Giant PSL0s wheelset . I know they are DT Swiss but what kind and maybe where to get them. <Q> Are you building this wheel yourself? <S> There's a bit of planning that goes into building a wheel. <S> As Daniel mentioned, length and gauge ar...	The link you posted tells you that they are DT Aero Competition bladed stainless steel, and you don't have to look far on the DT Swiss web site to find these exact spokes .
Creaking sounds from the saddle tube? I've started to hear creaking/clicking sounds from the saddle tube. Is the frame giving up? I could look for a longer saddle post , if that would relieve some of the strain on this part of the frame, but I'm not sure what length to get. I've measured the outer diameter of the p...	Most probably, the seatpost just needs to be cleaned (dust gets in) If yes, your seatpost is simply too high and unsupported, so buy a longer one.
Are there any cleats (for SPD-SL) that convert the pedal to a regular flat platform for regular shoes? I have a road bike that use Shimano 105 PD-5800 SPD-SL pedals and they are wonderful when exercising. However I would like to be able to use the bike with regular shoes for more casual use of the bike, but I also don'...	A small saddlebag, a stylized handlebar bag, or even a small backpack is a convenient solution to carry both your normal shoes while riding, and your cleated shoes while walking.
Reducing Bulk on a touring trip I'm doing a self contained touring trip, I have a 5 piece set of ortlieb bags (handlebars, 2 front rollers, 2 back rollers). I also plan on putting my tent on my back rack. I'm not doing this in a competitive manner. I'm just looking to have some fun on a 2 week tour. Recently, in anoth...	It also depends on how you pack it.
Brake Cable Ends - Barrel and Pear Nipples I can easily find images of these different nipples on Google, and as far as I can tell pear nipples are used on road bikes (in general) and barrel nipples are used on MTBs (in general). Barrel Nipple Pear Nipple I'd like to understand more about them. Why have two designs ...	Original MTB brake lever designs did not include a rotating barrel inside the leverto account for the change in angle as you apply the brake, so the wire end needed to be round to accommodate this. All of the vintage brake levers I have seen use pear nipples, so I assume the barrel nipple came later, but I have no idea...

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